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I cannot recall exactly how the Winsys worked compared to a conventional PC. However, the later Dyna controls used a Shuttle Spacewalker mobo running a Pentium CPU with 16MB RAM, an simple IDE hard drive running MS-DOS 6 and a Sharp LCD. The Pentium CPUs were all clocked at 100MHz even if the actual CPU was rated for higher speed. This was to keep the machines consistent.
The basic PC could be pieced together for super cheap. However, there would be a couple of issues I'm not sure how to solve. You would have to contact Dyna for more specific info.
1. There are two communications cables that run from the PC in the front to the Big Board in the back cabinet. These are straight through parallel printer extension cables. Nothing fancy. One cable goes to the LPT1 port on the Pentium motherboard and the other goes to Dyna's video/communications card. In the back, both cables connect to the Big Board. Your Winsys does not have the same connections in the front and a PC you piece together will not have the correct video/communications card. Dyna might be able to help you work around this.
2. Chips and salsa. There are five EPROMs that are specific to the version of the 4M software installed on the hard drive. Three EPROMs are on the Big Board in the back cabinet, two EPROMs are on the backside of the keyboard in the front. These chips must match the software (salsa) that is installed on the hard drive or else the machine will have errors. Again, Dyna can tell you which chips work with which software.
Before embarking on a retrofit, it may be worth a call to Dyna to see what it would take to get your front control box internals upgraded to the later Pentium guts.
Caprirs......that is almost word for word what they told me at dyna.....the cable issues and the eproms scared me away....lol.....i am not scrapping anything yet.....the breakout board was cheap enough to give a try.......if i have probs i may still upgrade to the new guts......and thanks for all the info
what about running a breakout board with a laptop?
2 problems with laptops could surface. 1 is the output voltage may laptops only put out 3 volts and some controllers need 5v to respond, really just a gamble. Some work and some dont. The second problem is the sleep function or hibernation of the laptop. It seems to interfere in G code transmssions and must be disabled. Caprirs might have taught Roberto what he knows LOL.
hey thanks for the info fastest1......that helps me make a decision
No problem and btw I ran Mach 3 in an old IBM laptop and dont remember having any problems but the laptop itself didnt last very long. I always read about people having issues with it, I didnt. Mine did have a PP though and not running via USBOriginally Posted by DssTvDummy
I am still a little fuzzie on the encoders though.....do they only feedback to the controllers?......or to mach3 also?.......or both?.......Everything else i think i have down pat after alot of reading.....LOL
My understanding on servos is that the encoder does feed back to the controller however if Mach 3 sees a problem, I think it stops. I am not sure if it is capable of correction. This is a gray topic in my mind too. If the encoder could generate a correction signal, why couldnt it work with steppers too? More late night reading! LOL
I too am looking to get into the hobby. There is one of these machines for sale in my area. What is a good price for one of these?
Are you talking about the 3116? Or Dyna's in general? You say a machine is available in your area. What is the condition of the machine? Does it come with all of the necessary hardware and software to run? Is the machine running now? Does it accept a standard language, like G Code? All of these variables will have an effect on the price. Do you have any experience machining? With Cnc? It is a challenging hobby to say the least. Not trying to discourage you, really just trying to find where to start. Prices can change due to region so also make it clear where you are. Shipping can be expensive but needs to be factored in also.
I have a 3116 with 4M 2.21 1999/2. I have the manual. I use Bobcad V23 and modified a post processor myself. Not sure how I did it but it works. I can post code, save to a floppy, run it with out manual editing on small jobs. I like it. I wouldn't mind finding the 4th axis rotary table for it. I don't think I would want to pay for it but I guess that would depend on the price.
Let me know if I have anything that would help out.
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