Re: Something Old, Something New..Upgrading An Old CNC Millrite

Hello,

God's still smiling<G>

I'd keep the motors and mechanicals and simply replace the drives
(and likely the power supplies as well).

You'll probably get 100+IPM just doing this, and then you can decide
if you need to go farther... (As at that point, the whole shebang
will likely be easily sold for enough to get something better, if
that's what you want/need...)

Good luck, nice find!

Ballendo

P.S. To answer your original questions: I'd use Mach3 for control,
Geckos for drives(unless you need higher volts/amps for your motors,
then I'd use Rutex drives) Dealerselectric.com for spindle drive
electronic--if you need that. ORIG Power supplies "may" be okay, but
I'd probably replace them or at least rewire and "update" them (new
rectifiers, check the caps, etc.)

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "too_many_tools"
<too_many_tools@...> wrote:

>
> An update....after doing some digging I find that this CNC Millrite
> has 1200 oz/in STEPPERS...not servos like I thought...and they are
> wired for an open loop system,
>
> The feed rates for the machine were 0.75" to 24"/min.
>
> The 5 pitch ACME screws are speced at 0.001".
>
> The electronics are probably early to mid 70's.
>
> Now if you were going to update this machine (that has had only a

few

> hours of usage), how would you go about it?
>
> Would you replace the steppers? If so, what size servos and where
> would you buy them?
>
> How about the ACME screws? If so, where would you go to buy the

ball

> screws?
>
> I think the electronics except for the power supplies are well

worth

> a replacement...any suggestions?
>
> Any other suggestions that apply to a small knee mill update?
>
> Thanks
>
> TMT
>
>
>
> --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "too_many_tools"
> <too_many_tools@> wrote:
> >
> > Sometimes the Gods smile upon a person...I was just given a old

CNC

> > Millrite. ;<)
> >
> > So now I (or perhaps I should say my son) has a summer "project"

to

> > upgrade this Millrite from its old numerical controls to use the
> > current technology.
> >
> > The mill has Acme screws on the X and Y axises.
> >
> > The X and Y axises and the quill are equipped with servo motors
> that
> > I will want to reuse in the updated electronics conversion.
> >
> > I do have the old numerical control electronics that were used to
> > originally power the servos but will likely not reuse it except

for

> > the cabinet.
> >
> > The spindle is powered by a three phase 1Hp motor.
> >
> > So if this was YOUR machine, how would you go about updating it?
> >
> > What hardware, software, what companies would you go with?
> >
> > I will also add that I searched the entire archives without

finding

> > anything like this that has been done before so any contributions
> > that you might add will provide guidance for those who are

looking

> > for insight in the future....and help me alot. ;<)
> >
> > Thanks for any contributions that you can add.
> >
> > TMT
> >
>