O
otrlt
Guest
I'm interested in hearing from Trak Mill users. I maybe interested in making a purchase of one.
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We have a fryer mb-14 which is essentially the same as a DPM but better imo. For one I do not think the DPM homes, whereas the Fryer does.
I have mixed feelings about ours at work.
The control is all right mostly. There are some things I wish it could do or do better. However it is decently user friendly and easy enough to learn to use.
The machine itself has problems with rigidity and accuracy. The servos are weak enough that when they are supposed to lock and axis in place you can still push it around if you are taking to big a cut or drilling to large a hole. Also if you tell it to move down .005 it will just fine, but if you tell it to go up .005 it will go up .0025. I think the servo can't handle the weight of the head. Also both the X and Z servo burned out after only two years of use.
You can work around the problems and make good parts if you are careful and plan ahead. You can make enough off them to be worth the trouble pretty quick, but if it was my shop I wouldn't buy more of them.
I have mixed feelings about ours at work.
The machine itself has problems with rigidity and accuracy. The servos are weak enough that when they are supposed to lock and axis in place you can still push it around if you are taking to big a cut or drilling to large a hole. Also if you tell it to move down .005 it will just fine, but if you tell it to go up .005 it will go up .0025. I think the servo can't handle the weight of the head. Also both the X and Z servo burned out after only two years of use.
I appreciate all of your comments. I don't expect the accuracy or speed of a VMC, but I do like the ease of use of an open unguarded table. I also have very little need for coolant. Most of my work comprises of tooling components that will go to heat treat. I'm quite interested in a 5hp spindle, but a table travel of 40" would be nice but not necessary. Some have mentioned Fryer machines, I'm open to that. I would like to hear more of your experiences with this type of machinetool.
What are your needs for CNC control? Point-to-point (e.g. drill jigs)? 2D CNC with manual Z? Full 3D CNC?
Will you be using CAM or programming only at the control?
For 2D conversational-only, I really liked the Acu-rite CNCs. They're easy to use and integrate well with manual machining.
Depending on the complexity of your work and your budget, there are also the euro toolroom mills like the Deckel clones (e.g. FPS) and Abene. These will be much more versatile than the bed mill, but at a cost.
Do the newer ones tap? I have an AGE3 and we have to run it in 2D mode and run the quill by hand to tap at all.Mine has the SMX control, not the newest RMX control, but I don't think that much has changed.
Do the newer ones tap? I have an AGE3 and we have to run it in 2D mode and run the quill by hand to tap at all.
That's what I'm talking about Mud, cnc is butt slow when it comes to producing one/off parts. Sometimes you need to get into "BridgePort mode" to get the job done in a efficient manner.
Do the newer ones tap? I have an AGE3 and we have to run it in 2D mode and run the quill by hand to tap at all.
That's what I'm talking about Mud, cnc is butt slow when it comes to producing one/off parts. Sometimes you need to get into "BridgePort mode" to get the job done in a efficient manner.
I get your point, but the prototrak would be a whole lot more useful to us if we could tap in it. If we want to do something in 3D mode (having Z axis control), then want to tap a few holes we just drilled without taking it off and to anoher machine, we have to reboot the control into 2d mode so we can use the quill. Otherwise the contrrol faults out as soon as you move the quill by hand. This requires refinding x&Y zero, Z zero, etc.
Sucks as a second op machine for the same reason.
Too often it gets used like a mill with a readout.
When I have a single part to do, I usually stay on my Wells Index rather than fart with the Prototrak. One of my guys really like the Prototrak, and even he gets frustrated with it
So, are the newer controls better?
Ditto
Which model do you have? We have the FHM7, the biggest bed mill, and I haven't noticed the servos being undersized. I've triggered the alarm on Z but that was overfeeding a big drill that caught.
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