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  1. #1
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    Jan 2012
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    Mechtronics-Dyna EM3116 cnc knee mill

    CNC knee mill people,

    I am looking at buying a mid/late-1990's DYNA EM3116 CNC Knee Mill, 3 Axis with Dyna 4M PC-III Control. Anyone have any knowledge or experience with these machines? What are the controls like for programming on these machines? I was kinda wondering about the overall construction of the servo system. The servo drive motors seem to be very small compared to most others. Comments please...

    Thank you

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
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    672
    The machine is a typical generic Bridgeport copy.

    Control is identical to the one used on Dyna's full size vertical machining centers. If you could add an encoder and precise speed control to the spindle, the machine would be able to rigid tap just like the big machines.

    Control is PC based running MS-DOS 6.xx with an IDE hard drive. Going from memory, the rapids are 300ipm and max cutting feed is 200ipm. Axis servos use belts and timing pulleys at either 3:1 or 4:1 ratio. Standard R8 spindle with a power draw bar. Travels are X31" and Y16". Can be used as a manual mill with fancy DRO by pressing a single button on the control panel.

    Uses standard G/M codes with some conversational codes built in. 3.5" floppy drive and RS232 port.

  3. #3
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    Jan 2012
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    Hello Caprirs,

    Thanks for the reply back. I have some other questions regarding this Dyna mill. Little back ground about myself, I'm an engineer with a daytime job and have a small machining and welding shop at my house. I have some ideas and designs I would like to market some day, thus the reason for needing to upgrade to a cnc unit. I have the opportunity to buy this Dyna mill for about the going price of a standard manual knee mill in my area.

    My questions are:

    Can I get/buy replacement parts (mechanical and electrical) for this machine?

    Why are the servo motors so small on this machine, does this effect motor performance output (torque/speed/ref)?

    Can this machine be ran from a conversational mode only and is it user-friendly (I don't have any offline cad/cam systems right now)?

    Can I use any cad/cam software with the Dyna controls? Any post processing requirements?

    Both the power drawbar unit and jog handwheel controller are missing. Can I adapt an "after-market" power drawbar unit and get/buy a jog handwheel controller?

    I plan to use this machine for proto-typing and light-to-moderate production, cutting a wide range of materials (mostly steel and alum) any concerns or other comments?

    Thank you for your time...

  4. #4
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    Oct 2005
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    672
    Quote Originally Posted by shoptalk00 View Post
    Can I get/buy replacement parts (mechanical and electrical) for this machine?
    Some part are available. When the 3116 was initially introduced, the control had an industrial PC made by Winsys (I think) which was 486-based and had a monochrome LCD. Later machines were made with off-the-shelf Shuttle main boards using Pentium CPUs and a whopping 16MB of RAM. Replacement of the PC parts is limited by the ability to interface with the video card and communications cables to the Big Board in the back power cabinet.

    Why are the servo motors so small on this machine, does this effect motor performance output (torque/speed/ref)?
    Not sure what you mean by small? They will move the table at 300ipm rapids. Are you concerned about stalling the motors while cutting? Any size servo can be stalled and without knowing your full cutting conditions, there's no way to predict if these are strong enough.

    Can this machine be ran from a conversational mode only and is it user-friendly (I don't have any offline cad/cam systems right now)?
    There is a semi-conversational mode but it still uses G-codes. In the program edit screen, all supported G/M codes are listed on the right side. Selecting one of those codes will bring up a rudimentary pop-up that graphically displays what the G code will do. There are built in codes for rectangular & circular pockets, bolt hole circle drilling, rectangular arrays, etc. In my experience, conversational controls are handy when first learning but become a real impediment and hassle as the user gets more comfortable with the machine.

    Can I use any cad/cam software with the Dyna controls? Any post processing requirements?
    Any CAD/CAM can be used to create tool paths. CAD/CAM companies write their own post processors to take the tool paths and convert them to the motion code specific to each machine. Since the 3116 uses standard G/M codes, nearly any CAD/CAM will work. No matter which software used, a little hand editing is almost always necessary. The hand editing is typically minimal and specific to the machine/machinist/shop. For instance, I use an old version of GibbsCAM and subprograms are called by M98 Nxxxx but my machines need the format to be M98 Hxxxx. Thus, after creating the tool paths and after posting the code to a text file, I open the text file with Notepad and do a find/replace to change the M98 lines. The text file is then sent via RS232 to the mill and stored in the machine memory for execution.

