You're definately the man for the job, both a machine user and electrical engineer. Glad to see a legitimately expert, in depth examination. Thanks mate!
Tim, you did another good job to give us hope when we think about our old machine's future. Can't wait to see the finial result in your next vid. Thank you
Your Welcome Tom, if your looking at upgrading your machine give me a shout. I can share my experience and opinions on pros and cons if you would like.
So glad you are doing this. I have been interested in these controllers for a while now, and even with the information and videos that Calmotion has on their web site, I still really want exactly the kind of real-world experience that you are showing with this series before I can decide to drop the $8k these things go for! I potentially have 3 machines I might want to upgrade, so even as a "middle-of-the-road" cost option, you can see why I might be hesitant to just jump in! Thanks again, and really looking forward to the results of the testing!
Totally understand. Many of these older machines tend to be in small shops with tight capital. I'm also in that category, need to be very careful with my capital as there is not much to go around. This is an excellent opportunity to really show case what this controller is all about.
Hi Ryan, This is a complete controller upgrade to put a modern control in a Fadal. I already recommend there DNC board for existing Fadal controllers but that still limits you on how fast you can run tool paths.
I have the Calmotion LANCNCFAD DNC servers in two of my machines, and they are great. They work seamlessly, and really are the best option for running the Fadal like a modern machine tool. Worth noting here is that Calmotion is run by Glen DeCaussin, one of the original DeCaussin (Francis - dad, Adrian, David, And Larry) brothers' sons.
Got you. Interested to see it. A little expensive for me at the moment but maybe in the future its possible. Thank you for all the videos hard to find information to help someone starting out like me. Appreciate it.
Sitting here with the older CNC 88 with only 9.6 baud DNC and no DNCX I can't wait for your next video. Maybe I can get you your old cards and upgrade to an 88HS?
I need to send the calmotion boards back when I'm done. I can't sell any of my cards unless I get something else. You can find cards out there but they are not cheap.
How can I find out the compatibility matrix of what controller card I can upgrade to with the older 88? My controller is a 1400-2. Just getting higher serial speed and DNCX would be worth it. I have had 3 crashed on DNC errors with my Calmotion USB adapter already.
Doug, Fadalcnc has a great chart showing which cards will work with each other. Unfortunately the -2 cards are really limited in what works with them. You will need to see what the revs of your other cards are and go from there. If you are going to spend the money on upgrading to original Fadal cards I would not go lower the -4 cards. www.fadalcnc.com/media/pdf/Axis_Control_Cards_Compatibility.pdf
This is awesome Tim, can't wait to see it in action! Only bad thing is after seeing it I'm going to have to go back to watching my 88HS.... at least for a few thousand more parts till I can afford one of these =) Thanks buddy.
Ryan, I have a Calmotion USB DNC on my pendant. I have been very happy with it, but that doesn't help the block processing capability of my machine. A DNC of some kind is a must with these machines if you intend to run a program from pretty much any modern CAM system in my experience. The system Tim is showcasing gives you the memory you need w/o having to always rely on DNC plus the processing power to fly through it to the point at which your limited by the physical components of the machine like its motors rather than its ability to read and process the code. At least that's my understanding, maybe Tim can correct me if that's not the case.
Hey its been a while since I checked in here with you guys, did you know that the ceo of calmotion is the Larry of F A D A Larry...so that being said everything that calmotion makes is extremely compatible with the original equipment.
That facemill "cutting" alum in your intro is painful to watch. It's not cutting so much as plowing. Jeepers. You know there are alum specific inserts that will leave a mirror finish and no burr off the edges, right? The ones I use are made by Max-Pro Tools and can be had for ~$14 each off of eBay for APKT1604 sized inserts. Try them, once you do you'll never gum through a facing cut in alum with those honed edge steel inserts again. ~1,500 SFM, ~0.005 IPT, 0.015" DOC, 85% WOC, flood coolant ON for finishing. I have a 2" OD 5 flt SECO facemill that I use them in, cuts like a champ. Coolant makes a mess, 'cause it really slings it, but the finish is worth the trouble. Rough down to within 0.015" of finished Z with something else though, as one real hard cut blunts the razor sharp edge and kills the mirror finish from then on out. Same thing with cutting anything but alum with them, just don't do it. If you have to cut steel, change the inserts.
