Hi Art,

Why not try Harmonic drives, they usually have a reduction of 1:100 to 1:50 or is it the other way, whatever they do reduce teh speed and you can pick them up on ebay for around 50 bucks used and 150 new on ebay. I picked up one new on ebay for 150USD postage included. then you will have your baaby purring for more!

Regards
IRfan

A used one for you on ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com/HARMONIC-DRIVE-T...QQcmdZViewItem

http://www.harmonicdrive.de/contenid...t.php?idart=53

about harmonic drives

For complete assy's

http://www.pro.com.sg/CNC-PARTS/4th-axis/4TH-AXIS.htm

simple sol;ution
 

The problem was that during milling the A axis would move when depth of cut was too deep. This occured only when the A axis had not moved within 1 second. Problem solved by removing the jumper that causes power to be reduced to the stepper after 1 second of no movement. This feature is avaliable on the Gecko 202 but I don't believe is avaliable on the 203. When milling wood you get a much better cut when cutting with the grain and side cutting is prefered. Here is the last 2 hours of the program to mill a 4x4 to round. Because fir tears so bad cuts have to small.

G90 Z1 F300
G90 X0 y0 Z0 m3
M98 P23 L2

M30
O23
(G91 z-.04)
g91 y-.02( 2hr runtime P23 L6 A6 L35 on P22 .24" depth of cut)
M98 P22 L90
M99
O22
G91 A2
G90 X90
G91 A2
G90 X0
M99

Art,

I just purchased a harmonic drive for a smaller CNC than the Mechmate approx 2x4 machine. and was planning to run it on the 203v, think there will be a problem? and what software are you using to generate teh code for teh rotary axis.

sorry if you have already mentioned this in your earlier posts , any ways kindly post some pictures of the your work to me at [email protected].

Regards
IRfan

projects
 

Presently I am just running hand coded programs. Figured out how to do fluting, barley/rope twist and rounding stock. So far only posted one example at http://www.turningaround.org/MechMat...ercial_job.htm .
Things like customer keep getting the way. Working on a interesting project. Building a Mechmate to cut tire rims so they can have an insert welded in to make the wide tires for off road use. It will be cutting 3/16" steel and apparently I will need at least a 12 hp spindle. Still researching spindle. Because of the expected weight I doubt that I can use the rack and pinion on the Z.

3/16" can be cut with a mini-mill and that has less than a 1hp spindle.

I would look at the cutting tools. it might be that a simple jewelers saw could do it. lots of cutting oil, and slow speeds. not a fast job, but not hard.

a plasma cutter would do it with less machine than a MechMate.

Dave

cutting
 

need 100+ cut a day. Table will hold 20 rims and at 25IPM should take 1 hr for all 20. Actual setup the machine will not normally stop between batches. Projecting 180 rims a day.

OK, you have a heavy metal cutting project. 251 IPM on a 3/16 steel part is really heavy work.

I can see why you need the 12 hp spindle.

Dave

If you are really going to reproduce the same piece over and over again you might as well weld another gantry and 3 more carts, add z axis, the motors, drivers and spindles and cut 4 rims at a time... ;-)

Latest project
 

Here is my last project off my indexer. You gotta wonder about architecks. He wouldn't settle for 9.5" diameter so I had to mill them from 12" stock. Cost an extra $1000 for an extra .5" of post. They have a coat of Thompson's Water Seal on them. Hard part was drilling a 2 9/16" hole 16" deep in the end. Made from RF/vacuum dried fir at $4.55 BF. It has to be dried this way to totally/almost elimanite splits.
I ran at 200 IPM with .1" depth of cut and rotating 4 degrees on each cut. That was max the router would comfortably cut. Last 2 passes were .05" and total mill time was 3.5 hours.

Latest sign
 

MDF dyed and then routed. Nice to be able to make your own signs.

:D:D:D well aint you the lucky one...

Art,
Just not as much as some of the executives though. :eek:

Updating site
 

I have starting updating my MM build on my site www.turningaround.org. Comments appreciated.

Art, your MechMate page doesn't fit on my computer screen (1024X768) and it is very difficult to read.

Some stats on typical screen sizes being used out there:
http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_display.asp

screen size
 

I changed the screen resolution on the index screen only, I hope. Let me know if it is better or worse.

http://www.turningaround.org/index.html - okay
http://www.turningaround.org/products.htm - okay
http://www.turningaround.org/MechMate/Mechmate.htm - too wide

The first two pages auto-adjust for even narrower screens, but the Mechmate page is just one fixed (wide) width.

CNC Evolution Ornamental Mill Projects link does not work for me.

The Mechmate stuff looks good. I use a widescreen though.

update
 

Frontpage can be a PITA. Can't figure out why some page auto config and other don't. I set them at 1280 wide for the entire site, I belive. I have started a section on the JoeCNC Hybrid 4by4 that I have started. It is no MM but great low volume machine. I just don't have the need for a 4by8 router.