    Post processors are proprietary to each CAD/CAM company and wirtten to convert the proprietary tool paths into the properly formatted motion code for the machine. For example, a Mastercam post processor cannot be used to convert BobCAD tool paths. The post processor handles the specific codes for each move along with all the fussy stuff like whether the machine will accept M3 or must use M03 to turn on the spindle. The Dyna is pretty easy and not too picky.

    Both the power drawbar unit and jog handwheel controller are missing. Can I adapt an "after-market" power drawbar unit and get/buy a jog handwheel controller?
    I think any power draw bar can be adapted but do not know that for sure. The handwheel might have to come from Dyna and they should be able to get one for you. No idea on price.

    I plan to use this machine for proto-typing and light-to-moderate production, cutting a wide range of materials (mostly steel and alum) any concerns or other comments?
    If you get much use out of it, you'll probably want to get a full size machining center with tool changer, flood coolant, rigid tapping, and full enclosure pretty soon. The less you have to tend to the machine changing tools and cleaning up, the more time you can spend doing other things.

  5. #5
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    Jan 2012
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    This machine has the Pentium CPU board inside the operator control panel (I think this machine is a 1997-1998 model). The servo motors on this machine measure around 2" in dia and 4" long and are directly belt driven to their axis. This motor size seemed very small in size compared to all the other cnc knee mills (same size and set-up) I have looked at in the past. Just something that caught my attention.

  6. #6
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    Oct 2005
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    Size doesn't matter. It's how you use it.

  7. #7
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    Hello Caprirs,

    I bought the Dyna machine and had it delivered today. I put power on it today having some issues with the screen not powering up. I can see the buttons going through a power up but the screen is dead. I noticed many different led lights in the back cabinet. Have to troubleshoot without any manuals. Please help! Thanks

  8. #8
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    Oct 2005
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    Was the screen working before you got the machine? Or was it already dead and that's (partly) why it was being sold?

  9. #9
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    I bought the machine not knowning if it worked or not. The place where the machine was stored at did not have any 3 phase power. The machine looks overall to be in good shape not used hard at all just looks like it has been in storage for a long time. I got it back to my place hooked power up and did some electrical checks everything seems to power up but screen. I would like to do some troubleshooting to see what it would take to bring this baby back to life. Do you have any experience troubleshooting this type of machine? If so, I could really use your help right now since I don't have any service manuals for this machine. Thanks

  10. #10
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    Oct 2005
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    672
    The first thing to determine is if

    - the machine is booting up correctly with a dead screen or
    - if the screen works but the machine isn't actually booting up

    In the back cabinet, locate the Big Board. That's what Dyna called it. You might even find that printed on it. There are a bunch of LEDs to indicate various states. The ones to look at are in the middle of the board, not around the edges. There are two places with a couple banks of LEDs. When the power button is first pressed on the front control panel, these LEDs will light up one at a time sequentially "running" from one end of the bank to the other then repeating. After the PC in the front console has fully booted, started the Dyna 4M software, and established communication with the Big Board, those running lights will change to a half on/half off pattern that alternates more slowly.

    If the LEDs remain do not switch from the single running pattern to the half/half pattern, the PC is not booting and establishing communication to the back cabinet. If the LEDs do change pattern, the PC is booting but the display is not coming on.

  11. #11
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    Last night I noticed after everything was powered up that on the "big board" those two banks of LEDs were flashing together in a pattern like sequence fairly consistently. I will be back out in the shop today working on it and will take note with these LEDs. Also, I noticed that there was a video card inside the pc cabinet with a VGA serial connection port so I tried using an external monitor to see if I could boot the screen but had no luck. Is it possible to use an external monitor in this case? This machine appears to be a late 1990's (1998-1999) model based on the tags I am seeing on all the pc boards. Thanks

  12. #12
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    Oct 2005
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    Depending on when it was built, the PC will be either an industrial PC with a 486 CPU or a off-the-shelf main board with a Pentium CPU. Displays varied over the years starting with monochrome and going to color later.

    LEDs on the Big Board will be either:

    ****____
    ****____

    or

    *_*_*_*_
    _*_*_*_*

    The first pattern indicates the PC is booted correctly and communicating with the Big Board. The second pattern means the Big Board is powered up but not yet communicating with the PC in the front.