The first intro I did the cutting speed is WAY to slow. I did not have a high speed camera.Those same inserts run at proper feeds and speeds with coolant leave between a 4 rms and a 6 rms finish. I do all prototype work and hardly any real piece runs. With each job being different getting them out the door fast with good quality is important. I find my customers are happy with the results using general inserts. I can also pass on savings by not needing to stock and change inserts for every type of job.If I get a piece run where I need to make a lot of something then I will look into more specific tooling.Thanks for the feed back.
Hi Wayno, please DO NOT be concerned. The install has not taken place yet. All the prep work is done and we are ready to install. I just got a ton of work in the shop and at my day job. I have been talking with CalMotion regularly and they have been excellent to work with. I'm doing this work at no cost to anyone so I need to pay the bills with work when it comes, hope everyone understands.
I recently put a 527 in my Fadal 3016, The customer service is far beyond anything expected. I been running about 14 days so far, daily, It is sweet, I buy another fadal, Ill buy a 527 before it ever gets rigged in.
Good one Tim, even I understood the jargon. What's with the blue hand cuff? Court order? You being an engineer; you get caught with engineering porn; charts and graphs?
LOL, John, I always look forward to your comments, keeps me on my toes! The blue wrist strap is an ESD (Electro static discharge) strap. It is basically just a link from my skin to ground through a large resistor. It keeps the static charge of your body near zero so there is no chance of zapping the boards with static and damaging them. Think about walking to the fridge for a cold beer in the winter time wearing your fluffy bunny slippers and you get shocked when you reach for the fridge door. That can damage circuit boards. The blue mat I work on is also slightly conductive so it can not build a charge as well.
Hello Stephen, I'm still here and everything is good. Just got hammered the last few months. The Calmotion boards are in and I"m using them now. I will make a channel update video shortly, your not the first to ask, been getting a lot of emails. Amazing how much complete strangers care for some knuckle head in a garage ;) Thank you.
I have had a huge rush of work in the shop and my day job. I'm working hard to get them out for everyone! I just can't take the machine down while I have work in the que.
Hello Shem, I'm good thank you. Just have a lot of time critical work right now. Videos coming soon. The installation video is almost done. Tried to get it up last weekend but need a few more shots to finish it.
You're definately the man for the job, both a machine user and electrical engineer. Glad to see a legitimately expert, in depth examination. Thanks mate!
Thank you, I try to use the term expert loosely though, I'm still learning as well! We will give it our best and see what washes out.
Tim, you did another good job to give us hope when we think about our old machine's future. Can't wait to see the finial result in your next vid. Thank you
Thanks Shem, I'm in the same boat as everyone else, so it is kind of in my own best interest to also keep the next step in mind.
Thanks for the recognition, Tim! I can hardly wait to see how the install goes!
Seth, I thought I left a comment but it is gone? Any event, credit where credit is due, did not think you would mind. Thanks again! Tim
Looks like a great upgrade. This might sway my buying decisions in the near future... Thanks for sharing this, Tim!
Your Welcome Tom, if your looking at upgrading your machine give me a shout. I can share my experience and opinions on pros and cons if you would like.
I'd definitely welcome the input, sir. Talk soon!
So glad you are doing this. I have been interested in these controllers for a while now, and even with the information and videos that Calmotion has on their web site, I still really want exactly the kind of real-world experience that you are showing with this series before I can decide to drop the $8k these things go for! I potentially have 3 machines I might want to upgrade, so even as a "middle-of-the-road" cost option, you can see why I might be hesitant to just jump in!
Thanks again, and really looking forward to the results of the testing!
Totally understand. Many of these older machines tend to be in small shops with tight capital. I'm also in that category, need to be very careful with my capital as there is not much to go around. This is an excellent opportunity to really show case what this controller is all about.
