Re: Computerizing the Unimat

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, Harvey White <madyn@i...>
wrote:

> On Thu, 16 Sep 2004 02:38:50 -0000, you wrote:
>
> >Dear Friends....Would anybody care to share their thoughts, ideas

or

> >experiences on converting my small Unimat SL 1000 to a Computer
> >Controlled Machine? Have been considering setting this up in the

Mill

> >format to basically reproduce different fonts in plastic, or soft
> >metals, one letter at a time if necessary, to be used on a manual,
> >motorized engraving pantograph.
>
> You will need 3 steppers. One (the largest) should probably be

about

> 100 or so in-oz (I'm guessing) and be coupled to the main leadscrew.
>
> The cross slide will need a smaller one, you can possibly do with
> about one the size of an old floppy drive one, perhaps 15 to 20 in-

oz.

> That mounts on the cross slide directly.
>
> The quill is the most difficult, and would probably be done well

with

> a worm drive, that would allow you the maximum "no damage to the
> system" mod.
>
> So, given that, you then run the motors in what's called bipolar

mode,

> and run them with something called a chopper drive. Don't worry,

all

> you need to do is to buy a board...
>
> Most boards will need step and direction signals, and will be
> interfaced to the printer port of a computer with a breakout board.
>
> The computer tells the stepper driving the leadscrew to move x

number

> of steps, and the carriage moves left or right.
>
> The steps in doing the engraving will be to generate the pattern

with

> a program, then have the program generate what's called G code (move
> here, move there stuff). That's interpreted (often) by another
> program that actually moves the machine's parts.
>
> Harvey

I saw this link on Crankorgans's support site.

Automation direct has listed a NEMA17 motor for $19.00
STP-MTR-17048

This is one of those really small motors, but is has HUGE numbers.
83oz in. It is bi-polar so 4 wires only.

Xylotex will run it, or even a Gecko.

The floppy steppers are less than 10 oz in so are paractically
worthless for metal cutting.

Even though you can find less expensive motors (but not by much) it
will be hard to find them that are this small.

This seems like a good fit for the small mill/lathe.

Dave


ps: I am trying to rebuild from a virus/windoz re-install. I lost
all my links : (

if you have links to surplus suppliers for motors rails, belts,
retrofit for mini mills or kits, would you be so kind as to send me a
list ???

Indicate if you want to share with the world as if people wanna
share, I'll post a list of links in the links section. private
links will be respected and kept private.

pps: After suffering thru the re-install, I really, really wish MS
was split up and the OS section was a seperate entity. the chaos of
windows can only be created by design of marketing.

Dave