Armortek

Found one of these for sale on a CNC forum:
Made an offer and it turned up today.

All the functions work, so now I just need to convert it for use with a PC

Adrian.

Thats a great piece of gear. Whats the first thing you are going to make on it?

Hopefully, a set of Panzer III axles and suspension shafts. They should be pretty easy to model and cut

I've never managed to do a good job cutting threads on my little Sieg lathe, so hopefully this will automate it nicely.

I still need to convert it to modern control, as it's designed to to use DOS/Windows software for the Educational market, and the company flat refuses to talk to home users

Adrian.

Great machine.

Try the Deskproto software for your CAM. It can import STL files from any 3D CAD program, calculate CNC tool paths an then write NC program files for any CNC milling machine: 3-axis, 4-axis and 5-axis. And it's low-cost.
Test the 30 days trial version.

http://www.deskproto.com

Thanks Maarten.

I've spent a little time looking around it and it may take some time to get it automated.

Adrian.

Adrian,
Nice looking little lathe. You should be able to convert it to a pc based control fairly easily. I have a friend who converted a similar size EMCO-MAIER from original control to Mach3. I use Mach3 on my CNC milling machines. Its not that expensive and has a lot of features and is easy to use. I don't use it for a lathe - but it can be used to control one.
http://www.machsupport.com/

Does the machine have any input ports on the back panel? 25 pin parallel port, Ethernet?

Good luck getting this running. Happy holidays!
Bob

Bob,

I've wired this up using a Planet-CNC Mk 2/4 USB controller, and have successfully computer operated both axes, the 8 way tool turret and the spindle , but I was put on notice of redundancy again at the beginning of November, so haven't had time to do any further work on it

I've since had my contract renewed till next summer, so once I have a few of my other commitments out of the way, I hope to get back to this lathe.

Adrian

Adrian
So sorry to hear of "notice of redundancy". Another way to say "laid-off" and unemployed! Glad to hear you got renewed contract - Hooray!

The USB should work but might be a bit buggy. Ethernet would be more reliable. There are Ethernet and USB versions of smoothstepper available. The Ethernet (to parallel port) smoothstepper is the most reliable.

If you can control the axis and spindle on/off you should be in business. Good luck getting that baby turnin tank parts!

Merry Christmas,
Bob