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New member with a Dahlgren

C

Christer_Wallin

New Member
whydontu said:
Welcome from Vancouver! Just finished my most recent mod to my Dahlgren Series 300 engraver, now running a hybrid Estlcam CNC controller & software with a slightly hacked pneumatic spindle actuator. Also have an original New Hermes manual engraver, a 3018 cnc, and a Squink pick&place SMT soldering station modded as a laser engraver. Definitely not an expert, but more than willing to help with my meagre engraving knowledge.
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Hi, just joined the group. Basically since i found out there is some Dahlgren owners here!

I found a Dahlgren System 300 with no controller, but seems in quite decent contition.

Not sure what I want to do with it. What is your take on bringing it back to life with a missing controller? I am looking for an affordable (cheap) way and yes I am a hobbyist yet unsure what I want to use it for at the end.

The machine just looks appealing to me and I want to use it somehow.

Best regards,

/Christer
 
Also, with the Dahlgren system 300, how does the pneumatic work? I haven’t been able to find any documentation for the system…

If you got it running, how do you supply the air and what pressure?

Best regards,

Christer
 
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Seeing that picture, I recall looking at a similar machine.
I know@whydontu has one....
whydontu

Thread '35 Years Isn't Old For An Engraving Machine, But...'

Latest project:

1988 Dahlgren System 300 computer engraver, converted in 1997 to the then-current Xenetech controller and software. Both companies now out of business, the Xenetech software runs in windows 95 or 98, and has a 16-bit ISA interface card that needs a 1998-vintage PC. The setup came with a very ill PC. I was able to resurrect Windows 98 and get it working, but no serial number for the controller software so I have one month to get it functional. After one month I'd have to scrub and re-install Windows.

Engraver uses a spring-return pneumatic cylinder for Z-axis, so needs a...
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Christer_Wallin said:
Hi, just joined the group. Basically since i found out there is some Dahlgren owners here!

I found a Dahlgren System 300 with no controller, but seems in quite decent contition.

Not sure what I want to do with it. What is your take on bringing it back to life with a missing controller? I am looking for an affordable (cheap) way and yes I am a hobbyist yet unsure what I want to use it for at the end.

The machine just looks appealing to me and I want to use it somehow.

Best regards,

/Christer
Click to expand...
Quick-n-dirty:

If you want to use the original spring-return pneumatic z-axis drive, you need about 30 to 40 psi air supply. I use a Metabo HPT EC28M compressor ($180 from Amazon), but any decent air supply would do. I only bought the Metabo because my regular shop compressor is really loud and I didn’t want to have it running all the time.

I’m using the original air control solenoid valve and controls, and the original motor speed controller. I added two new stepper motor drivers, a power supply, a couple of relays to control the x-axis solenoid valve, and an Arduino microcontroller to drive all of this from a cheap PC running Estlcam software and Windows 10 or 11.

I made a new spindle with an ER-11 collet so I can use regular router bits, but I lucked out when I bought the engraver and got a couple of dozen original Dahlgren 1/4” cutters. I’m finding the Dahlgren cutters work better than router bits for engraving.

Send me an inventory or photos of what you have, and I can make you a shopping list of what items you’ll need to resurrect the Dahlgren as an engraver.

I did fabricate a true stepper-driven z-axis using parts from a 3018 cnc machine, but the Dahlgren z-axis setup only provides about 10mm of controlled vertical travel so it was kind of useless for real three-axis machining. I felt it was better to keep the Dahlgren as an engraver rather than trying to make it do something it was never designed to do.
 
whydontu said:
Quick-n-dirty:

If you want to use the original spring-return pneumatic z-axis drive, you need about 30 to 40 psi air supply. I use a Metabo HPT EC28M compressor ($180 from Amazon), but any decent air supply would do. I only bought the Metabo because my regular shop compressor is really loud and I didn’t want to have it running all the time.

I’m using the original air control solenoid valve and controls, and the original motor speed controller. I added two new stepper motor drivers, a power supply, a couple of relays to control the x-axis solenoid valve, and an Arduino microcontroller to drive all of this from a cheap PC running Estlcam software and Windows 10 or 11.

I made a new spindle with an ER-11 collet so I can use regular router bits, but I lucked out when I bought the engraver and got a couple of dozen original Dahlgren 1/4” cutters. I’m finding the Dahlgren cutters work better than router bits for engraving.

Send me an inventory or photos of what you have, and I can make you a shopping list of what items you’ll need to resurrect the Dahlgren as an engraver.

I did fabricate a true stepper-driven z-axis using parts from a 3018 cnc machine, but the Dahlgren z-axis setup only provides about 10mm of controlled vertical travel so it was kind of useless for real three-axis machining. I felt it was better to keep the Dahlgren as an engraver rather than trying to make it do something it was never designed to do.
Click to expand...
Thanks a lot!!!

