Need help/or info re MAXICAM or EXcitech 1325 with ATC and Vac table

[MaNo]

Does anyone reading this post have a MAXICAM or EXCITECH 1325 machine with rack type ATC and vacuum table, or knows of anyone having such a machine? The MAXICAM machine is usually called Maxi CD 1325 SE-T-V and can be seen here..
http://www.maxicamglobal-cnc.com/1325C.asp

I am looking for the dimensions or specifications of the frame, table top and working envelope. I do not mean those specs published by manufacturer but the actual, physical properties.

Kindly contact me via PM or nmajerus[at]caribsurf[dot]com as I am in dire need of that info.

Also, if you have a working knowledge of the Syntec EZ 4012M please contact me as soon as convenient.

Apologies for double posting on CNCZone (Chinese Machines) but I am in rather urgent need of the info.

Thanks

[priestwood]

whats the problem with your machine, say it and lets see if we can crack the problem.

priestwood

[MaNo]

Originally Posted by priestwood whats the problem with your machine, say it and lets see if we can crack the problem. priestwood

Hi, Priestwood,

To start with, I never got an operating manual for the Syntec EZ 4012M. For a 900M controller, Yes, I got one like that but I figure if Syntec makes a 900 as well as a 4012 controller there's got to be reason. If Maxicam or Excitech installs a EZ 4012M instead of a 900M there is got to be a reason too, hence I want a correct manual. Not a bunch of schematics but a manual. I also want to know what ALL the keys on the controller are for. I realize some are not meant to work with a router but let me know which to disrtegard and which serve a purpose. Haven't got a reply to that one yet.

The 'problem' I have is actually plural....i.e. problems. We changed the operating system now, I think, 4 times. By 'we', I mean the technician at Maxicam and I via Skype/video.

Yesterday for example I spent almost the entire day squaring the gantry because one of the parameters we changed either was not reset properly or I may have misunderstood an instruction. Anyway, I wanted to JOG to the tool rack for setting the ATC positions when the Y1 servo wanted to go Y- and the Y2 decided to go Y+. Result, gantry about 30 mm out of square. It's relatively easy to square it up again but it's time-consuming. By the time I was finished I measured on a rectangle of 1000mm x 2000mm the diagonals as 2237mm and 2236 respectively. That's darn close to the calculated 2236.068. I switched off machine and this morning the servo drivers showed 'error 18' ....shoot....back to square one.

There were and still are many hurdles to overcome and things to clarify

However, the main reason I posted this particular thread is that I feel I got the wrong table for the rack type ATC. I was told that this isn't the case and that we will tackle that point later on. Still, I am very skeptical about the configuration of the table and would have liked to make a comparison to someone elses machine of same model. I base my skepticism on what I see on attached image.

I can't move the tool-rack further back because the spindle wouldn't reach it whereas I could move the top forward but then I would have to get some support welded to the structure. The spindle at maximum Y- is overhanging the table top by a good 8cm. I could get an other 4cm to those 8 by moving the home block/wedge further in the Y direction. The rails are long enough for that.

A disturbing point....Yesterday I took the cookie/kitchen thermometer to the shop because I felt that the wires entering the spindle were very hot after about ten minutes at 15000 RPM. While a kitchen thermometer isn't exactly the right tool, it still confirmed a temperature of 128-130 degrees Celsius. I have no idea if this is normal but something tells me it is too high. Spindle is water-cooled and Yes, water is circulating and compressed air is working too.

Luyang, the technician, has been very accommodating working after hours not just once but many evenings. Yesterday for example our session ended at 11PM (his time zone). But I am accommodating too because I need to roll out of bed at 3:45 am to get to the shop and be ready at 5am (my time zone) for a machine that should have been at work within 24 or 48 hrs after installation.

Right now there is nothing I can do because technician is on a 4-day leave.

Anyway, willingness to help correcting errors and omissions is no substitute for thoroughly testing machine prior to shipping.

[MaNo]

Originally Posted by priestwood whats the problem with your machine, say it and lets see if we can crack the problem. priestwood

Hi, Priestwood,

To start with, I never got an operating manual for the Syntec EZ 4012M. For a 900M controller, Yes, I got one like that but I figure if Syntec makes a 900 as well as a 4012 controller there's got to be reason. If Maxicam or Excitech installs a EZ 4012M instead of a 900M there is got to be a reason too, hence I want a correct manual. Not a bunch of schematics but a manual. I also want to know what ALL the keys on the controller are for. I realize some are not meant to work with a router but let me know which to disrtegard and which serve a purpose. Haven't got a reply to that one yet.

