Member postings for Ian Johnson 1

So! this KX1 / KX3 clearance offer. Has anyone bought one yet?

I would love to buy another KX1 but haven't got the space!

As for CNC versus manual, I enjoy doing both in my little workshop. Maybe it's because I was machining in industry when the first wave of proper CNC machines appeared in the early eighties in our workshop. TI Matrix CNC lathes and a huge Kearns Richards CNC HBM. All mixed in with NC and manual machines.

The next wave of model engineers will be using additive manufacturing techniques, laser cutting, CNC with multiple axis, sliding heads, robots and more! Our hobby is rapidly evolving, and I think it's got a bright future.

Ian

Just a few rambling thoughts on Martin's comments above. I think that CNC is an extension of the model engineers tool box. Model engineering has embraced technology from industry for decades, such as power feeds, digital read outs, digital micrometers and calipers, LED lamps, laser cutting, plasma, 3D printing etc. What industry does today, model engineers do tomorrow. I can even see EDM becoming more affordable in the hobby scene very soon.

But there will always be a very large participation in manual machining because of the skill and satisfaction it brings. I think CNC has been a breath of fresh air for our hobby, otherwise it could go the same way as the classic motorbike scene, I occasionally buy Classic Bike magazine and read the same stuff I read thirty years ago!

I think I've rambled enough

Ian

Nice work Jason those legs are the ideal job for a CNC milling machine.

Ian

I'd use a decent sized pin punch and a hammer, Some smart taps against the slots (make sure it's not left hand thread!) and it will be off in no time. You will need to file off the burrs from the hammer rash if you are going to use the nut again, or just treat it like a sacrificial nut, and get a new one made, because if you are having problems getting it off, you will have problems getting it back on again unless you have the correct special castellated spanner.

I was a hairy ar*ed fitter/turner though!

Very impressive bit of kit, and with a 4th axis too! Makes my KX1 look like a toy! Tormach have certainly got some competition now.

They look nice Andrew. A little bit too advanced for me just yet though! I am happy just to get some rotary engraving done for now.

Why does Mach3 ignore the combined rotary and linear feed rates? Is it an issue with your CAD/CAM? I am using Vectric VCarve which has the ability to do spiral fluting, I wonder if it would do helical gearing?

Ian

Thanks Jason that was actually my fifth 'first go' it was a lot of detective work to find out what the right settings were, there is not a lot of info out there, but I found a Youtube video with the maths to work out the ratio and steps. Now if I MDI for example G0A90 it will rotate 90 degrees exactly. Now I am busy racking my brains to find work for it to do! I was thinking of making a mini tomb stone fixture to fit on the back plate, but helical cooling fins sounds good though!

Ian

As the description suggests I have recently bought a 4th Axis for my KX1 from Arc Euro, first impressions I am very impressed with the build quality and rigidity.

It is the 4 inch rotary with stepper (Arc's own fitment) which is just the right size for the KX1, plug and play and off we go with a little test program made with Vectric VCarve, using a piece of 20mm dia Acetal, I set about machining rotary text spelling 'ROTARY' and four slots. Using two tools, an engraver and 3mm end mill. Press start!

And soon stop! although the device was communicating with Mach3 there was no relation between the angles required for each letter or slot, they all merged into each other and overlapped, even though the Mach3 screen showed it machining okay. This was because the motor needed tuning, So by looking into the motor tuning menu I tweeked the 'steps per' and 'velocity' and some trial and error and maths I got the 'steps per' to the correct 400 (it was set at 2000), and the velocity to 2500, now everything machined as planned, although I will need to change the velocity so it matches the X axis feed rate.

Here's a couple of photos of my set up and first test piece. More to come as the adventure continues!

Hi Mark good to see the CNC crowd expanding!

If you haven't already done so I would thoroughly recommend going on to the official Mach3 Newfangled Solutions site and downloading the latest version of Mach3 this will get rid of some glitches and give you the proper icons on your desk top. It might help to get your machine to move too!

To check the version go to the 'Help' menu bar and click 'About Mach3 controller' you will probably find it is Version R3.043.062. I then updated (for free) to version R3.043.066 (the Mach3 site will show as R3.043)

Ian

Yay! making progress now Jason. I think every Sieg CNC owner has one of those!

