Search found 40 matches

by lsteele
Fri 24 Feb , 2017 17:15 pm
Forum: Triac
Topic: Toolchanger plans
Replies: 0
Views: 2635

Toolchanger plans

Hi, I just became the new owner of a mid 90s Triac PC. Sadly it doesn't have a toolchanger. I'm thinking about making one and was wondering if there's a complete set of drawings out there? I've seen drawings of the tool holders and converting the drawbar to pneumatic operation, but nothing about the...
by lsteele
Tue 27 Sep , 2016 22:27 pm
Forum: Orac
Topic: X-axis leadscrew backlash
Replies: 0
Views: 8405

X-axis leadscrew backlash

Hello, I was doing some work on my Orac today when I noticed a lot of backlash on the x-axis. I ended up taking the whole assembly apart, and I realised that that the x-axis leadscrew was actually spinning around inside the coupling which attaches to the timing pulley. I assumed it must be attached ...
by lsteele
Mon 28 Jul , 2014 7:36 am
Forum: Orac
Topic: Lead screw pitch and pulley ratios
Replies: 1
Views: 4722

Lead screw pitch and pulley ratios

Hi,

I'm sure this information is out there somewhere, but I can't find it, and I'm trying to avoid taking my lathe apart to count timing pulley teeth, so... Can anyone tell me what the pitch of the two lead screws is, and what the ratios are on the standard pulleys (for both axes)?

Thanks!

-Luke
by lsteele
Mon 09 Jun , 2014 18:29 pm
Forum: Orac
Topic: Spindle encoder screw size?
Replies: 2
Views: 4942

Spindle encoder screw size?

Hi, I lost one of the spindle encoder (the perforated metal plate on the spindle) screws on my Orac, and I can't work out what size it is in order to replace it. The screws are 2.7mm in diameter approximately, but I can't find an obvious match to a non-metric thread size. Can anyone help? Thanks, Luke
by lsteele
Mon 15 Jul , 2013 17:33 pm
Forum: Orac
Topic: Orac spindle nose taper
Replies: 31
Views: 27350

Re: Orac spindle nose taper

Well, in theory it is possible... But how do you plan on setting the angle of 7.125 deg ??? I don't know what kind of lathe you have but, I don't have such precision on mine. Also, You could bring the headstock of the ORAC with you. It is small enough and fairly easy to remove. Just 4x M8 nuts / bo...
by lsteele
Mon 15 Jul , 2013 15:52 pm
Forum: Orac
Topic: Orac spindle nose taper
Replies: 31
Views: 27350

Re: Orac spindle nose taper

One complication for me is that for about a month I have access to a really well equipped workshop with a couple of large lathes and a bridgeport clone. Unfortunately geographically no-where near the Orac. What I'm thinking about is this: Take the Orac 3-jaw chuck with me, and on a second lathe face...
by lsteele
Mon 15 Jul , 2013 14:09 pm
Forum: Orac
Topic: Orac spindle nose taper
Replies: 31
Views: 27350

Re: Orac spindle nose taper

As far as I've been able to find out it is a variation of the DIN 55021 spindle nose standard. The standard starts at 3" (size 3), so the Compact 8/Orac is smaller than the definition of the standard. However, the taper is the same on all sizes; 7 degrees, 7 minutes and 30 seconds, or 7.125 degrees...
by lsteele
Mon 15 Jul , 2013 14:04 pm
Forum: Orac
Topic: Orac spindle nose taper
Replies: 31
Views: 27350

Re: Orac spindle nose taper

Yes I've just realised that myself!

But you could still make the morse taper hollow. Like this (attached)

Obviously it's a compromise between wall thickness and smaller clearance diameter.

The ideal would be to know what the outer taper is - seems crazy that no one knows!

-Luke
by lsteele
Mon 15 Jul , 2013 12:25 pm
Forum: Orac
Topic: Orac spindle nose taper
Replies: 31
Views: 27350

Re: Orac spindle nose taper

I've been wondering about fitting (or making) a collet chuck for my Orac. It looks like no-one knows definitively what the taper is on the spindle nose. I'm wondering about simply using the morse 3 taper on the inside of the spindle to provide concentric registration, and using the m8 bolt holes to ...
by lsteele
Sun 16 Jun , 2013 14:11 pm
Forum: Orac
Topic: Automatic tool changer - tool plate dimensions?
Replies: 8
Views: 9195

Re: Automatic tool changer - tool plate dimensions?

angel-tech wrote:I've got an original tool changer, i'll try to get the dimensions for you.
Hi Angel-tech, any luck with those dimensions?

