Miller Robotic Welding Arm conv to Plasma CNC

[robo_plasma]

I have read that this might not be a good idea to try and convert a robotic welding arm over to a cnc plasma cutter. What about using the Ac Servo motors on a regular cnc plasma table? If anyone has any info on a servo driver that can be used to control these motors I sure could use the information. Even if I do not use the arm idea I think that these AC servo motors would probably be good to use on a regular cnc plasma table setup. The arm I have is a Miller 6 axis. 2 of the motors have this info:
W-L00180 FMA-50030-B0S1 AC Servo Motor 500 W 3000 Rpm
Omron Tateisi Electronics S/N 111382
Any info on setting up a controller / driver that I could use and info on using G code to operate them would be appreciated.

[Torchhead]

If you have some electronics background it might be feasable to use the existing motion control system. IF it uses Step and Dir commands or +- 10VDC control voltage into the Servo amps then it won't be too hard (easy for me to say (:-)). Without in-depth documentation it will be a process of reverse engineering. Your best hope is that someone has that exact unit and has the information or knows enough to give us technical details.

If you find you can't use the existing drives then brace yourself for the price of new ones. The problem is that not just any AC servo drive will drive any AC servo.

At some point it becomes more economical to just replace the drives with DC brushed (about 200.00 each) and use Gecko 320's ($114.00) each and drive them with the conventional interface circuits all the Small Shop CNC guys do.

Tom Caudle
www.CandCNC.com

[DSL PWR]

Just a thought; Miller doesn't make their own robots. I know OTC made some and I'm pretty sure that there are a few other mfgs in there too. Good luck.