. .
Page 1 of 6 123 ... LastLast

Hybrid View

Previous Post Previous Post   Next Post Next Post
  1. #1
    Hey guys,

    After buying shite from Strike CNC, I've spent the last year fixing it along with a bit of upgrading to cheer myself up too! Starting this thread to just give myself a bit of motivation and something to look forward to as its nearly complete and should be cutting very soon.

    Here's the original turd I got from the anus at Strike. And yep I know, millions of problems and only just up to the task of cutting air (bit of an exaggeration but its not far off the truth)

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Strike Original (1).JPG 
Views:	634 
Size:	122.9 KB 
ID:	7686 Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Strike Original (2).JPG 
Views:	561 
Size:	112.5 KB 
ID:	7687 Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Strike Original (3).JPG 
Views:	707 
Size:	126.2 KB 
ID:	7688 Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Strike Original (4).JPG 
Views:	597 
Size:	126.4 KB 
ID:	7689
    Last edited by Shinobiwan; 20-12-2012 at 05:39 PM.

  2. #2
    After the first disaster the main area of concern was the gantry and Z axis. So back off to Strike and flushed some more money down the toilet to have them 'upgraded'. Threw out the Kress spindle and got one of the 2.2kw chinese WC ones whilst I was at it.

    Here's the new gantry. Much better than the last with 200x40 extrusion. Happy with that.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	New Gantry (2).jpg 
Views:	710 
Size:	94.4 KB 
ID:	7693 Click image for larger version. 

Name:	New Gantry (1).jpg 
Views:	590 
Size:	91.6 KB 
ID:	7692

    It wasn't all good news though because Strike, true to form, botched the new Z axis. Might look fine on these shots but you couldn't correctly tighten the supported rails due to mickey mouse engineering - result = play at the cutter.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Strike 2nd Z Attempt (2).jpg 
Views:	599 
Size:	96.2 KB 
ID:	7695 Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Strike 2nd Z Attempt (1).jpg 
Views:	864 
Size:	85.4 KB 
ID:	7694
    Last edited by Shinobiwan; 20-12-2012 at 06:24 PM.

  3. #3
    So off comes the Z axis and I have a new front plate made to try solve the problem of not being able to tighten the supported rail. This works fine but then I realise despite ordering a machine with 200mm of Z travel I only really have about 175mm. Making it very tight for some of the jobs I have in mind. Thanks for that Strike. So I think sod it, I'll design my own. Can't be that hard can it.

    Here's the result...

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	New Z Axis (1).jpg 
Views:	771 
Size:	129.4 KB 
ID:	7696 Click image for larger version. 

Name:	New Z Axis (2).jpg 
Views:	563 
Size:	132.2 KB 
ID:	7697 Click image for larger version. 

Name:	New Z Axis (3).jpg 
Views:	868 
Size:	109.9 KB 
ID:	7698

    Bit over engineered for the machine with 25mm linear rails and a 25mm thick ecocast front plate but overkill never hurts. It does slow you down though so will no doubt have to dial the speeds/acceleration back a tad after this but I'd rather do that and have accuracy with a good finish.

    And on the machine:

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	New Z Axis (4).jpg 
Views:	805 
Size:	116.8 KB 
ID:	7699 Click image for larger version. 

Name:	New Z Axis (5).jpg 
Views:	593 
Size:	101.9 KB 
ID:	7700 Click image for larger version. 

Name:	New Z Axis (6).jpg 
Views:	565 
Size:	114.5 KB 
ID:	7701

    Looks good so far, happy with that. You can also spot the X and Y ballscrews in those shots. These now have the correct ballscrews mounts with angular contact bearings instead of the Strike's cheap substitute - round rail supports with captured regular chinese ballrace bearings. Those will slop about like crazy with a bit of wear on them. Strike may now be out of business but Merchant Dice use the same method in some of their machines so watch out for that.

  4. #4
    The electronics, whilst functional in the original Strike machine, weren't giving me the speeds I'd have liked. These were upgraded for better Leadshine AM882 drives along with higher volts (75v). What wasn't acceptable was the dangerous wiring job by Strike. Things like the 240v wired through the e-stop, bare wire hanging out of screw contacts, broken wire insulation exposing dangerous DC voltages, no cabinet ground and incorrect colour coding on wiring. It was a death trap basically and would never have passed any sort of safety test.

