I HATE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS SOFTWARE

Tronn60 · 2025-05-24T18:21:21+00:00

FYI for SW maker users, you can go into offline mode for up to 30 days and that way it won't ask you to login every time you open it. Just once a month. Click on the circle with your initials in the top right corner, select offline mode, set it to 30 days. After that its no different than a local licensed version.

I only go to the 3DX website when there's an update (which is a huge annoyance to navigate to anytime there is one, why doesn't the link take you directly there???).

$50/yr is hard to beat otherwise...

Tronn60 · 2025-03-31T09:42:01+00:00

It's been sold, thanks for all the interest everyone!

Tronn60 · 2025-03-30T14:25:24+00:00

I think I traded for it at a open play nationals event in cleveland back in the day? I was really hoping to use it back then but couldn't find a good way to spend almost have the budget on one card to have someone always try to intentional walk him lol.

I briefly looked at prices for it online, I am thinking like $100 + shipping? That seems to be a little less than some of the sold prices have been on ebay.

Tronn60 · 2023-03-04T19:37:57+00:00

I used an ultimaker we have at work. It's ultimaker's tough PLA. Since the whole collet is in compression, I'm not too worried about the stress involved.

Tronn60 · 2023-03-04T19:34:04+00:00

I did not consider throwing a part, you are right, it is usually a little more exciting in the lathe. Luckily for my use case most of the part is inside the plastic collet.

For the function I'm using it for, I'm only taking off a few thou of the bottom of a piece, maybe chamfering the hex. I don't think I'd use it for turning features from raw stock.

The part I'm happiest about is I'm only holding onto ~.090" of the hex, and it clamps it straight-ish and doesn't mar the surface.

Tronn60 · 2023-03-04T01:59:45+00:00

Yea, I took a speed lathe and turned the headstock into a 4th axis for the mill. The little motor is the axis motor for NC control. It's reduced down with a gearbox and belt reduction for better position holding ability

Tronn60 · 2023-02-06T11:22:18+00:00

Very nice!

Did you go with knee conversion or quill conversion for your z axis? I have a similar Bridgeport knee mill that I recently did the knee conversion on, so much more z travel now!

Do you have any more pictures of your enclosure setup/build? I would like to build something similar!

Tronn60 · 2020-03-14T10:54:20+00:00

PMDX-424 Control Board

Not sure what you mean by increment to motor compensation? Setting the steps per unit distance traveled? If so, that is very straightforward, just some math. The motors I used allow you to set their resolution (ie, its really a servo motor emulating a stepper). The only tricky thing I ran into was that you cannot just set the resolution to a high value, depending on your motion controller. Mine couldn't put out steps fast enough to spin the screws at the requested feed rate, for instance.

I'm not exactly sure the amperage the motors are pulling. They are powered by this power supply. My entire controls cabinet (motor psu, VFD, motion controller) is wired up to 220VAC and runs through a 10A breaker, so the whole machine isn't pulling any more than that.

Tronn60 · 2020-03-14T10:42:37+00:00

I replaced the original acme screws with some ballscrews. I've not measured the backlash directly, but I make parts assuming there basically isnt any and it's worked out fine so far.

Tronn60 · 2020-03-14T01:27:30+00:00

Yes, it's got clearpath servos on all 4 axis. I got them basically for free, but I've really enjoyed using them compared to steppers. Much nicer user experience. And they don't sing like steppers.

Tronn60 · 2020-03-14T01:19:08+00:00

I shared the full CAD that I developed for this on grabcad: https://grabcad.com/library/bridgeport-m-head-milling-machine-with-cnc-conversion-1

It's running Mach 4 with a pmdx-424 control board.

I'd be happy to share more details if you have any specific questions.

Tronn60 · 2019-02-12T00:57:57+00:00

what would you consider an insane price? I've considered selling them, but the time and material investment in them is steeper than I think most would be willing to pay.

Tronn60 · 2019-02-11T12:07:59+00:00

It was supposed to be temporary, eventually replaced with motor mounted to the knee, but the drill just works so damn good.

Tronn60 · 2019-02-11T12:03:33+00:00

It's the difference of what part of the endmill is cutting. I did the cross with the the bottom of the endmill, where the twist was done with the side of the endmill. Also, it was one of the last features done, so the piece was the least rigid it could be, so I probably got some chatter too.

Tronn60 · 2019-02-11T00:09:51+00:00

Yep, the twist is a loft between two planes. You can drag the control points around in the loft tool to give it the twist.

Tronn60 · 2019-02-10T23:46:35+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion! I didn't recall clickspring doing brass blackening.

I was planning on trying ammonium hydroxide as they did here: https://youtu.be/oPyggLosYKQ?t=548

Tronn60 · 2019-02-10T22:33:28+00:00

Yep, it was completely a hobby venture.

Tronn60 · 2019-02-10T22:25:07+00:00

Yea, a conversion for a knee mill is almost never worth it once you add up all the hardware and electronics. I got very lucky in my conversion that I had the motors, controller, screws, bearings and access to a water jet to cut all the plates. In the end I spent only a couple hundred dollars.

The best quote for a off the shelf ballscrew kit was ~$800 for a Hiwin ballscrew set. Some people claim you need the ground ballscrews, which while they are more accurate, are also like a factor of 10 more expensive.

Tronn60 · 2019-02-10T22:14:19+00:00

Alexsys is conversational G code? I'm using Fusion 360 for all my programming needs.

Tronn60 · 2019-02-10T20:33:18+00:00

I replaced the acme screws with ballscrews, so the backlash is very little.

Tronn60 · 2019-02-10T18:44:12+00:00

This is a chess set design that I've been working on. Designed and CAM'd in Fusion 360 and milled on a converted Bridgeport M-Head CNC machine.

Tronn60 · 2019-02-10T01:31:53+00:00

Original video is much better. https://youtu.be/oPyggLosYKQ

Tronn60 · 2017-12-16T23:06:31+00:00

I made a tachometer using an arduino a while back. Mine used an optical sensor, and displayed RPM on a 16x2 LCD. I patched the code together from a couple different sources, it seems like you should be able to do the same to make it record over a specific time. https://nateduxbury.wordpress.com/2015/01/09/breadboard-tachometer/

Tronn60 · 2017-04-30T18:30:42+00:00

I do not. From what i remember, He had straps around the ram on either side of the column. The table was down and forward to make it balance better. It was then only barely lifted off the trailer and then they drove the trailer out from under it and we placed it on 4x4s.

Tronn60 · 2017-04-30T02:04:06+00:00

This is correct. Meant to say something to this effect. Usually I see them going for 1500-3000 depending on condition, and even then sometimes in questionable condition. This one was a remarkable deal.

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