inquiry about running Fanuc Red Cap motors, response?

[kmcwhq]

Is there a secret to getting a response from the Granite Devices tech dept?
I've emailed direct a couple times and several days later....no response....

Really interested in purchasing drives provided they will run my Fanuc Red Cap motors (with an encoder change out).

dk

[keebler303]

They will run fine after you switch out the encoder.

Tero goes by Xerxes here on the board, maybe you could try to get in touch with him here.

Matt

[Al_The_Man]

Wouldn't that depend on what encoder is on the RedCap?
Many of them have standard quadrature differential 2000/2500p/rev.
There are a couple of odd-ball formats used mainly by the robot motors and another that uses quadrature 1v p/p sine wave.
I was under the impression that Granite drive did not require commutation pulses?
Al.

[keebler303]

Granite Devices drives require a quadrature encoder. They do not need commutation pulses but they have to go through a "homing" procedure if they are not present.

If OP's motors already have a quadrature encoder, you will not need to change the encoder. I assumed OP was already aware that the encoders would have to be changed.

I thought the red caps used the dreaded "proprietary" serial feedback scheme??

Matt

[Al_The_Man]

Originally Posted by keebler303 I thought the red caps used the dreaded "proprietary" serial feedback scheme?? Matt

Not all, in fact there are many Fanuc quadrature differential out there.
Fanuc uses about 4 different formats for their encoder.
They also use a 4 bit commutation code in order to extrapolate a sine wave from.
Al.

[kmcwhq]

I'm not sure.....and that's why I was asking......

The plates on all 3 motors say -pulsecoder- and I think the schematic says 2000 ppr. They are most likely standard differential quad encoders. No indication of any commutation signals.

SO.....the GD drives don't NEED comm signals?
I'd rather use them, tho to avoid said homing procedure.

The AMT 303 outputs quadrature and comm signals, and is $35
AMT303 | AMT modular encoders | CUI Inc

So, seems like a cheap 'no brainer' solution......no?

I must say this lack of communication thing from the manufacturer is not giving me much of a warm and fuzzy feeling for support on this product.

dk

[Xerxes]

Originally Posted by kmcwhq Is there a secret to getting a response from the Granite Devices tech dept? I've emailed direct a couple times and several days later....no response.... Really interested in purchasing drives provided they will run my Fanuc Red Cap motors (with an encoder change out).

Hmm, was the message sent to the GD support system? See:
Granite Devices Support

Direct emails tend to get lost in spam regardless of filtering and are hard to keep in track.

Anyway, please download VSD-E/XE manual pdf and check out chapter 13 which describes motor compatibility in detail. In short: fanucs will work if they have encoders with quadrature outputs.

[kmcwhq]

I sent it to:

tero.kontkanen@granitedevices.fi,
sales@granitedevices.fi,
info@granitedevices.fi,
timo.piiroinen@granitedevices.fi

And none of them made it?

These addresses are listed as contacts on your website.
If they don't make it to you, what good are they?
Since I'm not a customer that has purchased a product, I would not consider opening a 'support ticket' to tech questions before the sale.
Perhaps a different and better method is needed to address new sales inquires to potential customers?
If sales@granitedevices.fi does not make it to you, that is probably a problem?

dan k

[keebler303]

Originally Posted by kmcwhq If sales@granitedevices.fi does not make it to you, that is probably a problem? dan k

Agreed that would be a big problem for any business.

Matt

[Al_The_Man]

Originally Posted by kmcwhq I'm not sure.....and that's why I was asking...... The plates on all 3 motors say -pulsecoder- and I think the schematic says 2000 ppr. They are most likely standard differential quad encoders. No indication of any commutation signals. SO.....the GD drives don't NEED comm signals? I'd rather use them, tho to avoid said homing procedure. The AMT 303 outputs quadrature and comm signals, and is $35 So, seems like a cheap 'no brainer' solution......no? dk

Using the Fanuc encoder avoids the hassle of fitting a new encoder, the commutation signals will be there on the Fanuc, just that they cannot be used as-is for normal BLDC commutation.
If you post the number of the motor and the encoder I may be able to give you some definitive numbers for the encoder.
Al.

[kmcwhq]

Al,
Please understand I do appreciate your assistance and vast knowledge of
cnc and electronics.


This statement puzzles me:

Using the Fanuc encoder avoids the hassle of fitting a new encoder, the commutation signals will be there on the Fanuc, just that they cannot be used as-is for normal BLDC commutation.

If the comm signals can't be used as is, what good are they when a solution is $35? (The AMT encoder) Fitting another encoder might be more complicated than I am thinking? I have 'fitted' a number of encoders before. Is there a lower cost solution?

The motors are: X & Y Axis
Model 5S A06B-0314-B002#7000
C89YC2412
3 phase 8 pole 2000 RPM 126Volts 5.8AMP

Z Axis
Model 10S A06B-0315-B002#7000
C903A5791
3 phase 8 pole 2000RPM 150Volt

I don't have encoder numbers, I haven't taken off the caps yet.
Aren't the encoders 'sorta' standardized for the motor
These are on a Kryle VMC 500B mill.

thanks
dan

[Al_The_Man]

The encoders on these appear to be 2500p/rev quadrature differential.
What I meant was, if Granite goes through an initialization stage to determine the pole positions, and from then on knows exactly where the rotor position is by virtue of the encoder, then there would be no need to fit commutation track encoders, which when fitted have to be aligned with correct rotor position.
And for $35.00, is probably not close to the quality of the Fanuc type.
The encoder mounting is virtually the same for different types of Fanuc encoders, so they are interchangeable to a large degree.
Al.