I have noticed this mill behind the Bridgeport and it doesn’t seem to be up and running, nor I have seen a ‘class’ for it listed even though such a class is shown as being required prior to use. Anyone know what the status of this tool is?
Should be fully functional, why don’t you think it is?
Mostly, because when I last looked at it, it appeared to have ‘parts’ laying on the table and didn’t appear to have the computer connected to it.
Ah.
That’s part of the machine shop just because categorically it belongs there. In reality I know little about it and have never used it. Last I heard it was determined to have developed a disturbing amount of backlash.
Today is July 11th, I just was told about the backlash issue with the Emco, I intended to look at it and see about making the adjustments to remove backlash on the x and y axis, however, we seem to not have any metric allen wrenches. I will be looking at it this week and attempt to figure out how to do the backlash adjustment I don’t think it will be hard but I’ll probably have to take the thing apart. I ran a file just to check operations on it and movement and controls from the computer seem good. Anyway, I expect to have it open for business again later this coming week.
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There are metric allen wrenches in the top drawer of the black toolbox, the second to top drawer of the red toolbox, and in the toolbox by the woodshop.
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Ok, I did find the metric allen wrenches in the red toolbox but I had brought my own. I checked the backlash on the x and y axis and adjusted both. I also tightened the gibs on the x axis. I ran the unit just to make sure everything was stable and it all looks good. I will try to run a cutting program tomorrow after I check my speed and feed calculations and pick up a piece of aluminum from Garland Steel. If anyone wants to have a look and see if I got the backlash worked out, please feel free and let me know if I missed anything.
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Any chance of you offering a class on how to run this machine. Covering things like controls and how to locate/register a tool?
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Sure, just need to make sure it’s going to work for everyone and I’d be glad to share anything I know. It’s actually a nice machine but I just haven’t had time to work with it.
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Ran another test today, it is looking good EXCEPT for a strange noise the X axis makes moving from left to right. Not sure it’s a big deal but I don’t like unknowns. It is not the belt and I did not notice any binding on the axis from any test. Ran a simple test milling a square in a piece of aluminum. Depth of cut was only .01 per pass and feed speed was about 5 IPM using a 1/4" end mill. It all looked good. I want to try a deeper cut of at least .06" to .125" but needed my computer to make the changes to the g-code. I was using air to cool the bit and help clear the chips away. Better results might happen with oil or misting, but I am not going to clean that up so I’m sticking with air. For the most part, everything looks good.As far as I am concerned, anyone who wants to use it can give it a try.
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And lets not forget that @bgangwere has done a fantastic job of raising revenue for the machine shop with the HAAS training and using it to acquire some really useful tooling like the new Clausing drill press and the vertical band saw as well as the bench grinders that both you @Tron and I wanted so much. Not to mention that like nearly all Committee chairs he has to spend so much of the time he is here cleaning up after people. The space and its usefulness to all of us is dependent upon members volunteering their efforts to keep things running.
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OK I FINALLY think I am happy with the Emco. ALMOST. Let me just say it works and I believe it works well but I had a problem while testing it. Turns out the end mill was not properly seated in the holder and so some weird stuff was happening while I was working on it. The finish I got was not exactly perfect but acceptable to my untrained eye. I THINK that the end mill being a bit loose in the holder may have dulled the cutting edges and that might explain the finish problem. That led me to order a few new bits and I want to run a few more tests. I am trying to determine speeds and feeds so I can give an acceptable starting point for those who are interested. The end mills will arrive in a couple of days. And so you want to ask, “So when will you do a ‘how to’ class?” Great question. First of all, it hardly merits a class, but if that is the best way to get the most people involved I am happy to do it. I don’t intend to cover CAD or CAM except to show how I do that process… Just for examples sake. Mostly I would just show the steps and turn you all loose to use the unit however you wish. I suggest cutting wood, wax, plastics and Aluminum. The mill should also cut mild steel and I believe it can. I have never milled a piece of steel that hasn’t embedded a sharp sliver in my body so I avoid it. It is small so that also means a bit slow compared to the Haas or the Router, but the fact of the matter is, if you break it, all anyone cares about is that you clean up after yourself. Just FYI
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Hello! I’m new to DMS and my roommate introduced me to DMS. He, myself, and a friend of mine are interested in taking classes on how to use the CNC. We were told at orientation we have to take the 5 classes before using it. Does anyone know when these classes will start?
It is somewhat disturbing that an old post about a different machine is being bumped for a question about a production grade machining center…
New members can’t create new threads immediately. This one probably looked closest. Not worth worrying about in my opinion.
There was a newer thread about the actual Haas, though.
I was going to post this in my gcode question post (and probably still will) but I’ll post it here anyway.
I went up and used the emco last night, and everything worked great. But I couldn’t find a collet for the 1/8 endmill. Anyone know where that is? The endmill I found was also in the purple drawers underneath, in a tube, so I’m not sure whether that’s actually the 1/8th to use, or if the normal one is in it’s collet somewhere. Also, does anyone know why the 1/4" endmill has a “polyprinter” label on it?
It might be Polyprinter’s endmill… I’ve heard they use the Haas for production.
OK I am dancing as fast as I can! The Emco is down until tomorrow 8/3/2015 AFTERNOON and then it should be back up. I needed to find a metric tap to clean out years of debris that has accumulated on the X axis shaft. I have done that and 4 bolts, three screws later, it will be back to operating. I also intend to do the same for the Y axis. I am actually impressed with the engineering on this thing. I really should have just offered the space $50 for it and replaced my crappy Chinese mill. Oh well… such is life and then you die.
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