I have a Milltronics Partner IV with Centurion IV controler. I don't know how to run this machine, yet. I think I have the main power hooked up right. How can I run it though a test cycle of sorts, to see if everything works? It displays a message that the backup battery is low. Where is that located, and how is it replaced. Thanks

I'm not familiar with the IV controller but most batteries are on the motherboard. Some of the old motherboards had large calculator/watch like batteries. Make sure you have a disk for the operating system before removing the old one. Sometimes running the machine for a few hours will recharge the battery.

Milltronics no longer supports these old controllers and was offering great deals to upgrade. That may be something to look into if the machine is in good shape (I have my doubts because of its age and it's a Milltronics).

As for running a test cycle, that would depend on the machine and options. Does it have a tool changer? What is the travel of the machine? (sorry not familiar with the partner IV either) I have a Partner I with a Centurion V controller. When you turn the machine on does it boot completely or stop with errors? If it boots without any errors then I can tell you what we do with our Cent. V machine, yours may be similar.

First, your have to hit the reset (green) button.

Then hit "Home" and cycle start button. You probable won't be able to do anything until the machine is homed.

Now you should be able to jog the machine with the wheel or the keypad. Jog each axis to its limits. Listen for stress on the servos, they should sound smooth throughout the full length of travel.

If the controller has an MDI mode you can input commands, such as tool change using G codes.

I'll be glad to help more if you PM me with a phone number, but remember I don't have the Centurion IV controller.

The older machines had Nicad's that did recharge. The newer machines may have lithium cells about the size of a quarter that do not recharge and recommended change every year or so. If the battery were dead, you would have seen a CMOS checksum error, requiring a reload of the CMOS hard drive settings. Leaving it on for a 24hr period should correct this, but long off periods could create future problems.

If it is a lithium cell, change it during powered will retain EPROM settings. Changing the older Nicads can be done in a similar fashion, but not worth the risk. If this is done in a power down, expect to restore the system in full. Much of this procedure depends on if this is a simdrive or a hard drive machine.

DC

The battery is a lithium 36 volt d-size. I left it on overnight. I still get a low battery message, but if I turn it off and then right back on, it will boot up. It doesn't have a home button. I cannot get it to jog, unless I hand move the table, then I can jog it back to that position only. Then it will say overtravel. How do I home? I does have a MDI mode. I appreciate the help, I am slowly getting there.

Once at the main screen, you need to press reset to engage the drives, then the far left (F1) button should display "Home". After pressing home, it should request the "Press Start cycle" Button. Once it completes the homing function, all other features in HDW and Jog should work.

I would not wait too long to replace the lithium cell. Consider the warning in urgent need of attention. It is not all that bad to reload the system, just more hassle than it is worth if at all avoidable.

DC

I will replace the battery, as soon as i can locate one. Reset and then F1. F1 button does not respond.

Does your control look like this model?

Older Control (http://www.machinetools.com/MT/machines/index.tmpl?page=detail&ListingID=114714128348321095)

Or this here?

Newer Milltronics control (http://www.machinetools.com/MT/machines/index.tmpl?page=detail&ListingID=1154370931125010613)

I am not familiar with the older control features.

DC

It is the older control. I feel I'm getting close.

It is the older control. I feel I'm getting close.
I'm not familiar with that older controller either, sorry. Have you tried to call Milltronics? Phone # 952-442–1401.

How is the battery connected to the board?

If it has wires coming out of it, I'd say it was a 3.6v Nicad about 1/2 the length of a doubleA cell. I didn't think the Lithiums came out until the mid 90's MB's. I would guess the older controllers were pre-90's?

DC

It says Lithium on it. It also says size D. I think I need to set grid axis. How?

The older control was so much different from what they have now. I can't offer anything other than start searching for operators and maintenance manuals now. It sounds like you will need them sooner than later!

DC

I did locate a manual. That should be a help. I do appriciate all the replies.

First off, your control has a "GRID" button not a "Home" button.
Once you power up and depress the "RESET" button to activate the servo's
you are ready to grid (Home) the machine. If the control doesn't bring up
the GRID page, depress the "GRID" button and push cycle start to send the machine home. All of this must be done with the servo's on, IE. after depressing the reset button after power on. Once the machine is Gridded (Homed) it will tell you when it's
finished, go to MDI and type the following: G92(enter)Z0(enter) cycle start.
This just told the machine that the Z-axis is at Z zero. If you don't do this, the
machine will alarm if you attempt to move the Z-axis. Now you should be to move
the machine in any axis in any mode ie. MDI, JOG, or with pulse generator(Handwheel).

You are going to have to make a backup of your system parameters, if you do not
already have one. Don't mess with the battery until you have a copy of the
system parameters. I can tell you how to do this if you tell me what you will backing
up on, ie. computer via RS-232, Floppy on control or Data cartridge on control.

You can test your system ram with a RAMTEST, but I wouldn't do it until you have
a parameter backup because I believe it will erase your parameters. This is done
by holding the number "1" button down during power on.

My machine's battery died years ago, I load them everyday I use the machine, it takes
a couple of minutes or less.

Give me some more info and I can walk you through most procedures. Milltronics
will sell you the programming and maintenace manuals, but they aren't cheap
~$250.00.

Ben

I reset the drives, pushed grid and then cycle start. I received an error code 19 saying "no grid axis." I have no floppy drive on control or Data cartridge on control, it does have a RS-232 computer port. I have a computer, but have not linked the two yet.

ERROR 19 : Grid was attempted with No axis enabled. Machine configuration
parameter SP 066 cannot be zero.

What this is saying is that you don't have any parameters set within the machine.
At the very least System Parameter (SP) 066 has no setting.

