Retrofitting a 1986 Maho MH400E

chris mcm wrote: I am again using the Maho but it would be nice to have the D.R.O. working.
At this stage, am I better to start the retrofit (as done by Mark) rather than waste time and more money on the Heidenhain TNC 135.

YES! I converted a manual Bridgeport to CNC in 1997 using an old Allen-Bradley CNC control. It did work, and I'm an old minicomputer guy, so I could keep it running, but it had 3 major breakdowns in 9 months. But, I was able to make amazingly accurate parts with it, WAY better than using the hand cranks and badly worn Acme screws on the Bridgeport.
(I did retrofit high-quality ballscrews as part of this retrofit.)

Then, I got hooked up to the very original EMC project, and made it so I could plug in either the A-B or the PC with EMC.
I did wait a bit for a few kinks in EMC to get fixed before making the switch permanent. That version (1998) had an on-screen DRO, but no graphical representation of the toolpath. I used this until about 2005, when improved GUIs and many other features gave me the desire to upgrade.

While I can use a manual machine, there are so many reasons to go full CNC, I can't imagine doing any serious machining without it. I used to do complex control panels, and one tiny slip-up would ruin the work. Now, I don't worry so much, I can just fix the error and do it over at the push of a button.

Jon

That would be amazing! I will be sure to get in touch with you in a few months when I get a surface plate (by the way, there's an obscure company in Poland that makes and repairs granite surface plates for a very good price, with certificates etc.; the difference between them and most well-known manufacturers is that they use the ISO standard instead of DIN). It would save an incredible amount of time, and the integrated honing wheel is a very good feature as well.

chris mcm wrote: The control console is too far away from the spindle.

I made a jog pendant (see pico-systems.com/pendant.html ) and can make small increments with one hand while checking clearance or watching the edge finder) right next to the spindle. VERY convenient.

In re another question, it is most likely that the DRO display is managed by the same computer that runs the entire CNC function, and so if that computer is not working, then no part of the system will function.

And, if my prior experience is any indication, it will just keep breaking.

Jon

Chris
My take is that when your MH C700 was manufactured MAHO was into a cash flow challenge and also dealing with huge technology advances within the metal working industry. It seemed to me the companies sticking their financial neck out to acquire that new iffy concept machinery were looking only for the economy models as a test. There was also a big shuffle of drafting departments changing to digital drawings and coming up with code for those will they be here in the next fiscal quarter CNC machines. And around that time Deckel and MAHO merged with then a buy out by Gildemeister with a result of new name being DMG Think DMG was trying not to over whelm or scare the old manual machining -screw machine customers with all the possible options.

. As to the Heidenhain TNC 135 , have you taken the time to go through it's manual and write down what it is capable of as a CNC control. For instance can it effect a 3 inch outside corner radius of a 10 inch square? Rotary table usage not allowed. I would be interested in knowing what that fully working control will do or will not do.

Any thought on picking up a used non laptop computer and downloading a "Live version" of Linux CNC to see what is going on? The Live version "runs " from the DVD player and doesn't install on the hard drive unless you elect it to do so. Meaning any Windows operating software is not affected.
Might even look into Fusion 360 which I think is way better than Aoto-Cad 10. Might check out the NYC CNC web site where Mr John S is showing how to generate "G " code with Fusion 360. Fusion 360 is free for non business use.

I think getting the TNC 135 fully functional has merit ,and could help by getting machine information for a conversion.

Are you enjoying the spring weather?
Bob

Hello Chris,

you can stop the continous feed by pressing the stop button (18S2) next to the E-Stop.

To have DRO you can add an DRO Display which can handle 11uA linear Scales (Heidenhain).

Glemigobles
My MH600E has table droop - sag . Was wondering where your machine is worn?
Have you considered inviting Mark over for a Three week MAHO scraping party ? :laugh: :laugh: