Bandit controller

[bobadame]

I have a Bandit system complete with stepper motors which was removed from a Shizouka mill. The system was new I think about 1984. The system was working when it was removed and replaced by a more modern system. Is this worth anything?

[Karl_T]

I took a similar system off a few years back. Got $500 for it.

I'm green with envy. Wish I had a Shizouka. VERY RIGID machine.

Karl

[ecltwo]

By chance would you know anyone who might have a complete 'beginners' manual for the Bandit control. I have a 'partial' manual but I'm missing the very basic 'stuff', Chapter 1 etc.

Hope someone can help me,
Ed
A retired Teacher in Katy, TX, U.S.A.

[Al_The_Man]

Is this the Bandit Shadow? here is a site for that manual.
http://www.shadowcnc.com/shadowmanual.htm
Al.

[HPbyGD]

I also have two bandit controllers and steppers that I remove from a Shizouka mill. I have most of the manuals I think. Ed if you want to e-mail me direct and let me know what you are looking for I might be able to help you out.
Gary@HPbyGD.com

[HuFlungDung]

The link Al posted for the Shadow will give you a good start on running a Bandit, but there are a few details that have changed over the years. From memory:
- the Bandit did not have any work offsets, you always ran in the machine coordinate system, or else you performed a machine coordinate system shift with G92, which effectively redefined the machine coordinate system, because there was no way to "cancel" a G92. The machine coordiante system is commonly described as G53 in modern cnc terminology, but in Bandit, there was no provision for the machine to accept G53 commands because you were always in the G53 coordinate system.
You had to learn how to run G92 coordinate system offset if you didn't like the power-up position as X0Y0Z0. XYZ0 G92 would set the current absolute position of the machine. XYZ G93 would then set all the displays to zero, or, you could set the displays to read whatever you wanted.

-note that Bandit and Shadow like the Gcodes at the end of the line, not the beginning.

-Bandit used a G58 command as an absolute position save and return. You could only make use of this by hand programming it, and it did have its uses, but it is definitely nothing to do with work offsets.

-Bandit only had memory space for 999 "words" of gcode. I think you could upload 1024 but you couldn't enter the last 25 commands manually

-Bandit has an "Enter" key which the Shadow no longer has. This is because you can type in a whole line of gcode on the Shadow and store it. But on the Bandit, you could only enter one "word" at a time, because you're looking at a 8 character LED display, plus various other axis and direction LED indicators. So to enter a multiword command in the Bandit, you made use of the ENTER key to link the words into one command line.
For Shadow entry:
X0Y0Z1.G92. just type it in and press Store.
For Bandit:
X0 ENTER Y0 ENTER Z1. ENTER G92 STORE

-G98 works the same on both Shadow and Bandit. It is a shortcut way to return the machine to zero relative to the last G92 position (or power on position, but most often you would want to define machine home after power up). In a FANUC control, the equivalent move to the Bandit/Shadow G98 would be G00 G53 X0 Y0 Z0

-the old Bandit, depending on the revision, you could digitize tool offsets. I forget the exact method, but in jog mode, jog down to touch, type in a tool number and store it. Unfortunately, the Shadow lost this ability, and you have to enter the values manually.

-there is a quick key available in jog mode: when jogging, go wherever you please. Before leaving jog mode, press "G" and all the axis will rapid back to where they were when you entered jog mode. Be careful, it moves quick enough to hurt you or the tool

-Bandit would perform G41/G42 tool radius compensation. Shadow, as far as I know, has some kind of bug that prevents it from working properly, so that's one up for the ancients

[ecltwo]

Al_The_Man & HuFlungDung,

Thks so much for the info, it is greatly appreciated. I will take a few days to digest it.

'Talk' to you later,
Ed
A retired teacher in Katy, TX, U.S.A.

[bhefnerco]

My bandit will not allow me to upload code error 3 keeps popping up; i disconnected the protect and enable key and even tried a new processor card with the same results, can anyone help me with this problem, I'm stuck in the water without a paddle.

[HuFlungDung]

It is "memory protected" error. So it most likely has something to do with the mechanical switch on the key. Do a test, with the key hooked back up. Enter some data, then turn the key to protect and try to delete something from your program. That should give the same error message, I would think. Thus you can verify whether that circuit is working as designed.

It could be something else is going on when it comes time to do data transfer, and perhaps the error code is indicative of some other malfunction.

I presume all this has been working for you up til now, or is this a new to you control?

[bhefnerco]

I have had the machine for years and its been fine, as I said i disconnected the enable / protect and soldered the wires together so it is always enabled. I haven't had any communication problems with the software up til now. I'm stumped, any other help would be most appreciated. Thanks Much

[HuFlungDung]

Any way to confirm whether there is a voltage on the memory protect switch circuit? It seems to me there were two or three power supplies in that cabinet. Maybe something up and died on you. Also make sure that the Feedhold switch isn't pushed in I don't know if that would have any effect on the COM system or not.