Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] HF Bandsaw converted to CNC

About 8 years ago I converted a cheap Enco HV 4X6" band saw to CNC. I
simply removed the handle from the vice and installed a 60XL037 timing
pulley to open and close the clamp. The Z axis was just a threaded rod that
attached to a pivot point on the arm. For the X axis I made a pinch roller
assembly that would feed the material in. I took a roller conveyor that was
5' long and aligned it to the saw. Last I added a constant tension cable to
assist the material to be loaded in the machine.
In those days I was using Dancam. I wrote a little program that would cause
the arm to raise, the vice to open, the material would feed into the saw.
it would trip a microswitch at the zero point, the clamp would come shut,
then the saw motor would come on, the saw would rapidly move down to above
the work, then saw at a controlled feed rate. At the end of the cut then saw
motor would turn off the blade would rise and the clamp would come open and
the next cycle would begin.
I use the CNC Bandsaw twice. As I recall for some large jobs that I had
but really haven't had a need to retain those features so over the years I
have robbed parts off of it and now just use the saw as a conventional HV
manually operated bandsaw. Some of you may remember the photographs I posted
in Nuts and Volt article back in '93. . I brought it to a Seattle Robotics
Society Meeting and demonstrated at one of the meetings. It was fun to
watch. I didn't bring the conveyor system and for demo purposes had it cut
a small batch or rod. I was surprised at how well it was received.
BTW my saw still cuts square thought I want to get a bigger saw.

Dan

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