emco pc mill 50 & similar
hello all, my first post here. I'm a u.k based machinist and just picked up a few bench top machines. One is the emco pc mill 50, i'd like to start a small thread for any that wants to add information regarding these machines or similar wether good / no good, faults and remedies, programming tips even.
im not experienced in cnc programming and have been a manual toolmaker for 11 years now, this is the first step on the ladder to learning the art of cnc.
with this particular machine i have the use of two different control systems, the emco wincam cad/cam/nc software and also an emulated Ge Fanuc 0 type control which is emulated accurately via the emco Pc program 'winNc'' and controlled via keyboard input so i have the choice of both which will be handy im sure. i have a working area of 190X , 90Y and 190Z, and program controlled spindle speeds of upto 2500rpm. feedrate max of 750mm/min. i appreciate its not a multi-pallet mitsubishi with 2sec cTc !.. but its mine :) and i'm happy with the chance to get going. i'd also like to learn of other similar machines like the home built cnc's so a better gauge of capability can be had you know i might be better off outing it and getting another set-up etc.
ive noted allready a few things which are going to be a small issue to overcome. these are the toolholders which are from what i can understand not freely available in the tooling world MT30 spindle taper i think (will check). i do have 4 of them so i can tool up for small jobs etc, but at the moment they are all esx-25 type collet holders.. now im sure this is the same as ER25 so ive just ordered a set of er's' in the hope they fit. with regards to holding other tools like face mills or morse taper shanks i guess i'm stuck.
heres a picture of the machine installed in my workshop i'm tooling it up slowly to get ready for some cutting what experience have you of these?
http://www.adamhutchison.co.uk/graphics/cnc1.jpg
http://www.adamhutchison.co.uk/graphics/cnc6.jpg