That made me laugh Brian! After 200 holes too

Ian

Slight diversion today from the normal stuff this is an extra long poker for a friend who finds it difficult to bend down to poke his log burning stove. This should do the job! it's 1/2" square hot rolled mild steel, the handle is a piece of pine scrap sandwiched between two black Acetal end caps. Topped off with a brass finial and circular hook. Hope its not too heavy!

At least it's alive! I haven't looked at my Z axis limit switches but my X and Y axis are installed differently (KX1), mine are in line, those in the video look like they are off set by 90 degrees for some reason.

So it could be worth checking the position and clearance of the switches. Especially if it overshot the Z axis stops.

A friend of mine who installs robots explained how the Hall Effect switches work, It went woooosh right over my mechanically brained head!

Wow! it's all coming together quickly Jason! You have got as far as I did until John Stevenson very kindly came to my house and helped me set it up, free of charge too! This was when the smallcncsupport site was working and my machine was still under warranty. He also gave me the new updated screens which I really liked, but they don't work now after my blue screen of death and other PC melt downs, don't know why.

You will need the 'Mach1Lic.dat' file to unlock the full program.

Ian

Just got your PM Jason glad to help out. I am hoping this forum can be a good source for CNC knowledge especially as the small cnc support has gone.

I've sussed out photos too! This is my screen:

That is the wrong screen Jason. It should say in the bottom right corner 'Sieg KX1 USB' or for your machine 'Sieg KX3 USB'. You need the 'Sieg_USB_setup_1.6.0.0.' file. which should be on the Mach3/Sieg set up installation disc, then go to the Mach3 loader menu and the KX3 USB should be there with all the other screens for plasma, lathes etc.

I'd post up a photo of my screen but haven't sussed out how to do it yet!

Ian

Hi Jason, just a bit of info for you. Not sure why your machine won't move but if it helps my KX1 came supplied with a combined Mach3 and Sieg set up disc from Arc Euro who also supplied me with a separate emailed licence file for Mach3 (they are a third party supplier of Mach3 and can issue licences) this is a little file called 'Mach1Lic.dat' . This must be inserted (by copying and pasting) into the main Mach3 file. This will unlock the full Mach3 program and remove the line limit.

The set up disc will also include the Sieg Kx1/Kx3 screen set to operate the machine, and you will also need another little file called 'Sieg_USB_ setup_1.6.0.0'. this will unlock the necessary operating system for USB connections. Again this must be copied and pasted into the Main program. This file could be downloaded from SmallCNCsupport but no longer! You'll know if it is the right screen set by looking at the bottom right of the screen it should say KX1 USB or KX3 USB. If you can't get hold of this file I can send it to you.

Hope this helps

Ian

I agree Martin good CAM software is a must for CNC. When I got the KX1 it came with free full versions of Vectric Cut2D and Mach3, I found Cut2D dead easy to use and intuitive so a few months ago I upgraded to Vectric Vcarve desk top which is even better.

Ian

That's a nice set up Andrew, I don't think I'll be attempting anything like that for a bit! Last time I made bevel gears was as an apprentice many years ago! So for my set up to get me started I took a trip out to Chester tools yesterday (saw the new Beluga take off from Airbus as a bonus!) and bought a 80mm 3 jaw for £30 quid, which will hold stock accurate enough for a bit of rotary engraving. Next trip will be for a ER25 collet chuck plate for a set up similar to yours. I'll be using Vectric VCarve and Mach3.

Ian

Thanks for the reply Neil hope you get your KX1 plugged in and making chunks of metal smaller soon! It is a great little machine, the KX3 is a much bigger lump, too big for my space.

I use the KX1 in manual mode by simply using the jog buttons on the keyboard. I think if there is one draw back to most CNC machines is that they need a computer to operate them, maybe this is why converting manual machines to CNC is popular because there is an option of keeping the handwheels. But once you get used to no handwheels you won't miss them.

Oh I got my 4th axis yesterday! I can do a lot of damage with another axis! Does anyone know how to work these things?