Starter Questions

[nat_wheatley]

We just powered up a PRS Alpa 96 60 today, and I had several question in the short time that I moved things around.

I was having a hard time getting the proximity switches to work correctly. It seemed like they generally didn't work when I used the arrows on the keyboard to get the tool to approach them, but did work when I typed in a move command to approach them. I would crawl over them using the arrow keys, the light on the switch would go off, but I'd still be able to move the machine. I was more comfortable using the arrow keys as it allowed me to move toward them slowly and stop if I needed to. Am I doing something wrong.

Issue two was that at one point, I turned the control box on, and the air drills plunged to the table (no bits in them fortunately). I'm not clear why it happened.

Lastly, the spindle/Z axis generally seem to be extended/ close to the table when the power is off, the springs alone don't pull it up. Is this normal?

Thanks in advance.

[GlenP]

I have a PRS standard and my prox switches do the same when manually moving the gantry. My z drops when the power is turned off once I added the dust collection to the boot. I think you can get stonger springs from shopbot, maybe contact them. Have fun with the new machine.

[Gary Campbell]

Nat...
Glen is correct, prox's dont stop motion in keyboard mode as you sometimes need them to move off prox if you do hit a limit. Nothing wrong.

You may have to talk to SB about the springs, there are a number of different tensions available. I like to have mine so that the z holds its position when control box is off.

Dont know about the drills, if it happens often, run it by SB support.

Congrats on the new machine!
Gary

[nat_wheatley]

Guys, thanks for the info. I've e-mailed support about stronger springs. Once we got things moving, I was about ready for a breather after about 5 days straight of setting up the machine, relocating other equipment, setting up dust hoses, air lines etc. I'm looking forward today, to starting fresh, with the machine ready to go.

[dana_swift]

Nat- the thing you want to be sure of with the prox switches is that they detect the bolt head as it comes near the detector. There is an LED in my prox switches that indicate when detection occurs.

In keyboard mode the prox switch should stop motion if the keyboard command starts in the middle of the table, then if you press the arrow keys AGAIN it will ignore the prox switches so you can move off the limit.

I was just setting up a new 4' powerstick yesterday and was checking that specific point.

D

[coach]

Plympton,,,,,isn't that South Shore ,,,,,?
Close to Cape Cod?
Dave

[gerryv]

I'm also in the process of checking out the prox. switches on my Buddy so thanks for that clarification Dana.

[nat_wheatley]

Better luck today:

-Proximity switches set fine. As suggested, the key was knowing that, in keyboard mode, pressing the arrows after reaching the switch deactivates it.

-DC on the air drills was connected to the main board, not the relays, so the plunge for the drills was always 'on'.

-Support says they don't have stronger springs. Open to sugestions on that one.

Plympton's about 20 mins north of Cape Cod/45 mins south of Boston. Lots of wild turkeys (group of about 20 in the yard today). I guess makes sense as we're about 10 miles away from Plymouth, 'America's Hometown'.

Thanks again for the help.

[coach]

I grew up in Salem, Ma.
Stationed at Otis for 2 years.

[Gary Campbell]

Nat...
With the control box off, use a fish scale to see how much pressure it takes to hold the Z & drills up at the top & bottom of travel. Look on McMaster for a spring about the length of your OEM, that has the pull you need plus 50%that will fit inside your existing. (or 2 at 1/2 that number). Good luck, Gary

[nat_wheatley]

Thanks Gary. I'll check out McMaster. The machine seems very good, but I would like to eliminate the Z dropping like it does. Sounds like it may be an easy fix.

[Gary Campbell]

Nat...
The machine is good, in a few months, you wont believe what you will be able to do with it.
Gary

[nat_wheatley]

I did some test cutting of cabinet panels yesterday and was borderline thrilled.

[dana_swift]

Nat- after the adrenaline wears off, you will still be thrilled!

You will come to understand that if you can imagine it- you can build it.

[nat_wheatley]

I'm looking forward to getting comfortable enough with the machine that I can do a little exploring.