Denford VMC1300 - Rescued

[m_c]

That datasheet should be good enough. The main thing is once you have the machine running, make sure the steppers aren't getting too hot.
Is that a brake assembly on the end of the stepper?

You'll want to check the other stepper motors, as X and Y are often fitted with smaller steppers than the Z.


Regarding the tool holder, if it's been in there for a while, there may be a bit corrosion helping to stick it. You might need to get somebody to push/pull the release lever, while somebody else gives the toolholder a hit downwards with a hammer and block of wood.

[Chas Ixion]

That datasheet should be good enough. The main thing is once you have the machine running, make sure the steppers aren't getting too hot.
Is that a brake assembly on the end of the stepper?

You'll want to check the other stepper motors, as X and Y are often fitted with smaller steppers than the Z.


Regarding the tool holder, if it's been in there for a while, there may be a bit corrosion helping to stick it. You might need to get somebody to push/pull the release lever, while somebody else gives the toolholder a hit downwards with a hammer and block of wood.

No idea about the end of the stepper,

Judging by the state of the table corrosion is highly likely. I'll try and get some penetrating fluid in there to do it's work before getting the hammer out.

[m_c]

No idea about the end of the stepper,

Judging by the state of the table corrosion is highly likely. I'll try and get some penetrating fluid in there to do it's work before getting the hammer out.

Penetrating fluid is more likely to do more harm than good near a spindle, and will make no difference to any corrosion that may be on the spindle taper. Just get somebody to swing on the release lever while somebody else taps the holder with the hammer.

[andy_con]

I wouldn't swing on anything if it were my mill!

if you remove the casing/cover around the spindle you will probably see a spindle motor connected to the atc spindle via a belt - that's how denford normally do it.

above the atc spindle is a powered drawbar, you need to remove the powered drawbar and then hit the end of the atc spindle with a hammer to release a tool.

all the powered draw bar down is push down on the sprung tip of the spindle atc

[m_c]

I wouldn't swing on anything if it were my mill!

if you remove the casing/cover around the spindle you will probably see a spindle motor connected to the atc spindle via a belt - that's how denford normally do it.

above the atc spindle is a powered drawbar, you need to remove the powered drawbar and then hit the end of the atc spindle with a hammer to release a tool.

all the powered draw bar down is push down on the sprung tip of the spindle atc

The manual toolchange VMCs have no pneumatics, instead you get a big lever on the side of the head for releasing the tool. I'm assuming underneath the cover, it's the same spindle/drawbar/spring stack as an ATC version, it's just using a lever instead of a pneumatic actuator.
Provided the lever is compressing the spring stack correctly, then all it's likely needing is somebody to pull the lever, while somebody taps the toolholder to give it a bit helping hand to pop it out.
I'd certainly be trying that before going to the extent of stripping of the spring stack and drawbar.

[Chas Ixion]

I had another go yesterday and all that was needed was a more confident pull on the lever, no need for further stripping or hammers.

[Chas Ixion]

In between doing 'other stuff' in my shed I had a look under the bellows on the y axis and under the guard on the z.

Not much to see under the bellows although the linear bearings and ball screw don't look obviously knackered.



This is the x axis stepper motor,



Its smaller than the z axis stepper. I'm guessing its a NEMA17.
I'm going to google the numbers on the sticker (3100422k) to see if it throws up any clues.

Finally I've had a look at the spindle motor wiring.


My guess is that the heavy gauge wires are power feed. I'm not sue what the pairs of red/blue wires are for. The top pair both have yellow tags labelled 'T'. As far as I can make out the bottom pair has a red tag labelled 22 on the blue wire and a black tag labelled 11 on the red wire. The bottom pair are connected together by a short jumper on the other side of the block.