Joe CNC Hybrid up and running.
 

The Hybrid is doing great but plan on replacing it with a MM after the Laser engraver project. Nice machine but doesen't have the rigity I want especially for non ferous metals. Nice thing is I can sell it for more than I have invested. Confirmed that building a Joes CNC first and then the MM is a good idea. Finally is the 4 by 4 Joe CNC Hybrid router. The green PC is a Dell Insperon on which I do every thing except run Mach 3. Next to it is the Acer Revo, yes the itbity white one. It is used to run Mach 3. Both are tied to an A B switch so they share the monitor, keyboard, mouse and speakers. I like the Revo and plan on addinf a solid state drive and probaly bump to 2 Gb RAM. At $199 with XP installed it is a great buy. Both are on the Microsoft Home Server network. The X to the left is where the laser hits the material. Click on proper button and X and Y are set so their 0,0 is at the crosshairs. The bar is a Z touch off plate and used set the Z zero position Part of it's function is the Smart Tool function as provided by Legacy. Sticking out of the dust foot is wrench for the router collet which allows me to loosen the collet with one hand. At the left is the collet wrench and .1.25" collet from Precise Bits. Expensive but nice.


http://cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=100594

Shortly at above link the latest version will be added.

This add-on takes the MachBlue screen set and adds an automatic Z zero function after tool change and also will turn on a set of laser cross hairs. You jog the cross hairs to where you want work coordinates of X0Y0. When you click on laser button the work coordinates of X and Y are set to 0,0 are set to the laser position. Also you can edit M6start and put in the machine coordinates you want the gantry to move to for tool change. If you start with Z zero on surface of spoil board and also the same in your CAD software you can run multiple jobs of different stock thickness without resetting Z zero.

I am not really sure of all the guys that have been involved in this project but they have created the greatest add-on that I have ever seen.. As far as I can see the only thing better would have an ATC.

Nice Job Art. You seem to be a CNC building machine. You must not do much else than CNC. :)

Retired
 

I am extremly fortunate that in my retirement the income from my shop is not necessary to keep a roof over my head. I planned to open a cabinet shop when I retired and in the 25 years before I built the shops and bought the equiptment and it is all paid for. A friend also had the same idea and I saw what a PITA retail work was and in stumbling around to find something else I got the idea to do custom wood turning. Turned out that in the Dallas, Texas area there is no one else that wants the small jobs so I have no competion. While I am not making enough to totaly support myself, which was not the goal I am making a very nice retirement income and I am getting paid to do what I love to do so I usually spend most of my time in the shop.

This is my idea as well....I am building up for my retirement...just hope I get enough tools and experience by then..

Art,
Glad to see you are enjoying your retirement. :) I would like to be there also, but alas have a few more years to go before that happens. All too often I see people who retire too late and do not have any time or health to enjoy themselves.

Ditto on getting the tools now. I am collecting sometimes while my wife asks ... what is that for .... I just say trust me ... :D Works sometimes and sometimes it doesn't . I just grabbed a 1981 13x42 South Bend Lathe with a taper attachment to replace my Chinese lathe (10x22 110v unit).

If you buy stuff along it sure is nice to have the stuff you need when you need it .... Now to just convince folks to let me retire early ,,, hmmmm ..

I wonder if Art is still with us? I read his stuff a lot when I first starting venturing here, as I owned (still do) a Legacy Ornamental Mill.
He certainly knew his craft.
Hasn't logged in in a couple years.
Looked for his website, but everything seems to be gone.

http://ornamentalmills.com/turningaround/

only link I could find.

Yeah, I found that too. Hasn't been updated in almost 2 years....

I had an email from Rich Golder today who does the indexer wizards, and he has not heard from Art for a while as well.
I threw an email at his old address, see if he responds. Probably been a couple years since my last email with him.

Art lives about an hour from me.
I called his number today to see how he was.
His caretaker told me that he was in the VA - Veteran's Administration.
It didn't sound good.
I always wanted to meet him, just never made the time.

DocTanner aka DonRoss

Thanks for the update Don. Hoping things improve for Art!

"I always wanted to meet him, just never made the time."

How many times have I said that same thing about someone?
Trying to change that going forward.
Hope all is well for Art.

I have just seen on the legacy-ornamental-mills group that Art passed from cancer in the summer - RIP Art.

I had many exchanges of email and such with Art over the years....Blessings to you Art and RIP.

Art RIP

Blessings to you Art and RIP.

I didn't have the opportunity to meet or talk with Art, but appreciate his legacy.
By thoughts and prayers to his family.
Mark

Few years back I had the opportunity to chat with the inspiring fellow…..
Rip big guy !

It was his website that originally peeked my interest in building a CNC for carving. I found it one day looking for something and it was an accident that I got here. I remember saying "WOW" and enthusiastically telling my wife to come and look at the pictures. He inspired many even if he did not know.

Rest In Peace Sir.

RIP Art.