[MBViklund]

Hi Folks.

My first post on CNCzone.

I have been thinking about getting a CNC milling machine since I finished my studies almost 10 years ago. But never had the opportunity until now. Been looking mostly for used machines, but gave up and went with a Novakon torus pro. It should be shipped within 2 weeks and the shipping time is probably another 4-5 weeks before it arrives in Oslo.

Ordered a stepper machine with ESS and a 4th axis, built in computer, power draw bar and the upgraded stand. Also bought 2 6” vises and a 3 Jaw chuck for the rotary table. Would have bought the tool changer as well if it was available (hurry up Ray!:stickpoke )

For tooling a bought 15 er20 holders from tormach and a couple of collet sets for them. Also bought a fly cutter, a boring bar kit and some measuring tools. Already received the tormach tooling and a pile of mills, drills, threading tools and more I bought from a bankrupt company.

Also ordered 2 wild horse probes. One will be used as a probe and the other one as a tool setter. And Yesterday I bought a vista P3A-E pedant as well.

For CAM I will be using HSMxpress in Solidworks to begin with, I might upgrade it later to be able to generate 3D tool paths. But the works version is not cheap…
I have rented an old store together with some friends which is where all the magic will happen later. Really looking forward to get the mill and start messing around with it.

I am designing a cabinet in sheet metal to be around the mill. But I am not sure I have the measures for the old or new stand. Could someone give me the correct measures of the new stand? Will post pics of it as soon as the design is finished.

//Daniel

[Hirudin]

I haven't set up my upgraded stand yet, but it looks like the main tray is ~2400mm wide by 1157mm deep. There is a piece that sticks out of the middle of the back that adds an additional ~200mm (more like ~165mm) to the depth. Unfortunately, I'm not sure how much of the machine (specifically, the computer box) hangs off the back.

[MBViklund]

Thanks for the measures. I think I will place the computer box outside of the cabinet. How wide is the piece that sticks out?

[Hirudin]

Thanks for the measures. I think I will place the computer box outside of the cabinet. How wide is the piece that sticks out?

No prob! It looks like it's roughly square, so 'round 200mm wide as well.

[LeeWay]

Congratulations on the new machine and tooling. I'm sure you will enjoy it.

We do expect pictures of it's living arrangements when you get to that point as well as pictures of what it will be doing.

[DBD]

Congratulations on the new mill. What made you decide on the P3A-E pedant? I have been trying to decide which
one to order and have been looking at the P5A.

[Novakon]

Hello Daniel,

We would like to echo and add to what Ray has stated. The stand wiring can be connected as indicated in the attached picture. The Blue set of wires are used for the spray down pump and are connected to the 220VAC terminals and is controlled from the switch on the front of the stand.The red wires are connected through the SSR and the 220VAC terminal also as indicated. The SSR is activated via the flood control in Mach3.

The hum in the X axis can be controlled by adjusting the "position feed back gain" parameter P009 on the servo driver. You can lower this (maybe in increments of 5) until the hum goes away. The default factory setting is 40 and we may have made some adjustments to this already before it was shipped. We would have lowered it to just above the threshold. The X axis seems to be the only axis usually needing adjustment.

If unplugging the sensors does not stop the E-stop triggers, try unplugging the N.O. soft stop plug from the BOB and see if it false triggers. The E-stop button will still control the hard stop since it will cut off the driver power via the power relay. This will indicate if the triggers are originating from the E-Stop cabling.

Regards,
Novakon Team

[FineLineAuto]

Hello Daniel,

We would like to echo and add to what Ray has stated. The stand wiring can be connected as indicated in the attached picture. The Blue set of wires are used for the spray down pump and are connected to the 220VAC terminals and is controlled from the switch on the front of the stand.The red wires are connected through the SSR and the 220VAC terminal also as indicated. The SSR is activated via the flood control in Mach3.

The hum in the X axis can be controlled by adjusting the "position feed back gain" parameter P009 on the servo driver. You can lower this (maybe in increments of 5) until the hum goes away. The default factory setting is 40 and we may have made some adjustments to this already before it was shipped. We would have lowered it to just above the threshold. The X axis seems to be the only axis usually needing adjustment.

If unplugging the sensors does not stop the E-stop triggers, try unplugging the N.O. soft stop plug from the BOB and see if it false triggers. The E-stop button will still control the hard stop since it will cut off the driver power via the power relay. This will indicate if the triggers are originating from the E-Stop cabling.

