First Project | proLIGHT | Acorn Conversion

[citterly]

Hi All,
I just picked up a Light Machines proLIGHT 1000 to use for an Acorn conversion, pics attached.
I've been interested in getting a CNC machine for a while now, considering a Tormach for the last several years, I even visited their facility for a demo this past winter. It's a nice product, but it seems like a lot of money for what you get.

I've watched a lot of videos on the Acorn and it seems to be a nice system, functionally, with a relatively straight forward implementation path. I really like the idea that it can be implemented on almost anything. After completing this project, I expect to continue adding it to more machines and creating additional capabilities for my home shop.

I know this is a very doable project for me, although I definitely have some knowledge gaps. My hope is to obtain guidance through this forum from those with real experience on the conversion process.

Just a little about me, I went to college for industrial engineering and worked at night in a machine shop as a CNC operator. I'm much better mechanically than I am electrically, and can get through most tasks with applied patience. The maker movement hit my town about 2 years ago, so I've been doing a lot of Fusion 360 design work and 3d printing. I have several Arduino projects in the works, so I'm learning about electrical, but it's not a competency yet. Sports car racing is my passion, with my end goal of this adventure is to make race parts and build a better mouse trap than the other guys, lol.

Many thanks in advance for any contribution you may offer to help achieve my goals. We live in such an amazing time of collaboration and automation, I feel very lucky to be part of community / knowledge base.

That being said, I hope to have a plan worked out in the next few weeks, then purchase components and begin the build.
So questions from me will be coming soon.
All the best,
Chris

[DICKEYBIRD]

Very nice Chris! Those are solid machines & that one looks like it has low time on it. An interesting tool changing setup as well. Good luck with the project & post lot of pictures.

[martyscncgarage]

Nice first project!
Have you watched any of my Acorn videos on YouTube? They might help a little. martyscncgarage
The hardest part for some one new is choosing motors and drives.
Acorn and CNC12 are a nearly a slam dunk for me.

We're here for you as you get started.
Marty

[martyscncgarage]

Let me ask you, are the original motors and drives on the machine? Please take pictures of them and inside the control cabinet if you have it. Let's see what you have to work with before you tear anything out first.

Marty

[martyscncgarage]

Let me ask you, are the original motors and drives on the machine? Please take pictures of them and inside the control cabinet if you have it. Let's see what you have to work with before you tear anything out first.

Marty

[citterly]

Nice first project!
Have you watched any of my Acorn videos on YouTube? They might help a little. martyscncgarage
The hardest part for some one new is choosing motors and drives.
Acorn and CNC12 are a nearly a slam dunk for me.

We're here for you as you get started.
Marty

Hi Marty --> YES !!
Pretty sure I've watched all your videos, very well done and your effort is much appreciated.
It was actually one of your comments that caused me to do a conversion versus a retrofit.
I expect that to save time and get me making parts ASAP...

I agree, the control side seems attainable, but the motors and drives are totally unclear at the moment ...

[citterly]

Let me ask you, are the original motors and drives on the machine? Please take pictures of them and inside the control cabinet if you have it. Let's see what you have to work with before you tear anything out first.

Marty

I believe I have everything to operate the machine as per the original design.
Great idea Marty, I like this as a starting point, potentially be making parts quickly and upgrade incrementally.

It might be a few days before I can get organized and take the pics.
Chris

[martyscncgarage]

Let me ask you, are the original motors and drives on the machine? Please take pictures of them and inside the control cabinet if you have it. Let's see what you have to work with before you tear anything out first.

Marty

I believe I have everything to operate the machine as per the original design.
Great idea Marty, I like this as a starting point, potentially be making parts quickly and upgrade incrementally.

It might be a few days before I can get organized and take the pics.
Chris

Chris, that's fine, take your time, ask questions, plan things out.
The only reason I ask about taking a look at the existing control, is that the existing motors and drives *might* be reusable, saving you some money and time/learning. If you can reuse the motor drives and motors you could get it up and running and start learning the software (boy I need to do more of that). That part of the machine was engineered that way. Lot of people get wrapped up trying to make it have SUPER fast rapids and put huge motors and drives on it, doesn't make sense to me (I've learned this). You can only cut metal so fast with a small machine like that, because of rigidity and spindle horsepower. I suggest we look at what you have first and see if just adding an Acorn, a little bit of wiring and a new computer will make it go.....

[citterly]

Good advise Marty, thanks.

I can see where folks may get caught up in the need for speed.
But like you said, it's not really practical, especially for this application.

The work envelope is tiny, so there's really no where to move to, LOL.
And it's a very light machine, so pushing the tool hard isn't practical.

If it will operate with just a controller change, great !!
Then I can continue to learn and evaluate other upgrades.

First thoughts are to abandon the tool changer and add a 4th axis.
I have an intake manifold adapter I'd like to make, where that capability would be nice / perfect....

[martyscncgarage]

Don't abandon the tool changer just yet. It looks fairly simple: move to position release the draw bar, z up move to next tool, z down, release drawbar etc.

Worry about it after the machine is running