Thread: LeBlond Makino RMC 55

Originally Posted by ToolCat

I tried turned on the 2hp motor on the bridgeport and that lowered the voltage of W, V and U to 216V and then powered up. It booted up with no servo errors. I then did nothing but shut it down and rebooted again and the errors are back. Tried three more times and no good.. errors each time.


Update... Okay after it has been setting for 15 minutes I tried to power it up again and this time no errors.

That is interesting. So did you move axis around, run spindle, etc as well ? Maybe problem is a combination of RPC and slightly too high voltage then. Is your RPC one that is "CNC rated" or one you made yourself ? A CNC rated RPC should be ok but the only phase conversion that is functionally the same as the real thing comes from an all electronic Phase Perfect.

The RPC is this one: link 30HP Rotary Phase Converter

I jogged the axises around shut it off and back on a few times.. no more errors.

Originally Posted by ToolCat

The RPC is this one: link 30HP Rotary Phase Converter

Sounds like a pretty nice one then, should be ok. Isn't it annoying when the power company gives you more voltage than the norm ? When I lived in Mebane, NC we used to get 245 volts, which caused problems sometimes. Dunno if I've ever lived where I got the more desirable 230 volt input. At least at current shop the desirable 480 volts is usually within 1 or 2 volts of 480 volts.

Yes, it is annoying why the power company is at 248 when it is suppose to be 230.

I know it's an old thread, but we have 2 of these RMC55s if you ever need anything. Bought them both new, 1 in 1996 and one around 1993. Still working great with very little problems. I think the way covers were the only thing I can think of that has ever been a problem. And one coolant pump motor.

Originally Posted by RJT

I know it's an old thread, but we have 2 of these RMC55s if you ever need anything. Bought them both new, 1 in 1996 and one around 1993. Still working great with very little problems. I think the way covers were the only thing I can think of that has ever been a problem. And one coolant pump motor.

My Makino KE-55 is 1996 so it seems unlikely they would have offered the RMC in 1996. OTOH, perhaps yours was made in 1995 but purchased in 1996?

Originally Posted by Milacron

You can get parameters from Makino but unless you buy something from them they will take forever to get around to it. They act like they have to drive a hundred miles to a special bank vault and spend hours looking for them and then shovel coal into their steam powered copy machine or water turbine scanner.

Thats funny
ROFLMAO

So one of these is for sale locally, but I haven't got a price yet. If it's in good running order what would one offer for such a machine? Looks like it's a CAT40 but hard to tell from the photos, and what's the spindle rated, travels, etc? Currently running a GF-6 and FNC-128 at the shop, so this shouldn't be much of a stretch in terms of learning curve or code checking. Dying for a garage machine here, and from the looks of the photos (one of which shows control under power) that's what it's been for a while, but the description is lacking.

Originally Posted by Atomkinder

So one of these is for sale locally, but I haven't got a price yet. If it's in good running order what would one offer for such a machine? Looks like it's a CAT40 but hard to tell from the photos, and what's the spindle rated, travels, etc? Currently running a GF-6 and FNC-128 at the shop, so this shouldn't be much of a stretch in terms of learning curve or code checking. Dying for a garage machine here, and from the looks of the photos (one of which shows control under power) that's what it's been for a while, but the description is lacking.

travels and such you can Google. Usually CAT but with no tool changer it does't matter...either CAT or BT can be used with appropriate pull stud. Although the iron is about the same, the RMC version is worth way less than the KE model. Current market on good RMC should be 9 to 12k dollars.... So offer 6...

Milacron

Well I'll continue anyway: asking price is fifty bucks shy of $6k. Comes with some tooling and is currently under 3ph power. Hoping to go get a look at it on Friday, but unsure if I can swing that price at the moment. I have a feeling no one else knows what he's got so I might have some time. Best info I can find is CAT40, 4500rpm, but no info on rapids or feeds or any capability. Seen a few videos but all of them are "for sale" videos and nothing in a cut. No idea of PSI requirement but I'm guessing standard ~90. Z in knee with X and Y in ram as seen in a few videos. I do like the look, and seems quite stout for its size.

Good grief...at 6K just buy the damn thing and stop agonizing over travels and such. The air requirement is for the power draw bar...as long as there are no leaks, even a little "nail gun" compressor will work due to the intermitent nature of the air needs.

In case you didn't know already the RMC in that video used to be mine...I took the video. My current KE 55 is way quietier than that RMC... like "swish of air only as things move about" quiet. Still, even that one I think I sold for about $12,000 a few years ago.

Originally Posted by Milacron

Good grief...at 6K just buy the damn thing and stop agonizing over travels and such. The air requirement is for the power draw bar...as long as there are no leaks, even a little "nail gun" compressor will work due to the intermitent nature of the air needs.

In case you didn't know already the RMC in that video used to be mine...I took the video. My current KE 55 is way quietier than that RMC... like "swish of air only as things move about" quiet. Still, even that one I think I sold for about $12,000 a few years ago.

