Advanced stages of purchase for Exitech

[nash]

Dear All (and especially rocket since you're a dealer :-) )

I'm in a bit of a quandary, I'm in the final stages of decision in placing a purchase order for a 1530 with a 400mm Z movement. The parts I'd like to machine with this are composite molds (very soft and easily machine-able molding epoxy), perhaps some wood and some aluminum. For the aluminum the speeds are not important (I'm willing to wait the whole night for the job to get done). The maximum tolerance that the whole parts (3m long) should be in the range of 0.2mm and the cutting speed is not that important so long as I can finish-cut a contoured area in molding-epoxy of about 1sqm in 3-4 hours.

My people are not convinced that a machine like this can machine aluminum. So here is the request: has anyone machined aluminum before with any exitech machine? Do you have a video that I can show internally to prove my point? Any complex contouring jobs will also be of benefit.

In your opinion, will this machine do my job?

Would really appreciate any feedback.

Thanks,
N

[rocket67]

Hi Nash, The good news is that these CNC Routers will indeed machine aluminium.

In fact member " Blunderbum " has recently taken delivery of his Excitech and is using it for a similar purpose to yourself. He has posted a photo of a n Exhaust Flange cut from 8mm thick alloy.

You can look at his thread in this section of the forum ( Excitech ) in a thread titled " DSP Question " Post no.16 has the photo.

Also check out the videos on Youtube - just type in Excitech CNC Router
and you will see some machines cutting Aluminium.

Rocket.

[nash]

Hi Rocket,

Thanks for the feedback. Actually the specs (copied from the invoice) that I've now fixed are as follows:

SHMS1530 CNC Router (400mm z axis)
CE standard,
German gear-wheel transmission( X and Z axis ball screw;Y axis rack-and-pinion),
Syntec controlling system,
6.0KW Italian HSD electro-spindle,
Panasonic servo motor system and Delta inverter,
Japanese tool sensor, without vacuum system, including Ucancam Software and Type3 Software.
Dust collector hood and 2.2kw dust collector.
Mist cooling system for metal material

Now the Z axis is quite large. I'll still like to cut aluminum at slow speed. I've searched on youtube but there's no high quality video with exitech cutting aluminum

Do you think that anything here rings of issues, caveats etc?

Thanks a lot,
N

[rocket67]

Hi Nash, I never wrote that it was Excitech machines cutting Aluminium, except for Blunderbum`s machine. Ha Ha.

The 6.0KW HSD Spindle will have no trouble machining Aluminium! That is going to be a powerful machine!

As you have specified the Syntec Controller - It must be an Auto Tool Changer machine. Excellent - But be careful! A few people have had a hard time learning how to use the Syntec Controller - Mainly due to lack of instructions. I suggest you look at the Syntec Controller thread and maybe even speak with a couple of the Syntec machine owners. Just send a couple of private messages asking for contact details.

The other issues could be the Software. The 2 that you wrote of do not have a lot of users. Consider getting Vectric software. Check out the Vectric website.

Also, the dust collector will probably need 3 phase power. Not a problem really as the machine will need 3 phase power anyway.

Once you master the Syntec Controller it should be a ripper machine.

Rocket.

[nash]

Hi Rocket, thanks for the quick feedback. Affirm about everything. I'm searching for the manual of Syntec. Apparently, the Syntec is 100% compatible with Fanuc G-Codes. I'll be using Alibre-CAM which I recently bought as part of AlibreExpert. I know that it can produce G-Codes that are compatible with most controllers. I'll see if it runs into issues with the Syntec only when I have it in house. There is no tool changer in the order, it just adds a lot of cost. Perhaps if what I'm doing succeeds and when it does, we'll place an order for a subsequent machine with a tool changer.

If the machine doesn't meet my expectations, I'll change it, the high Z is important for me, and I noticed that the Z axis is a flat aluminum plate (bad bad design). I'm asking them to replace it with a steel tube but they're not interested in design changes for the moment. We'll see when it arrives here. I'm hoping that the servo's have built in brakes.

No one here believes that this machine will be any good for me anyway! So its going to be an adventure... wish me luck!
N

[rocket67]

Well you learn something new everyday. I thought that the Syntec Controller was only used on the Auto Tool Changer machines.

Good luck in finding a manual for the Syntec Controller! Others have tried and come up empty.

You will probably be pleasantly surprised with the strength of the gantry and the Z Axis.

You seem to know exactly what you are doing. Do you have a brother by the name of Shannon who lives in New Zealand?

If you look at the Excitech CNC Purchase thread - Blunderbums machine with the higher gantry is shown on posts 2463 and 2464 ( 24th July )

Rocket.

[priestwood]

hi Rocket,

i got a very good instruction manual from syntec. it is very easy to learn and follow. i believe syntec understands the machines even more than the manufacturers. Nash should send his e-mail then i will send the catalogue as an attachment to him.

regards
priestwood

[nash]

Folks,

Priestwood was very kind to send the syntec manuals, thanks a lot!

I've got some really alarming news regarding the 400mm gantry. I had narrowed my search to 1530 with a 400mm gantry and just got to know that someone who owns an Exitech 1530 has had a broken Z axis base plate. Although it is hearsay, but its crucial enough to rethink what I'm about to venture into. Although there can be many reasons for this to happen, it appears that Aluminum structure was the culprit. I still have to see the photographs of that incident. In my conversations with Exitech, I requested a Z column of steel tube (200mmx200mm and wall thickness of 3 or 4mm), but they are unwilling to do that. They suggest that the 400mm in Aluminum of the current design will be "OK". But IMHO it may not be OK. So am now communicating with others to know if someone from these manufactures will agree to make a gantry + Z axis to my specs :-( if you all wish, I'll be happy to update on this list.

[cabnet636]

how can i get a good copy of the syntec manual?

jim

mcgrew 636 at msn . com

[nash]

Send a pm to either Priestwood or me with your email, and we could send you the manual. However, how "good" the manual will be for your syntec controller, its hard to say, since there are many different models. You could also browse their site.

[craig2009]

Hi all !!!
I am a new member of forum. Would a newcomer be warmly welcome here? Good day you guys!!!

[Watchmaker]

wow yes I like it ... gj - and this is the FIRST outcome for this tutorial.... makes me happy..

as I´m german and not english I want only to know if everything was good understandable and easy to follow?

and thanx for outcomoe dude..