Help with older CNC machine - PLC?

[jeep4x4greg]

hey all,

I'm taking a manual machining class at the local community college and got to talking with the instructor about the CNC classes. Apparently he has 2 CNC milling machines that dont work

they are both running older DOS computers. When he boots them he gets an error on some line of code of the PLC.

my question is 2 parts....Kinda noobish, so please be kind..

1) When looking for a person familiar with PLC programing....where do you look? where in the yellow pages do you find that? I know some engineers that do it....but they all do it for other companies, not as their business....if that makes sense.

2) Is there a way to run a windows XP computer instead of the DOS, he'd like to replace all the old and falling apart PC that control them...but if I were to guess there would be a ton of issues with old parallel ports and what not....


thanks!

[camsys]

I'm wondering about those 2 mills in the CC that don't work. What kind of
machines are they? Are they genuine industrial strength milling machines
or are they those smaller types of machines with stepper motors that were
sold to the education sector?

I ask because if they're good solid machines they can be retrofit with new servos and CNC controllers like a Mitsubishi M70 at a very reasonable cost.

I used to teach Machine shop, and I had two little machines (I called them my
sewing machines!) that were hooked up to a PC with DOS. These machines usually had software on them that was provided by the motor mfg. There's lot of DIY CNC software on the net for these types of machines, but if the original mfg is out of business, then the chances are slim that you'll get them working without doing a retrofit.

For PLC progrmammers, most eletrical techs that do repairs on automation.

Hope I helped with some ideas for you

controls can read a ladder and most likely program a PLC.

[Al_The_Man]

What you need to find out is what kind of PC based controller is in the PC.
There were some that used the DOS sytems that were ISA based motion cards.
To upgrade these as they are, obviously you need to find either a PC board that has ISA or use one of the later PCI computers on a board such as Advantech that can be placed in a multi slot backplane.
Cards such as Acroloop had a built in PLC, older Galil cards had limited I/O, so other means of PLC were used.
Your biggest challenge is trying to find someone that can familiarize themselves with the older technology, unless you are lucky and they have used a standard PLC as an ad on to the card.
Again, you need to find a bit more about the system presently used.
Al.