Hi all,
I just bought a big Sharp VH-3 mill from a nearby shop trying to make space. I thought the deal was too good to be true and they sweetened it further by adding an EZ Vision with a broken control box for only $500 more.
When I say broken control box, it is completely dismantled with wires hanging out. They gave me all the parts to it, like the screen, motherboard, button panel, etc in a separate box.
Does anyone have direct experience with these mills? I figure I'll try plugging everything back together and see if I can at least get it to turn on. At that point I'm going I can get some customer support from hardinge. The operator at the shop said he wanted to keep it and believed he could get it working, but the management seemed reluctant to sink any more resources into it.
If that fails, my original plan was just to convert it to a regular manual Mill. Here is the list of what I think will be required for that:
1) I assume it has ball screws and nuts and will need to revert back to the old style. This will be the biggest effort, along with removing the servos.
2)I'll need knobs and handles for the tables.
3) manual quill housing accessories like the knob, depth gauge, etc
4)then I may need to change to the simple on off power switch as this seems to run all power through the pendant on the control box.
Am I missing anything else obvious?
Once I get it in my garage, I may try posting a WTT ad for anyone up for the challenge of building their own control system. Then we could just do a straight trade/swap servos and boxes for manual handles and dials and both be happy.
I appreciate any and all input, thanks!
I just bought a big Sharp VH-3 mill from a nearby shop trying to make space. I thought the deal was too good to be true and they sweetened it further by adding an EZ Vision with a broken control box for only $500 more.
When I say broken control box, it is completely dismantled with wires hanging out. They gave me all the parts to it, like the screen, motherboard, button panel, etc in a separate box.
Does anyone have direct experience with these mills? I figure I'll try plugging everything back together and see if I can at least get it to turn on. At that point I'm going I can get some customer support from hardinge. The operator at the shop said he wanted to keep it and believed he could get it working, but the management seemed reluctant to sink any more resources into it.
If that fails, my original plan was just to convert it to a regular manual Mill. Here is the list of what I think will be required for that:
1) I assume it has ball screws and nuts and will need to revert back to the old style. This will be the biggest effort, along with removing the servos.
2)I'll need knobs and handles for the tables.
3) manual quill housing accessories like the knob, depth gauge, etc
4)then I may need to change to the simple on off power switch as this seems to run all power through the pendant on the control box.
Am I missing anything else obvious?
Once I get it in my garage, I may try posting a WTT ad for anyone up for the challenge of building their own control system. Then we could just do a straight trade/swap servos and boxes for manual handles and dials and both be happy.
I appreciate any and all input, thanks!