Regards,
Novakon Team

Make sure you follow the write to EPROM procedure in the drive manual otherwise the setting won't save. But me yesterday when I was changing a wrong parameter on my servo drive.


Nate
Fine Line Automation
Home - Fine Line Automation

[MBViklund]

So I had some things done yesterday. Changed mach from inches to mm. The only settings I think I have to change is the motor tuning, takes anybody 5 minutes to do. I set the limit switches to only act as homing switches and nothing else and tuned my soft limits. (They are also displayed in system units, metric is easier for me :-) Found out what I was doing wrong with the homing as well. I was using G28 to home, while I should have used the ref all button. Stupid mistake from not knowing enough and not seeing the button.

Tried changing setting P009 in the servo driver. It was set at 40, stepped it down in increments of 5 but the sound was still there at 10. So i never bothered saving the changes in the EPROM. Did not know that the smallest step actually was 0.0254mm. Will have to check that setting.

Filled the tank with coolant and tested the pumps. They worked so everything is good.

Installed machSTDmill screenset. I like the way everything is lined up and looks. It includes alot of scripts for probing which atleast looks good. But I have not tested doing anything with it yet... Made a copy of the original mach folder in case I want to go back.

Hopefully I will get my probes working today. Then I am going to make something.

Will Order the capacitor today ray. :-)

[Novakon]

Hello Brian,

We are very concerned about the situation with the ball screw and bearing. The debris on the screw is not acceptable and we have taken issue with the factory already. Specifically with the bearings...do you think the screw end or housing had any burrs on it prevent proper alignment? The fit of the bearing on the shaft of the screw and inside of the mount should be "finger tight" and not require it to be hammered into position. If it was tight and not allowed to seat properly during assembly is an issue we need to resolve this with the factory. This can be resolved easily if this is the case here. Your opinion will help us greatly. We will send out new bearing to replace the suspect bearings.

The GIB should be below the slide. The picture is not clear so if you still can take a profile picture would be greatly helpful. The GIBs are held into position by a couple of set screws on the saddle GIB adjustor. These don't tighten the GIB but only prevent linear movement. It is possible that movement in a linear direction might cause some binding or lifting of the GIB.

In regards to the E-stop triggers... the servo drivers also generate reset signals to the BOB. If this is the source of the triggers, you can remove the axes and test one at a time. For example, unplug the servo power connectors on the Y and Z drivers to test the X axis. Also unplug the communication lines to prevent triggering the BOB E-stop. Run the axis as you have and see if the problem occurs. Do the same for the other axes until you can isolate where it is coming from.

If the USB extension cable is faulty, just let us know and we will get another one out to you.

The homing function was working without issue before it was shipped. For it to hangup during the homing sequence, would indicate a problem with Mach3. The version loaded and tested was version 66. Some users have used version 62 and said it was better. You might load this version and try it.

Regards,
Novakon Team

[MBViklund]

Hello Khai (?)

I think the bearing was not properly seated when tightening the nut at the factory. And it was probably tightened to much as well. I had to use tools and quite some force to get it of. One thing I thought was strange was that the side of the bearing housing facing the table looked like a 10 year old with a course disc on a grinder had finished it of. There is no way that the bearings is the housing are parallel with the screw or table.

The picture shows the gib being higher than the slide. Will take a new photo tomorrow.

Will test drive one axis at the time with the other ones powered off to see if it one of the axis causing estop. But it happens at least 3-4 times in one evening when i am just setting everything up.

Will also check the cable and the panel with the usb connections.

Homing is okay. That was only me doing it wrong... I used G28 instead of the homing button in mach3, So there was probably newer anything wrong with it.


Today when I came out to the mill head had fell down. I always power the mill down over night. I had no tool in and the spindle and it only stopped in the rubber cylinder at the bottom of the z axis so nothing was damaged. Today when i powered the mill down the head fell down instantly. I turned the power back on and it stopped. Put a piece of wood in between the spindle and the table to prevent it from falling. Should it be this way? Seems dangerous if the power goes away and the head just falls.

The good news is that i milled my first part today. Was just out of a plate of polyethylene but everything worked very good! :-)

Best regards/Daniel

[ram48]

Congrats on the new mill. I have an NM200 with 4th and 5th axis that has been upgraded to the VFD motor and PDB so basically it is a pro in NM clothing lol.
I am waiting my new Pro and upgraded stand stepper version 4th axis version and like you It should be shipped in two weeks.
but only have room for one of them, I can fit both in the shop for a while but who knows. decisions, decisions.
I would also like to see the enclosure or drawings if you have them.

