Official Luthiers Forum!

Owned and operated by Lance Kragenbrink
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 3:33 pm


All times are UTC - 5 hours





Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 14 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: Smoothstepper
PostPosted: Sun Jan 19, 2014 8:31 pm 
Offline
Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2009 10:14 pm
Posts: 20
Location: Austin TX
First name: Dan
Last Name: Holzrichter
City: austin
State: tx
Zip/Postal Code: 78737
Country: us
Focus: Build
Status: Semi-pro
I have been having some problems with the off brand chinese break out box on my machine and am thinking about upgrading to a smoothstepper (network port version .) Anyone here use one?


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Smoothstepper
PostPosted: Mon Jan 20, 2014 9:21 am 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jun 12, 2008 6:59 am
Posts: 1963
Location: Rochester Michigan
Since nobody's answering - I don't have personal experience with them but I have a friend nearby that's used a few of them for various projects.

What problems have you been having with the Chinese board? Does it also have a motion controller in it or is it a dumb BOB? Depending on the issues, a Smoothstepper might not help. If you do have a dumb BOB, it might help though.

What specifically do you want to know about the smoothstepper? If you let me know I can ask my buddy.

_________________
http://www.birkonium.com CNC Products for Luthiers
http://banduramaker.blogspot.com


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Smoothstepper
PostPosted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 10:28 am 
Offline
Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2009 10:14 pm
Posts: 20
Location: Austin TX
First name: Dan
Last Name: Holzrichter
City: austin
State: tx
Zip/Postal Code: 78737
Country: us
Focus: Build
Status: Semi-pro
The inputs stopped working on my existing board so i need to replace it. The one i have currently is a dumb BOB (and it's dumber than usual now :)


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Smoothstepper
PostPosted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 11:00 am 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jun 12, 2008 6:59 am
Posts: 1963
Location: Rochester Michigan
The Smoothstepper doesn't replace a BOB, you'll still need one to to interface the smooth stepper with the outside world. Apparently there is no isolation on the smooth stepper hence the need for a proper BOB. Download the documentation from Warp 9 and give it a read, there's a lot of info on how to connect the SmoothStepper to a BOB.

_________________
http://www.birkonium.com CNC Products for Luthiers
http://banduramaker.blogspot.com


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Smoothstepper
PostPosted: Thu Jan 23, 2014 2:21 am 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member

Joined: Sat Feb 09, 2008 2:39 am
Posts: 519
I use the Ethernet smooth stepper, and I can vouch that it indeed does smooth things a good bit.

I personally would recommend http://www.automationtechnologiesinc.com/ . They are a good company to deal with and very helpful. They carry the smooth stepper as well as many break out board.

If I can be of assistance, let me know.

Mike


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Smoothstepper
PostPosted: Wed Jan 29, 2014 9:50 am 
Offline
Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2009 10:14 pm
Posts: 20
Location: Austin TX
First name: Dan
Last Name: Holzrichter
City: austin
State: tx
Zip/Postal Code: 78737
Country: us
Focus: Build
Status: Semi-pro
Thanks Mike. Do i need an additional board for speed control for a Spindle/VFD or can i do it with just the speedstepper and the breakout board that plugs in to it?


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Smoothstepper
PostPosted: Wed Jan 29, 2014 3:52 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member

Joined: Sat Feb 09, 2008 2:39 am
Posts: 519
Since I am not running my real spindle with vfd yet, I will have to guess. That guess is that your bob will have the relays etc, I know that the ESS does not have that on board. Mach will actually control the spindle, through the ESS to the bob, to the vfd then on to the spindle......sounds like lots of links, but there are many out there that have it working.

What kind of bob do you have?

