New Machine Build- FANUC Turning / Lathe control

[gbowne1]

I'm thinkin about my next lathe project... so I am wondering about which FANUC control to get for the lathe.

Here are my options:

OT (a 0T-C maybe?)
6T (which 6T?)
10T (10TE, TF, TEF??)
11T

There has been a lot on here about the 10T, especially lately. I went through at least 50 of the 100+ pages of threads.

I have the books on the 0T, but not the others.

[stevo1]

Greg,
I would go for the 10 or 11 control. If not just purely on that they are a newer series then the O and 6. There will be a lot more functions on the 10 and 11. IIRC some of the Ot controls don’t even have G54-G59. I have a lot of experience on the 10series which I really liked a lot. It is very similar to the 15 series (code/function) which I also have a lot of experience with.

I voted for the 10 over the 11 only because I have not personally run the 11 so I can’t say one way or the other. I would ass u me that they are very similar.

Stevo

[underthetire]

0T. Get the newest you can afford.

[stevo1]

Originally Posted by underthetire 0T. Get the newest you can afford.

The Ot is the oldest no ??.

Stevo

[underthetire]

Nope.

2000, then 3, then 6, then 10/11/12, then 0 and 15, then 16, 18,21, then i , and on and on. Some rare models in between, but these are the common ones.

10/11/12's came out mid/late 80's, pretty much gone by 90, 0 was very late 80's till early mid 90's, 15's were early to mid/late 90's then the 16/18/20/21 took over. Some builders had stock left over, so years change a little bit here and there.

[stevo1]

Intresting. Ya learn something new every day. I was under the impression that the Oseries was older.

So that begs the question why is the 10,11,12 series seem to be a more powerful/function/optional control then the Oseries. I can’t speak from too much knowledge on the Oseries as I have only dabbled with an Om on and off when I get time. And if that is the case then it may not be a matter of getting the newer control but the more functional control, yes?

Did some digging and found some notes by Dan Fritz on the order of controls and you are correct. Not that I doubted you. So according to the list below from Dan the Oseries is newer but was a lower cost control with less functions.

20A, B, and C (pulse motors, descrete CPU - no microprocessor)
200 A, B, and C (magnetic core memory, descrete CPU) Used for EDMs and punch presses
2000C, 3000C (DC servos with resolvers/inductosyn scales, descrete CPU)
5T, 5M (8-bit Microprocessor + CMOS memory, DC servos with pulse coders)
(these controls came out at about the same time):
3T, 3M (16-bit Microprocessor + CMOS memory, DC servos with pulse coders)
6T, 6M (16-bit Microprocessor + magnetic bubble memory +pulse coders or resolvers/inductosyn)
7M (16 bit microprocessor, DC servos with pulse coders)
9M (16 bit microprocessor, bubble memory, more axes than the 6M)
10T, 10M (32 bit processor, CMOS memory)
11T, 11M (32 bit processor, bubble memory)
12M (32 bit processor, bubble memory, lots of axes)
15T, 15M (32 bit processor, bubble memory, lots of axes + bells & whistles)
0T, 0M (lower cost control, CMOS memory, very popular)
16, 18, 21 series
16i, 18i, 21i series
(all the current models)

Stevo

[underthetire]

The processing power is really not required for a lathe, neither is additional axis count, unless you are building a sub spindle live tool lathe. The o control has more than enough options available for turning applications. It also has a little bit newer style layout, no drilling through pages to find the page you need. The main reason I would go with a 0 control is parts availability. Thousands of used parts out there because it's such a common control. The 0's also don't need to have the PC cassette, so one less problem to deal with.(burning proms) The 10/11 control also used bubble memory, witch is no longer produced. Some 0's had the truncated keyboard, while others had a full keypad.

[gbowne1]

I have seen numerous threads on the 10T, and its variants, on here. The same with the 6T and 0T.

I can get the parts for these easily. eBay is my primary source, and as far as that is concerned the past 13 years I have had good luck with finding parts for the 6M I had, and the 15MA I just finished.

I was just going based on the popularity on here. I'm not concerned with the age of the control, just availability and popularity as well as the support here.

I would not mind building a older control, then at a later date upgrading.

As far asmy experience goes, I have looked at and used the M version of the 0, 6, 11, 15 and 18i.

[underthetire]

Well, the 18i would work ! That would be my first choice. Most people can not burn the fanuc PC cassette proms. Thats one of the main reasons to go with a 0, but if you did a 15MA, you must be able to. Why upgrade it later, do the newest you can now an run it. I work with a lot of 10's and 11's, 15's, i series and a couple 31's, I just don't like going backwards.

[gbowne1]

Having no experience with the FANUC "T" controls, I have not been accustomed to their set up and operation.

Only having read the manuals for the 0T-C.

I did not do the PMC on the 15MA. I had someone nearby with some experience with many of the FANUC PMC's muddle through getting it set up and programmed. I just provided the cabinet / enclosure and parts. I regret I never found the .PDF PMC manuals for the 15.

I had the opportunity to observe an 18i-P from the 1997-2002 era.

I have heard many times that the 0 is very popular and very economical.

Right now my eyes are on the 6T or the 10T.. but.. I will look at the 11T and 0T.

[cnc doc]

i would look into the oi model d control it seems to be coming out currently on a lot of lower end three axis machine with a fanuc control. for example doosan ran a 30th anniversary special on several machines at imts this year and they all had the oi model d. i know one retrofitter that has been using these alot. he also uses third part spindle drives and motors to cut cost. uses a lot of baldor motors for spindles and a quality drive with analog outputs to the control. many don't realize the fanuc system will accomadate third party spindle drives rather easily. also i have been hearing really good things about the newest yasnac control but i am a fanuc guy so i wouldn't care.

[gbowne1]

I looked at the 0i's.. They seem to be popular. I already have used a 0.

I admit I have not seen 15T's.

I actually came across someone scrapping the 10T control (with FAPT) from a Mori Seiki which is the same machine as this one:

YouTube - MORI SEIKI CNC LATHE MODEL SH-3H
They are aparently upgrading or retrofitting so the control is going rather cheap but i have to get it before January 15th 2011.

Someone else offered me their 0TT.

The lathe will be a 4 axis with an 8 station turret.

Any suggestions on tooling to use? I like using CNC qualified standard square shank lathe tooling

How about a 16T or 16TT?