I have their low cost DNC controller on my 3016 and am very happy so far. Makes it so easy to just plug in USB.
Hi Ryan, This is a complete controller upgrade to put a modern control in a Fadal. I already recommend there DNC board for existing Fadal controllers but that still limits you on how fast you can run tool paths.
I have the Calmotion LANCNCFAD DNC servers in two of my machines, and they are great. They work seamlessly, and really are the best option for running the Fadal like a modern machine tool. Worth noting here is that Calmotion is run by Glen DeCaussin, one of the original DeCaussin (Francis - dad, Adrian, David, And Larry) brothers' sons.
Got you. Interested to see it. A little expensive for me at the moment but maybe in the future its possible. Thank you for all the videos hard to find information to help someone starting out like me. Appreciate it.
Great work! Can't wait for next episode!!!
It is a long time coming, still working on it.
I’m very interested in this series Tim! Hoping this product reviews well so I can upgrade my FADAL control.
I am hoping as well, so far so good, but I'm being careful and trying not to come to any conclusions before we are all done.
This is a must watch series!
But wait, there's more!
I don't even have a fadal and this makes me want one!
LOL, I have not even plugged it in yet!
Sitting here with the older CNC 88 with only 9.6 baud DNC and no DNCX I can't wait for your next video. Maybe I can get you your old cards and upgrade to an 88HS?
I need to send the calmotion boards back when I'm done. I can't sell any of my cards unless I get something else. You can find cards out there but they are not cheap.
How can I find out the compatibility matrix of what controller card I can upgrade to with the older 88? My controller is a 1400-2. Just getting higher serial speed and DNCX would be worth it. I have had 3 crashed on DNC errors with my Calmotion USB adapter already.
Doug, Fadalcnc has a great chart showing which cards will work with each other. Unfortunately the -2 cards are really limited in what works with them. You will need to see what the revs of your other cards are and go from there. If you are going to spend the money on upgrading to original Fadal cards I would not go lower the -4 cards. www.fadalcnc.com/media/pdf/Axis_Control_Cards_Compatibility.pdf
This is awesome Tim, can't wait to see it in action! Only bad thing is after seeing it I'm going to have to go back to watching my 88HS.... at least for a few thousand more parts till I can afford one of these =) Thanks buddy.
You and me both, been working hard to get this review going! Thanks Steve
You can get the USB DNC option. Works great for me so far and only about $500. Plug the stick in and go.
Ryan, I have a Calmotion USB DNC on my pendant. I have been very happy with it, but that doesn't help the block processing capability of my machine. A DNC of some kind is a must with these machines if you intend to run a program from pretty much any modern CAM system in my experience. The system Tim is showcasing gives you the memory you need w/o having to always rely on DNC plus the processing power to fly through it to the point at which your limited by the physical components of the machine like its motors rather than its ability to read and process the code. At least that's my understanding, maybe Tim can correct me if that's not the case.
That is correct, no need to DNC everything, faster block processing rate for those 3D adaptive tool paths, and higher speed control loops.
Ok awesome thanks. Wish I could take that next step little out of my price range.
Fadal CNC mills is the small block Chevy (meaning parts as abundant and low cost)I own for this reason. cost and profits.
Yes they are, not the best, but they just run and use standard parts you can still order today.
hello, I'm thinking of purchasing a fadal 4020. how are you doing with your Fadal Machine, have you upgraded?
Nice video Thank you
Welcome
also I wanted to ask you to do a video for repairing/cleaning a keyboard for a fadal properly...
You can just pull all the keys off and then clean them with a mild solvent. They pop on and off fairly easy.
Hey its been a while since I checked in here with you guys, did you know that the ceo of calmotion is the Larry of F A D A Larry...so that being said everything that calmotion makes is extremely compatible with the original equipment.
Yes, the install went very smooth. Videos are coming!
He is the son of Larry :) Larry owns IndexDesignsCNC.Com making Rotary Tables for Fadals and all other types of CNC check it out
That facemill "cutting" alum in your intro is painful to watch. It's not cutting so much as plowing. Jeepers.
