retrofits

[tim-tbl]

HI
Has anybody ever retrofitted a controller upgrade to an old cnc lathe and is there any system that you can just plug into the existing encoders, I ask this because the lathe I have works perfectly but ii is using a 5T controller and is frankly a pain to work on , I would prefer to do this on a DIY basis, any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks
Tim

[NC Cams]

Tim:

This inquiry is dejavu all over again....

Recently I posted a lathe retrofit inquiry for the same system for the same reason on this message board. It was in the last week or two - do a site search for "lathe retrofit" - it shouldn't be that hard to find.

Although it SHOULD be a simple thing to do (lathe retofit), it isn't. The 2 prominent systems discussed were Camsoft and Ajax - both had sortware and mechanical issues which were extensivey discussed. Forget MACH as you can't interface the servo's.

One common issue seemed to be that most retrofit controls are developed for mills. This logic doesn't necessarily transfer when you flop stuff around quite as readily as one would think.

You need to find out if you have resolvers or encoders on your servos. If you have resolvers, you have to switch to encoders. Same goes for spindle encoder. If your lathe has CSS, that's a whole new issue.

Interestingly, once I investigated it, I concluded that my particulary variation of the the Fanuc controller was rather well developed and custom suited for this application.

I couldn't find a PC based system that I could simply interface with my pre-matched motors and drives. Everybody wanted to sell me all new stuff that I didn't need or want or they couldn't drive what I had. When it was all said and done, they wanted more for a single retrofit than I have in all 3 machines (which were like new as they came out of a trade school even though they are 1979 vintage).

Look and investigate VERY VERY VERY carefully.....

[tim-tbl]

Thanks I will bear that in mind

[tim-tbl]

I don't suppose you know what m57 and m58 codes are used for.
Cheers Tim

[NC Cams]

Probably machine specific codes.

Fanuc has a 9 bit (8 data an 1 read bit) output for M codes that feeds the external relay "ladder" logic (in my system). Thus when you set an M code, you turn on the relays and the logic therein does an appropriate funciton (spinle on, spindle fwd, tool index, etc) .

Thus, an M (msb, lsb) code for one machine will NOT be the same for another. THis is how they took what is essentially a generic controller and with software (proms actually) had it doing all sorts of fancy stuff for any specific machine with whatever options the OEM included.

THus, with the exact same A and B boards, you could have a generic machine, a machine with CSS, one that would run a tool changer, whatever. They could do in 1979 what some controls can't do today - at least not without a ton of cash therapy and/or custom coding on the part of the user. These functions were all burned in to the PROM's that are installed on the "A" board (top one in cabinet).

You might luck into being able to find out what software you have if you get the numbers off the proms and call Fanuc. When I did, they told me there was never such software numbers -yet I have 3 sets of the exact same machines with the same software in my shop. In short,don't hold you'r breath helf from Fanuc - many of techs may not have been alive when the machines were built.

There is a guy who can reflash the proms here in USA to known systems. Contact me via PM for name and address. He also services the boards and his service is "reasonable".

[Al_The_Man]

Originally Posted by tim-tbl I don't suppose you know what m57 and m58 codes are used for. Cheers Tim

Did you try the MDI trick I suggested in the other post? Did anything happen or did it 'hang'?
What options are there on the lathe? is it fitted with a Bar feeder for e.g.?
The other thing is if the machine has relay outputs, see if a relay picks up and try reverse engineering it if you can trace where it goes.
Al

[tim-tbl]

Yes I did Al and nothing noticable appeared to happen, however there is something that appears to be a hydraulic bar feeder with the machine(I think), but the machine is set with a 3 jaw hydraulic chuck and the back of the pipe has a cover on it, so it may not be, the other thing is that these two codes are at the start of every programme, so i suppose I could just programme the machine with them in and not worry about it, but if I do that I will spend the rest of my life wondering what they do

Cheers Tim