Milttronics VM24 and Centurion VI

[KombianCNC]

Hi all and greetings from Italy. I'm working for a company that recently bought a used Milltronics machine VM24. The machine has a Centurion VI control with software rel 6.107

The machine has been heavily used by the original customer and needs some service. There is one damaged button in the front panel (Cycle Start) and one is missing (Mist).

Problems encontered :

1) When powered up, the machine display showing the boot of the PC, hangs with the message "Keyboard error. Hit F1 to continue". Hitting the FEED HOLD button AND the F1 function key, force the PC booting process to continue. This way the POST (Power On Self Test) of the PC correclty complete and the software starts. I noticed that the Centurion VI cnc control is an old 486 PC with some version of DOS installed. The CNC software (rel. 6.107) has been someway partially translated in Italian because there are some messages in my language while almost all of the user interface is still in English.


2) Functions keys from F5 to F8 are not working at all and so, it's impossible to have access to some important features of the controller (MDI, Display, and Params section for example) and a complete test of the machine is not possible.

Other functions key are working fine and I was able to complete the homing process of all the axis and move the axis manually with both the Jog commands and the handwheel.

I unmounted the front panel of th Centurion control to see if the functions keys problem could be related to poor electrical contact due to years of use. I noticed that the front panel switch board (referred as assembly 7300 in the documentation) was almost detached by the buttons contacts. In this board the MIST button is missing and the "Cycle Start" button is damaged (lamp missing and the button green plastic cover is missing).

The original customer tried to replace the Cycle start button by itself (this is because the original Italian machine reseller is now out of business and there is no longer assistance for customers).

After this replacement, the machine started to show the "Keyboard Error... " problem quoted above. I inspected the front panel switch board, and, in the position matching the "Cycle Start" button there are a couple of wires soldered between the contacts of the button ! I suspect that such modification has been made by someone and it's not original because is the only button having it. Can someone confirm this ? I have digital pics of the contact and I can send them if needed.

I tried to connect an external keyborad to the DIN connector in the front panel in order to see if the function keys can works but the external keyboard was not recognized by the system. I Read in the documentation that an external keyboard must be set in the Params section of the controller in order to be seen but.... I can't have access to such section because the F7 function key is not working. Pretty comical !!!

Questions:

1) Since the MIST button is completely missing, can this be a cause of some problem ? In other words, if the firmware doesn't detect the presence of some button this could be the cause of the Function keys not working problem ?

2) How to get a couple of spare buttons ? We needs the MIST button referred as SW 90 square keytop, White Honeywell microswitch AML51A10W in the documentation and the CYCLE START button (SW88 square keytop green Honeywell microswitch AML51A10G).


3) Is there any tip to let the controller "see" an external keyboard ? This could allow me to complete the check of the machine because I think that the machine is working, but without a complete control of the function keys I can't proceed.

I hope that someone can help me. I obviously tried to contact Milttronics by email but I have not yet received any answer (may be this will require some days but I have my boss screaming and blowing in my neck !!) Many thanks in advance and please excuse my poor english.

Sandro Fergnani

[skycop927]

Sandro
You can use a regular computer keyboard with a Milltronics machine. There might be a connector for a keyboard on the side of the front panel; look to the right side of the screen. If not, there should be a connection point behind the screen ( I usally leave two of the screw holding the front panel in, so that it can 'swing' enough that I have access). Note, the connector plug for the keyboard is the older style, so you may have to use a 'converter' plug to get it plugged in. Also, since it is a Centurion 6, the Card Cage in the back cabinet (the computer) also has a plugin point; take off the screen at the bottom of the computer cabinet, and you'll be able to dissconnect the Kybd plug and plug in your keyboard there.

From what you have described, I suspect that you may need a new Keyboard Encoder board ( to start with ).

Hope this helps
Dave