You know there are alum specific inserts that will leave a mirror finish and no burr off the edges, right?
The ones I use are made by Max-Pro Tools and can be had for ~$14 each off of eBay for APKT1604 sized inserts.
Try them, once you do you'll never gum through a facing cut in alum with those honed edge steel inserts again.
~1,500 SFM, ~0.005 IPT, 0.015" DOC, 85% WOC, flood coolant ON for finishing. I have a 2" OD 5 flt SECO facemill that I use them in, cuts like a champ. Coolant makes a mess, 'cause it really slings it, but the finish is worth the trouble.
Rough down to within 0.015" of finished Z with something else though, as one real hard cut blunts the razor sharp edge and kills the mirror finish from then on out. Same thing with cutting anything but alum with them, just don't do it. If you have to cut steel, change the inserts.
The first intro I did the cutting speed is WAY to slow. I did not have a high speed camera.Those same inserts run at proper feeds and speeds with coolant leave between a 4 rms and a 6 rms finish. I do all prototype work and hardly any real piece runs. With each job being different getting them out the door fast with good quality is important. I find my customers are happy with the results using general inserts. I can also pass on savings by not needing to stock and change inserts for every type of job.If I get a piece run where I need to make a lot of something then I will look into more specific tooling.Thanks for the feed back.
I hope things are going smoothly with the install? It's been a little while since we have a an update, and i'm starting to get concerned :-[
Hi Wayno, please DO NOT be concerned. The install has not taken place yet. All the prep work is done and we are ready to install. I just got a ton of work in the shop and at my day job. I have been talking with CalMotion regularly and they have been excellent to work with. I'm doing this work at no cost to anyone so I need to pay the bills with work when it comes, hope everyone understands.
+At-Man Unlimited Machining good to hear. keep up the good work :-)
I recently put a 527 in my Fadal 3016, The customer service is far beyond anything expected. I been running about 14 days so far, daily, It is sweet, I buy another fadal, Ill buy a 527 before it ever gets rigged in.
Good one Tim, even I understood the jargon. What's with the blue hand cuff? Court order? You being an engineer; you get caught with engineering porn; charts and graphs?
LOL, John, I always look forward to your comments, keeps me on my toes! The blue wrist strap is an ESD (Electro static discharge) strap. It is basically just a link from my skin to ground through a large resistor. It keeps the static charge of your body near zero so there is no chance of zapping the boards with static and damaging them. Think about walking to the fridge for a cold beer in the winter time wearing your fluffy bunny slippers and you get shocked when you reach for the fridge door. That can damage circuit boards. The blue mat I work on is also slightly conductive so it can not build a charge as well.
Where the hell are ya? Wrenching on the Fadal again?
LOL, no, just tons of work lately. Working with the Calmotion cards now.
Hey Tim, what happened here. You were on a roll for so long but all of a sudden it stopped. Hope everything is going ok.
Hello Stephen, I'm still here and everything is good. Just got hammered the last few months. The Calmotion boards are in and I"m using them now. I will make a channel update video shortly, your not the first to ask, been getting a lot of emails. Amazing how much complete strangers care for some knuckle head in a garage ;) Thank you.
Hey At-Man! Have you stopped making youtube vids? :)
Nope, just editing them ;) I will be back, just had a pile of work to get through.
Great! Looking forward to it!
Tim where are ya?
I'm still here, working on videos now
Come on video number 2 lol
I have had a huge rush of work in the shop and my day job. I'm working hard to get them out for everyone! I just can't take the machine down while I have work in the que.
Are you O.K. Tim?
Hello Shem, I'm good thank you. Just have a lot of time critical work right now. Videos coming soon. The installation video is almost done. Tried to get it up last weekend but need a few more shots to finish it.
Are you really gone ? As enjoying your content but I get it
NO I'm still here, just cranking out parts, slammed at the day job. The calmotion boards have been running hard. Just ran a bunch of parts +/-0.001"