Grizzly G0776 13x40 lathe

[AdamCNC]

I am seriously considering getting a Grizzly g0776 lathe. I would like to make it a cnc. I have spoke with micro kinetics and they told me that the conversion kit they sell will work for this lathe. I have converted 2 mills to cnc already, so the conversion itself I am not to worried about. But before I just start going out and buying 10K worth stuff, id like to get some info on this first.

This is a gearhead lathe. It has 8 speeds. I have looked into acorn and see it has three spindle ranges. I read through the manual a bit and noticed in parameter setting it has low range, medium low range, medium high range and a high range. 4 different gear ranges? 3? Do I just pick 3/4 ranges on the lathe to use?

The lathe I have now is a direct drive motor to spindle setup. So I am not 100% clear as to how it works with gearing. How exactly will this work out on this lathe? Do I just make my program for a certain spindle speed and make sure the proper gears are selected? In cnc12 do I also have to specify what gear rage it is in at any given time?


At this point in my research phase I am not to concerned about anything else. I am mainly just curious about the gearing to the spindle and a little more information about how that works.

-Adam

[martyscncgarage]

Seems for that kind of money you can buy a good used purpose built CNC Lathe and convert it.
You would probably pick 3 ranges, install a VFD and let the VFD control the spindle motor.
Last time I used a VFD on a gear head lathe, I had to be careful about deceleration settings, the slop in the transmission sounded horrible. It was an older Bridgeport Romi.

Its Doable, Dave_C did a lathe maybe he'll chime in when he has time.
My .02
Marty

[cncsnw]

There is no reason you cannot use all four ranges if you want.

You might need to replace some of the default / Wizard-generated PLC logic, if that code only supports three.

[AdamCNC]

I have my lathe working with cnc12 and acorn now.
I have soft limits setup, z functions correctly but x does not. Any one know why this might be?

Also somewhat confused with the wizard settings. Specifically the axis drive type. The one I have selected works, but it says it is using the DB25 connection for step and dir which I am not. I am using H2 on acorn for step and dir. It says the steps are set up for 1600 but I have them at 2000. I have tried to select the "custom or create" but cant seem to get things working properly when I do this. Could someone please point me in the right direction regarding this axis drive setup? My stepper drive are stepper-online DM860T


Everything else seems to be fine. My home all works, flood functions fine, estop etc. I will be programing function codes in the vfd this weekend and setting up my spindle.

[martyscncgarage]

I have my lathe working with cnc12 and acorn now.
I have soft limits setup, z functions correctly but x does not. Any one know why this might be?

Also somewhat confused with the wizard settings. Specifically the axis drive type. The one I have selected works, but it says it is using the DB25 connection for step and dir which I am not. I am using H2 on acorn for step and dir. It says the steps are set up for 1600 but I have them at 2000. I have tried to select the "custom or create" but cant seem to get things working properly when I do this. Could someone please point me in the right direction regarding this axis drive setup? My stepper drive are stepper-online DM860T


Everything else seems to be fine. My home all works, flood functions fine, estop etc. I will be programing function codes in the vfd this weekend and setting up my spindle.

You have to provide more info other than "my x does not"
Explain or do a video and explain.
Remember, we can't "SEE" what you " SEE"

[AdamCNC]

You have to provide more info other than "my x does not"
Explain or do a video and explain.
Remember, we can't "SEE" what you " SEE"

Yes my apologies, x axis will exceed soft limit specified in the wizard.

[martyscncgarage]

Remember to cut the travel in half. You are cutting in diameter. Move .5" take off an inch of material.
You need to calibrate the axis that way as well

[AdamCNC]

Remember to cut the travel in half. You are cutting in diameter. Move .5" take off an inch of material.
You need to calibrate the axis that way as well

I knew that!! Thank you!! Not sure what I was doing here. Spaced out I guess.

Can I get confirmation on how important the "axis drive type" under "primary system" in the wizard is. I am assuming its quite important to have this set up correctly. I have it set to automation direct kl-5080h because its what worked. I dont want to set up my overall turns ratio until I get the correct setup in the wizard done.

This says the connection type is a db25. I AM NOT USING THE DB25 on acorn, I am using H2 on acorn board for step and dir. You might not be able to see it in the picture, but I attached anyway to show my stepper drives are connected to H2 on acorn.

This "axis drive type" is also saying my steps per rev are at 1600. In my "axis configuration" in the wizard, I have my steps per rev at 2000. I want them at 2000.

Also, what is the step rate KHz?

The wizard is quite different now from a while ago when I bench tested. I bench tested on 4.2 I believe.

[martyscncgarage]

Remember to cut the travel in half. You are cutting in diameter. Move .5" take off an inch of material.
You need to calibrate the axis that way as well

I knew that!! Thank you!! Not sure what I was doing here. Spaced out I guess.

Can I get confirmation on how important the "axis drive type" under "primary system" in the wizard is. I am assuming its quite important to have this set up correctly. I have it set to automation direct kl-5080h because its what worked. I dont want to set up my overall turns ratio until I get the correct setup in the wizard done.
Not terribly, it will select the DB25 or the Acorn header, signals go out both, one is inverted. If you are working you can leave it.
This says the connection type is a db25. I AM NOT USING THE DB25 on acorn, I am using H2 on acorn board for step and dir. You might not be able to see it in the picture, but I attached anyway to show my stepper drives are connected to H2 on acorn. You can change it if you wish. See if it works. You may have to invert the signals in the advanced tab.

This "axis drive type" is also saying my steps per rev are at 1600. In my "axis configuration" in the wizard, I have my steps per rev at 2000. I want them at 2000. Either change them in the Wizard to 1600 to match the drive or change the dipswitches on the drive to 2000 to match the steps per motor rev in Wizard axis config.

Also, what is the step rate KHz? You need your drive manual for that. It will tell you the max frequency. If it says 200, then change it in the Wizard to 200 and see how it goes, otherwise to be safe for testing, drop it to 100 in the Wizard

The wizard is quite different now from a while ago when I bench tested. I bench tested on 4.2 I believe.

You should be on 4.5 prior versions no longer supported.

Marty

[AdamCNC]

Thanks Marty

Not terribly, it will select the DB25 or the Acorn header, signals go out both, one is inverted. If you are working you can leave it.

I am running, so I guess I will leave it if its ok this way.

Either change them in the Wizard to 1600 to match the drive or change the dipswitches on the drive to 2000 to match the steps per motor rev in Wizard axis config.

I have my dip switches set to 2000 on the drivers. I would like to use 2000. I have my axis configuration set to 2000.

it is confusing me becuase the wizard has two screens:
1: Primary system ->axis drive type
and
2: Axis -> configuration
that have conflicting data. When I bench tested, the wizard was different. I cant change any of the settings on Primary system ->axis drive type in the wizard.