The 'problem' I have is actually plural....i.e. problems. We changed the operating system now, I think, 4 times. By 'we', I mean the technician at Maxicam and I via Skype/video.

Yesterday for example I spent almost the entire day squaring the gantry because one of the parameters we changed either was not reset properly or I may have misunderstood an instruction. Anyway, I wanted to JOG to the tool rack for setting the ATC positions when the Y1 servo wanted to go Y- and the Y2 decided to go Y+. Result, gantry about 30 mm out of square. It's relatively easy to square it up again but it's time-consuming. By the time I was finished I measured on a rectangle of 1000mm x 2000mm the diagonals as 2237mm and 2236 respectively. That's darn close to the calculated 2236.068. I switched off machine and this morning the servo drivers showed 'error 18' ....shoot....back to square one.

There were and still are many hurdles to overcome and things to clarify

However, the main reason I posted this particular thread is that I feel I got the wrong table for the rack type ATC. I was told that this isn't the case and that we will tackle that point later on. Still, I am very skeptical about the configuration of the table and would have liked to make a comparison to someone elses machine of same model. I base my skepticism on what I see on attached image.

I can't move the tool-rack further back because the spindle wouldn't reach it whereas I could move the top forward but then I would have to get some support welded to the structure. The spindle at maximum Y- is overhanging the table top by a good 8cm. I could get an other 4cm to those 8 by moving the home block/wedge further in the Y direction. The rails are long enough for that.

A disturbing point....Yesterday I took the cookie/kitchen thermometer to the shop because I felt that the wires entering the spindle were very hot after about ten minutes at 15000 RPM. While a kitchen thermometer isn't exactly the right tool, it still confirmed a temperature of 128-130 degrees Celsius. I have no idea if this is normal but something tells me it is too high. Spindle is water-cooled and Yes, water is circulating and compressed air is working too.

Luyang, the technician, has been very accommodating working after hours not just once but many evenings. Yesterday for example our session ended at 11PM (his time zone). But I am accommodating too because I need to roll out of bed at 3:45 am to get to the shop and be ready at 5am (my time zone) for a machine that should have been at work within 24 or 48 hrs after installation.

Right now there is nothing I can do because technician is on a 4-day leave.

Anyway, willingness to help correcting errors and omissions is no substitute for thoroughly testing machine prior to shipping.

[priestwood]

hi mano,

i believe you problems with your machine can be sorted but i believe it has to be one after the other.

to start with, i believe that your controller and mine run on thesame software from syntec. there might be a few additions to the hardwares here and there, but the softwares i believe are thesame. to solve your problems , they must be sorted one after the other or else you end up not doing anything.

from what you said, i believe you have tampered with most of the default parameters and settings on your machine. i want you to first set the positive and negative limits of the X,Y and Z axis of your machine, then zero your machine and make sure there are no error massages when you zero the machine. then take the picture of the screen (without trying to square the machine manually) then send picture to me.

i hope you are aware that the y axis has 2 motors, Y and C, and the 2 can be set from the parameters, i believe that when the 2 of them are set, then machine X,Y,Z and C should give you all zero when you zero machine. i will be able to check this from your picture. this is used for squaring of machine.

after this, then we will program the machine to locate the tool positions using plc, then we will set the tool compensation and correct any other problem that may arise from there.

i will also like you to send more pictures of your machine table, the space between the the tool rack and the end of the table look too short to me , also send the measurement between the rack and the end of the table top.


also vist the syntec thread on this forum and you will see some good information there too.

[MaNo]

Hi priestwood,

At this stage I couldn't tell you precisely which software version I have for the Syntec . It's the 3rd or 4th flavour that is now installed on the CFC #1 and as it is based of open source, there may be variations between yours and mine even though they may be the same version number.

I am aware of the 2 motors on the Y axis. In my case the motor on the right side is the C axis on the screen and referred to as Y2 (left is Y1). The C axis has its own separate drive and in the parameter setup it's the '6th axis' (at least on my machine)

Polarity for X axis is changed in parameter # 41, Y (Y1) in 42, Z in 43 and 6th axis (Y2) in 46.

If gantry is squared and C differs from Y on the screen when in home position, then the correction is made via parameter 886 (6th axis home offset). However, this also means that one could set Y and C to 0.000 even if the gantry is out of whack. So to be sure I use the MPG to drill small holes in the spoilboard on the 4 corners of a rectangle 1000mm x 2000m, then check the diagonals.

The question I have foremost in my mind "Why do I have a continuous battle with the gantry going out of square when I do a rapid Jog ??" I did not have that problem with the original software. I could Rapid Jog all over the table. But unfortunately that software was wrong in other areas.

