MD3 - Next project, 4th axis

[gthlm]

I've been thinking about fitting a 4th to the machine for a while. I have a spare x/y dual axis board and I've copied the eproms from my dad's. Now I'm wondering if this is a suitable unit, it looks about the right vintage but I don't know squat about it.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Hurco-4th-Axis-Horizontal-Vertical

If it's good, what would be a suitable servo amp? Air or air/hydraulic clamping?

Thanks, Gregor

[bloke]

Righty ho.
You'll need: a custom harness in your cabinet to suit this table. It's a Jones & Shipman rotary, not very strong and likely to need a bit of work to get it lively. It will need to have the air/hydraulic booster to do the braking (I don't know if it is supplied).
Hurco used a DC servo amp to drive these. They don't stock the amps any more. You'll need a pair of -363 EPROMS in your dual axis board. Maybe see if you can find a used Nikken table with Yaskawa motors instead.

[gthlm]

Cliff, as usual thanks for the excellent info.

I'll keep looking for a better table, we have an ongoing job that would benefit from one, but I don't want to tie the new machine up with it.

You have me wondering though, would that table be a good fit for my dads max 2 bmc 25? It's got the air-hydraulic booster and an oddball open board amplifier for the 4th.

Cheers, Gregor

[bloke]

It sounds like he has the right interface for it. Does his machine have a small, round aluminium socket about 40-50mm diameter with a black insert in? If so, you'd need to make sure the table came with the cable to connect it to this socket.
The J&S tables didn't have a very big worm wheel arrangement in and could suffer with uneven backlash if crashed even lightly. The price they are asking for it is a bit steep though for the age and possible work it would need.

[gthlm]

Right, next idea.

Would it be possible/very difficult to set up the MD3 for the rotary off of our new machine? It's a H320. Since it's still sitting in it's shipping crate and likely to stay there 99% of the time it would make sense to be able to put it on either machine. (i.e. on the MD3 where it would see much more use)

Cheers, Gregor

[bloke]

You'd need a custom harness for the cabinet and another servo amp to drive it. May need some special interfacing to invert signals as well. I'd have to look at some drawings to see what's needed.
It's do-able.

[gthlm]

Hi Cliff, I spoke to my boss about this idea this afternoon and he agreed that it would be worthwhile.

Would yourselves (Hurco) undertake this work? I believe we have one of your guys coming up to look at the washdown system on our new machine so there may be an opportunity in the near future...

Thanks, Gregor

[madureiraa]

OLA! COMUNIDADE ESTOU ESCREVENDO HOJE PELA PRIMEIRA VEZ SAUDAÇÔES A TODOS.

[bloke]

Gregor,
Have a word with the service manager (Steve) and see if he'll sanction it. There's quite a lot of specials coming through the pipeline at the moment so he may or may not say no (due to time constraints) - for the time being.