    Need to figure if the PC isn't booting or if it's just the display.

  13. #13
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    Not sure which display I have but the one in the cabinet is fairly thin and compact in size. The board in the operator control panel is a Pentium cpu. Would you be available to talk over the phone for a few minutes? Sounds like you have some knowledge about the dyna mill that could help get me off the ground running! Let me know. Thanks

  14. #14
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    I got the unit to boot up and run! I had to power everything down a couple of times and the beast came to life. I still might have an issue due to it not wanting to boot up the first time. Now I have to figure out the Dyna controls so I can start programming it. I am having issues with the spindle contactor not working. With the spindle button enable on the controller I only have around 27-30 vac on the coil of the contactor. I believe the coil needs 120vac to pull in, is this correct? Is there a certain control sequence needed to operate the spindle motor? Do you have any machine documentation for the dyna mill? I really appreciate the help you have given me so far...Thanks!

  15. #15
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    Oct 2005
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    Glad to hear it was just sticky lazy electrons. Amazing how just cycling power can resolve things sometimes.

    I assume the spindle contactor needs 120VAC. If memory serves, on the Big Board along the right edge towards the bottom there are a bunch of solid state relays with their outputs going to a terminal strip. These relays control the spindle, coolant pump, auto way lube pump, DC power supply for the axis amps, etc. (On the full size machining centers, these also control the tool changer solenoids). Next to each relay on the board is a tiny round fuse. It's possible one of the fuses or relays is bad and preventing the full voltage from reaching the contactor. These are 120VAC so be sure power is off when poking around.

    There is some documentation in the machine already. Pressing the Help button will bring up some basic info. By paging down in the help screen, at the very end there are descriptions of stock parameter settings and input/output wiring. For instance, there will be something that says spindle ON is Y123 in the PLC and connects to the Big Board at J19 pin 3. (I made those numbers up btw).

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
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    36

    I have manuals :wave:

    Strange that my very first post is me helping someone else out I seem to be the one always needing the help That I am sure Caprirs can attest to being as he has helped me out on my journey to purchasing my very own Dyna EM-3116.

    That said, down to the point of my post. I was fortunate enough to have purchased my machine with all the instruction manuals including a fold out sheet (that means bigger than A4) of the wiring & board schematics. So being as this is a 'helpful community' we are in I would be more than happy to help with any information I can give you. Please be gentle as I am only just learning this machine and its operation myself

    The manuals I have are:
    Dyna 4M Machine Control & Programming Manual (190 page)

    The DM1007, EM3116 (A) & DM2800 Operation & Reference Manual (160 page)

    The Mechanical Manual & Parts List For The EM-3116 CNC Milling Machine (40 page)

    These are for version 2.2-1 software and have my machines serial number on them which is to be expected as certain sections of the manuals state setting to be machine specific (i.e. initial parameter settings). Those areas can be treated as reference only I guess.

    Ok, I think I've rambled on enough for one post Good luck and as my wife would say, KEEP THAT BLOODY SWARF IN THE SHED!

  17. #17
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    Hello Hytec,

    I am interested in getting a copy of the manuals. Let me know

    Thanks!

  18. #18
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    Jul 2011
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    Manuals for the EM-3116

    Hey shoptalk00,
    is there any particular manual or section you are interested in? I am not too computer savvy so if you wanted me to scan the lot to a PDF I have to ask someone to do that for me or if you're a little old school like me and prefer paper copy I can approach the local Officeworks and find out what costs would be involved. Though there are quite a few pages and I would dread to think what it might be worth. Meh, I'll get a price anyway.

    If there's anything you need immediately just let me know and I'll try and get at least that part to you.

    Good luck,

    Hytek

  19. #19
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    Jul 2011
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    Ehhh no!

    Ok so we won't be taking that option. In short, I am in the wrong business. To have a copy of the manuals made would come in at $130 for the 3 of them. Leave it with me and I'll see what I can come up with

  20. #20
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    Jan 2021
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    Quote Originally Posted by Hytek View Post
    Ok so we won't be taking that option. In short, I am in the wrong business. To have a copy of the manuals made would come in at $130 for the 3 of them. Leave it with me and I'll see what I can come up with
    Hello Hytek,

    Did you ever get the manuals in a digital format? I'm looking at a DM2800 and would like to have the manuals if possible. Thank you for any help

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