My new mill
Posted by
Andrew Werby
on 1999-05-28 00:53:34 UTC
[I just got my new (old) mill delivered yesterday, and it's really a beast!
This is a Ramco "Ramill", built to be a CNC mill in the mid-eighties. It
has servo motors and ballscrews, which should save me some time and money
over retrofitting an old Bridgeport, which was my first idea. Currently, it
will accept instructions in g-code, either from the attached keyboard or
from a tape drive. But I'd like to convert it to a more modern control
system which wouldn't be limited to 999 instructions- some of the progams
I've been generating run over 2 megs, (and I'm just getting started.) I
think I can save the servo amplifiers and most of the relay switches, while
gutting out the old computer and attaching a standard monitor. I'd be happy
with something that ran in real time under DOS, if it could handle g-code.
So what's my best bet, in the expert opinion of this group, for cheapness,
reliability, support, and ease of installation and use? Is it Aha, or
Flashcut, or something else? How do I get the feedback loops calibrated
correctly? What do I need to be very very careful with? I haven't ever
done this before, so I'm somewhat hesitant to get in there and start
ripping stuff out, but I'd really like to get this converted in the most
expeditious manner possible, without breaking the bank. Any input would be
most appreciated...]
Andrew Werby
Andrew Werby - United Artworks
Sculpture, Jewelry, and Other Art Stuff
http://unitedartworks.com
This is a Ramco "Ramill", built to be a CNC mill in the mid-eighties. It
has servo motors and ballscrews, which should save me some time and money
over retrofitting an old Bridgeport, which was my first idea. Currently, it
will accept instructions in g-code, either from the attached keyboard or
from a tape drive. But I'd like to convert it to a more modern control
system which wouldn't be limited to 999 instructions- some of the progams
I've been generating run over 2 megs, (and I'm just getting started.) I
think I can save the servo amplifiers and most of the relay switches, while
gutting out the old computer and attaching a standard monitor. I'd be happy
with something that ran in real time under DOS, if it could handle g-code.
So what's my best bet, in the expert opinion of this group, for cheapness,
reliability, support, and ease of installation and use? Is it Aha, or
Flashcut, or something else? How do I get the feedback loops calibrated
correctly? What do I need to be very very careful with? I haven't ever
done this before, so I'm somewhat hesitant to get in there and start
ripping stuff out, but I'd really like to get this converted in the most
expeditious manner possible, without breaking the bank. Any input would be
most appreciated...]
Andrew Werby
Andrew Werby - United Artworks
Sculpture, Jewelry, and Other Art Stuff
http://unitedartworks.com
Discussion Thread
Andrew Werby
1999-05-28 00:53:34 UTC
My new mill
Jon Elson
1999-05-28 14:21:14 UTC
Re: My new mill
Tim Goldstein
1999-05-29 15:19:43 UTC
Re: My new mill
Jon Elson
1999-05-29 21:38:07 UTC
Re: My new mill
DAFcnc
1999-05-31 01:11:26 UTC
Re: My new mill
Jon Elson
1999-05-31 22:11:57 UTC
Re: My new mill