RE: Question - machine conversion

[rwwink]

I have access to a Bridgeport type machine..a knee mill..that was a RoboTool CNC. Overall the machine has very few hours on it and is in extremely good mechanical shape. The motors (DC servo) are in good shape as are the encoders and motor drivers (power supplies?). The interface boards and the motherboard are fried (electrical spike).
Questions are:
Can I use Mach 2 Mill to make a conversion by using the existing motor drives and encoders?
Will I need breakout boards for each axis?
How is the parallel cable interfaced to the drives?
Is Mach 2 Mill a simultaneous 3 axis controller capable of doing contouring?
I was looking at the 45K pulse rate system but question as to if it works with servos – does it?
R. Wink

[bill south]

Hey RW;
I'm by no means an expert but I can shed a bit of light on some of your questions. Sounds like a neat project!!!
Mach 2 (newest mach3) can be used with your servo drives if they use step and direction pulses (inputs). This is your major question (I think).
As for the interface, the parallel breakout board is used which isolates the computer and the drive electronics/encoders and to provide a neat way to wire things. The parallel port is connected to the breakout board and the motor step and direction signals are outputs to the motor drivers. Not real complicated.
You usually get a single breakout board which has inputs and outputs for all the axis.
Mach is an extremely powerful program. If you haven't done so, you should go to the artofcnc website and review some of the video tutorials. They are great and will shed a lot of light on what is needed for your configuration.
As I mentioned, I'm not and expert but you are going to love your little project.
Hope this helps a little.
Bill from Spartanburg.

[SORCHEROR]

first question is,what make are the drive boards?second,are they good for sure?,your best bet would be three new gecko drivers and mach3,find out what max volts and amps the motors are,and if possible,what encoders you have,hopefully they are 5 volts TTL,i bet they are 10 volts analog,check it out let us know
steve

[SORCHEROR]

and yes the mach sofeware does 3d contouring