New VFD Tri-Power

[rdeeming]

I did get a few options when it came to holding parts. Went ahead and bought the full version of Mach3 and currently picking up tooling left and right. Enco is currently my main source.

I'm pretty happy with this machine. After reading and watching this forum, expectations were in line. I would suggest posting questions asking about options being considered.

[rdeeming]

Finally I have come full circle on this. CAD, CAM, Post Processing, GCODE editing, Prototype to the final goal. This took a bit of time for each one was all new for me. Hopefully the pain of the process is cut in half on the next adventure.

I should have a video soon showing some of the drama getting to this point.

At this point I need to dive into using the lathe for threading. As it stands as soon as I enable the input pulse for the lathe rotation, Mach3 just stops. No more details yet for I spent little time on it.

[rdeeming]

Pics and videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsgM37YtyVk]ShopTask Patriot CNC Prototype Part - YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5H5VCyARQs]ShopTask Patriot CNC 6061 First Part - YouTube

[Quadramaster]

Wow! That' pretty impressive, nice job... You don't need some kind of coolant huh?

[rdeeming]

Thanks man. I put your suggestion on the scientific thread mill to the test. Mach3 made it so easy.

There were a few tight spots that the wd40 can was put to use but for the most part I cranked everything down to a slow crawl. The end mill bit was such a cheap unscientific specimen that I just put the shopvac and 47 degree garage air temp to use.

[rdeeming]

Next up on the self education course, learn how to do threads on the lathe to match the below part.

My first problem was the trigger sensor for the lathe was not working. I tried messing with it when I first got the machine but there was so much other stuff to try and learn that it quickly got put in the endless queue of I don't have a clue.

After a good sold day of trying to get the trigger going on my own I finally had enough info to engage in an email thread with Dan at Camtronics. In less than 12hrs, I sent my email at 10pm, I had an answer by 8:40Am my problem was fixed. Sweet!

In my digging I learned a lot diving into the Mach3 docs for answers. To me this is not a total waste just getting the trigger to work. One question I had was how bad did I need to worry about backlash when the backlash compensation worked so good? Well it all works until you need a circle. I am on a little bit of a
backlash tangent at the moment.

After such a huge success with mill thread, I thought this was going to be a smashingly successful education program and would be done in 1hr. Lets just say I got an F. I'm going to only admit to ~16hrs to get something done.

The biggest thing I just could not get a grasp on was tool set up starting position after the thread wizard. Many other things contributed to slowness like the lathe spindle is just a wee bit more intimidating to me than the mill.

I will get some thread video up soon. For now I just stayed focused on the task at hand and did not bother to add another element to manage.

[FannBlade]

CAD, CAM, Post Processing, G CODE editing, Prototype to the final goal.

Congrats on taking all that in so rapidly.

[rdeeming]

Thanks. This is the final result to this project.

Next item on the CAD table is going to be a good challenge for me and will be a much more detailed process.

[rdeeming]

Been a while. So much to learn.

The next project on the CAD/CAM screen destined for the patriot is to make an adapter for an electric water pump. This has provided many new challenges for me.

Attached are pictures of the pain to get to the point I am now starting to prototype things on the mill.

[terrycan]

You guys are doing some great work with your Patriots. I bought a new one recently. Been having trouble with the lathe finish.

It faces very well with a nice finish.

The problem is with diameters. The X axis (dia.) appears to pulse back and forth about .0005. This leaves an unacceptable finish.

I have been a machinist since 1974. The set up, feeds and speeds are good.

Any body hear of this problem with other Patriots?

Any suggestions on how to identify the problem?

Terry