New toy, Emco vmc300

[MJP]

Bought a real cnc machining center from auction, Emco VMC300 with controller fault.

Has took some two weeks to hunt down the fault, restored software and plc parameters but no luck.
But today Timo was helping me with the diagnosis and we figured that the spindle drive must be dead.

Took it apart and found one ibgt supply contact was loose from the pcb, no others visible damage so I took a gamble at frying something else and soldered the contact.

Assembled the machine and at powerup there was the familiar whine from the spindle motor but still, boy was I amazed when the tool carousel rotated to index.


Marko

[Gippeto]

A fellow just HAS to love it when it's a cheap fix...doesn't get much cheaper than a dab of solder either.

A fantastic addition to the shop!

Al

[MJP]

Thanks Al!
Yeah it was very very lucky it was so easy. But on the down side spindle sounds a bit rough. Don't know if it's the old belts that have formed to one form after 4 years of standing and oscillating when running. Or is it the bearings.

Well addition or substitute, needed to sell the smaller Emco lathe to fit this in.
But I will be converting the bigger lathe to cnc pretty soon so its no biggie.

Servicing and cleaning started.



Marko

[rsterne]

Nice find, and nice fix!!!

Bob

[MJP]

Thanks Bob,
it was one of those I will hate myself if I'm going to win the auction or if I'm not going to win.
Needed to cut the door frame a bit bigger to get the machine in.
And the machine weighs 2900kg. So it was a bit troublesome to get home and in the door.

More excavation done, and more chips found in odd places.



Marko

[Gippeto]

... needed to sell the smaller Emco lathe to fit this in.

Marko

Unfortunate, but a fellow cannot always get around having to compromise...and you can do a *(&^ of a lot with that mill once you get it fully sorted. I think you did okay.

Al

[PCPhack]

Great find and fix. Now you need to build an even bigger rifle.   

[MJP]

... needed to sell the smaller Emco lathe to fit this in.

Marko

Unfortunate, but a fellow cannot always get around having to compromise...and you can do a *(&^ of a lot with that mill once you get it fully sorted. I think you did okay.

Al

Yeah I did ok, the lathe was a tad too small for what I usually needed it for and selling it I got more from it than I paid for the new. 

There is still some sensor or relay giving intermediate error on tool magazine release, need to find that out. Might be a relay sticking because I thought I heard a click long after I shut the machine off.

Machine tools don't like to be left standing for too long, they are meant to be run.

Marko

[MJP]

Great find and fix. Now you need to build an even bigger rifle.   

Thanks David,
Hmm, I still have one more 20mm Madsen barrel in stock, and one NASA helium cylinder rated for 600 or 800 bar for retro boosters, can't remember the correct rating. 

Marko

[KnifeMaker]

WOW!!! Talk about go Bib or Go Home!


Congrat's!

[JimmyD.]

Great find and fix. Now you need to build an even bigger rifle.   

Thanks David,
Hmm, I still have one more 20mm Madsen barrel in stock, and one NASA helium cylinder rated for 600 or 800 bar for retro boosters, can't remember the correct rating. 

Marko

Sorry but I just have to ask, how would they fill to 600 bar? Helium is dry so I understand thermal dynamics somewhat but the biggest compressors I know of are on Submarines. Older Military 5 stage & Ingersoll Rand.
I’m looking at Southbend or Grizzly & you guys are running with machines capable of 1 micron. 

[MJP]

WOW!!! Talk about go Bib or Go Home!


Congrat's!

Thanks Mike,
Well it's on the verge of being too big, needed to saw upper beam from the door frame to fit it in the garage.

Marko

[MJP]

Great find and fix. Now you need to build an even bigger rifle.   

Thanks David,
Hmm, I still have one more 20mm Madsen barrel in stock, and one NASA helium cylinder rated for 600 or 800 bar for retro boosters, can't remember the correct rating. 

Marko

Sorry but I just have to ask, how would they fill to 600 bar? Helium is dry so I understand thermal dynamics somewhat but the biggest compressors I know of are on Submarines. Older Military 5 stage & Ingersoll Rand.
I’m looking at Southbend or Grizzly & you guys are running with machines capable of 1 micron.

One answer, gas booster. You can get very high pressures with boosters not that I have booster for so high pressures, mine only goes up to 450bar.

Nothing wrong with Southbend or Grizzly, just need to use it like it's meant to be used. Accuracy is in the machinists hand and head, work with what you got.

Marko

[MJP]

Got some toolholders in the mail, everyone on their own delivery and post office didn't loose a single one 



Won't be long now before first chips start to come. First couple of things to do that have been postponed for the machine setup.

Marko

[MJP]

Learning the control, slowly as it's still either swedish or germany.
But still first chips, slow feed and speed dry cutting.
Roundness within 0.01mm after circular interpolation. I'm more than happy with the machine.


Marko

[MJP]

Sump cleaned and washed, and we have flood coolant. 


Marko

[MJP]

First real job done, something small but it works and gets the job done.


Marko

[MJP]

Finally got the control changed to english, makes working much more enjoyable as I don't need to translate from Swedish to something understandable.
Learning the tricks of the machine, needed to make a larger part than my lathe can fit.
Some helical interpolation with a 2.5mm endmill.


Marko

[PCPhack]

Nice 

[MJP]

Thanks David,
I'll need to finish this project and then it's airgun time.
New valve block for the 20mm with more capacity and bigger tank. 
Then there is a new frame concept at works for general bigbore use, should be good for more power and will have less vibrations in the frame before bullet starts to move.

Marko