New Machine Build- My build - Many Thanks!

[Mogal]

Hello all!

I would like to post a very big THANK YOU to all of you who unknowingly helped me out with this build.
Lots of reading, and veiwing your build pictures helped to create my beast!

It all started out as a Joe's machine, but unfortunately, it never got finished and I ended up selling it.

I got ahold of a Southbend 10K lathe, and a RF-31 milling maching though a local auction house. I rebuilt both of them from the ground up, then got started on this CNC machine.

It started out as a PDJ CNC Machine but quickly got morfed into what you see here.
A buddy of mine built the Base frame, and bearing blocks(as my lathe/mill was not complete yet)
I used a Keling's stepper package and a 1/2" 10 double start acme thread.
The base is 28" x 36" with a working area of about 24"x30"x5"

So far, I have made one little test piece with it complements of Partkam and it ran ok at first, then started loosing steps, not sure why yet, feeds where 60ipm. I was doing rapids at 140ipm without loosing steps?
So I have to figure out why. OH! and I also HAVE to get my limit switches wired in ;o)

So I'm off to figure out why...

Thank you so much for a great forum!
Chris

[PaulRowntree]

Beautifully built machine! I am guessing that photo#24 snuck in by mistake?
Cheers!

[Mogal]

Originally Posted by PaulRowntree Beautifully built machine! I am guessing that photo#24 snuck in by mistake? Cheers!

LOL, nope, no mistake, thats the "Joe's" I started with and sold.
Thanks!
Chris

[Mogal]

Just a couple of updates... A new home for the machine.
I have my limit switches installed. WOW! dunno how I lived without them!
Makes life so much easier...
Next will be to install the guid rails(the aluminum pieces on the table)

With the Keling 425oz motors and 1/2"-10 double start acme rods, what kind of rapids should I be getting?
I'm only seeing 60ipm max before the steppers stall on me.
The steppers are getting 36v and 2.7 amps. set at 1/8" steps.
Mach3 Freq is set at 25,000hz
I was hoping for a little faster... any tweaking I could do?

Chris

[ger21]

Are they wired parallel? If not, they should be. What's your accel set at?

I'd think you should be getting faster speeds. I can get up to 190ipm with 1/2-8 2 start, and 250oz motors running #24V with a Xylotex.

You might need to make some dampers.
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/steppe...tml#post256639

[Mogal]

Yes, they are wired parallel. Accel set at 10 (If I remember correctly - been playing with diff settings)
I've seen that thread, and yes, dampeners will definately be on the list of todos.
Just surprised at the initial slow(er) speeds...

The micro steps shouldn't make a difference(speedwise?)
how about the freq set in Mach3?

Chris

[ger21]

Originally Posted by Mogal The micro steps shouldn't make a difference(speedwise?) how about the freq set in Mach3? Chris

Nope, mine are set the same.

Do they sound smooth at all speeds, or do they sound rough at certain speeds?

[Mogal]

Yes, they sound really smooth(even when they do travel at 100ipm - till they stall)
Then its almost like grinding gears.

[Mogal]

Seems like I was plagued with the midband resonance issue...
The dampeners helped ALOT! I'm confortabley achieving 160ipm rapids now

Thanks for your input Gerry!

[CurtisBarclay]

Originally Posted by Mogal Just a couple of updates... A new home for the machine. I have my limit switches installed. WOW! dunno how I lived without them! Makes life so much easier... Next will be to install the guid rails(the aluminum pieces on the table) With the Keling 425oz motors and 1/2"-10 double start acme rods, what kind of rapids should I be getting? I'm only seeing 60ipm max before the steppers stall on me. The steppers are getting 36v and 2.7 amps. set at 1/8" steps. Mach3 Freq is set at 25,000hz I was hoping for a little faster... any tweaking I could do? Chris

Interesting read. Mogal, I bought the same package you have 3 years ago. Set the package up and it ran great with velocity set at 120, and acceleration set at 8. It ran great, smooth, fast, and no stalls.

Between buying a new home and work I never got the chance to build my table, but now I do. Got the package back together a few days ago and set it up exactly the same way as before ( I backed up the XML file) for Mach3. I did a trial run and the motors made god awfullest sound I ever heard!

I had to reset the velocity down to 10 and the accel. to 20 to get the motors to run and they still sound bad!! Very strange. I checked all the wiring, the voltages, and all the connections but still the same.

Any idea what could be wrong??

Curtis

[Mogal]

Wow Curtis, sorry I never got back to you! I guess I lost track of my own thread!
I hope you got the issues sorted out?!

Just wanted to update this thread with some upgrades I've made over the last little while.
First and formost, I must say Gerry's Mach3 2010 Screenset was one of the BEST upgrades!

Next was some corner brackets on the gantry that help stablize the racking
caused by the single drive down the center of the machine.
It hasn't eliminated the racking, but it is literally a fraction of what it was!

I also made up some rail wipers from a left over bearing block.

I've had the harmonic balancers installed for awhile now, but did a little tweaking to them too.
My original speed out of the machine without them was 60ipm without any stalling.
I'm happy to say, I'm hitting speeds of 180ipm without issues now.

And finally, my $20 pendant. Just a wireless numberpad. It works 'ok' but only supports one key press at a time.
But I can now jog the machine from the table insted of the computer.

Thanks for a GREAT website!
Hope everyone had a great Holiday!

Cheers!
Chris