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I've recently purchased a "vintage" PR (I think it's a PR96). Since I got it for a good price, I'm able to spend a bit to upgrade it. But I don't actually know what kind of upgrades are possible with this machine (I'm talking mechanical rather than software).
I'd love a "list" of all the possible upgrades. Any suggestions?
Bruce
Bruce,
Most likely, you will have to create 'the list' by searching the archives on this board.
Here is one example of an upgraded PR
I have a PR machine , and the best thing that I did was to upgrade to the PRT control box . The speed increase and torque was incredible . I also bought a new style Z axis .
Thanks Brady. Luckily, it looks like the former owner of my machine did exactly this upgrade.
Mike, what do you mean by a "new style" Z axis? Is it a screw and ball type? I think that the former owner of my Bot replaced the original z axis: from something I read in my manual, it sounds to me like the older bots used a rack and pinion z axis. Am I wrong?
Obviously, I should've asked the guy I bought my machine from more questions, but I didn't know what to ask at the time. All I know is he did some really cool things with it.
Bruce
Bruce,
The newer ones use the rack and pinion on the Z, and the older ones use the lead screw type.
-Brady
The true "Older Bots" used a threaded rod to actuate the "Z". In a near pre-historic time period, ShopBot "upgraded" to a ballscrew.
IF the ballscrew is kept clean of dust and especially dust from MDF, the ballscrew "Z" works well.
Ron
Thanks Brady and Ron,
Looks like I'll have to start referring to my machine as "prehistoric" rather than "vintage".
Bruce
It's still a good machine, Bruce. It just needs to be run at a slower speed than a PRT or Alpha. It can do 2D and 3D just like any other machine.
-Brady