Mike


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Smoothstepper
PostPosted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 1:02 am 
Offline
Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2009 10:14 pm
Posts: 20
Location: Austin TX
First name: Dan
Last Name: Holzrichter
City: austin
State: tx
Zip/Postal Code: 78737
Country: us
Focus: Build
Status: Semi-pro
I currently have a cheap chinese one and several of the inputs have failed on it so i'll be getting a new one with the speedstepper. I just got a 2.2kw spindle and VFD but am waiting to get the shielded wire to install it.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Smoothstepper
PostPosted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 8:15 am 
Offline
Cocobolo
Cocobolo

Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2011 1:16 pm
Posts: 202
First name: Jason
Last Name: McGowan
City: Corinth
State: Texas
Zip/Postal Code: 76210
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
dholzric wrote:
I just got a 2.2kw spindle and VFD but am waiting to get the shielded wire to install it.


You get the water cooled one? I'm still on the fence about getting one, and could use some actual user input on how well it works, ease of install, etc..

_________________
Jason McGowan
M&S Guitars
_____________________________
United States of America, looks like another silent night
As we're sung to sleep by philosophies that save the trees and kill the children....

Casting Crowns


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Smoothstepper
PostPosted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 1:43 am 
Offline
Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood
User avatar

Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2005 1:05 pm
Posts: 3350
Location: Bakersville, NC
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
Check out Ugra CNC. I have tried the water cooled and the air cooled ones. Mine is an air cooled 1.5KW and it does the trick.
Super quiet and no need to mess around with water besides the fact that some chinese ones will leak and rust....no thanks!
Besides, even with air Cooled ones I can run it at full speed and have a conversation without shouting.

_________________
Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com



These users thanked the author peterm for the post: Jmc2010 (Sun Feb 02, 2014 8:59 pm)
Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Smoothstepper
PostPosted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 9:03 pm 
Offline
Cocobolo
Cocobolo

Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2011 1:16 pm
Posts: 202
First name: Jason
Last Name: McGowan
City: Corinth
State: Texas
Zip/Postal Code: 76210
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
peterm wrote:
Check out Ugra CNC. I have tried the water cooled and the air cooled ones. Mine is an air cooled 1.5KW and it does the trick.


I was actually meaning to ask about the UGRA spindles. Thanks for the info. Definitely going to check them out. Water does seem like a bad idea.

_________________
Jason McGowan
M&S Guitars
_____________________________
United States of America, looks like another silent night
As we're sung to sleep by philosophies that save the trees and kill the children....

Casting Crowns


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Smoothstepper
PostPosted: Mon Feb 03, 2014 7:41 am 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member

Joined: Mon Dec 27, 2004 11:25 pm
Posts: 7195
Location: United States
I've had a Chinese water-cooled 2.2Kw spindle for a couple years with no problems at all. The water is no big deal at all.

_________________
"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Smoothstepper
PostPosted: Mon Feb 03, 2014 7:30 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member

Joined: Sat Feb 09, 2008 2:39 am
Posts: 519
Well, I bought the 2.2kw atc spindle and to my knowledge, you can't get an atc in air cooled unless you go way up in $$. I checked with Colombo before I bought my spindle and because they sell so few of the smaller watt spindles, the price is off the chart! I was quoted $11500 for a 2.2 fan cooled atc version. Mine cost me a good bit less than half that.

BTW, those fans sometimes fail and if they do, you have lost the spindle unless your are right there with it. The water cooled feature makes these spindles (supposedly) continuous duty! I personally have no desire to test that theory! laughing6-hehe

Mike


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Smoothstepper
PostPosted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 5:07 pm 
Offline
Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2009 10:14 pm
Posts: 20
Location: Austin TX
First name: Dan
Last Name: Holzrichter
City: austin
State: tx
Zip/Postal Code: 78737
Country: us
Focus: Build
Status: Semi-pro
Yes. I got the water cooled one. I still need to get the correct size hose and a pump but i'm almost ready to start cutting.

Total with shipping for it and the VFD was around $310 delivered.



Dan


Jmc2010 wrote:
dholzric wrote:
I just got a 2.2kw spindle and VFD but am waiting to get the shielded wire to install it.


You get the water cooled one? I'm still on the fence about getting one, and could use some actual user input on how well it works, ease of install, etc..


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 14 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 12 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
phpBB customization services by 2by2host.com