[Fractal16]

Hello,

I’ve been fixing and cleaning up an older machine called a Falcon Chevalier FM-2040 MB. I do work as an electrical panel assembler so I have some experience with wiring electrical components and systems up. I do not have a lot of experience with CNC milling machines but I have stripped the old control system and replaced it with a more modern controller.

Here is a short video of it operating: https://youtu.be/qXcnidtmZyo

If you are interested, I have a Ebay Listing for it: https://www.ebay.com/itm/334887177631

I am located near Murray, KY, USA and I have access to a fork lift that is able to load it.


Here are some details for the machine:

The mill is a bed style mill and looks similar to a Bridgeport mill. The bed moves in the X and Y axis. The Z axis uses a vertical ball screw with a counterbalance to help support it.

All three axes have ball screws driven by a belt and pulley.

The Spindle motor is a Baldor rated at 5HP. The Base Speed at 60Hz is 1750 rpm and I currently have it overspeed to 3000 rpm at 115 Hz. I was unsure how much more speed I could get safely.

It had sat outside for a decent amount of time so I had to strip it down and clean it. I then replaced the old control system along with the motor and drives as well I rewired the control enclosure. It was previously wired for 3-Phase power but I switched it to be a single phase 220v system. I purchased steppers and a new VFD from automation technology as the older VFD would have only provided 2-3HP with single phase downrating it. I put in some gecko drives for the steppers. The control software is Mach 4 as I am slightly familiar with it as I have helped configure a CNC router using it.

These are the best metrics I have been able to reach with it.

X Stats:
Speed: 90 IPM
Acceleration: 9.0
Axis Travel: 40.5”
Backlash(without compensation): 4.5 Thousandth of an inch


y Stats:
Speed: 90 IPM
Acceleration: 9.0
Axis Travel: 20.3”
Backlash(without compensation): 2 Thousandth of an inch


Z Stats:
Speed: 70 IPM
Acceleration: 7.0
Axis Travel: 23.9”
Backlash(without compensation): 0.5 - 1 Thousandth of an inch