Anilam 1400-M manual. I have no idea what this manual was from. It was at a recent surplus auction, and I grabbed it before it got tossed in the trash.
I'm looking at a CNC knee mill with an Aniliam 1400 control. Iron is good quality Taiwan, like a series 2 BP, new bearings in the head. Everything supposed to be tight. The controller is an Aniliam 1400 3 axis. I'm having some trouble finding info on it.
I'm looking to get a mill for mostly one off prototype parts, brackets etc. Mostly 2D geometry. Something like a BP EZ Trak or Centroid would be perfect.
No Production. I understand its a conversational controller?
How hard is it to run? Can it accept a DNC Link? I was told it has a floppy drive. Most of my needs would probably be met with a regular manual BP but a decent BP (or the like) is roughly what I could get this for. I guess my questions are: -Is it reliable?
I understand it just has a PC inside and that all those parts are regular PC stuff.Is it a good machine for one off prototypes? Meaning easy to program on the fly via the conversational control and support for some CAM software -How hard is it to learn for someone who has never run a CNC machine before (really not much mill experience really). Before anyone chimes in suggesting a VMC, this is more then enough iron to make what I need to make. What is the iron brand?
What type of drawbar set-up (Cat 40 pull stud knob or the power screw in type?) As for the control PC, mine have the old style cards, the PCIA I think, but the old 'big slot' type. You can have CPU's made special like this still, but when the changes came to ISA (new style, I hope I have this right) small pin type card slots, I saved back two 486 legacy computers as back-up and a few hard drives. The programming is basic G-Code with a few quirks like the fixture offsets (G53o1 through 99, that is a letter 'o', not like the G54 type we all usually see), and a few canned cycles with different codes, but MasterCam and many CAD manufacturers have posts for it. I wrote my own out of the MasterCam anilam post with a lot of help to begin with.
The 'conversational' is actually a help file that compiles single lines, not entire programs, but you could do that if need be. It is however, NOT a prototrack if that is the end goal you have, you should know basic G and M code as well as safety lines, tool changes and such type codes. Not hard to learn though.
The control is easier than a Fanuc. But as in all things, takes time. You may want to look at the motion cards in the PC itself, Anilam, as I understand, did an upgrade of the motion cards to make them 'new style', but I am a bit squeaky thrifty and did not do this.
Your reliability will come down to replacing a PC that may not be available or cards that are rebuilds from anilam (I had to go this route once, they did well by me). Matching burned out servos can be done as well, Baldor can do a match, but have to be replaced by a tech, I have one in the area though. I personally love the control, mine are going on 21 years old now. In the back of my mind though, are the PC issues that I know will eventually hit, unless I retire and leave it to the next guy.