[RotarySMP]

You're up early.

[epineh]

Or up late, depends how you look at it.

[RotarySMP]

Look Forward to seeing more photos of your build.
Mark

[epineh]

I got a mate to print three encoder mounts for my servos, as my printer accidentally got dismantled on purpose.

Took the remains of the resolver/tacho out of the X axis servo and fitted the mount, and encoder.

I now have some work to do to mount the servo back on the machine and temporarily connect a drive and controller but then I can test my drives and see how the machine performs.

I will also need to make covers for the motor end to protect the encoder, but for now it will be fine, not like I'm going to be splashing coolant around any time soon, or chips for that matter.

Russell.

[epineh]

Today I spent some time cleaning the X axis ballscrew, and it came up pretty good, I am much more confident it will be ok.

I also mounted the X servo in preparation for testing.

Next issue to sort out before I power up the axis is to get the oil lube system running, this should be fairly straightforward, the manual plunger works and there is half a tank of oil in the reservoir (bonus !), I just need to plug the line that went to the Z axis since that section has been removed, and work out what voltage the pump requires. It is single phase but no indication of whether it is 240V or 110V, will have to do some research.

It looks like the reservoir has a float level switch and also there is a pressure switch so that will be nice to make a little alarm circuit to monitor both of these, I won't link them to a machine estop or enable, rather an audible and visual alarm somewhere on the control panel.

Russell.

[epineh]

One step closer, today my PCB's turned up for the encoder line drivers and also my breakout board I designed to plug into the MESA 7i43, kept everything simple, hopefully my servo drives will plug directly into this (and work) as well as basic IO, each board has step/dir/enable/index and fault signals to the four axis headers, as well as four outputs and seven inputs. General IO is opto isolated, servo drive signals are buffered as I have optos on the drives.

[epineh]

I should mention I have my servo drives operational and tested (holding position, not accepting step dir yet), at least on other servo's - the ones in the picture. Going to build one drive for the mill servo's for testing and plug it in to see how it goes. Going to be a busy weekend.

Russell.

[RotarySMP]

Fast progress you are making there. Nice that all the hardware is serviceable so far.
Mark

[johnno402002]

Hi Russell,
That's a nice machine you have there. I learned cnc machining on one at Tafe many years ago, it was near new when I was using it. We only machined aluminium on it but some of the exercises where for quick metal removal, and it was impressive to watch. I don't think you will have any rigidity problems with it, it is very well designed and built.

regards,

John

[epineh]

Fast progress you are making there. Nice that all the hardware is serviceable so far.
Mark

Hi Mark, everything seems to be OK so far, played around with the oil lube system a little tonight, until things are moving it is very difficult to work out if it is working properly, but if an oil fitting is loosened then it pumps oil by manually working the plunger. Going to remove the Y axis bellows to gain better access to the X rails and bearing blocks, and to properly clean them before I start moving the X around too much. Hope I can get a better look at the oil system while I am at it.

Hi Russell,
That's a nice machine you have there. I learned cnc machining on one at Tafe many years ago, it was near new when I was using it. We only machined aluminium on it but some of the exercises where for quick metal removal, and it was impressive to watch. I don't think you will have any rigidity problems with it, it is very well designed and built.

regards,

John

Hi John, I hope it is rigid enough, I cannot fit anything bigger in the shed that is for sure ! I can't wait to put it through its paces, I also mainly wish to make things in aluminium, with a few steel things every now and then.

Cheers.

Russell.

[epineh]

Hi Phil, thanks a bunch for that, very cool information. Nice to get a bit of the background of the machine, especially from somebody that worked on them.

They are very well made machines, I am very happy to be able to get this one going again.

Cheers.

Russell.

[Machtool]

Russ.

What part of the country are you in? Roughly speaking. I'm in Melbourne. Happily give you a couple of hours one Saturday, if you were local. Could barely cost a coffee. Just for old times sake. I still keep in touch with one of the principle engineers of that machine, and my Foremen at the time. The Engineer has 3 of them that he has bought back, and retrofitted. I helped him move his shop 12 - 18 months ago.

To be fair, I only just looked at your pictures again. That machine could well have been before my time, or early on in my apprenticeship. I note It's DC servo's? What are they S.E.M or Baldor?

Towards the end 1989 -90. They were fully Fanuc AC servo & control. Yours could only have had an ANCA?

Regards Phil.

[snoozer77]

Hi,

Just wondering how you ended up going with this project. Have purchased a complete NC200 with toolchanger, the old ANCA 2000 seems to have seen better days.I and am looking for some advise / info and a bit of inspiration. Hope everyone is well.

Matt

[DonaldTrump]

Hello All,

Does anyone know the L x W x H of this machine as I have seen one but it is in Melbourne (obviously) and I am in Perth.

Are the machines easily reapairable / parts available ....

Does anyone have an owners manual I can purchase a copy of.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Kind Regards

Gavin

[epineh]

Hi Phil, you may need more than one coffee to drop in to my place, I live about half an hour south of Cairns, a bit under 3000K's away. You would be welcome if you managed to make it though.

Yes servos are DC and S.E.M. and yes it did have an ANCA control, long gone now but LinuxCNC should put some life back into the old girl.

Spindle is also DC, that will most likely prove to be the hardest to power, not the drive side but finding a 180volt 20 amp DC supply will be interesting.

Cheers.

Russell.

[Machtool]

I've got as close as Townsville in the past 12 months on a job. I'm still in the machine tools trade. Self employed, service engineer, last 26 -27 years since Z-Z fell under. I'd still be there today is it didn't drop out from under me. Remarkable company.

Mission Beach is my all time favourite part of the country. You'd be in the middle of that and Cairns. Great part of the world..

Regards Phil.

[epineh]

Well if you happen to get any closer be sure to let me know. I did a bit of googling on Z-Z, very interesting indeed, I kinda feel bad for retrofitting the machine and not restoring it to "original" condition like the car guys do with their restoration jobs.

Mission is nice, one of the best beaches in this part of the world.

Cheers.

Russell.

[mach-mate]

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You Tube Link below

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Some Photos Below

[epineh]

Hi mate I have in my possession a full set of drawing for that model as i have a 4axis zenford zeigler with anca control but with a fanuc ac spindle that has just died.

Hi Raymond, as it happens I have a few of the drawings myself, although they will only be useful for the oil lube system and possibly the clutch pack, as the machine was completely stripped before I got it, I have the Anca front panel only but there isn't much left on that either. Mine has a DC spindle which means a nice and simple drive will do the job, I am thinking one of my servo drives with some large power modules may work.

[raymond.baker8@]

Hi epineh, let me know if you need any wiring diagrams or drawings I think i may even have a manual for your DC spindle motor i will have a look on the weekend . The number of my machine is 498 located on the front right hand corner.