I agree 100% with your comment that the space between tool rack and table top is to small (on a horizontal level). Technician may come up with a solution to this, which in my layman's opinion could mean re-locating the entire top further away from the rack by 15-20 cm. That's not something I paid for !! I will take more pictures to show you and ideally someone with an operational machine of the same model could supply overall and specific dimensions

Will have an other look at the Syntec thread later

[Field Worker]

MaNo,

Check to see if you Y axis gears are straight. I had a problem with my Excitech 1325 when I did a rapid move as it never lined up in the same spot.

I changed the gears out on X & Y and now it repeats locations now everytime. These gears (even new out of box) are not the best for straightness.

[MaNo]

Field Worker

I am not sure I understand what you mean. Are you saying you replaced the gears...in other words, the racks and pinions?

[Field Worker]

Nano,

I changed the pinion gear shafts not the rack, These shafts were bent and it caused to much backlash if it stopped at a point in the rack thus causing the gantry to be out of square.

I found this out when I did a cut for a square panel with 3 passes, the finished product had steps instead of a clean cut. If you find this to be the issue be sure to change both sides. It does not take long to do this once it is dissassembled. I also changed the bearings to a sealed type, purchased from Kamen bearings locally. Be sure to fit the pinion to the rack a tight as you can to you have a good mesh. I also changed out the x axis shaft which is the same part number because it too was drifting in and out.

[priestwood]

hi mano,

i always advise cnc owners to check their softwares before trying to make alterations to their hardwares. your squaring problem might be that you tampered with the positions of your homing sensors located on the sides of your machine near the y and 6th axis motors. we had the same problem and all we did was to reset the 6th axis (c axis) and our squaring is very good now.

if the squaring is the major concern now, i will advice you follow the following steps and if you have done that in the past, then you might have to try your hardware, and i think there 's a parameter that you input the diameter of your gears (will check my books).

1. go to parameter 886
2. change the value to 0, system might ask you for a password, enter 520 for password here.
3.go back to first screen
4.zero machine
5.write down the c axis value when machine is at home.
6.go back to parameter 886 again
7. enter that figure you wrote down in number 5 above and enter 520 if machine ask you for password
8.then home or zero machine again.

if the steps above are followed and you still have squaring problems, then i am sure that your homing sensor has shifted from default , probably you have tampered with them. i believe they are specially set from the factory for alignment. i have never tampered with ours.

for the tables , i believe yours should be the same with mine , i will measure the table size tommorrow and feed you back, the distance between your tool rack and the positive end of your table look too close, i still insist you send me a photograph of your table top with tool rack and the picture of your monitor when you home your machine.

regards.

[MaNo]

Hi all, I had traded the constant sunshine here with some crisp Canadian weather for a few weeks, hence my silence......

Fieldworker, I checked the shafts by observing them under motion but they are true. No wobble detetcted.

Priestwood, I do believe I have undone and repositioned the majority of moveable components on the machine That includes the home and limit switches on each Y side. But all was done at the instructions of the engineer at Maxicam with whom I spent many hours trying to get things going via skype and webcam. We changed the software several times as well.

We now came to the conclusion that somewhere along the manufacturing process, a worker took the wrong base/table for the machine I ordered. It is essentially a table for a 1325 machine without ATC so even if we were to get the machine to work otherwise we still couldn't work the ATC.

Maxicam has offered a machine replacement inclusive of freight and duties. This decision, taken by management of Maxicam, makes me believe to be dealing with a honourable company and makes me wonder too how many other factories would have bothered about a problem on the other side of the earth.

Will post again when I have further news.

[roctech]

Originally Posted by MaNo Does anyone reading this post have a MAXICAM or EXCITECH 1325 machine with rack type ATC and vacuum table, or knows of anyone having such a machine? The MAXICAM machine is usually called Maxi CD 1325 SE-T-V and can be seen here.. http://www.maxicamglobal-cnc.com/1325C.asp I am looking for the dimensions or specifications of the frame, table top and working envelope. I do not mean those specs published by manufacturer but the actual, physical properties. Kindly contact me via PM or nmajerus[at]caribsurf[dot]com as I am in dire need of that info. Also, if you have a working knowledge of the Syntec EZ 4012M please contact me as soon as convenient. Apologies for double posting on CNCZone (Chinese Machines) but I am in rather urgent need of the info. Thanks

Hello Mano,

I am sorry I was absent for months of CNC ZONE because I am always busy on marketing of our products, now still have problem? you can contact me by info[at]roc-tec[dot]net then we will give you more help.
now I have two engineer very good at Syntec system.

Hope you are going well.