[MBViklund]

Congratulations on the new machine and tooling. I'm sure you will enjoy it.

We do expect pictures of it's living arrangements when you get to that point as well as pictures of what it will be doing.

Will post pics as soon as I actually made something

Congratulations on the new mill. What made you decide on the P3A-E pedant? I have been trying to decide which
one to order and have been looking at the P5A.

The P5A seems quite equal to P3A except for P5A being water resistant. P3A have LEDs in the buttons. I do not know if I need it or will like it. But at least I can choose later on :banana:

Congrats on the new mill. I have an NM200 with 4th and 5th axis that has been upgraded to the VFD motor and PDB so basically it is a pro in NM clothing lol.
I am waiting my new Pro and upgraded stand stepper version 4th axis version and like you It should be shipped in two weeks.
but only have room for one of them, I can fit both in the shop for a while but who knows. decisions, decisions.
I would also like to see the enclosure or drawings if you have them.

Need to get the mill before finishing the design of the enclosure. Will post it on grabcad once it is finished.

[MBViklund]

Bought Fusion 360 today. They are releasing fusion 360 ultimate in a few days and you will get the update for free if you have 360 when that happens. It is $300 a year and supports 3+2 axis 3d milling! Apperantly it is built on the same CAM kernel as hsmworks. I have just seen a few youtube videos, but actually looks good. There are many options for both 2d (including adaptive clearing) and 3d milling and post processors already built for many machines including mach3 ones.

Features | Autodesk Fusion 360

[amish_rabbi]

nice. I'm tempted by that as well, Just have HSM express right now so I lack the 3d milling capabilities

[MBViklund]

nice. I'm tempted by that as well, Just have HSM express right now so I lack the 3d milling capabilities

I've played around with it for an hour now. Seems good for what it costs!
I have been using solidworks for 9 years. So I am not very familiar or comfortable in the way you navigate in fusion, but I think that I will over come that. All common features used in solid are there. For the CAM i have almost no experiece from neither HMSxpress or fusion 360. But I do really like what I see in fusion. Very similar to HMS.

You can just download a free trial from the webpage, you get access to it right away. But you will have to buy it before 8th november in order to take part of the deal. The ultimate edition will be 1299 per year when it is released.

[amish_rabbi]

I downloaded the trial last night, been watching a few videos and it is very HSMworks like, which is excellent. I'll be playing with the cam tonight but it looks like a really good option for 3d, and at $300 prob worth the money for a year "trial" anyways.

tool library ect look identical so its very clearly the HSM kernel.

[MBViklund]

So I have finally received my mill after waiting for over 3 months! Novakon were 5 weeks delayed, then the shipping company did not get the mill on a boat until a few weeks after that. Then another 4 weeks shipping. The company that received the mill 30/12 could not get their fingers out until 10/1... So many delays at so many places ads up.

I got the driver of the final delivery truck to bring it all the way home. I borrowed the forklift from work and put the 2 crates in the garage.

I was a little bit worried when I received the mill. There were 2 holes in the crate from a forklift. Probably tried to push the whole crate with the forks. But I could not find any damage to anything inside. :banana:

Spent the first evening to unpack everything and place the mill on top of the stand. Yesterday i spent removing a wall in order to create a little bit more space for it.

Will continue assembling it tonight. I ran in to trouble finding where to connect the coolant pumps. Can anyone post a picture of the connections in the electrical cabinet?

Best regards/Daniel

[SCzEngrgGroup]

I'm pretty sure the current machines use an SSR to control the coolant pumps. The SSR should be mounted just above the DIN strips, near where AC power enters the cabinet. It would be much easier to provide correct guidance it you posted a picture of your E-box, showing the lower right corner, where all the AC wiring is.

Regards,
Ray L.

[MBViklund]

] I found the switch as soon as I turned the mill on. Have not filled it with coolant so I don't know if it is working yet.

I do have a few things I am concerned about. The X axis makes a lot of noise. Seems to be the servo and a resonance sound through the screw. The sound will not stop until I touch the screw physically. When the mill is turned off the X axis kind of feels grinding when turned around as well.

The second thing is that the mill will trigger what it thinks is e stop at random places. It is nowhere near the end stop switches and nothing is coming close to the sensors.

Third is the drawbar panel that will display a bunch of wierd symbols at some times. Will go back to normal if reset.

Fourth is probably a user error. But I can't home the machine. Z axis is fine. It zeros and stops. Then it begins with the X axis, but as soon as it hits the sensor triggers an alarm. I'm I doing anything wrong here. The homing /limit values are unchanged.