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Acra 2-axis cnc milling machine, acu-rite millpwr
Dateline *Memphis, TN*, February, 2010....
ACRAMILL VERTICAL MILLING MACHINE WITH ACU-RITE 2-AXIS MILLPWR CNC CONTROL
YEAR MODEL IS 1996, but it has NEVER sold. It is my showroom demo machine.
What is this? Read on for the story....
Anyway, back to the story. This machine has been in stock in my showroom/warehouse for 12 years. It has NEVER been sold to anybody. The only hours on the Milling Machine and Control are from DEMONSTRATION in our showroom. I've "demoed" this machine about 20 times in the last 12 years. I got too busy selling the "big boys" and let this "fall by the wayside".
So, now....my boss said I've got too sell it, cause it is gettin' old sittin' on our floor. Can you get a good deal? Read on down and decide for yourself....
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly...
The GOOD is that the AcraMill Manual Vertical Milling Machine is a 12 year old model AM-3V with a 10" x 54" table and 3 HP Variable Speed Head. This is manual variable speed, NOT programmable variable speed. It has a 10" x 54" table. The milling head has the standard quill handle, fine quill handle, and power quill feed, just like most all knee mills out there. The spindle is R8 taper with manual drawbar. This machine was made in Taiwan in May of 1996. It is good quality. It has only a few demonstration hours on it. We have the operation/parts manual for this mill. You should be able to get parts from Acra or any other supplier of machines like this. Most of the parts from different manufacturers are interchangeable.
Look at the pic (scan) of the AcraMill brochure and spec sheet. You should be able to read it. The specs aren't hardly any different from machine made now. The head has a "backgear", just like normal. The travels are about 37" x 16" and 5" travel on the quill.
The BAD is that the Acu-Rite Millpwr CNC 2-axis control is 12 years old. It is software version 1.2.0. It is 2-axis (X and Y) CNC. The Z is just a readout and not programmable motion. I think this can be updated to 1.3.1. It is free on the Acu-rite web site. It can NOT be upgraded to the other sofware upgrades shown on the Acu-rite web site. With that said, I've recently powered up this machine/control combo, and it works fine. I have a bunch of demo programs in the machine and they execute just fine. A 2-axis CNC like this prompts the operator to put in the tool to be used and MANUALLY set the tool depth, turn on spindle and set RPM. Once this is done, then the "go" button will machine the contour as programmed. The programming input is typical conversational programming. You answer questions about your line and arc geometry, enter tool dimensions for cutter comp, hole patterns, and so on. This was a pretty doggone good product for 1996, not bad now, and the current Acu-rite Millpwr controls are just freakin' fantastic. A word of caution....my 12 year old Millpwr unit DOES not accept G & M code. It is just conversational programming. It is my understanding that the newer Acu-rite Millpwr controls will accept G & M code (text files) and will allow DXF also.
Now the UGLY.....Like I said, the Acu-rite Millpwr unit is working fine, BUT.....it is 12 years old. I called Acu-rite to get the "scoop" on this 12 year old version of the Millpwr. This unit has a monochrome CRT and when it dies it may be hard to get another one, so you may have to plug in a monitor. New Millpwr controls have a nice color LCD monitor. In the "electrical" cabinent in the back, there is a hard disk drive. The "executive" software, plus all programs written are stored on this drive. Modern Millpwrs use a "non-mechanical" method of storing the executive software such as Compact Flash drive or EPROMs. The motherboard, drive cards, drive motors, linear encoders and all the Millpwr hardware is 12 years old, so PLEASE.....understand that you are NOT getting a modern Acu-rite Millpwr control.
When I called Acu-rite, I was told that most of the hardware is obsolete. In other words, if you were to have a major component failure, then you would have to replace most all of the Millpwr system, because the "older" parts don't exist. I am told the cost of a complete update is about $9,400.00. That's the ugly. Also, some of the Acu-rite people told me that a few of their big dealers have the old parts and/or the ablilty to get an old system running after failure. For instance, they might have a hard drive or monochrome monitor or drive board, or linear encoder (scale). Finally, if you are computer savvy, you might be able to salvage a broke down mother board or drive card, or motor......
So, this control is currently running fine. How long will it last? I DON'T KNOW. It may run fine for years, or it could fail shortly after you get it. ANYBODY IS WELCOME TO COME TO MY SHOWROOM AND SEE THIS RUN. Since there is NO WARRANTY and NO RETURN and NO REFUND, I suggest you visit and see the machine running.
Also, you can go to the Acu-rite web site and print the "oldest" Millpwr programming manual, over 100 pages. This is the one that goes with this control. You can see how this programs and the functions of the control. It tells you how to hook up serial cable to your PC. It may refer to some options I don't have. I don't have the electronic edge finder and I don't have the offline programmer and offline programming software. Yes, I do have the remote stop/go button. You can see it in the pics.
This unit has a 1.44 Mb floppy drive to keep copies of programs you make. Most new systems will have USB or a card reader or even ethernet. I think this old system can be plugged into a computer serial port, if you make a serial cable.
I have made pics of the actual machine and posted to this listing. You can see the machine from the front, left side, close up of milling head and Acu-rite Millpwr front panel. There is a pic of the saddle linear encoder, which is Y axis. You can see the axis drive motors. There is a pic of the table from the back, which shows the table (x axis) linear encoder. There is a scan of the AcraMill brochure and a few Scans of the Acu-rite Millpwr brochures from 1996. These are the old Acu-rite brochures. If you want to see a modern Acu-rite Millpwr, go to their website.
Read my Lips....(Sorry, George, Sr.)
This machine is on a skid, so it can be handled with a forklift. It weighs 3500 lbs. I would rather you pick it up with your flatbed truck or a double axle trailer. You should bring some tarps, cause you DON'T want it to get wet in the rain. We will load at no extra charge. For you folks who want to send a commercial truck, MAKE SURE you send a flat bed. Don't send a box trailer, because there is no good way to strap or chain down this machine inside a box trailer. You should send an "air-ride" flat bed truck, WITH TARPS. If you call them for a rate, tell them 3500 lbs., 6' of bed space coming from Memphis, Tennessee to your destination. I will package this machine good.
Machines must be removed from our facility within 14 days of sale. We reserve the right to charge storage fees after 14 days.
