ProtoWizard Info Board

kcgold · Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 449 Location: Menlo Park, CA

I know there are a bunch of us that have the new head from Cutting-Edge Applied Technologies. We All tend to call Don's company ProtoWizard, but that is just one of many products. The new head is a tight piece of work. I look at the way Roland made their rotary and wonder if it was a result of engineers gone wild. The result is bad. To think the backlash is controlled by two screws in a piece of sheet metal leaves you scratching your head.

The unit that Don is building is a testament to simplicity and accuracy. I love it and the fact it gives me more working space is just a plus.

orzel67 · Joined: 11 Jul 2006 Posts: 621 Location: Montreal Canada

I agree.

jewelermdt · Joined: 05 Nov 2008 Posts: 262

I like the extra room also. Now if I could just get the hang of things.
Mike

martin · Joined: 09 Sep 2008 Posts: 52

I ordered the head package from Don and I'm wondering if I need to remove the cable from the old head or does Dons come one. I'm still waiting for the parts, just preping for install.
_________________
JWX 10
PW4 (ruler of the universe)
Machine Wizard
Rhino 4/Rhino Gold
and a partidge in a pair tree

jewelermdt · Joined: 05 Nov 2008 Posts: 262

No you don't have to undo any wires. his rotary will come with it. Just unplug the old and plug in the new. Did you also get Machine Wizard?

His instructions can be confusing, or it was to me. You don't have to do anything to ground wire with his. JUST if you where installing MM and not his rotary, you would have to cut ground on the Roland rotary.

Mike
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jwx10/W dons rotary Rhino 4 RhinoGold - Machine Wizard

kcgold · Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 449 Location: Menlo Park, CA

Martin, put down what you are running in your signature profile. To change the head, remove the two screws from the plug. Remove the black rubber plug that the cord goes through. Feed the plug through the hole (you have to get one screw tab through, then the other) and remove the four screws that hold in the old head.

Follow the instructions to electrically isolate the table if you are using MachineWizard and reassemble. You now get to sit back and watch the mill calibrate itself (if using MW).
_________________
JWX-10 w/ CEAT Rotary Head
Rhino 4
ProtoWizard 4
MachineWizard

martin · Joined: 09 Sep 2008 Posts: 52

not sure what you mean about my "signiture profile". But yeah, I ordered the whole package, PW-MW-fixtures-sensor-head, can't wait to watch my JWX 10 calibrate itself! I was getting real tired of screwing around with the run out issue, if this cure all the machine issues that leaves more time to learn Rhino 4 and Rhino gold. thanks for helping me guys! Still waiting for all my stuff to get here! aaahh
_________________
JWX 10
PW4 (ruler of the universe)
Machine Wizard
Rhino 4/Rhino Gold
and a partidge in a pair tree

jewelermdt · Joined: 05 Nov 2008 Posts: 262

Well hope your mill does better than mine. I think there is a ghost in mine. Even after running the calibration, I can't get ring milling to work twice the same. Flips seam to be ok. (see post in MW)

Mike
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jwx10/W dons rotary Rhino 4 RhinoGold - Machine Wizard

kcgold · Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 449 Location: Menlo Park, CA

At the top of the page is the button for your Profile. In the profile is an area to put a signature. If all the members of this forum put the mill and software they are running, it will make tech support much easier. It will also make it more fun to see what other members are using.
_________________
JWX-10 w/ CEAT Rotary Head
Rhino 4
ProtoWizard 4
MachineWizard

martin · Joined: 09 Sep 2008 Posts: 52

I'm still getting run out with the new rotory head and table mods and new combo fixture. anybody else have issues like this? I've only run one 2 sided flip w/rotory but I was expecting perfection the first time out.
tell you what though, the new control panel is bad ass!! love it.
_________________
JWX 10
PW4 (ruler of the universe)
Machine Wizard
Rhino 4/Rhino Gold
and a partidge in a pair tree

lemike · Joined: 29 Jun 2009 Posts: 135

the runout with combo fixture highly depend on how you have screwed the 4 screws on the side of combo support and how you plug it each time on the table (after you correctly adjusted it, try to pull or push it on Y direction but try to always use the same setting and use the same placement for calibration), also if you mesured your runout with the rotation scan feature, kindly note that due to some scratches on the arbor part the results can be wrong, it's better to control with a dial indicator

i spent the day chasing a bug in my mill (i have a loose somewhere in my head, unfortunatly i wasn't able to fix it), as i knew i'd have to re-calibrate my mill, i took this oppotunity the adjust the rotary alignment on table and my combo support

for this you'll have to spend extra time on calibration and this is a free ticket for a headache in my case to win some 0.02 runout

i first initialise MW settings with delta XY @ 0 and delta XZ @ 0
i tried to find the best rotary orientation to have the lower delta XY value without combo support after the automatic calibration process

then i have made several tests with differents screwings for the combo support, i first tried to find the best screwing for the 2 screw that control the height of the support in order to have at delta XZ @ 0 then for the 2 screws that control it on Y direction
it is close to impossible to have delta XY @ 0, just take care that your combo support hole is parralel to the calibration bar, i used a small square piece of metal between the part that is plugged on table and the adjustable part to control the orientation

the result is a 0.01 runout with the a dial indicator, but sincerly even if you have 0.03 runout you will hardly see the difference... what's your runout mesurement martin?
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MDX40 + CEAT Rorary
3Design 6.2
ProtoWizard 4
MachineWizard 3

martin · Joined: 09 Sep 2008 Posts: 52

I haven't measured it yet, I'll get to that tonite and post it when I'm done.
I'm wondering if the 2 screws that anchor the support post to the table are causing it when it's tightened down.
_________________
JWX 10
PW4 (ruler of the universe)
Machine Wizard
Rhino 4/Rhino Gold
and a partidge in a pair tree

lemike · Joined: 29 Jun 2009 Posts: 135

best thing is to mesure it and tell us the runout @ 45 or 60° intervals.

kcgold · Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 449 Location: Menlo Park, CA

If you are using MachineWizard, do not get too hung up on the run out. It had not effect on a flip part and if you turn on Rotary Compensation (I am not at MW to check the exact name), your problems are solved. You may find on the combo fixture that Y has to be very carefully dialed in because of the distance you are working from the head.
_________________
JWX-10 w/ CEAT Rotary Head
Rhino 4
ProtoWizard 4
MachineWizard