Simon0362 | 03/04/2020 14:51:30 |
279 forum posts 91 photos |
Posted by Bandersnatch on 28/03/2020 15:34:09: OK, I'll ask the question ... how do people "machine the table". Second mill? Take it to a friend? This is how I did it 10 years ago - from (distant) memory, the big clamps were not the only means of holding the mill table to the lathe's vertical slide BR and the result looks like this: |
John Haine | 03/04/2020 15:11:02 |
5563 forum posts 322 photos | Posted by Martin Connelly on 02/04/2020 23:58:02:
Jack M, Mach3 has manual data input (MDI), no programming required, so you can get started with a converted mill before you progress to programs and CAD/CAM. You just need to know a few gcode commands to make the mill do what you do manually such as move the x axis 20mm to the left (or right) or the y axis away or towards you. Read through this to get an idea of using MDI. A mini wireless usb keyboard is useful as well for jogging the machine around. Martin C You can use the MDI but the only thing I use it for is parting on the lathe. Much more useful on both lathe and mill are the suite of Wizards provided by Mach to do a wide range of common machining tasks. |
Jack M | 03/04/2020 15:14:37 |
24 forum posts | Posted by John Haine on 03/04/2020 15:11:02:
Posted by Martin Connelly on 02/04/2020 23:58:02:
Jack M, Mach3 has manual data input (MDI), no programming required, so you can get started with a converted mill before you progress to programs and CAD/CAM. You just need to know a few gcode commands to make the mill do what you do manually such as move the x axis 20mm to the left (or right) or the y axis away or towards you. Read through this to get an idea of using MDI. A mini wireless usb keyboard is useful as well for jogging the machine around. Martin C You can use the MDI but the only thing I use it for is parting on the lathe. Much more useful on both lathe and mill are the suite of Wizards provided by Mach to do a wide range of common machining tasks. I surpose the only way the learn and make mistakes it to build it use it try it all myself unless someone would be so kind to show me there mill in use show me bit of use and set up in person would give me a better idea I have seen they do have few wizards on there but some not good for what id do some will be Thanks |
Jack M | 03/04/2020 15:16:52 |
24 forum posts | This is not a cheap option i dont think but looks a easy way out of machining your mill mill https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/124139065419 might help some of you been looking at this myself as its the last bits i need to convert mine too Thanks |
John Haine | 03/04/2020 15:52:31 |
5563 forum posts 322 photos | What do you want to make that the wizards would not do, out of interest? I'm not saying that they will do everything but many common "manual" milling jobs can be done. Also each wizard generates G code that you can copy and use to piece together more complex programs. To go beyond the wizards there are some simple and in some cases free CAM tools which generate gcode for more complex jobs. Once you start with wizards and simple CAM and start to see G code in action you might want to start writing your own but I suspect that many CNC machinists never work at the G code level. |
Jack M | 03/04/2020 19:43:22 |
24 forum posts | Posted by John Haine on 03/04/2020 15:52:31:
What do you want to make that the wizards would not do, out of interest? I'm not saying that they will do everything but many common "manual" milling jobs can be done. Also each wizard generates G code that you can copy and use to piece together more complex programs. To go beyond the wizards there are some simple and in some cases free CAM tools which generate gcode for more complex jobs. Once you start with wizards and simple CAM and start to see G code in action you might want to start writing your own but I suspect that many CNC machinists never work at the G code level. Sounds like you know alot more about mach3 cnc than me looking at it more to do one of the jobs i said wizards wouldnt do i would need a 4th axis anyway for it to run and do it all so the wizards will probaly do most things like you said im doing manual now Can you set up on wizards too do do straight line drilling multiple spaces apart? I would say you could but I'll ask Thanks |
John Haine | 04/04/2020 10:14:50 |
5563 forum posts 322 photos | I've taken a few screen photos of Mach3 to show the wizards. First 3 is the full list.
