Motion Controller & What CNC SOftware Will Work

[Hobbydad]

Hello! I am new here so go easy! LOL

I have a machine that I picked up from work it was made by Genetix and is called a Q Array. It did very precise printing on microscope slides. It has the computer with motion controller, drive amplifiers and the x,y & z movement. I want to make into a CNC Machine. I have been a machinist for a few years before working in the Biomedical Engineering field so I got an idea where I want to go with the project but a few things hold me up. The machine worked before I got it and I for one need to figure out what CNC Software will work with the motion controller card. The card is a Optimised Controller LTD. which the company is now owned by Baldor. The Motion Controller Card is #NMP002-523 & the specs say it can be used for CNC. I have the info on the card if someone wants to look at it for me.

Also the drive amplifiers are Allen Bradley 1398-DDM-005 which I have been told control motor speed via +10 to -10 volts. The X,Y & Z movement has positional feedback for the motion controller via a board in between from Genetix, only for the fact of controlling some other equipment that was on the machine that I have now taken off, pumps, temp monitoring etc. Looks like an extra set of 6 or 8 relays on the board for those functions. All of this was controlled by thier software.

I tried to attach some info in pdf format but it is too large. If someone wants to see it I can email it!

Thanks,
Hobbydad

[ger21]

Just a guess, but I doubt you'll find any software to work with your specific card. You might want to look into using a different card to control your drives.

[Hobbydad]

What do you suggest? Would it handle positional feedback from the X,Y & Z? Is the Allen Bradley Amplifiers ok to keep?

Thanks,
Hobbydad

[ee_t]

If you want to keep the amplifiers, check out YAPSC: YAPSC:10V : The glue between Step/dir and +/-10V servo amp

[samco]

for inexpensive true closed loop control look at emc2. (emc is free - interface cards to work with +/- 10 drives are inexpensive)

http://www.linuxcnc.org/
http://wiki.linuxcnc.org/
http://wiki.linuxcnc.org/cgi-bin/emc...orted_Hardware

Look at pico systems or mesa. Mesa has a printer port card + servo interface board for a bit under $200 (total of 48 i/o 7I43+7I33).

Be sure to research...
sam

[Hobbydad]

Thanks guys for the info!

If I went with the Mesa 7143 & 7133 will this allow me to use this with the Allen Bradley Amplifiers? Also what all would I need to pull this off?

Also how about a Anything I/O like the 7143 but with PCI?

What I am guessing:
1 EMC2 & CAD Software
2 Mesa 7143 & it's software
3 Mesa 7133
4 HostMot2 for the 7143
5 Hook everything up & Configure!


Can the 7133 or 7143 take positional feedback?

Thanks,
Hobbydad

[PCW_MESA]

Thanks guys for the info!

If I went with the Mesa 7143 & 7133 will this allow me to use this with the Allen Bradley Amplifiers? Also what all would I need to pull this off?

Yes, if you have working analog input (+- 10v) Amplifiers

Also how about a Anything I/O like the 7143 but with PCI?

Any of the anything I/O cards will work (except PC/104). The 5I20 is the most common card we sell for use with EMC

What I am guessing:
1 EMC2 & CAD Software
2 Mesa 7143 & it's software
3 Mesa 7133
4 HostMot2 for the 7143
5 Hook everything up & Configure!

In addition the 7I43 needs a working EPP parallel port, this means that almost all motherboard ports are OK but add-in parallel cards cannot be Netmos based since NetMOS does not implement EPP properly

Can the 7133 or 7143 take positional feedback?

Yes, EMC creates a full closed loop motion control system. The 7I43 (or 5I20) and the 7I33 are the "front end" I/O system for EMC. They read quadrature encoder inputs and output analog voltages to interface with your encoders and amplifiers.

Thanks,
Hobbydad

Peter Wallace

[Hobbydad]

PCW Mesa,

If I can give you the info from the xyz movement and servo or motors can you help me a little more with if everything would work together. This is kinda new to me but I'am willing to learn.

Thanks,
Kevin
Hobbydad

[PCW_MESA]

PCW Mesa,

If I can give you the info from the xyz movement and servo or motors can you help me a little more with if everything would work together. This is kinda new to me but I'am willing to learn.

Thanks,
Kevin
Hobbydad

Sure, just get the amplifier PN or specs if you have them, and whether you have encoders or resolvers on the motors or linear scales on the axis

[Hobbydad]

PCW Mesa,

Looked at my machine and couldn't get servo numbers, though I am working on getting it from the machine manufacturer. I have linear scales on the axis and they are read with these: Renishaw RCH22 X05F00(I guess linear scale encoders). This is the 1398-DDM-005 Amplifier manual.

http://artdecojukebox.webs.com/1398%20Manual.pdf

Thanks,
Kevin

[roger_e]

PCW Mesa, Hobby dad...

Looks like we are on parallel tracks here....however my question is what would be the optimal analog(brand) amplifiers to go with Mesa hardware?power at the screw looks like it will be around 500 watts @ around 4Amps so 120 volts(?) I don't need a model number just company name.

We are trying to make a system and we have a budget plus lots of quotes from companies like MDSI, Camsoft, Beckhoff, Delta Tau.

The goal is to build a performance machine....

1. we allready have a CNC to make mechanical components
2. we have visuall mill and mastercam plus ADesk Inventor
3. I am a tool maker and MFG engineer
4. There are brand new sets of INA bearings and Ballscrews that just arrived
5. We are configuring a system to work specifically with EMC2

I have never done a complete MC build though. In a slow economy it is the only time you have to learn new skills...

I too wanted to use Renishaw linear encoders with rotary encoders on the servo...

Looking for high resolution...so I guess that means a high encoder count....so that means a fast processor

I will call Mesa today.

Thanks

Roger