Retrofitting a 1986 Maho MH400E

Can't offer much help, but I wonder where are the parameters you've set in the ini file defined? I'm thinking about the prologue and epilogue ones. Sorry if this is a stupid question, I haven't looked into toolsetting yet.

As to the axis speed, the motors can't go any faster. My Indramats are 2000 rpm max speed (of which the manual says the "useful" speed is less, whatever that means), coupled with 5 mm pitch ballscrews via a 4:1 reduction. The maximum output is rpm x pitch x reduction, which in this case actually multiplies by 0,25. The X axis is faster because the ballscrew pitch is 6 mm. To bump the speed up, you'd need to replace the motors or change the coupling to the leadscrew (or do both, since a change in the gear ratio will negatively affect the torque output as it increases the speed, so the permissable table load would change unless you got higher-torque motors). In relation to the price of these old machines, servo motor replacement is a big investment (it might even exceed the price of the mill if the motors are new and made by a well-known brand). It wouldn't make sense to change them if the table feeds were to remain the same.

I never noticed that Indramat gave a max speed for the axis motors. I just tried 3000mm/min and it worked Ignorance is bliss. It is a good point you make about extreme spindle rpm not helping much, if you cant contour fast enough.

I also really understand why Norbert specified a prolog and epilog file as neither appears to be defined. I suck at software, so I just tried to follow his set up instructions exactly. I'm pretty sure the solution will be some simple, obvious thing I missed.
Mark

A message to your all from the MAHO...



Merry Christmas,
Mark

Merry Christmas !!

Nice Idea

I'm currently working on my A-Axis an need 6mm more travel in Y.
There seems to be a lot of space on the glass-scales (LS403) on both ends and on the ball-screw as well.
Is there any reason to not move the the stoppers for the limit switch?


This rod is meant for what ?


Cheers
Hanno

Servus Hanno,

Frohe Weihnachten!

That is also a very clean machine.

The rod is made from Invar. This is an alloy which has almost no coefficient of thermal expansion, so it, along with the leaf spring mounting of the encoder, compensate for the thermal expansion of the gearbox.

I would guess that MAHO provided a little over travel on the assumption of a run away hitting the end stop at full rapid speed, to allow for the deceleration before a ball screw goes on block and suffers an RUD.
Mark

Servus Mark,

"Probieren geht über Studieren"
The glass-scale says 370mm on its number plate so
I gained travel from -1/251 to -11/257 (ini-file) by simply sliding the adjustable stops to their end position. There is still 2mm play to the switch. I think one could bring this up to 100mm or more if pushed to the real mechanical limits by moving the stoppers.

Hanno