[Corhoin]

HI

HAs anyone managed to get an emco compact 5 cnc to work from a dxf file yet?

It is possible and actually quite easy to create a part and toolpaths using the obsolete Emco CAD/CAM DOS software, available from the Yahoo group "Emco_cnc_users", but you probably can't use AutoCAD or IntelliCAD (a free AutoCAD clone) for creating the DXF file – as the EMCO software won't read it correctly. You'll need to find some other CAD package and see if it works for creating compatible DXF files. I spent several hours yesterday to find which IntelliCAD 2000 DXF formats work and which do not. For some odd reason the imported DXF geometry was always shifted several inches from the (0,0) point and usually the DXF file couldn't be read in at all.

The best way for you to go would be to retrofit the Compact 5 CNC lathe to use a normal PC computer and Mach3 as the controller. It's quite easy. After that you won't have any compatibility problems as most CAM software can export compatible G code for any lathe having Mach3 as the controller, and there won't be practically any file size limitations like the original CNC controller has.

You'll probably need to change the old-fashioned and weak Emco steppers and drivers found on a stock lathe to modern steppers or servos, which is quite inexpensive and easy. I'm going to rebuild my lathe to use small 100W Yaskawa servos that can be easily and extremely accurately controlled by the Mach3 software, although I'll need to make new timing belt pulleys for the 8mm shafts on the servos. The stock stepper shafts are either 6mm or 6.35mm (1/4") in diameter, so the original timing pulleys can probably be used without too much machining on any decent stepper motors.

It all depends on how much time (and money, perhaps) you want to spend on these machines. The basic iron is good, but the electronics is as obsolete as any 80s computer electronics can be. Lots of repairs to be expected even if the machine runs well now.