4896 issues... where to start... (Long)?

[Dave's_Not_Here]

Dave, I am going to wait to hear all is OK from you before I start anything with my 4th axis

I have Vectric Aspire and really don't do any 4th axis work, but it came with my machine so I'll give it a try later this summer.

Ed,

The 4th axis works mechanically... I get rotation etc. from the Interface. I have not run any programs on it yet. I am waiting to hear back from Techno regarding some 4th axis user info they supposedly have. Mike said that once he helps me setup the HOME sensor that came on my 4th axis, then we would walk through some basics. Essentially, I want to know about establishing the HOME position, touching off on a project, etc.

As for the actual 4th axis CAM, I have Aspire also and could use the Wrapper feature on some projects, however, I need full simultaneous 4th Axis capability, as well as indexed milling, so I chose to get madCAM, which plugs into my Rhino 3d software.

madCAM has a free trial download and the price was right for what I want to do. Rhino CAM is a plug in as well, but costs twice as much because you have to buy Rhino CAM then pay the same amount again to add 4th axis capability. It also seemed to be glitchy when I tried to use it... but it was the price that really made to decision for me.

D

[Ed Lang]

I would like to see pictures of your finished setup. I have a servo motor and cable. No chuck or tail stock.

I will have to do some work on my own to make it all work.

I also would like to hear what Techno has to say about the help and tricks to make it work.

Keep me posted!

ed

[Dave's_Not_Here]

I would like to see pictures of your finished setup. I have a servo motor and cable. No chuck or tail stock.

I will have to do some work on my own to make it all work.

I also would like to hear what Techno has to say about the help and tricks to make it work.

Keep me posted!

ed

Ed,

Do you have the 4th axis AMP for the Control Card and the 4th axis chip for the PCI card?

Other than that, all you need to do is run your cables and change a couple jumpers and you should be good to go from an electrical/mechanical perspective.

I bought my 4th axis from a guy in Texas that built it for me. He used a Phase II Rotary Indexer as the basis and machined up everything else. Added a photo sensor for the HOME switch. He will be making more to sell, that are an improved version over the one I have.

For the tail stock, I bought a Phase II adjustable one from Enco. It was normally $200 and I paid $119 with free shipping.

D

[Ed Lang]

I have no idea about the chip in the PCI card. I have the slow servo machine. The controller, again, I don't know but expect I would since the machine was ordered new with that option.

Can you show me a picture of what I need to look at to know for sure?

[Dave's_Not_Here]

I have no idea about the chip in the PCI card. I have the slow servo machine. The controller, again, I don't know but expect I would since the machine was ordered new with that option.

Can you show me a picture of what I need to look at to know for sure?

Ed,

I have attached the Techno Document they sent me, that explains how to add the 4th axis AMP and PCI Card Chip.

Pages 3,4 and 5 show how to add the 4th axis Amp.

Page 5 shows what Jumpers to change.

Page 6 shows where the 4th axis PCI Chip goes on you PCI card in you computer. If you have four in a row already, you are good to go.

Page 7 talks about hooking up the connectors from your 4th axis servo, to the control board. All you need to do, is follow the colored wire sequence on on the other 3 axis' and you are good to go. The encoder connection goes on the open connector next to the other three encoder cables.

The rest of the article is regarding software settings, etc. Not a lot of meat there, but covers the basics.

Now, this is for an Upgrade to 4th axis. If you already have the AMP and PCI Chip, they you can skip to the section that shows how to connect the cables.

Here is a YouTube video of my version of the 4th axis. Some modifications have been made since then (moving the Home sensor to the back for one) and the full housing has been removed.
[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=295Phu8GnjE&feature=channel"]YouTube- 4th Axis production model. Makes same test part twice as fast![/nomedia]

Let me know if you need anything else.


D