Member postings for Nick Hulme

It doesn't, Mach3 depends upon the stepper system being correctly set up and not losing steps, there is no feedback.

You can use inputs and scales to display positional data in Mach3 DROs (not the active ones under progrm control) but the software will not reference the data in real time or use it for positional correction

Emco FB-2 -

http://static.webshopapp.com/shops/036767/files/015177803/emco-fb2-milling-head-attachment.jpg

Remove the 4 top cover fasteners, remove the bolts on the inside which retain the motor and then drill the right holes to fit a flange mount alternative or even drill & tap a non flange mount front cover and bolt that on.

The FB-2 is a 6 speed head, the earlier 4 speed milling heads (MM1?) appear to have the motor front/gearbox top as an integrated casting -

http://www.lathes.co.uk/emcomiller/

I'm only referring to the FB-2.

- Nick

The FB-2 motor is bolted to the top cover of the gearbox, it's a small diameter motor frame for it's power output but that's all that's wierd about it, it's spindle has a standard nose for it's shaft size, I just machined my new motor's spindle nose to match in size and screwed the parts on.
When I added the spacer ring I needed longer clamping bolts so I ordered good quality high tensile bolts, machined the heads to fit the circular groove in the column section, trammed the head and torqued them up good and proper. The spacer plate is a stepped ring to mate exactly with the front & rear sections of the head, the rear joint was a firm fit and is bonded in place , there's no sign of any movement at all.

If you were to go with slightly less power than I did then frame size wouldn't be an issue and the motor could easily be replaced. After all, it's just a motor and "Where There's An Engineer There's A Way", conversely I suppose "Where There's No Engineer There's No Way"

- Nick

I've fitted a 4 pole compact frame 0.55kW motor and 240V Omron inverter to my FB-2 head,

https://www.dropbox.com/s/wpthacbocfp2xx3/PICT1546.JPG?dl=0

The standard motor shaft was a size smaller so I stripped the new motor and re-machined the shaft nose in the lathe.

The flywheel, primary drive gear and gearbox oil lift screw all attach to the shaft via the internal thread in the motor shaft nose.

The plastic gearbox oil lift screw shaft is easily broken if the motor isn't carefully lifted out vertically but it's also easily repaired with a section of speedo cable inner and epoxy if you do break it and once you repair it this way it's no longer sensitive to handling or alignment.

Measure your proposed motor carefully, even the compact frame motor I used required a spacer ring to move the mill head 8mm further out from the column, I could have removed a couple of fins and slotted the fan cover but I fancied the additional 8mm throat.

- Nick

Edited By Nick Hulme on 29/04/2015 10:31:38

Edited By Nick Hulme on 29/04/2015 10:32:32

Edited By Nick Hulme on 29/04/2015 10:32:50

How cheap is cheaper? If you gave price, rough dimensions, power output and speed it would be a big help.

I'm using a (new) 0.18 Kw 3 phase motor and (ebay) VFD (for my engraving cutter grinder) that cost me £110 in total, how cheap do you need the solution to be?

It ensures the surfaces are free of dirt, you could use water but it would promote corrosion, you could use a degreaser but that would remove any surface corrosion protection.

The assumption that the presence of oil will affect dimensions is bunk, if the metal has close enough contact to "wring" it will do so, if something is preventing intimate contact it will not "wring"

I spent an entire Summer Holiday calibrating micrometers to ISO 9002 for IMI Leeds

The reverse should be possible.

If you are using changewheels to do the job you just need the N-ThreadP software and a 127 tooth gear.

For CNC you don't need to convert, you just need a Metric POST!

Massive cutting speeds, really, really Huge!

I turn Polyurethane seals at room temperature and use cutting speeds in excess of 600 m/s for clean surfaces, the heat is removed with the material at these speeds and the stock does not significantly change dimensions,

Regards,

Nick