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Minitech Mini-Mill Series User Manual

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Minitech CNC Mini-Mill
User's Guide
Minitech Machinery Corporation
6050 Peachtree Parkway
Suite 240-205
Norcross, GA 30092
P: 1-800-662-1760 P: 770-441-8525
F: 770-441-8526
www.minitech.com

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  • Page 1 Minitech CNC Mini-Mill User’s Guide Minitech Machinery Corporation 6050 Peachtree Parkway Suite 240-205 Norcross, GA 30092 P: 1-800-662-1760 P: 770-441-8525 F: 770-441-8526 www.minitech.com...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    The CNC Milling Machine · Parts of the machine 17 · Aligning the machine tool 18 Maintenance · Work Site 30 · Cleaning 30 · Coupler Adjustment 30 · Lubrication 31 Service and Support - Mechanical Drawings 33 © 2012 Minitech Machinery Corp.

  • Page 3: Copyright

    All terms mentioned in this guide are known to be trademarks or device marks are listed below. Minitech cannot attest to the accuracy of this information. Use of a term in this book should not be regarded as affecting the validity of any trademark or service mark.

  • Page 4: Warranty

    Minitech Machinery Corporation warrants the Mini-Mill Desktop Manufacturing System to be in good working order for a period of one year from the date of purchase from Minitech or an authorized dealer. Should this product fail to be in "good working order" at any time during the warranty period, Minitech will, at its option, repair or replace the product at no additional charge except as set forth below.

  • Page 5: Fcc Statement

    The user may find the following booklet prepared by the Federal Communication Commission helpful: “How to Identify and Resolve Radio-TV Interference Problems.” This booklet is available from the US Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, Stock no. 004-000-00345-4. © 2012 Minitech Machinery Corp.

  • Page 6: Safety

    Wear protective head gear to keep long hair away from moving parts. 14. Use Safety Glasses - Also use a dust mask if cutting operation is dusty © 2012 Minitech Machinery Corp.
  • Page 7 Over-tightening may damage threads or wrap parts thereby reducing accuracy and effectiveness. 22. Be Aware Of These Safety Precautions - and use these as a basis for your safety protection. Implement your own safety rules in conjunction with these. © 2012 Minitech Machinery Corp.

  • Page 8: System Requirements

    The minimum requirements for the Mini-Mill are: Processor 1Ghz CPU Memory 1.1 or 2.0 Operating System Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7 Software Mach3 Version R3.042.040 with Minitech Screen Sets © 2012 Minitech Machinery Corp.

  • Page 9: Installation

    If you are uncertain of what some of the items are, do not worry. Simply call Minitech on our toll-fee telephone number, if you need any assistance or would like further information on setting-up your system.

  • Page 10: Computer Interface Connection

    CNC Stepper Motor Control Box CS5SA8-1 manual for installation instructions. If at anytime you experience inconsistent table motions, or no table motions at all, check this cable to make sure it is properly installed. © 2012 Minitech Machinery Corp.

  • Page 11: Controller/Dcpower Supply Connections

    X to the X motor, Y to Y, etc. The other end gets connected to the Controller – marked X Y Z A 4. The sensor cable gets connected to the RJ45 marked SENSORS 5. The other RJ45 marked Spindle will be covered below © 2012 Minitech Machinery Corp.
  • Page 12 Emergency Stop - This cuts the power to the stepper motors in case of a failure. Press this when you want the stepper motors to shut off. BACK AC IN - Connect the power cord from your wall outlet into this connector. It supplies the AC power for the controller. © 2012 Minitech Machinery Corp.

  • Page 13: Stepper Motor Connection

    If the lead screws are easy to turn (with the power on) you are not getting power to the interface card and the stepper motors. © 2012 Minitech Machinery Corp.

  • Page 14: Milling Basics

    We recommend using 2-flute, single-end, high speed steel end mills. The solid carbide tools are more expensive, and the cutting edges will chip unless used properly. End mills may be purchased from industrial machine shop outlets or catalogs. As smaller diameter cutters (less than 1/8") are © 2012 Minitech Machinery Corp.

  • Page 15: Operating Instructions

    Mini-Mill Operating Instructions Minitech machines are among the finest tools that can be purchased for the price, along with offering the degree of precision found in machines costing several times more, they are capable of very precise and exacting work when properly employed. In short, we feel that this is the best possible product in its price range on the market today.
  • Page 16 9. Test your part programs and work in prototyping material first. This will reduce the cost of materials and allow you to practice machining. You can even test your programs without cutting anything, just let the machine go through the motions - cutting air. © 2012 Minitech Machinery Corp.

