orac build

[radial junkie]

Hi everyone iam new to this site and cnc for that matter. I aquired a denford orac off flea bay it was a in a bit of a sorry state but after nearly 8 months work iam slowly getting it to where i want the orac to be it should be ready for test runs with linuxcnc in the next 2 weeks

[Denford Admin]

Looking good !
I take it you have access to some sheet metal work facility ?

[radial junkie]

yes and no the tray was built using the original tray and the consul bottom the case and door was produced from molds i made in GRP the skirt that goes round the tray was hand formed using to lengths of angle in the vise to hold the sheet and a rubber mallet to bend to shape same with the controller box onlly part that was cut was a 120 count spindle encoder wheeel which a friend laser cut for me everything else is hand formed.

[radial junkie]

not done alot since last posting other than run the axis though linuxcnc iam hoping to make more progress this week , already acquired my next build its denford easimill the intention for that is a 5 axis setup using the 3 axis of the easimill with the other two axis coming from a rotary table .

[Denford Admin]

Just wondering how you'd go about programming 5 axes ?
I'd have thought the CAM for full 5 axis would be expensive...or is it more a case of: rotate job into position then do normal 2.5D programming ?

[radial junkie]

yes cams arnt the cheapest of software but i have access to camworks used by a freinds company, i belive camworks supports upto 6 axis

[radial junkie]

Just a short line to let everyone know the orac is up and running, just a few software configs to add to linuxcnc 90% of it is already done, aquired a denford easimill single phase just waiting on 2 harmonic drives 100:1 ratio for the 4th and 5th axis conversion, will post some pics of the orac might upload a vid the biggest problem was the 2500ppr encoders i added to the Z and X axis but 99% of the problem was linuxcnc being new to me but finding my way round it. just waiting on new chucks and tooling for the orac now going to 125mm chucks so first job is to machine new backing plates, I must say for a training lathe the accuracy of the orac is impressive
once the everything is adjusted using a dial gauge i achieved 0.01 mm variation on the z axis full length of the lathe test bar.

[Denford Admin]

Yes please post some finished photos! The accuracy sounds great

[triac]

Hi Radial junkie

Could you please post some details of parts used for your Orac conversion, suppliers links would be very helpful.

Thanks, Emgee