Tube bender controller

[PSIman]

Hello,

I’m trying to figure out how to build (or buy) a controller for a tubing bender. I’m building a mandrel tubing bender and was looking for a way controlling hydraulic valves and a rotary encoder. I would like a simple controller that all I have to do is enter the degree of bend and push go, not being connected to a PC would be a BIG plus.

Is this a job for BASIC Stamp??? Is there a better option?? I’m new to electronics, so a well documented microcontroller would be good

Thanks
Matt

[ballendo]

Hello,

I'm not sure why you don't want to use a PC? Is its size, or--IMO,assumed-- complexity a problem? Because...

Using a Pc based CNC controlelr is probably the easiest, fastest way to achieve what you want to do (since you say you're new to electronics)

Were you an electronics expert, perhaps a basic stamp or other microcontroller would be a good option. Even as a novice, they WILL work, and CAN do what you've described. BUT...

If you think of a tubing bender as a three axis CNC machine(length, rotation, and degree of bend) you can simply use existing pc based controllers like TurboCNC or Mach2 or MAch3.

I'd use Mach3, because I/you can make your own screens which will allow you to do EXACTLY the type of SIMPLE interface you've mentioned.

Point is: you will spend a lot of time and effort usig a microcontroller to do what a pc based cnc cotnroller will do for you immediately. AND if you use a pc-based controller, you will have THOUSANDS of helpful foks to get you through the rough spots... (It's just not that different from what we're already doing with our cnc machines; compared to the myriad disciplines of mcu's)

I once designed a SMALL CNC tubing bender for models; after seeing the large ones at Westec.

You haven't mentioned the size or eventual use of this intended bender...

Give us some more deatials and we can give you some better replies?

Hope this helps,

Ballendo

P.S. If portability is an issue, keep in mind that MAch and other pc-based controls can work using a laptop computer...

[PSIman]

Thank you for the reply

The plan for the bender was a 1 axis machine. The biggest tube it will ever see is 3.5 18ga and the heaviest would be 2 dia. .187 wall 4130 DOM.
The bender would be a hobby/light production machine. That way if I built something people liked, it could easily be reproduced.

I just found out the bender at my work was built by a college student. He used a Galil DMC-1540. Anyone have experience with that controller?

PC control probably would be the most straight forward method, I just thought it was a little over kill for a 1 axis machine plus I didn’t want a monitor, key broad, mouse etc.

I know Basic stamp is going to take a while to learn, time invested in this project is not much of a concern. I’m 20 years old and spend most of my day programming and setting up CNC lathes and mill. I rather build a machine that is easy to use, fast to use (not booting up) and last a long time than one that’s easy to build.

Thanks
Matt