Questions about EMC for VMC-Thanx ahead

[JR1050]

Hi,I have a bunch or questions concerning the EMC2.We are presently retrofitting a B&S 1000VC witha Delta tau pmac.We have another B&S and Im considering using the EMC on it.
Is the Emc stout enough to control a full size machine?
At this point,is there enough of plc to control a tool changer,limits,spindle?
Can a seperate Plc be used in conjuction with the EMC to control I/O?
Does the EMC2 control(close) the servo loop on its own,or is a seperate motion card still needed?
Is the I/O still parallel -is it still limited to printer ports?
I read that the EMC2 had a built in soft Plc,limitations?
How many points of I/O are available?
What are its limitations in terms of feed rate,at what feed rate does it start to wander off course?Smooth contouring?


Has anyone out there put this control on anything beyond a bridgeport or sherline?What were the big obsticals?share your info maybe?Thanks ahead of time.

[unterhaus]

look at the EMC wiki, they retrofitted big iron. It's not plug and play depending on your hardware.

Look at the log:
http://wiki.linuxcnc.org/cgi-bin/emc....pl?MazakRetro

Just a few answers:
The control loop is closed using the PC, smart cards are not supported last I looked. The hardware is fairly extensive. Look at the wiki
http://wiki.linuxcnc.org/cgi-bin/emcinfo.pl/
They use classic ladder for PLC, I don't know much about it.
Seperate PLC would require software to be written.
EMC is as stout as it gets for a PC based control.
Feedrate maximum depends on your hardware/iron.

[don_harby]

I would really like to see how you are going to implement the tool changers on the B&S 1000? I did a B&S 1000 but took off the tool changer. It is mostly hydraulic and has a complex hydraulic sequencer.

[JR1050]

The tc on The B&S is hydraulic cam and selonoid driven with limit and prox switches.Read the section in the operation manual on the tc and you will find it expained in specific detail.If you cant live with the cam drum(the mechanism that actually calls the sequence to change the tools),you could always change the whole thing to seloniods like a Mattsurra.Its not surprising B&S chose cams,considering the era and their screw machine linage.Actually,the tc is pretty simple,it unfortunatly,doesnt have a whole lot of cheks and balances and when it is not working,it is very difficult.Later model machines had additional sensors.Whay was the original control on your machine?