Hello everybody, firstly let me say that this forum is the best thing since sliced bread.
As a complete CNC novice, I inadvertently wandered on here about 3 or 4 months ago and within half an hour I vowed to build myself a CNC router. Since then, I have managed to buy myself a second hand machine and I now humbly seek advice from you guys.
I have a small sign business in the UK and the machine I have bought is an Elu 860 Machining Centre, does anybody know of this machine? I hope to be able to use it for routing letters and shapes out of foamex and acrylic etc, and possibly some 3D work,
I do not do a large amount of this type of work and I am able to continue sub contracting while I familiarise myself and do a bit of totally unnecessary upgrading in my spare time.
The machine has an 860 x 860mm machining area and 90mm Z axis travel
The Y axis has 2 lead screws, one attached directly to the motor, the other side driven by a belt from the same motor. The X and Z axis are also lead screw and direct drive from the motors
I don’t know how to calculate the lead screw pitch but I have established that 1 rotation of any of the motors equates to 2mm of travel on the axis.
All the lead screws, bearings and bushes etc seem to be in good condition.
The machine is about 8 or 9 years old and has the following 3 stepper motors:
On the X & Z axis MAE SPA HY200 3424 0310 AL04, (4 wires) on the end cover of the motors it has 13.95. Step Angle 1.8 degrees, Step Angle Accuracy 5%, Rated Phase Current 3.1A, Phase Resistance 0.90ohm, Phase Inductance 2.9 mH, Holding Torque unipolar 2 phases on 141Ncm, Holding Torque bipolar 2 phases on 182Ncm, (I think that this equates to Nemo 34, not sure though?) Maximum applicable voltage 90V.
On the Y axis I have a Step Syn 103-815-7 motor. DC 2.5V, 4.6A, 1.8 Deg/Step (8 wires).
I think that the motors are probably adequate for the purpose however, the control system, although very robust and high quality, is a little out of date.
The machine has a maximum speed of 1800mm per minute (rapid travel) but I think it may be capable of a little more.
The machine appears to be very accurate, the motion is a little jerky on complex 2D curves so I guess 3D work would be even slower, I think this is down to the controller being slow to compute and send the data.
Although the machine works fine, I really relish the thought of upgrading the controller aspect of the machine in order to gain a little more speed and nice smooth constant curves.
The controller is fed from a dedicated machine keyboard and this keyboard can be connected to a PC via a serial lead. The dedicated software that came with the machine is DOS based and has never been updated, it will only run from a DOS prompt in Windows 98.
Assuming that I’m going to dispense with the machine keyboard and the existing controller system, my questions are as follows:
(1) Assuming the machine is in reasonable condition, what is a reasonable maximum rapid travel speed for this type of lead screw machine, as opposed to ball screw.
(2) Are my motors capable of a bit more speed and smoothness with the right controller system?
(3) What are the elements of “The Controller”, in addition to the power supply etc, is it a driver card for each motor, plugged on to a mother board of some kind, with a spare slot for a 4th axis if you want one?
(4) I would like to be able to control the machine from the PC and have a small hand held pad with jog control, stop & start etc, what do you recommend?
(5) I made one enquiry about the price of a controller and was told “Sounds like a nice machine. Sorry to say our controller box will only go to 2.5 amps max per phase where as you are gonna need something more beefy than that“, does this mean I need a 4.6 amp controller?
(6) What is a break out board & what is the oz-in rating on my motors?
I know these questions are a bit basic to most of you guys, but any help or comments would be really greatly appreciated.
.
Thank you in anticipation
Steve
PS Some Pics
http://www.cnczone.com/gallery/data/...Lead_Screw.JPG
http://www.cnczone.com/gallery/data/500/Z_Front.JPG
http://www.cnczone.com/gallery/data/500/Front1.JPG
http://www.cnczone.com/gallery/data/500/Keyboard.JPG
http://www.cnczone.com/gallery/data/...ntroller11.JPG
http://www.cnczone.com/gallery/data/...ntroller41.JPG
http://www.cnczone.com/gallery/data/...ntroller31.JPG
http://www.cnczone.com/gallery/data/500/Controller2.JPG