Looks like the way to go for me as well. I will take some photos and get back to you in a couple of days
 
whydontu said:
Quick-n-dirty:

If you want to use the original spring-return pneumatic z-axis drive, you need about 30 to 40 psi air supply. I use a Metabo HPT EC28M compressor ($180 from Amazon), but any decent air supply would do. I only bought the Metabo because my regular shop compressor is really loud and I didn’t want to have it running all the time.

I’m using the original air control solenoid valve and controls, and the original motor speed controller. I added two new stepper motor drivers, a power supply, a couple of relays to control the x-axis solenoid valve, and an Arduino microcontroller to drive all of this from a cheap PC running Estlcam software and Windows 10 or 11.

I made a new spindle with an ER-11 collet so I can use regular router bits, but I lucked out when I bought the engraver and got a couple of dozen original Dahlgren 1/4” cutters. I’m finding the Dahlgren cutters work better than router bits for engraving.

Send me an inventory or photos of what you have, and I can make you a shopping list of what items you’ll need to resurrect the Dahlgren as an engraver.

I did fabricate a true stepper-driven z-axis using parts from a 3018 cnc machine, but the Dahlgren z-axis setup only provides about 10mm of controlled vertical travel so it was kind of useless for real three-axis machining. I felt it was better to keep the Dahlgren as an engraver rather than trying to make it do something it was never designed to do.
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You've got the important bits - both stepper motors, and the air control solenoid valve for z-axis.

Basic shopping list:
Arduino Nano board with screw terminal adapter for simple cheap controller
90 volt DC speed control for the spindle motor - this is a bit $$$, you'll also need an isolator board between the 90 volt board and the Arduino controller. I used a Minarik board that I got off eBay.
two stepper drivers DM542 is my preferred choice, there are cheaper ones available,
24 volt 10 amp power supply
two arduino relay boards to run the air solenoid valve. I used a real kluge for controlling the solenoid valve - a relay connected to the spindle on/off signal and one connected to the z-axis up/down signal. Set up so whenever the spindle is on, and the z-axis is moving down, then the air solenoid is powered and the air cylinder moves the cutter into the work piece. No discrete control over depth of cut, I adjust it using the air cylinder travel stops.
a bunch of wire and a box to put all this in plus a few switches for power. limit switches, etc.

I use proximity switches for limit control, the Dahlgren 90 volt DC motor generates a poop-load of electrical noise and mechanical limit switches just won't cut it.

If you want to go true three-axis CNC, you could replace the existing spindle motor and air cylinder with a 3018 CNC z-axis system, but keep in mind that the gantry on the Dahlgren 300 is not very precise. Vertical adjustment using the locking mechanism on each end of the gantry is pretty sloppy. Three-axis will also need a third DM542 driver.

CNC Z-axis option: (eBay has cheaper ones) https://www.amazon.ca/Aluminum-Sliding-Handwheel-Stepper-Diameter/dp/B0C3R5L6P7/ref=sr_1_7?crid=DXNJXJNZ4N6S&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.3wxka__CE0CbPSt5aCPpLS3-Z8oFFv8Kqhw1toddtsVDjDoP1MK8OooVrsAMLXr3EqZAKP9YqyhcdJfTW9fO_UewQwNEvzKytidG75hr9u7v3lB_UpmU5e0e6o2Ri778qpAewuxXsWeO837KTXSC4ZrLeTOBmTJ-6SZXilB7lfpWx4l-vEALlz3KrFAaGXI-S4PMWAsABQCj0IvFb6ertFCgoIBrACVMC6z9tIfy6LqyVmx9bMXZLWeY9YK3_B9mxEVevUNM2zYPelms1QrTwYfjgNv7xFlRMGM5Pywbk1-PY-0p_JdNOFvdIRY-bniL65kwiDAxMUQXQxamIiFWMMAsAHDb48vIYeLvF2PmsSpouZ4Xy-8T7ntvS9S6GoHYB7MGkW2vWWBkjDyaEJE8yeHotZEuoVsqgKWI5eurXF5sVl9YFNQABuGtkxXNILgw.lsDB8hFCa6XkozgyzjOz-1Sp1O3HOExXAhiQLHcFIWA&dib_tag=se&keywords=3018+cnc+z+upgrade&qid=1740266201&sprefix=3018+cnc+z,aps,155&sr=8-7

But it's nowhere near as solid as the Dahlgren configuration. If you want to use the Dahgren chassis for engraving, stick with the original setup.

Software - lots of free options, I bought a copy of Estlcam but Candle works OK and there are plenty of alternatives.

I probably spent $300 altogether on my CNC setup, plus the original $500 cost for the Dahlgren chassis. The chassis purchase included about $1000 worth of cutters, and if I wanted to I could recoup most of my cost by just selling the excess cutters on eBay.
 
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