Newbie- CNC Router build

[Hersoft]

Hi There,

I just had some first runs with my CNC Router.

Here are some prelimary details, there is still a lot to do.

Travels X=850mm, Y=500mm, Z=100mm

Had a go at milling a PCB with insulation milling.
Used a mill-bit I had available and without squaring the mill first.
I was quite impressed with the raw quality.

Controller is a Delta Tau PMAC-PC where I download the g-code into.
PMAC's can run G-code by default.

Regards,

[Ron22]

Looks good.

[Hersoft]

Hi ron22,

thanks, mechanical is it quit simple but ofcourse not finished.
Rebuild is in progress, new controller has been ordered.

Old controllers is PMAC-PC ISA bus
New controller will be UMAC Turbo2 with four axis analog controller.

I will share more info when I have it.

Regards

[Ron22]

Originally Posted by Hersoft Old controllers is PMAC-PC ISA bus New controller will be UMAC Turbo2 with four axis analog controller.

Is there a reason you are switching to a Turbo? Or is it just because you want the UMAC?
A turbo is more processing power than you need. I do like the UMAC package.

[Hersoft]

Well the one and very important reason for me is that I like the inbuild g-code
capabilities if the Delta Tau controllers.

My original PMAC-PC controllers came from old Gen III Array Spotters which I could salvage. The Lowbow linear slides came from these too.

I have some strange behavior seen from the PMAC board that I use, and my spare board has an older version of firmware on board.

I had seen the UMAC systems on Ebay before but now it was a good opportunity and I went for it.

Higher speed, more memory for the g-code programms and USB connection instead of ISA bus.

Only thing is I have to convert my motor settings from PMAC to UMAC and this may take a little while.

Are you working with Delta Tau systems yourself?

regards,

[Ron22]

Originally Posted by Hersoft Only thing is I have to convert my motor settings from PMAC to UMAC and this may take a little while.

Converting motor setting from PMAC to Turbo2 (what is inside a UMAC) is not that hard. They did add more I varibles in the Turbo. There are some differacne becuase it is Turbo 2 (I assume your first was a PMAC 1)

Are you working with Delta Tau systems yourself?

I work on Delta Tau systems all the time.

[Hersoft]

Hello,

Yes I have already made a complete backup of the old ISA PMAC-PC 1 board.

I have to check the I-variables on both systems but at the moment I'm still waiting for the UMAC box to arrive.

A question ,when I have the following configuration is there atleast one free output bit available to switch on/off the spindle motor?

I was thinking of using the wachtdog output for this when possible (have to check manual)

configuration is as follows:

Computer Turbo PMAC2 USB - ACC-54E
One ACC24E2A 4 channel board.

and ofcourse power supply.

regards,

[Ron22]

For an extra output map one of the unsed amp enable on the ACC24E2A to a M varible and use that.

That is realy you only option for outputs with what you have.

You could buy a I/O card on Ebay if you need more.

[Hersoft]

I was afraid you where going to say that, an ACC11E is probably my solution.

I was going to use the fourth axis for a rotary axis, but that can probably waity a bit.

One thing I have to check is if I have an empty slot free for the ACC11E.

I have only a 4-slot bus plane as far as I could check it.
I still have to receive the box.

regards,

[bparcels]

Hi there,
I'm just working with a couple of lowboy stages, salvaged from the same spotter system... I've got the original motor drives, but as the controller was missing, I've opted to use a KFlop/KAnalog board (from Dynomotion)... While I do have the system operating reasonably well, I was hoping that I could trouble you for the PID values originally used in these machines? I realize they may not drop right in, but I'm hoping the original settings would give me a starting point to optimize the beast!

Thanks so much,
Brad

[Hersoft]

Hi Brad,

Great minds think alike don't they?

I was lucky enough to be able to salvage the complete computer system also and that is how I got involved with Delta Tau controllers.

I am in the middle of a rebuild of my attick and that is where my router is sitting normally. So at the moment it is not in operating condition so I can not check my PID settings in my Turbo Umac controller system.

What I could find where my original Variables that I salvaged from the PMAC-1 board (included here)
Hopefully You can extract the PID settings from there.

I suggest you download the Turbo-2 manual from the delta tau website to get the descriptions for the I-variables. Then you can find which variables does what for the PID settings.

With my set-up I am able to use the demo software from Delta tau to run G-code files with full support of the g-codes.

drop me a mail when you need more.

regards from Belgium, Otto.

[bparcels]

Hi Otto,
Thank you so much - that really makes my day!

Absolutely - the hardware out of those machines makes for a truly amazing motion system.... As long as you can make it work!

No worries at all about finding your newer values - this is exactly what I was hoping for! I'll do some digging, and let you know how it goes.

Thanks again,
Brad

(from across the pond in Canada)