[usarty1]

I just want to again thank all you guys giving me help; I took my sweet loving time setting up the machine between regular business and manufacturing. I am very happy I took everyone's advice and got this machine.

I am now learning the software and how to get around with the machine, I figured out how to use the jog pad but still a little unsure how to use the center ring when jogging, Tormach has been great, I just wish there was a bit more information on the jog pad and how it totally works with the software. Just getting my head around this before I start the actual manufacturing. If anyone has info on using the pad please let me know, Tormach pretty much stated plug and play.

To save money I have been manufacturing the monitor and key board arm, total cost for metal and hardware about $70.00. I pretty much just went from the picture of it and so far it is on point.

My stand is pretty much level but can be tweaked, I am thinking it should be a bit off just for coolant, I found a video on you tube by a man doing a series of videos from the day he purchased and he keeps adding more. One video showed a great little tool for lifting the machine to shim the machine on the stand for the tram using a piece of aluminum and a 1/2' x 13 bolt, pretty cool.

A floor jack does not seem to get under the mill stand well, anyone got any ideas on some sort of small jack that can get under the stand; I prefer to get the weight off the foot rather than muscle it with a spanner wrench to level?

Also looking for a stone for removing minor nicks scratches on the table, Tormach had a nice one they used when installing a machine vise in one of their video’s but I have not seen one like it any place, wondering what you guys use? I will also email Tormach.

Ok I am a bit green to CNC but not to machining in general, I have located X,Y and Z and zeroed in the software on the screen, for some reason my dumb ass cannot find in the manual how to get the machine to return to home to the X,Y and Z I set?

I did manage to make chips today and using the jog pad and ½” end mill I was able to cut out the openings on the arms for the monitor and key board wires on the fixture arms. Sweet running machine compared to that junk and nightmare I was in before.
Thanks for the help!
Semper Fi,
John

[tbaker2500]

I just want to again thank all you guys giving me help; I took my sweet loving time setting up the machine between regular business and manufacturing. I am very happy I took everyone's advice and got this machine.

Congratulations! Fun stuff.

I am now learning the software and how to get around with the machine, I figured out how to use the jog pad but still a little unsure how to use the center ring when jogging, Tormach has been great, I just wish there was a bit more information on the jog pad and how it totally works with the software. Just getting my head around this before I start the actual manufacturing. If anyone has info on using the pad please let me know, Tormach pretty much stated plug and play.

The center ring moves a very small amount. Every detent in the ring moves it one step. The step size can be chosen by pressing the "Step" button on the jog controller. You will see the "Step Size" selection change value in Mach3 every time you press the button.
I use the outer ring to do large movements, and the center ring to move in 0.0005 steps when I get close.
Unlike the outer ring, you have to keep turning the inner ring around and around to keep it moving.

A floor jack does not seem to get under the mill stand well, anyone got any ideas on some sort of small jack that can get under the stand; I prefer to get the weight off the foot rather than muscle it with a spanner wrench to level?

I used my jack from my honda because it was small enough to fit under. Yea... it didn't hold up to well. :-)

Also looking for a stone for removing minor nicks scratches on the table, Tormach had a nice one they used when installing a machine vise in one of their video’s but I have not seen one like it any place, wondering what you guys use? I will also email Tormach.

Oh don't worry, you'll get many, many more nicks and scratches, you won't even see them anymore! :-)

Ok I am a bit green to CNC but not to machining in general, I have located X,Y and Z and zeroed in the software on the screen, for some reason my dumb ass cannot find in the manual how to get the machine to return to home to the X,Y and Z I set?

You have to use the MDI (not sure what that stands for.) That's the place in Mach3 where you can enter G-codes. The G-code to do what you want is
G0 X0 Y0

G0 (thats zero, not "o") means do a rapid move to this co-ordinate. X0 and Y0 are simply the co-odinates where you want it to go.

G1 will do the same thing, but instead of at full speed, it will move it at feed rate you set in Mach3.

