Need Help! Retrofit Sharp CNC Knee Mill


Results 1 to 2 of 2

Thread: Retrofit Sharp CNC Knee Mill

  1. #1
    Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    54
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0

    Default Retrofit Sharp CNC Knee Mill

    I just picked up a Sharp HCV CNC knee mill:

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/uy1vg5d0iz33WUFn1

    It has:
    -a Mitutoyo Millstar CNC control (an old Pentium S PC with a whopping 4 megabytes of RAM) that doesn’t boot; BIOS screen doesn’t show the IDE drive and says boot failed. I hear the drive spin up.

    -Mitutoyo linear scales on X (AT-111), Y (AT-102) and on the quill (AT-111).

    -Galil DMC-1020 ISA 2 axis motion control card

    -Glentek brushed DC a servo drives for X & Y and Glentek power supply.

    -Glentek brushed DC servo motors on X & Y

    -a new 3HP Gromax variable speed head


    Retrofit goals:
    -be able to continue to use the mill as a manual mill with DRO readout (leave Mitutoyo scales on), but also switch to using CNC.

    -inexpensively get it going as a CNC.

    -eventually add quill servo driven axis to make it 3 axis. Eventually add a 4th axis?


    Questions:
    -Linux CNC? Mach 3? Other?
    -Worth replacing the brushed DC servo motors and drives with AC? Sounds like a lot of time and money...
    -Recommendations on drives, breakout boards, motion boards, ...? For existing DC motors? Recommendations on swapping out to brushless?
    -Cost per axis to stick with existing brushed DC motors?
    -Cost per axis to switch to AC/brushless?


    My kids have been helping me clean off some of the grit and dirt and rust with Scotchbrite and WD-40. The Y axis definitely shows some wear and a bit of scoring on the ways, but the overall machine is pretty solid.


    Anyone have manuals for the Sharp mill?
    Docs for Mitutoyo Millstar?
    Docs for Gromax 3HP variable speed head?
    Recommendations for way oil? Spindle oil? ...
    Anybody have a Millstar hard drive that I could clone?


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

    Similar Threads:


  2. #2
    Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    54
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0

    Default Re: Retrofit Sharp CNC Knee Mill

    Quote Originally Posted by rpseguin View Post
    I just picked up a Sharp HCV CNC knee mill:

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/uy1vg5d0iz33WUFn1

    It has:
    -a Mitutoyo Millstar CNC control (an old Pentium S PC with a whopping 4 megabytes of RAM) that doesn’t boot; BIOS screen doesn’t show the IDE drive and says boot failed. I hear the drive spin up.

    -Mitutoyo linear scales on X (AT-111), Y (AT-102) and on the quill (AT-111).

    -Galil DMC-1020 ISA 2 axis motion control card

    -Glentek brushed DC a servo drives for X & Y and Glentek power supply.

    -Glentek brushed DC servo motors on X & Y

    -a new 3HP Gromax variable speed head


    Retrofit goals:
    -be able to continue to use the mill as a manual mill with DRO readout (leave Mitutoyo scales on), but also switch to using CNC.

    -inexpensively get it going as a CNC.

    -eventually add quill servo driven axis to make it 3 axis. Eventually add a 4th axis?


    Questions:
    -Linux CNC? Mach 3? Other?
    -Worth replacing the brushed DC servo motors and drives with AC? Sounds like a lot of time and money...
    -Recommendations on drives, breakout boards, motion boards, ...? For existing DC motors? Recommendations on swapping out to brushless?
    -Cost per axis to stick with existing brushed DC motors?
    -Cost per axis to switch to AC/brushless?


    My kids have been helping me clean off some of the grit and dirt and rust with Scotchbrite and WD-40. The Y axis definitely shows some wear and a bit of scoring on the ways, but the overall machine is pretty solid.


    Anyone have manuals for the Sharp mill?
    Docs for Mitutoyo Millstar?
    Docs for Gromax 3HP variable speed head?
    Recommendations for way oil? Spindle oil? ...
    Anybody have a Millstar hard drive that I could clone?


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    I forgot to mention that I may have some G320 Geckodrives, so that might be a good first path to follow.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk



Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  


About CNCzone.com

    We are the largest and most active discussion forum for manufacturing industry. The site is 100% free to join and use, so join today!

Follow us on


Our Brands

Retrofit Sharp CNC Knee Mill

Retrofit Sharp CNC Knee Mill