Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Computerizing the Unimat

On Thu, 16 Sep 2004 16:11:46 -0000, you wrote:

>
>--- 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.

That would be a good size, however, have you seen the size of the
unimat? It's something like a 2 x 6 or so....

Not sure that the floppy drive will work well, but it's small enough
to fit properly in direct drive. You could gear it down if needed,
but not having used it for much yet, I'm not sure how well it will
work. Also note that engraving is relatively light work, so you just
might (as a guess) be able to get by with it...

The unimat's table, when used as a mill, is a whopping 3 by 5 inches.

>
>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.

Yep, the more powerful the better, perhaps some from an old laser
printer might work, or an old dot matrix printer. I just know that
the floppy style (square, and relatively high voltage (9 volts or so)
will physically fit, and move the carriage.

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

ouch..

>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 ???

www.allelectronics.com

www.sciplus.com

www.herbach.com

>
>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.

but then where would the fun be?

Harvey

>
>Dave
>
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