Have fun!

[Al_The_Man]

You have to use the MDI (not sure what that stands for.)
G0 (thats zero, not "o") means do a rapid move to this co-ordinate. X0 and Y0 are simply the co-odinates where you want it to go.

G1 will do the same thing, but instead of at full speed, it will move it at feed rate you set in Mach3.

MDI = Manual Data Input.
G00 is not the same thing as G01.
G01 is feed rate interpolated move, G00 is rapid non-interpolated.
Al.

[usarty1]

Thanks Al,
I am starting to get ahold of this machine, I have used manual mills for years and other simple CNC, once I get ahold of the function of this software I will be golden. Loving this machine so far!
Semper Fi,
John

[usarty1]

The G28 code helped with getting the tool back to home, Tormach again right on with the technical support. The stone I was asking about can be found at KBC Tools & Machinery, Inc. Machine Knife Stone. The monitor and key board arm I am building is coming along great I will post the final product, got $70.00 in material and hardware, just could not afford Tormach's at this time. Happy to share measurements, used the mill to cut out the square holes for the cables.

Looked for a Toe Jack to lift the machine for final leveling and found them to be pretty hefty in price, got a low profile 12 Ton Bottle Jack and will post the Toe Jack I am making, I do not think it will cost more than $25.00 bucks to make, don't get what the big deal with these things are, very simple design.

I will post how it's made, just a little welding and two springs and your in business.
Again thank you for all the help, great forum!

[Al_The_Man]

Ok I am a bit green to CNC but not to machining in general, I have located X,Y and Z and zeroed in the software on the screen, for some reason my dumb ass cannot find in the manual how to get the machine to return to home to the X,Y and Z I set?

If you want to return to a pre-determined home position, check out G28.
http://www.cncci.com/resources/tips/...28%20works.htm
Al.

[MichaelHenry]

A floor jack does not seem to get under the mill stand well, anyone got any ideas on some sort of small jack that can get under the stand; I prefer to get the weight off the foot rather than muscle it with a spanner wrench to level?

The $80 (on sale) Harbor Freight racing jacks are low enough to fit under the 1100 PCNC cabinet and I've been using one whenever my mill needs to be repositioned.

Mike

[Don Clement]

The $80 (on sale) Harbor Freight racing jacks are low enough to fit under the 1100 PCNC cabinet and I've been using one whenever my mill needs to be repositioned.

Mike

+1 on the HF racing jack for getting under the 1100.

Don

[usarty1]

Thanks Don,

I will check it out, I am also making a Toe Jack, they are a simple design with a big price tag, but a small one will work great for lifting the machine corners and leveling, I will post the photos and how I make it.
Kind Regards,
John

[Don Clement]

Also looking for a stone for removing minor nicks scratches on the table, Tormach had a nice one they used when installing a machine vise in one of their video’s but I have not seen one like it any place, wondering what you guys use? I will also email Tormach.

John

I have found that what works well for me rather than the typical whet stone is a DMT diamond stone. I have several DMT stones, but the 8 inch DMT DuoSharp diamond bench stone has been my best addition for sharpening everything from carbide tools, scrapers*, to all of my kitchen knives including the excellent single sided Yoshikin Bunmei knives. [ame="http://www.amazon.com/DMT-WM8EF-WB-8-Inch-DuoSharp-Stone-Extra/dp/B000H6L6FA"]DMT WM8EF-WB 8-Inch DuoSharp Plus Bench Stone-Extra Fine/Fine With Base - Amazon.com[/ame] BTW the base for the DMT Duo Sharp has a built in handle so it can be used to hone nicks and scratches off of large stationary objects like the mill table. Plus the DuoSharp is quite flat over the 8” x 3” surface.

* a scraper would be another way to remove nicks from the mill table as shown in Edward Connelly's book "Machine Tool Reconditioning: and Applications of Hand Scraping"


Don