Re: Mazatrol

> According to him the new Mazatrol controller uses a regular

pentium

> based PC and the controls run under Windows 9x.

Mazatrol used to be proprietary. But most CNC's that I have looked
at lately have been PC based. Many run in Windows but I feel safer
in DOS.

I have a Servo Products (the same company that has been supplying
table drives forever)CNC Bed Mill.

I have up-graded the controller a couple of time since new. I
currently have a 233 MHZ pentium mother board with stand I/O cards
and drive boards. Pick-up all the parts at a local computer parts
store.

A complete 3 axis retro-fit from Servo is about $11K. Only $2,600
for the SOC (Servo Operators Console) alone. The drive package is a
heavy duty outfit with variable reluctance servo motors packing 135
foot pounds of force. You can actually purchase the drive system
only and use your own PC. I opted for their SOC in a nice enclosure
with swivel mounts.

This is a rigid bed mill weighing in at about 6K#. Travels are X-
32", Y-19", Z-20" and C-360 degrees. C is programmable in .0000
Degrees. All are fully interpolated.

I have had some problems here and there (lightening strike) but it
has 6800 hours on it and is still tight. I am awaiting delivery of a
new rigid spindle head with #40 taper. The factory J2 type with a
quill and #30 taper just isn't enough. I just replaced the auto
oiler.

The programming software is great. Limited to 99 events in
conversational really bugs me. I have trained several operators and
none have crashed into the table, it still looks new except for the
color. I guess that says a lot about the ease of programming and
graphics. The graphics does not support C axis, You only get a
horizontal line, have to be careful. Has a main pull down for canned
cycles with sub-pull downs. I haven't found anthing I can't do in
conversational. Even variable pitch feed screws. Can't run the
software without a key though. Their CAM software is the same.

C axis (rotorary Table) lets me machine just about anything I can
dream up. Can fixture parts so I can machine 5 sides in a single set-
up, handy.

I'll try to post a pic next time I run a nifty part on using the
fourth (C) axis.

Kind Regards,

Dave Seal