This doesn't happen very often (i don't think), but I thought this would be the place to find info. Thanks in advance for advice.
RUN DOWN: Some friends salvaged an old Vytech CNC from a burned down sign shop. Everything works fine, kind of. You can manually jog it to and fro, but you can't plug it into a computer. The dedicated computer was some how lost in the chaos and Vytech no longer makes these machines or distributes back logged drivers, or pci slot cards, etc. A serial cable was the only interface to be found (not even sure its a legit serial interface. could just be the plug with all pins reassigned or something), and obviously requires special drivers that are now lost in the pages of history. I thought i could just hack the stepper cables and fit them into a new board...only to find that this thing uses huge 7amp servo motors which i had never really seen before.
seems like it might be impossible to recover the electronics. This site:
here
is telling me that servos can't compete with steppers, except in huge industrial applications...so i'm guessing this is just an old machine using antiquated technology. There are still companies selling interfaces for servos..........
so my question is this:
Should I try to find new servo driving electronics so I can plug this thing into a computer? ...stick with the old fangled way and maybe blow a lot of money on complicated inferior stuff no one else is really using...hoping that it's some how better and easier than scrapping a totally functional (yet antique) system...
Or should I just buy THIS and retro fit these NEMA34s in where the servos used to be....then calibrate the aftermath????..and have a nice updated system with tons of online community support and what not....assuming the whole thing works.
what potential problems could i encounter with the retrofitting if i go that route?
could the ABL systems be different, or incompatible for some reason?...obviously the motor dimensions would have to fit in the allotted spaces...these 960oz motors are also 7amps, so i'm guessing they're as powerful as the old servos.
THANKs in advance, CNCzone folks! Any help is appreciated.