  • Page 17: The Cnc Milling Machine

    Figure 6: Mini-Mill 3 Parts of the Machine Figure 6 is a photograph of the Minitech Mini-Mill 3. This particular model is a 4-axis vertical CNC milling machine. There are three linear axis; X,Y, and Z; and one is rotational, A. The figure illustrates the machine axis and their direction of movement.

  • Page 18: Aligning The Machine Tool

    These machines go through a quality control process before delivery and these tests have already been performed. Minitech nor its affiliates will be responsible for damage or injury done from use of these processes or use of the machine.
  • Page 19 Roll is how perpendicular the machine bed is along the Y- axis relative to the z axis. Yaw is how perpendicular the machine bed is along the x-axis relative to the y-axis. Adjusting the pitch and roll is possible by screw tightening © 2012 Minitech Machinery Corp.
  • Page 20 This will require the loosening and/or removal of sixteen slide screws and the four screws which attach the table to the lead nut. Figure 10a shows the lead nut screws. Figure 10b shows the area to place the shim. © 2012 Minitech Machinery Corp.
  • Page 21 Once done make final tightening of the lead nut screws in order. 4. Do a final check on the table pitch and roll to make sure you have done it correctly. © 2012 Minitech Machinery Corp.
  • Page 22 13. 5. The indicator needle should give the same reading at each end of the half circle. To adjust the spindle you will need to partially loosen the screws shown in figure 14. © 2012 Minitech Machinery Corp.
  • Page 23 8. To adjust for this (figure 16) you will need to shim between the spindle and the mounting plate as shown in figure 17. 9. Once done spin the spindle in a complete circle and check the indicator ideally the needle should not move, re-shim or readjust as needed. © 2012 Minitech Machinery Corp.
  • Page 24 MINITECH CNC Mini-Mill User's Guide Figure 15 Figure 16 Figure 17 © 2012 Minitech Machinery Corp.
  • Page 25 The run out on the pictured setup was about 0.002” at about two inches out. If your run out is larger than you required part tolerances contact the manufacturer and this can possibly be adjusted. © 2012 Minitech Machinery Corp.
  • Page 26 22. 4. Compare the points. If the first point is higher than the second then the bar is sloping down. If the second point is higher then the bar is sloping © 2012 Minitech Machinery Corp.
  • Page 27 Then slowly move the Z-axis up and as the indicator drags over the bar note the highest point on the indicator as in the figure 24. © 2012 Minitech Machinery Corp.
  • Page 28 This will take into account the pitch and the yaw. Screws mounting the plate to the table will be loosened to adjust the yaw. The screw attaching the tailstock to the mounting plate will be loosened to adjust the pitch. © 2012 Minitech Machinery Corp.
  • Page 29 Z to probe Height Value. 7. From here on you will use Home and Probe and Probe for tool setting, the first when starting up the machine the latter when changing tools during a machining operation. © 2012 Minitech Machinery Corp.

  • Page 30: Maintenance

    1. Turn off and unplug all electronic devices such as the computer, spindle mechanism, and DC power supply. 2. By hand turn each lead screw so that each axes is in the following positions. Lower the Z axis as far down © 2012 Minitech Machinery Corp.

  • Page 31: Lubrication

    2. Use 3and1 oil on the ball screws. It will be necessary to remove the way covers to gain access to the ball screws. 3. Also use 3and1 oil on the rotary axis there is an oil port on the face of the rotary table. © 2012 Minitech Machinery Corp.

  • Page 32: Service And Support

    MINITECH CNC Mini-Mill User's Guide Service and Support If the Minitech CNC Mini-Mill malfunctions in any way, be sure to check the system's hardware thoroughly first. Then, you may call a Minitech service technician by telephoning 1- 800-662-1760. When you call, please include the following information: 1.
  • Page 33 MINITECH CNC Mini-Mill User's Guide Drawings of the Machine Components © 2012 Minitech Machinery Corp.
  • Page 34 MINITECH CNC Mini-Mill User's Guide Drawings of the Machine Components © 2012 Minitech Machinery Corp.

This manual is also suitable for:

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