Bridgeport Manual to CNC conversion...

[Davek0974]

Hang on to it a little longer, lets see if this one will survive, if not i'll be in touch ;)

[Davek0974]

Got X-axis motor plate fully fitted...



Limit switches next, Y-Axis Limits and home switches...



From the left we have Y--, Y-Home, Y++.
The home switch remains tripped once it trips so that i can home even if the switch is triggered, a home-offset value will take care of the switch position.

Then the X-axis, a bit harder this one, first idea...



From the right we have X-home then a dual-direction X-- & X++ switch. The picture is not quite right - imagine the right-hand switch is another roller type like the left one, I have one somewhere, just got to find it ;)

The only down-side I can see is that it blocks the chances of using flood coolant again as the switches are in the way of the left drain hole.

Still thinking on this one.

[Davek0974]

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I hooked the rebuilt head up to my VFD today, sounds a hell of a lot better, for some unknown reason it runs a bit warm around the top bearing plate though.

Its not quite right though yet as the vari-speed system seems to do nothing in the higher end when in back-gear, but is ok in normal gear??

[Davek0974]

Nearly got the x-axis motor fitted, once that's on I can lash-up the drive and controller and do motion testing :)

[Davek0974]

We have motion In 2 axes at least. Done some basic servo tuning, cut the top speed to 5000mm/min as 7500 was just too scary. Got homing and soft limits working nicely. Homing is silly-accurate with index-homing turned on - about +/1 0.01mm or better as far as i can measure.

Next I fitted up the Spindle VFD, expecting serious issues with my complex manual/auto speed control idea. I was totally amazed that I have perfect control of speed from 40rpm to 3000rpm within about 25rpm tolerance! It tells me to choose back-gear or high-gear and high or low speed-pulley setting depending on speed chosen by code.

The only issue it does have is that if it is set for say 100rpm in back-gear low range, and the code calls for 2000rpm in high-gear high range, it will spin up the spindle and then tell me to change gear - this cannot be done without smashing the drive.

I have all the code in SpindleSpeed.m1s - can it also be made to stop the spindle and restart it after pressing enter without wrecking the code-flow etc ??

My bench-top lash-up, well it's not a bench but the plasma-cutter but here you go ...



Going to need a pretty big cabinet.

[JAZZCNC]

I have all the code in SpindleSpeed.m1s - can it also be made to stop the spindle and restart it after pressing enter without wrecking the code-flow etc ?

Can't see any reason why not. Post the file your using and I'll take look.

[Davek0974]

I had a second thought last night - it's not as simple as i thought as not only does it need to stop the spindle and restart it, it has to restart it in the same direction as it was running previously because when in low range/back-gear the motor has to run in reverse.

Not so sure its possible now??

I'll get the code up though soon.

Thanks