How to interface Parker to PC??

[caden]

Been lurking for awhile and would like to ask a few questions.

I got a good deal on two Parker OFS350-DRI Stepper drivers

http://divapps.parker.com/divapps/em...50-DRI_HIG.pdf

And three LV341-01-10 stepper motors:

http://www.parkermotion.com/literatu...LVHV_flier.pdf

The motors are 550 oz-in, and are matched to the drives.

I have 90 and a 30 amp DC servo grade power supplies that I can modify for the correct voltage and current.

I also have some glentek GA5520 and GA6520 servo amplifiers but think I would rather learn the basics with steppers.

Question:

What do I need to connect these stepper drives to a desktop PC thru RS-232? (will a $9 Ebay RSD232 to TTL using USB 5v power work??)

I work in a machine shop and have manual mill and lathe experience, and a firm background in electrical and PLC programming. We have a bunch of CNCs but I don't run them. At home I have a Bridgeport clone, a Hendy 13x42 lathe and an imported 10x36 lathe. I would like to eventually convert them to CNC and manual operation.

I have a buddy I work with that wrote the programming we used to use on our CNCs. It is Windows based and conversational and converts the program into G-Code. He says he can do whatever is necessary to modify the signal to the rs-232 (programming change)

Like I said I have a firm electrical background but not electronic but can learn anything.

Question:

Will the 550 oz-in steppers be strong enough to drive the lead screw and cross slide on my small lathe? If I measure the existing torque required with a torque wrench (in-lbs) X 15.97 will that give an accurate torque requirement?


Thanks,
Bill

[caden]

have learned a little since this first post. Was able to get the OFS drives and motors working using a CNC4PC parallel board and TurboCNC. Also found a junked HF 8 x 20 lathe that I am going to convert.

more later

Bill