akb1212
Aluminum
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2009
- Location
- Norway, Vestfold
Hi all,
I have now gone to the drastic step of buying a Maho MH 600E. This is as a hobby project, so I have to use time to get it up and running.
The machine is made in 1991. It has a 20 slots umbrella style tool changer. Unfortunately only a standard square table.
I'd have to say the machine is in a somewhat beat state, and unfortunately the previous owner haven't been to keen on keeping it clean. It has 39000 hours on the power on counter, but I'm not sure how much that is actual spindle hours.
When I took over the machine it had been stored for 4.5 years, the last 6 months outside (but under a roof and with tarp covering it). So there is some rust on it. Hopefully not really problematic though, and from what I have seen so far I’m not too concerned. Just a lot of work to remove it.
I have spent a considerable amount of time trying to get the history of the machine, and I have been able to find out what it have been used for. It’s been used for making molding tools, and that means full 3d contouring. As I understand that means it have the latest version of the CNC controller. It has 500 k memory, and already installed cable for transferring of programs.
Then there is the electronics..... the spindle drive is apparently broken, and repair work have been started but not finished by the owner who owned it before Trond, the guy I bought it from. The actual work was done by a service tech, but was interrupted by a bankruptcy. That put a stop to all work being done on the machine, and it was stored for 4 years before being exchanged for other services to Trond.
While cleaning the machine I discovered the most likely cause of the spindle drive failure. The heat sink was covered in a very thick layer of oil residue and dirt. And the fan blowing air on this heat sink was also totally engulfed in this thick goo. And after cleaning the fan I discovered it was broken. That means the spindle drive haven't had anything close to the cooling it required to work properly. For how long is unclear. Seeing the chips covering very close to 100% of surfaces in the machine (that is including in the back of the machine as well!) I can see that it has been doing some quite heavy cuts.
As mentioned repair was already started on this drive, and a small signal transformer was removed and new ones was supplied with the machine. But using a diode voltage meter leaves me to think a few of the driver transistors are also in need of replacement. But to my relief all the 6 output devices seem to be in good shape. I’m an electronics engineer by trade, and I have built Hi-fi amps many years ago. So I’m not frightened about having a go at trying to get this driver up and running. But searching the net for others trying the same ends up with nothing. Apparently Indramat who makes these drives are keeping all schematics out of public domain. All I got was that the driver stage is usualy what brakes.
My interest in Hi-fi is one of my main reasons for getting this machine in the first place BTW. I’d like to design and develop magnet systems for my own loudspeakers. Magnetostatic compression drivers and bass compression drivers is one of the things I plan on making.
OK, so seeing this brief description on some of the issues I have with the machine I assume you understand why I call this a drastic step. I realize it will not be a small undertaking getting this machine up and running. But as mentioned this is a hobby project, and I do have the time needed to get this machine up and running.
You guys might also comment that this seems like a waste of time, and I should get a machine in better condition. But the situation here in Norway isn’t the same as either central Europe or US. Anyway, the price I paid for it was considerably less than I would get if I crapped the machine and sold the parts, so I’m using this as an opportunity to learn a lot about properly built CNC equipment.
BTW, I have been lurking around with EMC and a Bridgeport clone for almost 10 years now, and realized I would be able to get as much for that if I restore it back to original state as I have now paid for the Maho. And the Maho will be able to do all the things I wouldn’t be able to get my Bridgeport to do anyway. So I couldn’t let this opportunity pass me by.
I have taken a whole lot of pictures of it, and I will post some as soon as I can get them uploaded to a picture sharing server. For the time being I have spent as much of my time as possible trying to clean up and get an overview of the machine. That is, the time I’m not spending finishing building the rest of our house… which my father in law thinks is much more important than fiddling around with old useless machines.
This post is getting more than long enough already, but there is loads of stuff I’d like to share and get help with on this wonderful machine. It really is a nicely built machine, so I’m quite sure I’ll have a good time getting to know it more intimately.
