Need Retrofit help in Dublin Texas.

[i_r_machinist]

I have a cnc knee mill that I want to retrofit with a new control. Machine runs now but the control is a dinosaur. I tried to load a program in but the old control won't take but a couple hundred lines.This is for my home shop. I can pay but would rather barter. I'm going to build wind turbines.
have fun
i_r_machinist

[i_r_machinist]

I guess I should lay out some more info. Graduated TSTI in Waco in '84? with machine shop degree. Been in the trade ever since. Robotics tech, programer, manufacturing engineer, toolmaker. Nuke plant fixit guy, been there, still doing that.
I need a guy ((person,) I'm happiy married,females welcome), that knows this,(electronics) field.

I run the machines. I don't know what makes the machines run.

have fun
i_r_machinist

[service_bb]

What sort of control are you interested in upgrading too? We can put any control on you want, but specialize in Fanuc.

[Legdoc]

Welcome I_R_machinist from a '81 TSTI MSO Waco grad in S. Texas!
Legdoc

[nztomcat]

If you pay for flights etc I will come help you. However I'm not even in your country.

What control system are you trying to fit onto it and what hardware are you trying to get evertying to work with. Pictures would help

[i_r_machinist]

After alot of reading, I like the viper 200 drive and the Mach3 system. But,,, I just found this site, probotics.com, that I'm reading through. I would like to use the servos that are on the machine. Each of those are hooked up with a nine pin cable now. What would be the odds that it would just plug into the viper nine pin and run? I'm not sure how much a plane ticket from NZ would be, but I'll check on it
have fun
i_r_

[nztomcat]

Hello

Well your posts are a bit back to front. A tad or I'm not quite following them.

You want to use the current servo motors in there now correct? If this is the case is there something wrong with the servo drives currently in the machine? I noticed you are looking at the viper 200 series. This is a servo drive you have yet to mention what control you want to use.

Since you are looking at a retro fit of a control thats in there no try to use your existing servo drives. They will most likely be an analogue control signla which can be controlled via a kmotion+Kanalogue setup this will run with mach3 or its own software.

You will also have limit switches etc on your machine what voltage supply are these running on? Do you have a VSD currently on your machine or are you going to fit one?

Feel free to send me a message with more information

Thanks Nick

[i_r_machinist]

Nick, Sorry if my posts are topsy turvy.
I bought a Sharnoa cnc kneemill. Spanish iron, French electronics, Israely software. Machine runs fine, but has a very small memory, and the most awkward operating system.
I want to put a modern control on the machine. I have a desktop computer with windows '98. Thus Mach 3 seems to be a good fit.
It never crossed my mind that I could use the old drive cards.
I will check all my voltages today and get back with you. Thanks for the imput!
Have Fun
i_r_machinist
aka Kerry

[roundman]

Hey ir that is a fine school (TSTC used to be TSTI) and it produces good skilled people. I remember when they had no cnc's wow great manual machines they had. The company I worked for sent four people to a night class and we had a good experience. Those were the days when we actually had to get hands on. Good luck on your retrofit I think what you want to do should be a good challange.

[AAWALLACE]

I'm in the process of upgrading a 95 SVC 52 with Tiger 5 to Mach 3. I'll watch this thread, ask for advice, and tell you how my project goes. By the way, my grandfather, Maj. Oscar B. Smith, was born in Dublin, TX in 1895, and buried there in 1980. I live in North Idaho.

[i_r_machinist]

AA,
Have you already bought the mach3? If not, take a good hard look at EMC2. It can do some things that mach3 can't. Look on you tube.
good luck
i_r_