Then 3 of the config forms for the bolt patterns. BUT - if you are just planning a mill conversion I suggest that you DON'T use Mach 3!! This is because its development stopped years ago, NFS no longer support it and bugs only get fixed by courtesy of users. The availability of surplus PCs that can drive the parallel port is drying up, and even if you use a separate motion controller that probably isn't supported in M3 if it (the controller) gets updated, and there's a stream of issues with Windows releases that create new incompatibilities. If you stick with Mach, go to Mach 4, you will then really need a separate motion controller. I'm not familiar with M4 but I'm sure it has a similar range of wizards. Or there are a number of other systems out there. |
Jack M | 06/04/2020 21:45:27 |
24 forum posts | Posted by John Haine on 04/04/2020 10:14:50:
I've taken a few screen photos of Mach3 to show the wizards. First 3 is the full list.
Then 3 of the config forms for the bolt patterns. BUT - if you are just planning a mill conversion I suggest that you DON'T use Mach 3!! This is because its development stopped years ago, NFS no longer support it and bugs only get fixed by courtesy of users. The availability of surplus PCs that can drive the parallel port is drying up, and even if you use a separate motion controller that probably isn't supported in M3 if it (the controller) gets updated, and there's a stream of issues with Windows releases that create new incompatibilities. If you stick with Mach, go to Mach 4, you will then really need a separate motion controller. I'm not familiar with M4 but I'm sure it has a similar range of wizards. Or there are a number of other systems out there. Thanks for all that great info I do already have a pc with mach3 on it but never used or run it had it sat there for a year i got it all when getting all my conversion parts looks like i may have to change or upgrade it now Thanks |
John Haine | 06/04/2020 22:13:02 |
5563 forum posts 322 photos | I suggest that you fire up M3 in simulation mode at least and play with the screens and wizards as a way to build up familiarity. You may as well use what you have. I've used M3 for ~10 years and have a lot of learning invested as some custom macros and things, so I'm not going to change until the PC driving it gives out because there would be a lot of re-work to do, but if I didn't have that old PC I would start differently now. |
Jack M | 11/04/2020 09:27:37 |
24 forum posts | Posted by John Haine on 06/04/2020 22:13:02:
I suggest that you fire up M3 in simulation mode at least and play with the screens and wizards as a way to build up familiarity. You may as well use what you have. I've used M3 for ~10 years and have a lot of learning invested as some custom macros and things, so I'm not going to change until the PC driving it gives out because there would be a lot of re-work to do, but if I didn't have that old PC I would start differently now. Hi John Yes that sounds a good idea been sat there a while too not turned on need to see if it's still working running i will have a play around with it see what its all about |
Derek Greenhalgh | 02/05/2020 18:45:19 |
26 forum posts 4 photos | There is a guy on youtube that has both the grizzly g704 and a the newer copy of it the pm25mv, both machines are basically the same, one old one newer model of the same castings, when he converted the first one he had to remove a few mm in a square spot under the table, he did it with an angle grinder, when he then did the pm25mv he was happy that he had a mill working so as to be able to mill the underside rather than grind it. In the end he did not need to do anything to the newer model as 1605 ballscrews and nut carrier fit no problem. The pm25mv is similar to the wm16 and the hbm bf25, and many more, my hbm bf28 is also similar but has bigger motor and a few other bits and bobs, the next size up is the hbm bf30 which has the same dimentions as the wm18 and i have seen a few peoples conversions on spanish forums that fit both 1605 and the next size up, i think 2005 if i remember correctly without having to modify the underside of the table in any way, I suppose it depends on who designs the nut carrier to the available space. I'm in contact with David that makes the Arizona conversions and the new pm25mv acomadates a dobleball nut with no modification so you should be good with the wm18. Just out of interest, which motors have you selected for X and Y, nema 34 or 23 Derek |
Please login to post a reply.
Want the latest issue of Model Engineer or Model Engineers' Workshop? Use our magazine locator links to find your nearest stockist!
Sign up to our newsletter and get a free digital issue.
You can unsubscribe at anytime. View our privacy policy at www.mortons.co.uk/privacy
You can contact us by phone, mail or email about the magazines including becoming a contributor, submitting reader's letters or making queries about articles. You can also get in touch about this website, advertising or other general issues.
Click THIS LINK for full contact details.
For subscription issues please see THIS LINK.