Problem- To retro or not to retro (fit)

[Mr. LocoMartin]

Hello Guys,
I picked up a lame KM-3P with very low hours. I use to work for the shop that had it and they aren't very bright and way too cheap to have a service guy spend time trying to diagnose its' problems. So they donated it to high school but the school could not get the funding approved to repair it. So now I have it and it has been setting so long that the batteries for the memory are dead. There is also some other issues with the pendant unit. I have had the repair man out and he feels that for about 3k to 4k all should be up and running.
I would like to get an opinion from the other Hurco guys out there. Would I be "better money spent" looking into replacing the entire controller unit and drives with an updated system or just go ahead and fix what's wrong with it now and see how much it "nickle and dimes" me later on down the road.
Personally, I'm leaning toward a new system. So if that's the case, who's system would you recommend and more importantly, why ? Who would you stay far away from and why ?
Thanks guys.
I do appreciate your time, effort and insight.
Martin
www.212steam.blogspot.com

[underthetire]

Is the KM3-P the small bed mill with no ATC?

[DonnieET]

Martin

I have a SM1 the J head type. I replaced the Hurco controller using EMC2 with Mesa electronics PCI card. I was able to use the hurco amps, motors and encoders. Very low cost (less than $400) but steap learing curve. I know a guy that has a SM1 that used Viper drives and smooth stepper and Mach3 software. About $1285 for the major components.

Your budget and avaible time will effect the choice more than any thing.

Nice work on the models! What cad package are you using?

Donnie

[JoeFin]

I sent my Hurco Mother Board into Dynapath for service

For $245 they replaced the battery, checked the electronics and checked the EPROM programming. Got it back took me about 2hrs to re-install it.

They even gave me a copy of the Set Up Manual for the Servo Dynamics Drives because I asked about it

[Mr. LocoMartin]

The operating system for Hurco is an Ultimax, which has the monochrome twin screens on the control panal.
It is basically a Bridgeport on steriods. No tool changer. But the table is a 15% larger than a BP.
The CAD CAM system I have is a BobCAD V23.
The reason I put my blog addy up was because there are some pics of the Hurco on there, but when I went to take a look at them, I couldn't find them.
I know they are there... I'll have to take another look and check the archives.

I appreciate the input.

Thanks,
Martin

[123CNC]

LocoMartin,

When my KM-3 motherboard was killed, rs-232 cable failure, I looked high and low, far and wide trying to find any kind of replacement or repair. Hurco said they might have one, although doubted it, and it would cost more than the entire machine was had with a working board.

I wanted to retain the servo amps and servox just to reduce the retrofit expense and work. Skyko Pixie's were no longer available, at the time, so I went Mesa 5i20 PCI card and 7i34 and 7i33 I/O boards using EMC2 as the controller.

Recently saw someone else offering step/dir to analog +/- 10 vdc converters, and then there is Vital Systems DSPM/IC (? something like that) if you want to go the Mach 3 route.

It took me some time, just because work and life tends to keep getting in the way. But I am very happy with EMC2 and Mesa and even though I'm not finished with the retrofit, the old girl is operational and help with her retrofit as well as another machine.

I recently saw a KM3-P with tool changer come up for sale, and having had my experience with my KM-3 entertained the thought of getting it because it is relatively easy and straight forward retrofit, once youv'e gone up the learning curve.

I feel EMC2 is an upgrade from the ultimax II, but the biggest benefit is the learning experience that makes the retrofit non-proprietary, or more aptly propietary to you. You'll know your machine and control inside and out and will be able to come up with a dozen ways to approach a fix, rather than rely on an EMT to make it to your house and charge up the paddles to get your heart going again when Hurco tells you how much that antique pcb is going to cost.