Thanks!
by lsteele
Mon 03 Jun , 2013 10:29 am
Forum: Orac
Topic: Automatic tool changer - tool plate dimensions?
Replies: 8
Views: 9195

Re: Automatic tool changer - tool plate dimensions?

angel-tech wrote:I've got an original tool changer, i'll try to get the dimensions for you.
That would be great, thanks
by lsteele
Sun 02 Jun , 2013 21:23 pm
Forum: Orac
Topic: Automatic tool changer - tool plate dimensions?
Replies: 8
Views: 9195

Re: Automatic tool changer - tool plate dimensions?

Thanks for those insights Emgee. I've finally got a bit of time to work at this and I've been playing around with various ideas for a toolplate with the hope of minimising the boring bar crashing into the chuck issue. It'd still be useful to have the original Orac toolplate dimensions though, if for...
by lsteele
Fri 19 Apr , 2013 12:13 pm
Forum: Orac
Topic: Automatic tool changer - tool plate dimensions?
Replies: 8
Views: 9195

Re: Automatic tool changer - tool plate dimensions?

Hi Emgee, Thanks for the post. Actually I've seen your toolchanger - I posted some questions in the thread you linked to a few months ago. I noticed that you said you had issues with tool clearance with that tool plate, hence I'm trying to get the original Orac tool plate dimensions. I think the des...
by lsteele
Thu 18 Apr , 2013 22:01 pm
Forum: Orac
Topic: Automatic tool changer - tool plate dimensions?
Replies: 8
Views: 9195

Automatic tool changer - tool plate dimensions?

Hello, I've got access to a very well equipped workshop for the next few weeks and I've decided to take advantage of it to build an automatic tool changer for my Orac. Since the existing design obviously works perfectly well I thought I'd keep things simple and try and copy it as much as possible. W...
by lsteele
Sat 06 Oct , 2012 13:14 pm
Forum: Orac
Topic: Original stepper wiring
Replies: 5
Views: 4980

Re: Original stepper wiring

Hi Angel-tech, Thanks for your earlier post. Just wondering if you'd had any luck identifying pairings? I'd of thought this was a readily available piece of information, since presumably anyone upgrading an orac needs to go through this if they're using the original steppers? Can't find any mention ...
by lsteele
Fri 28 Sep , 2012 16:35 pm
Forum: Orac
Topic: Original stepper wiring
Replies: 5
Views: 4980

Re: Original stepper wiring

There are 8 wires. The colours are Red Black Orange White/orange White/red Yellow Black/grey Yellow/white And the original pairings were Red & white/yellow Yellow and white/red Orange and black/grey Black and white/orange But I don't know what these pairings are (A+, B- etc), and I'm a bit perplexed...
by lsteele
Fri 28 Sep , 2012 16:11 pm
Forum: Orac
Topic: Original stepper wiring
Replies: 5
Views: 4980

Original stepper wiring

Hi, Can someone tell me which wires on my original orac stepper motors should be paired together for parallel bipolar operation, and which of these pairs is A+, A- etc? I tried using the method outlined here ( http://www.piclist.com/techref/io/stepper/wiresmeterbattery.htm ) to identify them, but th...
by lsteele
Tue 18 Sep , 2012 22:26 pm
Forum: Denford Classifieds
Topic: Denford Orac 1983, Automatic tool changer wanted.
Replies: 3
Views: 4398

Re: Denford Orac 1983, Automatic tool changer wanted.

Hi Emgee,

I've been watching the pictures of your tool changer appear on photobucket with interest. Do you have any drawings/CAD models of the tool changer? I'd be very interested to see them - I'm thinking of building one myself.

Thanks,

Luke
by lsteele
Sun 08 Jul , 2012 19:12 pm
Forum: Orac
Topic: Stepper drivers and power supply for Orac
Replies: 3
Views: 3645

Re: Stepper drivers and power supply for Orac

Ok, thanks. Should I replace the large electrolytics on the power supply?

Also what voltage does the open frame transformer put out?
by lsteele
Fri 06 Jul , 2012 20:44 pm
Forum: Orac
Topic: Stepper drivers and power supply for Orac
Replies: 3
Views: 3645

Stepper drivers and power supply for Orac

Hi, I've recently obtained an Orac which I'm intending to refit with new electronics. It has two CD20s, but I'm pretty sure one is shot (smoke came off it when I powered it up), so I figure I'll fit new stepper drivers. The VFD is working, and I'm assuming the power supply is in good shape, but I'm ...