1980 Matsuura 710V CNC Update - Almost a Modern Machine - Retrofit

Video Description

I bought this machine back in late 2021 for just $100 Canadian, it then cost me a bunch of money to move it. I spent around a month refurbishing the original electronics, drives and the machine mechanically. I got the machine running on a drip feed but unfortunately there were many aspects of modern code that it could not comprehend and overall the machine was very slow to read the code. The machine sat for a while before I removed all of the original electronics and began updating it to run with a modern control. I kept with the original DC servo motors and replaced the encoders on the end of them. I did a heck of a lot of research as to what controls were out there on the market. I had already run Centroid M400, Centroid Acorn, Masso, Mach 3 and Mach 4. Each one of these had their issues and I wanted a modern solution, rather a standalone unit, but definitely not the Masso (it's junk) and certainly nothing PC based. I managed to find a control from China that fit this bill and decided to take the risk. The control is just like that you would find on a regular CNC machine and runs great in terms of accuracy and reliability. Electronically the machine is perfect and the control has not done a single stupid thing over the span of daily use over 6 months. One major problem is the machine uses quite coarse leadscrews which means they require a lot of current when roughing, more than the 20 amps that my drives can output. Also, the original user of the machine messed up one of the gibs on the Z axis which chewed up the main casting, it also wore the Z axis ball screw. The next machine update might be replacing the ball screws with ones that have a much finer pitch, then I'll get the torque and accuracy of new screws. In terms of axis speed I'm not at all worried since the tool changer is the slowest aspect, and that is something I would not be able to increase in speed. Overall the machine gets daily use, it's not the fastest, but it's reliable and accurate. #engineering #cnc #design #mechanic