More questions will follow.
Regards,
Anders
I have now gone to the drastic step of buying a Maho MH 600E. This is as a hobby project, so I have to use time to get it up and running.
The machine is made in 1991. It has a 20 slots umbrella style tool changer. Unfortunately only a standard square table.
I'd have to say the machine is in a somewhat beat state, and unfortunately the previous owner haven't been to keen on keeping it clean. It has 39000 hours on the power on counter, but I'm not sure how much that is actual spindle hours.
When I took over the machine it had been stored for 4.5 years, the last 6 months outside (but under a roof and with tarp covering it). So there is some rust on it. Hopefully not really problematic though, and from what I have seen so far I’m not too concerned. Just a lot of work to remove it.
I have spent a considerable amount of time trying to get the history of the machine, and I have been able to find out what it have been used for. It’s been used for making molding tools, and that means full 3d contouring. As I understand that means it have the latest version of the CNC controller. It has 500 k memory, and already installed cable for transferring of programs.
Then there is the electronics..... the spindle drive is apparently broken, and repair work have been started but not finished by the owner who owned it before Trond, the guy I bought it from. The actual work was done by a service tech, but was interrupted by a bankruptcy. That put a stop to all work being done on the machine, and it was stored for 4 years before being exchanged for other services to Trond.
While cleaning the machine I discovered the most likely cause of the spindle drive failure. The heat sink was covered in a very thick layer of oil residue and dirt. And the fan blowing air on this heat sink was also totally engulfed in this thick goo. And after cleaning the fan I discovered it was broken. That means the spindle drive haven't had anything close to the cooling it required to work properly. For how long is unclear. Seeing the chips covering very close to 100% of surfaces in the machine (that is including in the back of the machine as well!) I can see that it has been doing some quite heavy cuts.
As mentioned repair was already started on this drive, and a small signal transformer was removed and new ones was supplied with the machine. But using a diode voltage meter leaves me to think a few of the driver transistors are also in need of replacement. But to my relief all the 6 output devices seem to be in good shape. I’m an electronics engineer by trade, and I have built Hi-fi amps many years ago. So I’m not frightened about having a go at trying to get this driver up and running. But searching the net for others trying the same ends up with nothing. Apparently Indramat who makes these drives are keeping all schematics out of public domain. All I got was that the driver stage is usualy what brakes.
My interest in Hi-fi is one of my main reasons for getting this machine in the first place BTW. I’d like to design and develop magnet systems for my own loudspeakers. Magnetostatic compression drivers and bass compression drivers is one of the things I plan on making.
OK, so seeing this brief description on some of the issues I have with the machine I assume you understand why I call this a drastic step. I realize it will not be a small undertaking getting this machine up and running. But as mentioned this is a hobby project, and I do have the time needed to get this machine up and running.
You guys might also comment that this seems like a waste of time, and I should get a machine in better condition. But the situation here in Norway isn’t the same as either central Europe or US. Anyway, the price I paid for it was considerably less than I would get if I crapped the machine and sold the parts, so I’m using this as an opportunity to learn a lot about properly built CNC equipment.
BTW, I have been lurking around with EMC and a Bridgeport clone for almost 10 years now, and realized I would be able to get as much for that if I restore it back to original state as I have now paid for the Maho. And the Maho will be able to do all the things I wouldn’t be able to get my Bridgeport to do anyway. So I couldn’t let this opportunity pass me by.
I have taken a whole lot of pictures of it, and I will post some as soon as I can get them uploaded to a picture sharing server. For the time being I have spent as much of my time as possible trying to clean up and get an overview of the machine. That is, the time I’m not spending finishing building the rest of our house… which my father in law thinks is much more important than fiddling around with old useless machines.
This post is getting more than long enough already, but there is loads of stuff I’d like to share and get help with on this wonderful machine. It really is a nicely built machine, so I’m quite sure I’ll have a good time getting to know it more intimately.
More questions will follow.
Regards,
Anders