Re: Max 10 questions.

Message: 12
Date: Tue, 24 Jun 2003 18:31:42 EDT
From: wanliker@...
Subject: Max 10 questions.

Can someone give me information on a Max 10?
I have a chance at one for $1600, and want to know if it is a good buy or
not.
It has the following:
Max 10 Mill, Seems to have no use on it, very clean and no scratches or
wear apparent on the bed.
Steppers Powermax 11, P22NRXG, 1.8 dig per step. 55 V, 5 Amp, Nema 23,
BiPolar.

BSA Backlashscrews, with couplers.

The unit is complete with control box, software, and some collets.

I would like to know any information, that anyone can share with me.

Current estimated value?
Size of Steppers? Are these simple steppers, or multiphase steppers?
Can this be used easily with other software?
How hard would it be to drive this machine with better software???? Step
and
Direction desired, or possibly Servos?
bill
CCED

[You don't say whether it's a closed loop (CL) model or an open-loop
machine. That makes a lot of difference. The MaxNC closed loop system uses
stepper motors fitted with encoders and is quite a bit faster than the
open-loop system, which crawls along at a maximum of 12 ipm using a unipolar
drive (that's if you've got the bigger 145 oz/in motors- the small ones
won't go faster than 6 ipm.)

The seller should be able to tell you the size of the steppers. MaxNC sells
their cheapest machines with 70 oz/in steppers, which are barely able to
lift the head. The antibacklash screws are good if run within their limits,
but tend to break easily, and will give back the backlash if their 10 lbs.
torque is exceeded.

MaxNC machines can't be run with other types of software, since they use a
phase-drive system instead of the step-and-direction system which is more
common. The CL systems also require their own software to run.

If you want to replace the controller and motors entirely, and use a servo
system instead, then I'd say start with a different frame (like a CNC-ready
Taig). MaxNC's biggest selling point is that it's a turnkey package: mill
frame, controller, motors, and software, all sold together by one
manufacturer. But the all-aluminum MaxNC frames are not very rigid, the blue
anodizing they do is more decorative than hard, the 1/4" leadscrews are not
very heavy-duty, and everything's held together with setscrews. The gibs
have to be adjusted to a loose sliding fit, or they will hang up. The
spindle motor is mounted on two long stand-offs, which encourages
vibration.]

Andrew Werby
www.computersculpture.com