NEW BUILD / Dynatorch Upgrade

[Mike Ray]

All Cleeen Now

Here are some shots of my machine.

So what changes will need to be made in the software for the new gear rack? I know the steps will increase.

[magma-joe]

Mike,
I would contact Dynatorch for the details. I do know the pulse distance will change depending on the motor pinion diameter. I hope to be calling Leon soon for the same details when I start up the gantry for the first time.

Greg and Russel at Dynatorch have been extremley helpful with all the parts I needed for the upgrade. Thanks guys!

I will post some more pictures Monday of my progress.

[WSS]

Mike,

That is the first time I realized that the slave is an idler and not driven by the master motor! Clever set-up. I did not look very close at the cross shaft design (I had enough trouble getting my head around the dual drive). I believe the dual drive has enough merit to upgrade too. magma-joe believed it enough to tackle it. And....... the "dual drop" has even more draw. I hope if DT ever comes out with one they call it the "Magma series".

The limited experience I have with our machine tells me that it is solid and tight when it is running, zero backlash. When it is sitting still, it feels rock solid. when everything is dis-engaged, it rolls like butter. I have no experience with CNC cutting but years of linear automation experience. The weak link in the production model will be the vee-rails and wheels. They will wear after awhile. Not really a consumable but not ultra industrial either.

I say this only because you are considering doing the upgrade yourself. You could build in a larger diameter set.

Cheers,
WSS

[PlasmaGuy]

Mike,

Help me better understand your pictures please.
The first shot is the motor that drives the slave side? OR does this motor power the jack shaft running under the gantry? I see the drive shaft that connects the LH & RH X-axes {sic}.
You have a shot if the motor driving the master side too?

I guess my question is your table a converted single x-axis machine to a now master/slave 2 motor machine?

Thanks

Tom

[magma-joe]

WSS,

Thats an interesting point you make about the V rail wear. I reused the one V rail that came with my machine. It did not appear to have any visable wear. With the increased weight of the gantry I was wondering about wear. What wears faster the wheels or the V rail?

I had been spraying my gear rack and V rail with silicone lubricant which works well and does not attract dust. It definitly helped keep things rolling smooth.

Magma-joe

[PlasmaGuy]

Mike,

Had I read WSS's post that preceded mine I would have kept my month shut

Having read Tommy's post I get the picture! I am guessing the drop table was the reason behind this design?

Thanks

Tom

[Mike Ray]

YouTube- Dynatorch Fast Move

YouTube- Dynatorch Fast Move

No the original machines used this cross drive on all single X axis drive machines. The drive side has two gear racks and one single motor. This motor is enough to drive the whole gantry very well. Under the gantry is a "drive shaft" for the "Slave Side" of the gantry. The slave side also has a gear rack and the drive shaft is hooked up to a belt drive (Under the black cover) .

The system works fine. I just can see some issues with tight circles at higher speeds. and when the system is off I can free hand move the slave side about 1/4 to 1/2 inch. And in the CNC world that is about a mile.

[magma-joe]

Gantry update;

I have been working on installing the scribe station. I always wanted to make a quick change Multi Tool station for perhaps a small air drill for center punch marks, Dremel or what ever else I might dream up.

Dynatorch uses a really slick low profile air slide assembly connected directly to the Dynascribe to raise and lower the unit out of harms way when not in use. As you can see in the pictures I mounted it on a 3/8 aluminum plate with milled slots next to a piece of linear rail to lift what ever tool I might use. As long as the tool is mounted to a linear rail carriage I can slide one tool off and slide another on in short order.

I robbed 2 carriages and a section of linear rail from my old gantry saving me from buying new. I was concerned about sparks and plasma dust hitting the rail while using the torch so I added some 'skirts' to the back of the scribe to protect the rail. Next comes mounting the control solenoids for the scribe and the torch slide.

Magma-joe

[WSS]

Nice work! The new Y carrier is very adaptable I see. Plenty of room. An air spot drill would be a nice option. Not to bring on any anxiety, but whats the target run date? Monday? LOL... Is the air slide part of the scribe kit? That does look slim and refined. Will you need a port expander to run it? I probably should get one just in case I find a good used air drill.

A couple posts back you asked about the V rail wear. I had a really worn pair of V rails laying around the shop. I was going to photo em but couldn't find them. This was way back before we started to use round rail linear stuff and used the bishop-wisecarver doublevee rails. They were good because of the zone heat treat. The side was soft and machinable but the rail was hard. We used them on weld head oscillators that would roll back and forth 1 to 2 inches at 20-80 cycles per minute (variable) all day. After a month or so they would develop a lope as the rail wore in the center. The wheels would show wear if they did not make a full rev, this was the case on bigger dia wheels. We learned to use smaller dia wheels so they would wear all the way around. All this in a less than desirable environment.

I have had the DT gantry jump off the v rail twice now (the first bent the small shoulder bolts that the cam follower rides on, which makes it easier to jump now). Where it jumped it left some small divots that can be felt by my hand but not seen in the cut. If everything had been a little larger, it probably would not have dinged the rails, I think. Just my thinking, I could be all wet here. I know the bigger the wheel, the less coefficient of friction is present.

Everyone have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving!

WSS

[magma-joe]

Thanks WSS, Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

The scribe unit is operated by 2 electric solenoid air valves which are connected to the 4 terminals on the Dynatorch control box for oxy cutting. Since you have your machine set up to cut with oxy your terminals are already in use so you would need the port expander.

When I purchased the scribe unit the air slide was attached to the back. The only parts I added were the mounting plate, linear rail and carriages.

That is interesting information on the V rail wear, it sounds like you put alot of miles on the V rail in a short time.

Do you have the spring loaded cam followers underneath the V rail on your gantry? It seems like it would be difficult for the gantry to jump off the V rails with them in place? What kind of motion was the gantry in when it jumped the rail? I agree with you on the larger diameter V wheels.

The target finish date is 10 days so I am already under alot of pressure as now I have 2 jobs waiting. I am going to get the scribe and DASH units mounted and the wires connected however the main goal is to get the torch back in operation. I'm sure there is a learning curve with the Dash and scribe units but I can spend time on them later, for now the torch needs to make money.


Magma-joe

[Edwardo]

Hi Guys

I have been following along as much as possible but i'll have to back up and reread all the posts when i get home and have my cnc face on... your retro looks awesome Joe, and WSS im really happy you are up and running...

EDD

[magma-joe]

Edwardo,

Thanks, had not heard from you in awhile? Got any plans for your machine when you get home?