I hadn't even noticed the avatar! Thanks for the videos, as it's really what convinced me to go see the machine. Went and looked at it today, and the biggest problem right now is that we're moving to Ames in two months, and will be renting the lower half of a duplex. Which sucks, because that machine is perfect for me and what I want to do. Looks like it's been treated gently, and is certainly quieter than the two LeBlond Makinos at work (of course those are much larger). About the same as yours in the video. Currently running on a 20HP rotary phase converter. As you've owned one, and information seems to be sort of hard to come by, what's it weigh? Guy said it was ~6k but I think it's more. I'm sending a message to Makino on specs, but who knows if they even still have them.

Originally Posted by Atomkinder

I hadn't even noticed the avatar! Thanks for the videos, as it's really what convinced me to go see the machine. Went and looked at it today, and the biggest problem right now is that we're moving to Ames in two months, and will be renting the lower half of a duplex. Which sucks, because that machine is perfect for me and what I want to do. Looks like it's been treated gently, and is certainly quieter than the two LeBlond Makinos at work (of course those are much larger). About the same as yours in the video. Currently running on a 20HP rotary phase converter. As you've owned one, and information seems to be sort of hard to come by, what's it weigh? Guy said it was ~6k but I think it's more. I'm sending a message to Makino on specs, but who knows if they even still have them.

6,500 lbs. I have the original sales brochure and could furnish every spec imaginable on the thing, but too busy to look for it right now. For travels, Google "Makino KE 55"... They should be the same in that regard at least.

Milacron

Saddest of sads, I have to pass. Moving and nowhere to put it, coupled with tight fincances. I could scrape together enough to buy... but not so much the move, and my truck isn't rated for a 7k haul. If I'm lucky he's stuck with it for six months or so and I can double down on specifics. Thanks for the insight Milacron, I really like the machine. Another day I hope.

I purchased one of these machines earlier this year and have it in my garage. I was somewhat familiar with the RMC as we have a KE55 where I work. I haven't used the RMC much and the spindle has never been whisper quiet like the KE at work. One day I was dry running the RMC and quickly reversed the spindle direction and it caused an instant grinding noise in the head that didn't go away. It doesn't occur at lower rpms but is very present above 1,000 and increases in intensity as rpm goes up. The noise comes from the top of the spindle motor (not the fan either). I imagine I am like most of you who can't really afford to spend big bucks for repair. Anyone have any suggestions? Is it something a good mechanic can fix (me) or do I need to send it someplace and if so, what kind of repair cost can I expect?

bracing for impact......

Originally Posted by kdeshazer

I purchased one of these machines earlier this year and have it in my garage. I was somewhat familiar with the RMC as we have a KE55 where I work. I haven't used the RMC much and the spindle has never been whisper quiet like the KE at work. One day I was dry running the RMC and quickly reversed the spindle direction and it caused an instant grinding noise in the head that didn't go away. It doesn't occur at lower rpms but is very present above 1,000 and increases in intensity as rpm goes up. The noise comes from the top of the spindle motor (not the fan either). I imagine I am like most of you who can't really afford to spend big bucks for repair. Anyone have any suggestions? Is it something a good mechanic can fix (me) or do I need to send it someplace and if so, what kind of repair cost can I expect?

bracing for impact......

The noise could be coming from the pneumatic draw bar mechanism rather than the spindle...esp considering it is coming from the top. I have had a number of these and I vaguely recall on one of them this area was loose or mucked up in some way that was relatively easy to fix and had nothing to do with the spindle itself.

Originally Posted by Milacron

The noise could be coming from the pneumatic draw bar mechanism rather than the spindle...esp considering it is coming from the top. I have had a number of these and I vaguely recall on one of them this area was loose or mucked up in some way that was relatively easy to fix and had nothing to do with the spindle itself.

Good information. Can you recall how the pneumatic draw mechanism can be removed/examined? I am trying to get mine out and it looks like I have to take the air cylinder apart. Isn't there a big spring inside I should be wary of?

Originally Posted by kdeshazer

Good information. Can you recall how the pneumatic draw mechanism can be removed/examined? I am trying to get mine out and it looks like I have to take the air cylinder apart. Isn't there a big spring inside I should be wary of?

There's 3 or 4 shoulder bolts with die springs under the head that go down into the ram from the cylinder assembly. Remove those, then you can pull the whole (heavy) assembly towards you, then up off the ram. Obviously remove airlines first.

The only springs are Belleville washers for the drawbar.

Do you have any manuals for the machine? the parts manual shows a cut thru the spindle/toolchange assembly that's quite usefull.

I did find the need to rotate the draw bar cylinder assembly 180 degrees before it will lift off.
This will be helpfull during future belt replacement exercises.
Since I had the belt off I turned on the machine just to run the spindle motor alone.
The noise is definately in the spindle motor and not a part of the drawbar. So I am back to wondering if I should try to fix it myself or send it out for repair. Might it just be bearings?

Originally Posted by kdeshazer

The noise is definately in the spindle motor and not a part of the drawbar. So I am back to wondering if I should try to fix it myself or send it out for repair. Might it just be bearings?

Weird.....so in the spinde motor and not the spindle, eh ? I guess unless the pulley is loose must be spindle motor bearing sure enough. The main trick is if you do it yourself you may need a dummy rotor in there where working on the innards or you can loose magnetism. Or maybe that is only the case with DC servos...can't remember now. Perhaps ask in the Transformer Forum here.