Large G&L retrofit

[cdlenterprises]

Not sure where to post this but this seems as good a place as any. I also posted this in the Machine control section.
Can anyone recommend a good source for control retrofits on large machines? We have some old G&L machines - one 36" VTL and two VMC's (not sure of the exact size but they have 40" of travel on the Y-axis) G&L want's a ludicrous amount of money to retrofit them with G&L hardware and i'm hoping that there may be an aftermarket solution. Any suggestions?

[springlakecnc]

Hi,

Analam, Autocon, Centroid, Fagor, ETC., There are a lot of them, and they can tell you who installs them in your area.

I was in a plant that had a VTL, and they were paying over $50,000.00 for a retrofit, I about chocked! They said "it should be ready in a month, they started the retrofit 2 months ago" I chocked again! It was just a control and drive replacement, not an Iron rescraping, overhaul, rebuild! I said "where are the people that are doing the retrofit?" (as we were looking at the machine, during business hours) They said, "we havn't seen them in a couple of weeks!" By now, i'm about sick!

When doing a retrofit, there are things that costs more, like if the machine has an automatic tool changer or not, but other than some extra bucks, due to larger servo motors and drives, the size of the machine don't really matter! I retrofit a devlieg boring mill for $30,000 with a Centroid control and drives, that after I was finished, the shop owner told me the next lowest bid was over $70,000.00! Only thing i can say is, i drive a Chevy Lumina, and the other retrofit guy must drive a Rolls Royce.

[samco]

I know of one shop using emc2 as a retrofit for a G&L.

http://jmkasunich.dyndns.org/cgi-bin...-02-20-08.html

Depends on how much work you want to put into it.

sam

[stustev]

Hi cdlenterprises,

Do you have any interest in EMC2? Have you looked at it? Check out www.linuxcnc.org.
I have installed EMC2 on a small 3 axis knee mill. It has worked very well in a production environment for almost a year now. I have EMC2 almost ready on a cincinatti 5 axis c frame mill. The G&L on the website samco referred to is in my shop.
Look at www.mpm1.com:8080 and on youtube search for '5axis mpm'. The youtube video is my EMC2 cinci running through some paces. It hasn't cut metal yet but it will shortly.
Is your G&L 3 axis or 4 axis?
I would be willing to help with a retrofit. Everyone on the emc-user-list will help with any question and suggest solutions. You would not be doing this blind if you didn't want to.
Are you wanting to do the retrofit or are you wanting someone to come in and do it for you? So far, EMC2 has been used by people wanting to do their own machines. This has been more of an esoteric exercise than a profit making exercise.
Let us know what you want and what you have planned.
whew - a little wordy but hopefully helpful
thanks
Stuart

[Fagor - Todd]

Our Integrators have retrofitted G&L's with the Fagor 8055 many times, and all have worked out great. We have even developed a feature or two that is specific to working with a G&L. (For example the G&L has a feature called WZ Tracking, we developed a very similar feature that allows constant shifting of the Z & W axes, and allows for a constant zero position)

We also manufacture and offer a quality Digital AC Brushless servo system and other peripherial items such as the remote handheld handwheels and a built-in PLC.

The operating system is very versatile offering both an ISO G-code programming system and a pure conversational system thus pretty much everybody can adapt to the CNC fairly quickly. An in-house no obligation CNC Demonstration can be arranged to show you and your staff an in-depth CNC demonstration of the CNC and what would be involved of the retrofit of your machine if you desire. Just let me know your general location and contact information and I'll have somebody contact you.

In any regards, whatever you decide on, I sincerely wish you good luck !

Todd

[stustev]

Fagor - Todd,
Sounds like a very sweet control.
I am installing EMC2 several machines.
My goal is somewhat esoteric/ somewhat selfish. I want access and control of every part of the machine and control.
The machine I am currently installing EMC2 on had MDSI's OpenCNC on it.
Ten years ago I installed OpenCNC on it and two other machines just like it.
The very next revision MDSI changed direction a little. I didn't like their direction and stopped all development using OpenCNC. I waited until EMC2 arrived at the point it is.
I like the fact that the only limitation in EMC2 is between my right ear and my left ear.
I am in Wichita, Kansas. You are most welcome to stop by at any time. My email is stuart@mpm1.com
thanks
Stuart