Some of you may remember, I am PC-refitting a hurco KM1 (bridgeport series 1 varispeed with awesome ballscrews)

Today, I FINALLY got to work on the limit switches... I got tired of trying to make the opticals work with a soundlogic breakout board... seems one side does merely a continuity, and the other does a voltage change... but use the same common !!!

mach II and soundlogic didn't much care for that.

so, i removed the opticals (ebay fodder) and replaced with some NO microswitches...

WOW, i could ref the axis and make everything work!!! I even did some low level servo-to-gecko tuning.

running it at 65vdc, 20 amps.. well within the geckos safety limits.


I also received my kwikswitch 200 tooling from Butch, which made me get off my duff and get moving.


Still not making chips, as the head is rotated down 90degrees, as it's sitting just inside the garage, not in it's final bolted down location.

perhaps next weekend

jeffe

Hey jeffe,

my old man says he has some kwikswitch holders he just has to find them, he also has a source for some more at a cheap rate. also gettin some endmills for ya. james

James,
most excellent!!
jeffe

Jeffe grab all the Kwik Switch 200 tooling that you can find. It is no longer made and very expensive. The auction that I went to the end mill holders went to a dealer for $86. ea. Butch

Butch,
only one company is still making KS 200, and they are 140 each, new...
http://www.toolingsystems.com/univ/kwikswitch/

WOW, this thing changes tools fast, ,,, more to the point, *I* can change those tools fast!!

getting pretty scarce, and I bet I have to buy a couple new ones (arbor stuff) before it's all done.

jeffe

got it mostly in place and the head turning tonight....

will reconnect the pc controls tomorrow, as i am too tired to think in bits....


need to level and tram it, too

jeffe

toolmex and scully jones both have ks 200 heads for around 50$ each new.

Sorry jeffe we pulled the box from my dads shop and all the holders are ks 300 and won't fit, but he is still looking. but i believe you can change the holding system to use a different and less expensive style if you want.

James,
I'll look up those guys...

Thanks for looking.... kinda committed to the ks-200.. when you see the mill, you'll understand... and i have a full second ks-200 spindle cartridge that's never been in a mill...

i'll just have to suck it up a little, and buy/make the last things i need

jeffe

Jeffe,

You do the "niftyest" things! Keep doing it. Keep on keepin' on.

Got any web prefered references on the subject of making a regular mill into a CNC machine?

I have a Jet with an Accurite DRO that could provide digital position information feedback.

Also, do you have a non-hogback pattern stock for the CZ 550 Safari Mag?

Mike,
on CNC, join these yahoo groups
cad-cam-dro
mach-ii
DIY cnc

I have some plans for a bridgeport series I for making mounts, but i found the hurco for what I could have bought the balls screws with...

these aren't nearly as far from you as they are from me
http://www.practicalmachinist.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ub...t_topic;f=4;t=002287

and that's a decent forum to join as well.

I also have the cz 550 american stock for a pattern, that I am trying to add abotu 3/8 of inch of drop in, as it's not enough for iron sights, as is

quick run down on cnc

1:a servos.. upgrade whatever encoders with US digitals. runs about 100$ an axis
1:b steppers, replace geckos 320/340 with gecko 2002

2: power supply.. geckos are limited to 80vdc/20a per motor. this will be fun to build

3: optically isolated breakout board... don't even THINK about doing a pc conversion without spending this $135.. besides, it's more than worth the money for the ease of wiring

4: limits/home switches... if you think you might RUN (not test) the machine without these, just send me 2k, that you'll put into a machine, and save yourself the trouble of ruining one

5: PC/Contoller.. Mach-II.. 140$

6: cabling... this is about a 2 days talk


just an overview.. it's NOT hard, it's just time consuming

jeffe

well, it works!!
now to finish out the wiring into the conduit and mounting into the rack .. then bolting it down!!

jeffe

well,,,
i have .003" backlash on X, less in y and z...

and i have NO CLUE how to get rid of it, or if it even really matters

Update

1: Control/powersupply is in the 1/2 rack rolling cabinet

2: geckos are on thin steel plates, under 2 4" 12vdc fans... ran for 3 hours, didn't even get warm.. cool to the touch

3: all axis wiring in conduit

4: conduit mounted to cabinet

5: amphenol 20x2 data/power quick disconnects on each axis


Apparently I ordered, for the home/limit switches, belts a little too long, and can only button up the Z axis today... i'll order replacements from mcmaster today, and we'll see in 3 days. should be environmentally sealed by thursday.

all in all, i am very pleased.. just concerned about the backlash...

remaining items
1: level
2: bolt down
3: tram after above
4: connect VFD to mach II via soundlogic board
5: connect relay to turn on flood coolant
6: connect relay to turn on oiler
7: connect relay to lock spindle (air brake)
8: make enclosure to collect coolant and chips


nearly done!!!

jeffe

Jeffe, I'll give you a call but it should be a simple matter to have the control automatically correct for the backlash. I'm sure the Mach II control has that ability. If not you can amend your post processor to correct for it at post time.

Again, not a big deal and should be fixable. As for your Z axis it shouldn't matter. You will be feeding down all the time unless you get into some strange milling problems but with what I think you intend to do with it I simply don't see you feeding in the positive direction and if you do I would doubt that .003 will be an issue that you can't correct with a simple correction in the program to make it go .003 more than the drawn cutter path. Of course, if you start doing a lot of 3 dimensional work my Z axis comment is not accurate.

I still bet the Mach II has the ability to correct it. On my VMCs (Bridgeport and Haas) there is a parameter page that allows backlash inputs. You simply enter in the amount of backlash you have in the 3, 4, or 5 axis and let it rip (no pun intended Ron).

John

BTW Jeff I may have some collant encloser parts laying around the shop. I'm sure I've got at least two. They're yours if you want.
John