Yes, you are correct.
CNC's for cuemakers
- Thread starter Guerra Cues
- Start date
Yes, you are correct.
If you can afford and have space for the regular Raptor, get that.
I already got the 800 mm travel high precision ballscrew with zero backlash. Got it for a real good price. It's replacement cost is around 10k I just have to figure out a few more things, like is 800mm travel enough. Having worked in the Ali extrusion industry, I won't be building my machine with it.
Neil
Neil
Heluva find.... Specs?
Lots of AL extrusion machines out there... wondering what concern you have with them, considering your background...
Why? More Z clearance?
I have the same 18x48 mini Tony.
There are a couple things to be aware of, unless he's made changes.
1. you can't tighten the couplers onto the ballscrews AFTER you've installed the screws, so make sure they are already on or you'll have to take it apart again. This applies to all his machines I believe.
2. The zerks on the ballscrews are tucked away as well, so grease them before you assemble the z and y axis. The x can be accessed simply by sliding a table piece.
3. the caps that hold the end bearings should be a slip fit, not a press fit. My x end caps were machined incorrectly and George had to send new ones out.
I've also got the 4660 running nicely and would be happy to help. I made custom brackets and paid 250.00 for the REAL Molex crimper, which makes things very neat and tidy.
I can duplicate the brackets here with the Bridgeport and make up the wires, which I have plenty of as well since they are the same machines.
I apologize for being rude to you in the past, so I'm trying to take a step in the correct direction. I have spent way too much of my life hanging on to grudges.
I also have more than enough of the EXPENSIVE wires that Clearpath recommends for their machines if anyone needs them...
There are a couple things to be aware of, unless he's made changes.
1. you can't tighten the couplers onto the ballscrews AFTER you've installed the screws, so make sure they are already on or you'll have to take it apart again. This applies to all his machines I believe.
2. The zerks on the ballscrews are tucked away as well, so grease them before you assemble the z and y axis. The x can be accessed simply by sliding a table piece.
3. the caps that hold the end bearings should be a slip fit, not a press fit. My x end caps were machined incorrectly and George had to send new ones out.
I've also got the 4660 running nicely and would be happy to help. I made custom brackets and paid 250.00 for the REAL Molex crimper, which makes things very neat and tidy.
I can duplicate the brackets here with the Bridgeport and make up the wires, which I have plenty of as well since they are the same machines.
I apologize for being rude to you in the past, so I'm trying to take a step in the correct direction. I have spent way too much of my life hanging on to grudges.
I also have more than enough of the EXPENSIVE wires that Clearpath recommends for their machines if anyone needs them...
I need to have in the bed a setup to turn shafts and butts and such so I am not sure the direction to go there, if Sherline, Taig or something else.
Mach3 settings will be a big one so I can run things smoothly. I received the Tekno 3140-C yesterday from Damen CNC, paid $815 shipped already hooked up and with a 220V Delta VFD. I am hoping to get the CNC here in the next 2 weeks or so.
Randy, as you know repentance is a good thing, we are not perfect and if we would repent on our wrong doings we would be living in a better world. I boil in very little water. My apologies as well if I ever hurt your feelings.
He does, but one side floats
I had a 5C belt drive already, so I used that. It's 7 to 1. The 4th that you posted looks like it might be good as well, depending on the ratio. I don't like that company though. They didn't disclose customs charges at hit me with a bill...not cool.
I don't think I spin faster than 160(as fast as stepper will go) when tapering. at 24k, it works out very nicely. The spinner doesn't have to be anything fancy and even if it runs out you can put a brass or bronze center in there and take a 60 degree cut, which puts it perfectly on center.
I don't suggest paying the extra money to get the vfd wired up. It's said and done, so nothing you can do now. The Deltas(I have 3) are super user friendly and it's a matter of connecting the single phase on one side and the three phase, which goes to motor, on the other. Turn it on, pick fwd or reverse, and you are good to go. Adding parameters is neat, but not necessary to get things rolling.
If you bought the same 4660 that I have, I can just send you the ammended xml file.
Randy
805-766-6976
I bought all the upgrades. Eddie Cohen is running a full size raptor with the upgrades, Clearpaths, and one of the CSMIO(the one a step down from Bob Dzuricky's) cards. He runs a Sherline 4th and I believe he does his tapering on another machine. Eddie's work with that machine I believe speaks for itself.
I bought the mini because I wanted a dedicated tapering machine. If I did it over again I'd buy a full size Raptor, although I am literally running out of room. You can do smaller stuff on a big machine, but not bigger stuff on a small machine. Furthermore, in the event you wish to sell, it narrows the potential buyers significantly...
Hey Randy,
Thanks for the response. I have a new number 385-212-0979.
I have not decided if I am going Clearpath yet but most likely will, we will see.
I have the chance to pick up a mini-raptor lightly used but the guy is not budging on the price from retail. Give me a call when you have a chance.
Machine alone with shipping to Utah is $2,265 and would have been another $400 if you go with the MX4660 drivers and controller box. You still need to buy the 4th axis, another $250 and a decent spindle, I bought a Tekno, came from the Netherlands for $800 shipped with VFD.
If you want to go with a Gecko 540 setup you look at $500 and if you go servos can vary from $1000 to $1500.
Plenty of options but you can get the machine running for about $3000/$3300 if you get a chinese spindle.
Let's see.
2600.00 with motors
90.00 for 15mm rail and bearing
400.00 for 5C 4th
90.00 for tailstock
70.00 for pc case to house electronics
30 for power supply
100.00 for computer
70.00+ for wires
50.00 for Molex connectors, shrink tubing ect. I paid 250.00 for the real crimper and it does make a lot of difference.
100.00 for 27"monitor
220.00 for 2.2 kw china spindle
40.00 for mount
300.00 for Delta vfd
I have the luxury of a mill, so I don't have to farm out any machining of brackets ect that I wanted, but I spent a bit of time getting things tidy....
I'm most likely forgetting something, so budget around 5k for the mini and George's stepper motors and controller. Clearpaths would be significantly more. When tapering I get, without too much fiddling, within .003 of my target.
Also 64 bit does not support the parallel port driver unless you find a work around.. 32 bit does work with mach.
I'll call you tomorrow Tony...
Sounds good Randy. Yeah you did spent a chunk a change. Some guys on here do have the luxury of having a mill on their shops, I am jealous.
I got lucky and only ended up paying about 400.00 for it. I Haven't seen a deal like that in many years.
I added the DRO and vfd, but the powerfeeds and power drawbar came with it.
Only thing about MX4660 is I've heard a couple issues early on about one axis going out on them. I believe they are DM542s but not sure if the unit is user-serviceable.
I do have a 4HP Chinese spindle/VFD, as well as 49" OAL THK super-precision linear rail set, all NOS, if anyone's interested.
Marriss' support at GeckoDrive is second to none, and he is one of the most knowledgeable guys out there in the CNC world. His online resources are super-helpful. He has a new G214 that allows up to 256 microsteps, and new step-morphing technology allowing smoother movement and better resonance damping.
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