Does anyone know much about this CNC Mill machine?? Need some help.

[TheTester]

I am in the market to purchase a VMC. I found this one on CraigsList that is sitting in a plant. It is a leadwell 1986 model and is under power. They told me it is a mitsubishi controller with tool changer. I have no idea as I have never used or know one single thing about either a leadwell or the mitsubishi controller. I am not sure how this system works at all. I am not sure if I will have to only feed this thing striaght G code or what. As stated I am noob to any of this information. Could someone please shine some light on this machine for me??.... I was told this machine will hold within a thou over 12 inches. I know thats not great but hey now the machine is only 500 bucks.... Any help here would be so appreciated you don't know.

Thanks again for reading and helping if you decide too.

TheTester

[underthetire]

If it runs for 500 bucks, it's worth it.

[TheTester]

I know it is worth the asking price even for scrap. That is not the dilema. I will be using this equipment in my shop and not interested in buying scrap to resale scrap. It looks like from my quick google it may use the meldas m0..1... or so on controls. Since I am not familiar with this machine or controls at all, what would be the first questions to ask? How are the programs fed to this machine? I am familiar with how new VMC operate as far as from cad to cam to machine. I am not sure how this old of a machine differs. I am not an old vet in the realm of machining. I am quite new actually and still need to learn quite a bit. Like I said before any help would be GREAT GREATLY appreciated.

TheTester

[awerby]

They are basically good machines, but running them on the old obsolete control will be problematic. The memory on a control that old will be minuscule, so it will have difficulty handling modern programs written by CAM software. And, at least on mine, all the plastic parts were fragile, possibly due to long exposure to oils and cutting fluids. Every so often you'd push a button and hear a sickening crunch...

If you write your G-code by hand, you only want to do 2.5d parts, and they've got the manuals for this controller for you, it might work fine for you (especially if you're good at repairs). Otherwise, you're looking at a retrofit project, which can be expensive and time-consuming. On the other hand, the price is certainly right, and if you did a good job on the retrofit, you'd have a pretty capable machine for a relatively small investment. My old Leadwell is working pretty well now, but I had some expert help with the retrofit to Emerson AC servos and drives, a new computer, and EMC control.

Andrew Werby
ComputerSculpture.com — Home Page for Discount Hardware & Software

[Shane123]

you could also drip feed your programs like I do with my vmc tree.