Go to DISP STAT (Green Button) Push button #9
type in 066 then enter
it will show what is registered there, if it's 0000 there is no setting.
Check parameters 6 thru 35, then 66 thru 99, then 488 thru 502.
If nothing is registered in these positions, then you have a machine
without any system parameters. Do not panic. They are very easy
to set and I can send you a generic list and or all of my system's
parameters. However, with your battery problem, we need to address
your RS-232 hookup asap. Get a cable hooked up to a computer and
to the machine.
I'll look around for a list I have and try to email it to you so you can at least manually type in the settings and see if the machine functions.

Ben

Yes that is what I concluded. Paramters are all zero. I'm getting a cable hooked up,and I have a computer to use. Thank you again for your help.

I have the computer pluged in. How do I get them to talk? Parameters are loaded. When gridding, the table overtravels, and I get an e-stop. I tried to set the limits, but I must not be doing it correctly.

Do you have any CNC communication software? What operating system is the computer running? DOS? Windows 95/98/ME/2000/XP? If your cable isn't wired
correctly you will need to go to Radio Shack or ? and purchase a NULL Modem
attachment ~$10.

Just took a look at your email. In MDI mode type the following:
S1000 enter
M3 enter
push cycle start
This should fire the spindle at 1000 RPM
If this does not work, I'll see if I can dig the parameters for the Yaskawa spindle
drive. These parameters will have to be checked and or reset on the unit itself
inside the left cabinet if you are facing the machine.
Do you have CNC experience? If so, what machines? It will help me with further
instructions.
Did you get the machine without seeing it run? or was it running before you got it?
Right now, the parameters I faxed you should have the machine running, unless there
are some problems with the machine itself.

Here are your communication settings:
Baud rate= 600 or 1200 depending on your Centurion 4, try 600 first and make sure
the CNC matches the computers communication program.

Stop Bits = 2
Data Bits = 7
Parity = Even
The last 3 settings are for your computers communication program only.

If you don't have a CNC communication program, Hyperterminal or the old Terminal
program within Windows will work.
To save your parameters:
Setup your communication program on your PC to receive
At the control push the Write-Tape Button, then type 97 enter

To load the parameters:
setup the PC to send
At the control push the READ-Tape button, then type 97 enter

For programs:
in MDI type G55 enter, then cycle start to load a program from the PC
or
G54 enter, then cycle start to download from CNC to the PC

Thank you everybody for helping. I have spindle control. Now I'm working with computer linkage.

Hyperterminal
Baud rate= 600
Stop Bits = 2
Data Bits = 7
Parity = Even
Null conector


Still no talkie. Help

Try this,

Com/Port 1
Baud rate 1200 or 9600
Parity even
Data Bits 7
Stop Bits 2

From what I can tell in the schematics, on Milltronics Com port 1,
Pin3=TXD
Pin2=RXD
Pin7=GND
Pin1=Shield

http://cnczone.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=17902&d=1146958667

This cable configuration should set up a 9 pin PC serial port, but pins 2 and 3 on the 9 pin end may need swapped. Pin 5 and 20 jumper on the 25 pin end are not connected in this instance, so don't worry about that.

I don't recall what vintage this machine was, but it should work.

DC

Still nothing. Is there a way to test the machine port for output?

You can use a LED to test the port output. The voltage the output puts out is low enough you wont need to use a resistor. The LED is polarity sensitive so you need to know the anode and cathode for proper reference. With the LED hooked up you can see it flicker when data is transported. I've made a few LED testers to trouble shoot the same machine you have, I own one also. I've had trouble getting it to talk also. I've about got it figured out but still have a problem with the computer sending a program back to the controller that works! If you need a tester let me know. I'll send you one. It's the best way to test that I've found.

I've been having problems with my machine gridding. I just turnned off the function in the paramater so I don't have to grid and the machine works great now. You just have to keep your overtravel limits in mind so you don't bottom out the servo's on an axis overtravel before hitting the overtravel estop switch. These old machines are wonderful when they run....Very bullet proof controls...but when they do crap out.........it makes you want to scream!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You should inspect the back side of this RS-232 port and see how many wires it is using to the control. Since this is the older control, it may need full hand shaking between it and the PC. There are other cable configurations to go from 25 to the PC 9 pin serial com port connections.

Milltronics might fax you the procedure and cable configuration?

DC

I am using a 25 pin, 25 pin cable, with a null modem adaptor.

Some times the OEM's get monopolistically creative installing non-standard com ports to sell you a cable only available through them. If Milltronics recommends the cable and configuration you are trying to use, then there is some other problem.

Have you spoken with them to get gain a solid direction?

DC

Another member gave me the scoop on the proper cable set up. A standard cable with a null modem adaptor is suposed to do it.

Well, you can see how reliable that is since I offered you another configuration that works on the newer controls. :)

Maybe it is not the cable?

For your test transfer program, are you using the mill to transfer a program from the PC to the mill? If you are trying to go from the PC to the mill, there may be some issues with the file format, file name, file syntax etc. I'd start with a conversational program in the control and get that to go to the PC first. Then load the same program the other direction back into the control from the PC. Although a conversational program may not be true G-code, it is a text type of file, at least the control will include the proper formatting for you. This can help prove the transfer works. Yet loading a hand written code, the control won't recognize an improper storage format so it appears to be a bad cable or configuration.

I am not saying the other information you obtained is wrong but the shortest distance to up time is often direct to the source. Milltronics is usually pretty good about guiding you through a snag like this.

DC

Milltronics does not support The Centurion IV control any longer. If you have fatal problems you may want to upgrade the control.

The controller seems to work ok. It may just be the plug. I've tried going both ways, but nothing yet.