    So I ripped the lot out and started from scratch with standard and sound safety practices such as e-stop on relays, home/limit switches, star grounding, cable management etc.

    Strike's attempt:

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Control Box Original.JPG 
Views:	1500 
Size:	104.6 KB 
ID:	7703

    After the upgrade:

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Control Box New.JPG 
Views:	704 
Size:	115.6 KB 
ID:	7702

    I upgraded all the stepper wiring to shielded whilst I was at it too. Nothing more annoying than RF and EMI noise problems and the WC spindle can give off a fair bit of that.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Rewire.jpg 
Views:	582 
Size:	142.3 KB 
ID:	7704

  5. #5
    Couple of simple convenience mods. LCD on an swivel arm so I can see Mach wherever I am.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	LCD Arm 02.JPG 
Views:	489 
Size:	111.8 KB 
ID:	7707 Click image for larger version. 

Name:	LCD Arm 01.JPG 
Views:	573 
Size:	108.3 KB 
ID:	7706

    And to the rear of the dust enclosure Strike supplied the machine incomplet! The doors were missing at the back. The whole idea of a dust enclosure is to keep dust out the workshop... missing doors isn't going to help that. I came up with something anyway but space was tight so went with folding doors.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	doormod.jpg 
Views:	587 
Size:	142.7 KB 
ID:	7705
    Last edited by Shinobiwan; 20-12-2012 at 06:28 PM.

  6. #6
    Not quite done yet though. I'm having a complete strip down of the bed, gantry and z axis done.

    Once finished the bed will have a lot more support, bit more bracing on the gantry and everything will be square and true. I'll be cutting after that. Woop at last!

  7. #7
    For once someone surfacing the bed at a respectable feedrate :)
    What stepover did you use? When surfacing MDF, if I require an especially good finish, for instance when machining a PCB, I surface the bed with a 40% stepover parallel to Y (since Y is the fastest axis) and if not I use around 70%

    Quote Originally Posted by Shinobiwan View Post
    now its done I can't be arsed and want to get stuck in cutting some of the things I've got designed and waiting
    I know the feeling. I did make something to collect the dust initially, but it didn't work very well and I never got round to improving it...
    Old router build log here. New router build log here. Lathe build log here.
    Electric motorbike project here.

  8. #8
    Quote Originally Posted by Jonathan View Post
    For once someone surfacing the bed at a respectable feedrate :)
    What stepover did you use? When surfacing MDF, if I require an especially good finish, for instance when machining a PCB, I surface the bed with a 40% stepover parallel to Y (since Y is the fastest axis) and if not I use around 70%
    90% there as its not critical. I'm only laying 4x4ft sheets over the bed.

    Still got an ok finish even with the haste.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	bedcloseup.jpg 
Views:	316 
Size:	78.1 KB 
ID:	8174

  9. #9
    D.C.'s Avatar
    Lives in Birmingham, United Kingdom. Last Activity: 05-01-2016 Has been a member for 9-10 years. Has a total post count of 326. Received thanks 30 times, giving thanks to others 24 times.
    Still, a bit of tweaking is to be expected. At least the steppers were ok. ;)

  10. #10
    Looking at the quality of work you have done its a shame you did not build it all in the first place. Congrats on actually producing that silk purse from a strikes ear. Nice work.
    The more I know, I know, I know the less. (John Owen)

Page 1 of 6 123 ... LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Bridgeport Retrofit motion control?
    By drumsticksplinter in forum Milling Machines, Builds & Conversions
    Replies: 24
    Last Post: 28-03-2015, 11:00 PM
  2. Conect 121 Retrofit
    By Sooty in forum Lathes, Lathe Rebuilding & Conversions
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 17-02-2015, 11:45 PM
  3. VFD retrofit Hobbymat BFE65
    By manofgresley in forum Milling Machines, Builds & Conversions
    Replies: 16
    Last Post: 13-09-2013, 05:07 PM
  4. Boxford 125 CNC retrofit advice
    By pneanvil in forum Boxford Lathes
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 05-12-2012, 11:47 PM
  5. Motor size 23' and 2/1 reduction for Z axe on SX3 retrofit.
    By A2P in forum Linear & Rotary Motion
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 15-09-2010, 05:14 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •