R2E4 Fourth Axis?

[arsenix]

Hello all! I'm curious about fitting my R2E4 with a fourth axis. It has the the fourth slot for another servo amplifier card, and the control can apparently handle it. In my manuals, it has pictures and a parts list for this kit. I guess was an option (probably pretty rare I would guess). I can pretty easily pick up another servo drive card, but I'm not positive I could scrap together the rest.
Does anyone have any additional info about this? I'm assuming the option came with it's own manual, as there isn't too much about it in the machine's manuals. Would it be as simple as popping the card in and flipping a couple dip switches on the control?

Thanks for any ideas!

james

[machintek]

To the best of my knowledge a true 4th axis was the intent of BPT but it never happened. They did have a indexer option that worked. Also I have seen a programable indexer work well.

George

[arsenix]

This is what I was afraid of. Looking through the schematics it isn't clear exactly how the fourth axis hooks up. There is a jumper table for configuring the machine with a fourth axis, but not much else. I guess the question is if the 4th axis support is in the firmware... I suppose I could switch the jumpers and see what happens...

How does the indexer work? It looks like the indexer option was air powered?

james

[machintek]

The 4th axis is not supported in the R2E4 software.
The indexer used relay logic and air (you are correct).

George

[arsenix]

What do I expect from a 20 year old control anyways?

Guess I'll need to do a PC conversion to get a 4th axis.

[arsenix]

George do you know how the indexer option was wired up? I am wondering if I could get an external indexer controller and hook it up the control. Was the indexer controlled through M commands?

Really would like to cut gears without turning a crank...

Thanks!

james

[arsenix]

I looked through the machine schematics. There are four pins on the EAF board which seem to apply to the indexer:

• k9B-1 Index Air 24V output
• k9B-2 Index Out TTL input
• k9B-3 Index Back TTL input
• k9B-4 Brake TTL input

That last one may not be indexer related, but it is in the same block as the other three so I am not sure. The manual said that the indexer is actuated with a single M command (M51). Anyone have any idea how these pins function?

james

[machintek]

There was an indexer option that included a box with relay logic to run the Erickson indexer. The indexer was a paw that was run by a air cylinder. with switches to verify movement, then the paw was reset, verified by switch and M51 was verified. Degrees of movement was determined by the hole pattern on a disc.

George

[arsenix]

Unfortunately the maintenance manual doesn't really cover the indexer. Is there another manual that might?

I'm assuming the machine turns on the "Index Air" line when the M51 is issued, then waits for either "Index Back" or "Index Out" to be raised before continuing?

Do you know if I have to set any jumpers on the controller to get the M51 code to operate?

james

[machintek]

In the back of the maintenance manual. Check page 12-1 for a pneumatic diagram including an indexer. Page 13-1, section 13-5 has a description of the indexer and how it affects the control.
When I get a chance, I will dig up the prints.

George

[arsenix]

Looks like the two limit switches on the indexer are supposed to hook to Index_Out and Index_Back, and the Index_Air energizes the indexer air solenoid. So I guess the M51 turns on Index_Air and then the control waits for the two limit switches to toggle (in what order I'm not sure). I might just have to hook some microswitches to the two signals and experiment.

james

[machintek]

On page 5-6 I found that K9-5 is the output to the indexer solenoid. I believe that once the air cylinder is fired, this is confirned by the first limit switch. Then the solenid reverses state, the arm returns, and the second limit switch confirms this. Finally this last confirmation releases the control hold as the M51 is verified to be completed.

George