Need help with a Novamill

All info relating to the Denford Novamill CNC Milling machines

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RobertF
Posts: 1
Joined: Fri 18 Jul , 2008 9:10 am

Need help with a Novamill

Post by RobertF » Thu 09 Oct , 2008 18:24 pm

Hi,
I'm working with a friend who has acquired an old Denford Novamill machine.

The machine itself has hardly been used and is in perfect condition. The machine came from a schools DT department where they did not use it, and unfortunately they have lost all the software. I have been trying to get the machine working again by downloading fanucMD from the legacy software section on the main website.

The only version that works with the machine is the ‘ .triac’ variant, and we have been able to get some response from the machine using this. My main problem is that the software is configured for the larger Triac machine and not the Novamill, and with no manual or other documentation for the software I do not know how to change the settings to suit our machine.

The 2 key issues are:
1: When setting the machine up, the home positions it registers are larger than the bed size of the machine (the sizes for the Triacs bed)

2: When homing the machine, it moves to maximum positions of +X, +Y, +Z however the Novamill required -X, +Y. +Z

The latter of these is the biggest issue as the machine moves away from its limit switch and therefore never registers the home location on the X axis.

We have been through the machine with a continuity tester and established the stepper motor and limit switch for the X axis are properly connected. After some experimenting I was able to get the machine to function by removing the safety cover and manually pressing the x axis limit switch to fake the home position. Once I had done this I was able to send some simple instructions to the machine which it followed correctly.

I've been reading through the forums and I've noted there is an "options" command for the dos software. I would be very grateful if someone could let me know what parameters I will need to change to set the correct home location, and what files these are located in.

From what I can tell the hardware is in working order- I want to get the system up and running with the dos software to prove this for certain. From there on we may consider getting the machine set up with some newer windows based software but we would like to establish that there are no faults before committing to upgrading it.

My other question is- is it possible to get the machine to operate with Denford’s new software using the current RS232 port and controller board?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Rob

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bradders
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Joined: Mon 13 Feb , 2006 12:35 pm
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Post by bradders » Fri 10 Oct , 2008 6:29 am

E mail the Novamill's Serial No and year of manufacture to service@denford.co.uk and i'll see if it can be upgraded to run VR Milling Ver5

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