Need Help!- Expanding Fanuc Control ?

[newmac]

Hi ...

Please forgive my ignorance ... and artwork ...

I'm in the process of installing a floor type horizontal boring mill ...

It currently has (4) axes of movement ... and from what I can tell ... a control that is configured to handle only that ...

In addition to the X, Y, Z, and W movements that currently exist ... I am adding a 10' rotary table (sketched in on right side of machine layout) that also has a bed that it can move back and forth on ... in the same direction as "X" ...

In addtion to these (2) axes ... I'd also like to add a index head (sketched in on left side of floor plate of machine layout)

So there begins my questions ...

1. Is the control that I have expandable to accomodate these other (3) axes ?

2. What are the approximate costs (per axis) to have Fanuc unlock them ?

My goal is to have the rotary table coordinated with at least the Y axis to permit helical cutting patterns ...

Or is there an easier way to do this ?

Thanks in advance ...

Bill ...

[underthetire]

1. you didnt post the control type
2. VERY expensive to add true axis
3. Not just an unlock, hardware will be required
4. Ladder may need to be altered.

If you only need programmable positioning, you can get a HAAS or Nikken indexer 5/6 axis and run it through the comm port. May give you some axis control as well. To do it yourself with a Fanuc is gonna cost you $$$. The HAAS/Nikken is off the shelf more or less.

[newmac]

Hi underthetire ...

And thanks for your response ...

I'm not exactly sure how the model # nomenclature is normally conveyed ...

In the third picture that I posted ... entitled "Control Label" ... it says it's a CNC Express ... and the number begins with 15M ...

I understand that there will be hardware and software costs involved ... regardless of how I do this ...

And that the ladder will almost certainly require modification ...

I took a look at the HAAS and Nissen indexers/rotary tables ...

But about all of what I saw look like toys compared to what I'm trying to do ...

I'm adding a 10 foot rotary table ... which can move on it's own bed ... it weighs approximately 10 tons ... is hydrostatic ... and can handle a workpiece of about that weight ...

And I hope to add an indexer that can handle a workpiece of several tons as well ...

I'm just trying to get a feel for the costs ... as well as find out if expanding the existing control is the way to go ... versus replacing it with something else ... or possible integrating some type of standalone control back into the existing system ...

Thanks again for your response ...

Bill ...

[Al_The_Man]

Alot depends on how much integration you want and if you need interpolation of the rotary table system and existing axis.
A short time ago I integrated a 6ft rotary table, (Air Bearing) on a Fanuc 10M.
But this only had integration by way of an added M code added that sent a 7 bit binary code to the table which had up to eight stored positions, each being selected via the binary code.
The rotary table had a small operator interface in order to initially load the eight preset positions.
The ladder had to be modified to add the M code and the necessary Finish signal, indicating the table had rotated to the selected position.
This particular application required a minimum hardware change of the Fanuc.
The rotary table was fitted with a stand alone Galil motion controller and 2 line display and keypad.
Al.

[memoryman]

it appears that your control is a 15m-b. We have a spare one. The hardware can indeed be very expensive- not so much the control part but the drives, motors etc. Where are you located?
Bill

[underthetire]

Sorry, missed the foot part. 10 Inches would be normal. 15M control. Its gonna be EXPENSIVE for drives/motors for something that big. I'd contact a rebuilder/retrofitter for that.

Originally Posted by newmac Hi underthetire ... And thanks for your response ... I'm not exactly sure how the model # nomenclature is normally conveyed ... In the third picture that I posted ... entitled "Control Label" ... it says it's a CNC Express ... and the number begins with 15M ... I understand that there will be hardware and software costs involved ... regardless of how I do this ... And that the ladder will almost certainly require modification ... I took a look at the HAAS and Nissen indexers/rotary tables ... But about all of what I saw look like toys compared to what I'm trying to do ... I'm adding a 10 foot rotary table ... which can move on it's own bed ... it weighs approximately 10 tons ... is hydrostatic ... and can handle a workpiece of about that weight ... And I hope to add an indexer that can handle a workpiece of several tons as well ... I'm just trying to get a feel for the costs ... as well as find out if expanding the existing control is the way to go ... versus replacing it with something else ... or possible integrating some type of standalone control back into the existing system ... Thanks again for your response ... Bill ...

[newmac]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Man Alot depends on how much integration you want and if you need interpolation of the rotary table system and existing axis. A short time ago I integrated a 6ft rotary table, (Air Bearing) on a Fanuc 10M. But this only had integration by way of an added M code added that sent a 7 bit binary code to the table which had up to eight stored positions, each being selected via the binary code. The rotary table had a small operator interface in order to initially load the eight preset positions. The ladder had to be modified to add the M code and the necessary Finish signal, indicating the table had rotated to the selected position. This particular application required a minimum hardware change of the Fanuc. The rotary table was fitted with a stand alone Galil motion controller and 2 line display and keypad. Al.

Hi Al ...

And thanks for your response ...

I had considered the possibility of using Single Axis Motion Controllers ... and letting the rotary encoders and linear scales feed back into their inputs ... and have the info be output to ... and control be effected by ... a remote HMI ...

And that would probably get to the 90% level of potential work ...

What I'd "like" ... and we all know that our "likes" generally come at a high premium ... is to have interpolation between the X axis and the index head so that a helix could be cut horizontally ... and interpolation between the Y axis and the rotary table so that a helix could be cut vertically ...

But that brings in the age old question "Is the juice worth the squeeze ?"

The linear motion of the rotary table on it's bed is a fairly unimportant one ... as it is redundant to the X axis of the machine ... and will probably only be extended to the right for the purpose of having a longer supporting floor plate ... for larger workpieces ...

Thanks again for your response ...

Bill ...


memoryman ...

I'm in Charlotte ...