I bought an older Xenetech Engraver 16x24. I think I have everything hooked up correctly except the compressor, Does this need air to make the z axis work? If so how much?
I saw the machine working and I can get everything else to work, Just not the z

James,

Are there fittings for air lines anywhere on the table, or is there a stepper motor near the spindle?

James,

There will normally be a valve(s), controlling how much air goes to the spindle cylinder. Could be that the valve is closed.

I'm not sure how much PSI is required to operate a pneumantic spindle. Could be that your compressor isn't generating enough. Remote possibility, I would think.

James,

Looks like a Dahlgren table. There should be fittings and a valve at the right-hand, back of the table.

I think there are two:

1) To control the amount of pressure.

2) To control the speed at which it drops.

It's been a while and I'm working from memory.

I'll be around one of those machines, later today, but that won't do you any immediate good. :S 

That does look a lot like our old Dahlgren carriage but I don't think they made that big of a table. We retrofit one of them to a large table
that Western Engraving made. Or it might even be a full table that I think Western made for awhile.
We set the air pressure to 40-45 lbs on a much larger compressor than the tiny one we have for laser air assist. I doubt the little one we use for laser air assist would be strong enough. We pumped it from a central closet to 4 machines in different parts of the building since the big one made so much noise.

That little black knob at the top adjusts the pressure further or maybe just the travel . . .its been a while. There is an allen screw in the knob that has to be loosened first before it will turn.

The main adjusting knob on ours was silver and was by the back where the air line first connects. It releases air through that brass tube at the bottom at every cutter up so it will have to come on often to keep the pressure up.

You will need at least 12-15 lbs of air pressure to make the spindle move up/down. need a ccompressor with a regulator that goes up to 30-40 lbs.

You should hear a solinoid turning on and off while the job is running though..

James, I have that set up. # 006 and #199
If you want to call me in the AM I can walk you through it.
Gary
AtoZ Engraving
847-526-7396