Emco F1 Mill Upgrade

Hi DrDave,

Thanks for the link. I haven't got a WiFi adapter on the PC so it was offline when I set up the software and it hasn't downloaded the license or the wizard while the ethernet was only connected to the Acorn unit.

There will now be a short intermission while I order a WiFi card...

Bitzer

I dare not connect the controller PC to t’internet! Any software that I need to put on it (I have just upgraded to Centroid’s v4.50 software, which also required .NET Framework) I download on another computer & transfer using a USB stick.

DrD

Quick update: Managed to set up the Acorn software today using a temporary USB to Ethernet converter to give me a connection to the web while the inbuilt Ethernet was connected to the Acron board (so that idea works!)

The Acorn site is bookmarked as the homepage so I don't nget tempted to wander off to anywhere dodgy.

Still cooking the stepper though. remains locked and not moving and after 10 mins it is too hot to handle. I thought I had followewd DrDave's "words and music" so I'm not sure what I am doing wrong, unless I have the wrong steppers?

Looks like I will have to consult the Acorn forum. Will keep you all posted.

Progress is very slow as the only place I can lay everything out is on the spare bedroom floor and I keep finding excuses to do more modelling instead!

Hi Dr Dave, What is the capacity of the F1 mill? What sized cutters are you normally using and what Sized cuts in what materials?

There is one for sale at the moment and looking at the possibilities for it. It has all the original controller, not sure if the software is still there. I know nothing about the Emco F1 mills.

Thanks, Neil Lickfold

Hi Neil,

To be honest, I haven’t used my F1 for a while, so I am working from memory. I normally use 6 mm or 10 mm cutters, occasionally a 25 mm insert slot drill. I don’t feel the need for larger: just get your CAM software to program a suitable path (I use Fusion 360).

Feeds and DoC? In the higher strength aluminiums, I would think that full-width on a 6 mm HSS cutter, I would be conservative and have a depth of 0.5 - 1 mm. The machine has an ammeter for the motor current. I find that very useful to tell me how hard it is working. And when the cutter is getting blunt!

I have milled steel (up to En8, nothing fancy), but I forget the details. It seemed to take forever, so I might have been pussy-footing. 0.25 mm DoC, perhaps and trying not to use the full cutter width.

I hope that this helps

Dave

Hi Neil

You can see my F1 making chips at this link **LINK**

There are several videos there showing the same machine doing other tasks, the MB backplate is 1 you may know.

The machine is well built using mainly cast iron for the main components, there are chip shields on the sides with a sliding door to close off the front of the machine, tapered gibs are adjustable on all axis.

The work envelope is XYZ 200x100x200, not large but fits most of the sort of milling jobs I do, spindle motor is 400W PMDC with manual speed control 50-2000rpm on the spindle.
Quick change tooling is SKF30, BT30 holders with pull stud are an alternative.
Full machine spec is available FOC in the F1 Manual available at https://emcof1cncmill.groups.io/g/main

I am still using the original controller so writing G&M coded programs, to me it's all part of the fun, I use an editor called MFI which is designed around the early Emco cnc lathes and milling machine.
Programs can be uploaded to the machine by computer using an RS232 link.
For simple jobs with only a few lines these are entered direct into the controller using the on-board keypad.

Emgee