Bt R2E3 To AjaxCNC Retrofit Kit

[Newby2]

I am still having recurring problems with the BOSS8 1 system. Runs when it wants to. I am seriously considering removing all of the BP equipment except the servos and installing the AjaxCNC kit. Does anyone have any comments or experience with this retrofit kit?
Thanks
Steve

[NC Cams]

I asked Ajax if they could retrofit to a lathe fitted with late 70's/early 80's DC servos - they categorically refused to do so saying that their servo amps "wouldn't work with old servo's, they pull too much current - you'll have to install new servo's".

Problem with that was that my situation had literally brand new servo's and were well within the advertised voltage and current ratings of their drives. Besides, the iron, as it was, consisted of an unfinished parts machine that had never, ever run and the servos were brand new mechanically even though they were now old enough to vote.

Not saying this will be the case with the mill BUT get this issue admitted and agreed to by the folks at Ajax. When/if it doesn't work, the guy who says "yeah sure" on the message board won't be of much help if/when it may not work and Ajax leaves you high and dry for reason cited above (not saying that they will).

Caveat emptor when it comes to adapting new kits to legacy hardware.

[Newby2]

NC Cams...Thanks for the insight. I have been told that the servos I have are very near to theirs. At the price I was quoted, I will definately make sure their drives are compatable.
Thanks again
Steve

[NC Cams]

My servos were as well (as in within the alleged current/voltage limits of their drives) but, even so, they wouldn't concur that a lathe kit would be a viable interface.

This is/was even though their website says they had retrofited Fanuc machines - yeah, after they ripped off all the Fanuc hardware and installed theirs.

IMO, this was a potential bait and switch tactic, especially when they tried to hastily transfer me over to their Centroid division.

Caveat emptor....

[nwrepair1]

Centroid is the maker of Ajax product. To be on the safe side I 'll word the rest like this: Rumor has it that owner of Ajax CNC is son in law of original owner of Centroid. I'm sure they would have just pushed a phone extension number to get you to Centroid. I once tried to upgrade a 1998 Centroid control with an Ajax control but they refused. Ajax person told me the serial number I gave them for the control board was limited to Centroid upgrade only. However, if I bought the same ISA board from Ajax, they could then upgrade my system. THE SAME Board -ISA at that not even a pci upgrade. What a joke.

[NC Cams]

ISA denotes early DOS style machine which they don't support anymore - the'y can't get ISA slotted PC based motherboards so they pretty much are forced to upgrade.

As soon as you start talking technical with Ajax, they try to shift you over to Centroid wherein they have a field tech support staff - albeit WAY too pricey for DIY crowd.

During my discussion with the Ajax guy, the Centroid side seems to do "custom" tailoring of off-the-shelf hardware that is used by Centroid and/or Ajax.

Generic run as is retrofit kit is supported by Ajax - ANYTHING at all that is custom or not "plug and play" moves you to the higher cost Centroid side.

Their new machines are all Linux. An older DOS machine simply can't be "upgraded" to Linux box and/or their new amplifiers unless you replace pretty much everthing between the keyboard plug and the wires between the CNC controls and the iron.

[Newby2]

Thank you all so far. I have found out that it is a Centroid system and according to their websight, http://ajaxcnc.com/bport_kits.htm , and the salesperson I am talking this over with, I see some differences between what you are saying and what I have with e-mails from Ajax. Granted, at almost $5K for the kit I am listening to what you are stating. My guard is up! Their (ad) states it comes with a new hard drive with the Linux operating system, servo controller card, and a bunch of other stuff.
Believe me, I am listening!
Thanks
Steve

[nwrepair1]

Supermicro and Commell still make ISA slotted motherboards. Supermicro has Intel P4 socket and DDR memory. Commell's PMCA board has ISA slots and uses Intel's Core Duo processor. That's just two that I use now that come to my memory. PMD makes pc/104 (ISA) motion cards for brushless servos. Galil also. AND Centroid. It's only been this last year that they stopped using DOS for their control. In fact for half a year Linux was listed as an option. The reason you don't see Windows as the operating platform is that they have not been able to make their board work with Windows for more than a year. You have to watch what you do with Centroid products because you can find yourself changing lots of other hardware to make the retrofit work.

[NC Cams]

According to the guy at Ajax who I talked to:

"we can't get motherboards or ISA controller cards anymore which is why we don't support DOS anymore".

Clearly, not the case re motherboard availability.

Since there are DOS/ISA backplanes available and if you have the artwork and are not using some wierd IC's, you can have pretty much have any PCB made, I wonder why they really don't offer DOS anymore, outside of it being dated.

When you read the hype on the website that turns into a different story when you call them, be aware.

Moreover, when you're told that your 100volt, 20 amp motors won't work with their higher voltage and current rated amps, you have to wonder how really sharp the people are and/or if their amps are actually vaporware rated for voltage/power/torque.

Maybe you do have to buy their entire kit. IF so, they shouldn't be advertising it priced like they do.

To those who're merely looking for a control to bolt up to your iron, I don't think that Ajax is really as DIY bolt up as it gives the impression that it may be.

Some interesting experiences re: the Ajax kits in the following threads:

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showth...lathe+retrofit

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showth...lathe+retrofit

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showth...lathe+retrofit

[tsutt]

Well , i did my kit on my old milltronics mill you have to be able to do some wiring and figuring. but it wasn't out of line and if i had a ? ajax answered it with no problem. I did buy new servos at the time due to mine not being electrically compatable, i did have a set that was but, were way too big physically to make decent install but i hooked them up and they worked. my kit is a dos/ isa setup and has run flawlessly for, coming up on 4 years now. and i did by and extra moboard when i put the control pc together. for 40 bucks thats pretty cheap backup. have you priced any motherboards from the Haas, fanuc, or anyone else? $$$$$ they usually want 500.+ for a 19. floppy drive and a grand for 50 bucks worth of memory. Oh, the other thing is i like the control better than any other i've run including haas which i run everyday. Todd ps, i also have it ethernet connected to my programming pc. edit the program place in a shared file the control reads it instantly. you don't even have to reload the program.