Gene: The point I may have understated in my previous post is that I think getting a few more ER20 TTS compatible collet holders will be your biggest bang for the buck. When you only have one, you are missing the two big advantages of the TTS system - quick tool changes and repeatable Z heights. If you need to disassemble the ER20 collet holder, pull out the collet, change the tool and reassemble, you have very slow tool changes and you need to reset the Z height each time. When that's the case (what a hassle!), it matters little whether you loosen the drawbar with a wrench, an impact wrench or a pneumatically actuated power drawbar. Compared to mucking around with a single ER20 collet holder, the drawbar is by far the easiest part of that overall problem. ER20 TTS collet holders are like divorces - they cost a lot... because they're worth it!
On 10/29/2015 11:42 AM, andy pugh wrote: > If you make your own cylinder it actually all gets a bit simpler. > http://www.cnczone.com/forums/vertical-mill-lathe-project-log/109301-cnc.html > (There is a link at the bottom to a video of it in action) Considering that I spend 99% of my time online, reading about CNC conversions and watching machining videos, and only about 1% of my time in the shop, it's a true tragedy that I didn't encounter your solution to my power drawbar problem sooner. I'm a do-it-myself kinda guy, usually to a self destructive degree, so I naturally thought about making a custom air cylinder. Sanity prevailed and I figured SMC has forgotten a hundred times more than I'll ever know about making an air cylinder, but I didn't take the concept far enough. The project makes a lot of sense when the air cylinder part of the overall integrated drawbar mechanism. Very nicely done, sir! I'll try to keep that concept in my old brain in case I ever need to do this type of project again. I saw where 3D printers can now print a flexible rubbery material. I need to 3D print a rubber bracelet with an embossed "WWAPD?" (What Would Andy Pugh Do?) as a reminder to check first before I start any shop project. On 10/29/2015 01:18 PM, Jonathan Blissett wrote: > You can ask the seller to put the groove in the toolholders - I did and it > was still cheap. I've used them to convert an X3 mill. Some pictures and a > video here: > > http://www.mycncuk.com/threads/7656-X3-mill-with-rails-ATC-new-motor That's a very impressive X3 conversion. A 16 position ATC?!? Wow! I think you'll know you've finished that CNC conversion when you realize there is not a single piece of the X3 remaining! Your signature line: Old router build log here <https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.mycncuk.com/forums/router-build-logs/2288-1-7*0-74*0-4m-mill-router-building.html&sa=U&ei=IgiJUruTAqOp0QWP8IHYBA&ved=0CAcQFjAA&client=internal-uds-cse&usg=AFQjCNHzK2eBjyDNkvNNpkDkbrSId58P1w>. New router build log here <http://www.mycncuk.com/forums/router-build-logs/6484-sufficiently-strong-machine.html>. Lathe build log here <https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.mycncuk.com/forums/lathe-build-logs/4497-micro-lathe-zero-backlash*-conversion.html&sa=U&ei=hgiJUuS9N9TwhQfK0YCIDg&ved=0CAcQFjAA&client=internal-uds-cse&usg=AFQjCNHAN7QLXF2OU7rMv2VFcEqpE3Ccnw>. Electric motorbike project here <https://www.facebook.com/UoNElectricMotorbike>. You may be my long lost twin. I built a 2'X4' CNC router but have a 2'X2' CNC router to build. It's a big pile of parts in my shop. I also have a CNC mill conversion and a CNC lathe conversion (even though I already build a CNC mini lathe from a little Sherline lathe that's surprisingly capable for the small stuff). I haven't touched my CNC projects all summer but I'm about to get back to them. I just spent the last couple of days imagineering an electric bike, but mine is a 2WD 2KW electric bicycle, unlike your fabulous 50KW electric motorcycle. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
