New Machine Build- concerting Milltronic mill into Mach3 controller

[osdhillon]

Hi guys

I just got Milltronics IV with 140VDC, 46 Amps, 3600 RPM servos and VFD. The Monitor is not working and the cable is plugged out from the control box.

I need help to convert it into Mach controller. Does anybody have the schematics and the info regarding the servo drives.

Any help is appreciated.!!!!
Thanks
Onkar

[flatheadford49]

osdhillon,

I also want to convert my machine to mach3.

I have what I believe to be a milltronics partner 4. At least I found a photo of one and it looks like a twin to my machine,which is a rigid ram cnc knee mill. it has 70 volt servo motors with encoders. It also has southwestern industries rotary encoders on the x and y axis.

This is my first cnc machine and my first post in the cnc area. So it's going to be quite a learning experience.

Are you going to try and keep the existing servo motors and drivers. That is what I plan on doing. I think to do this I will need a DAC board or digital to analog converter. There used to be a board called a Pixie 100 or something but the company stopped manufacturing them.
And if you have heard of the Cnc Brain. if the company ever starts producing them they will have a dac board. But haven't heard much from them for a while.
So I guess i'll start asking some questions and searching thru the massive amount of info here.

Good Luck with your project
Falthead

[osdhillon]

Dear Flathead

Here is the info on my machine:
Milltronics 4D with Centurion5 controller. It comes with VFD, coolant pump and look like it has been modified to accomodate auto tool change.

I did some research on servo drives, hopefully I should have the specs and wiring diagram within a day or two.

I will post some pics soon.
I am planning to use MACH3 with a breakout board( any suggestions) which can control coolant pump, VFD, etc. Also I am planning to use a seperate PLC for it (any suggestions?). and most probably I am going to buy the pendant.

The goal is to retrofit this machine to a workhorse with fully functional control and the budget $ is not a issue here.
My next machine is 10X5 ft CNC router( The mechanics are 95% ready, and I a planning to put controls on by January 2010)

Keep in touch and any information shared is appreciated.
thanks
osdhillon

[70cyclone]

Originally Posted by osdhillon Dear Flathead Here is the info on my machine: Milltronics 4D with Centurion5 controller. It comes with VFD, coolant pump and look like it has been modified to accomodate auto tool change. I did some research on servo drives, hopefully I should have the specs and wiring diagram within a day or two. I will post some pics soon. I am planning to use MACH3 with a breakout board( any suggestions) which can control coolant pump, VFD, etc. Also I am planning to use a seperate PLC for it (any suggestions?). and most probably I am going to buy the pendant. The goal is to retrofit this machine to a workhorse with fully functional control and the budget $ is not a issue here. My next machine is 10X5 ft CNC router( The mechanics are 95% ready, and I a planning to put controls on by January 2010) Keep in touch and any information shared is appreciated. thanks osdhillon

if the budget is not an issue why would you replace an industrial control with mach??? If i were you I would look into replacing the cent5 with a cent6 or 7 or just repairing the 5 depending what is wrong with it. but hey you can send me all the cent5 parts...ill even pay shipping

[flatheadford49]

Hi Guys,
I'm not sure I have a Miltronics or not, but I found a pic of a machine
That looks exactly mine except for the servo motors and control.The ID. tag
says my machine was manufactured in 1984 and below that it has Partner IV. My machine has a Trak CNC2 control.

Here is a pic of a machine that looks like mine. The nameplate is missing
on the head.
I would like to keep the control and a replacement cost is $1200. I believe it is a conversational control. No crt. If I could get this control to work I would go with it. But if not it may cost a lot less to go pc and mach3 if I could use the existing servos and drivers. I understand I would need a DAC board to do this.Is that right and are any being manufactured now.

Thanks
Flathead

[70cyclone]

Originally Posted by flatheadford49 Hi Guys, I'm not sure I have a Miltronics or not, but I found a pic of a machine That looks exactly mine except for the servo motors and control.The ID. tag says my machine was manufactured in 1984 and below that it has Partner IV. My machine has a Trak CNC2 control. Here is a pic of a machine that looks like mine. The nameplate is missing on the head. I would like to keep the control and a replacement cost is $1200. I believe it is a conversational control. No crt. If I could get this control to work I would go with it. But if not it may cost a lot less to go pc and mach3 if I could use the existing servos and drivers. I understand I would need a DAC board to do this.Is that right and are any being manufactured now. Thanks Flathead

the one in the picture is a Milltronics Centurion 4 control. what makes a Milltronics a Milltronics is the control. they got there start by retrofiting iron like whats in the picture with their control.
if your machine doesn't have a centurion control on it then it wasn't built at the factory as you have it. do you have any pictures of your machine including inside the electrical box?

[flatheadford49]

70cyclone,

You answered my question about the manufacturer of my machine.I guess I do not have a milltronics. I have the same iron but it was sold by a company that did not have it's own control and they put a southwest industries control on it.
Thanks for the education.

Another thought, Maybe I could get parts for my machine from miltronics, if they still support the older mills.

The machine itself seems to be in good condition. It appears to have ground ball screws and I can't detect any backlash at all like you can with an acme leadscrew, but I haven't went as far as putting a tenths indicator on it to find out for sure.

Thanks for the help, guess I'll try some of the other forums more suited to retrofitting the old iron.

Thanks again

osdhillon,
If I find any thing out I will definitely share with you.
Good luck with your retrofit project.

Flathead

[ranchak]

You can get parts for your Centurion from Milltronics. I was just speaking with the District sale mgr for the southern CA region. Very nice and helpful guy. They have parts and service in Ontario, CA and in MN. Here is there website:

http://www.milltronics.net/

I am also looking at a Milltronics that is missing the controller, still too soon to know.

[osdhillon]

Hi Guys,

Before I bought this machine, it was said to be working and the monitor was said to be faulty. I changed the monitor and powered the machine . NO RESPONSE at all. The front panel is just dead. I do not see and lights in the front panel.

Any suggestions where to start from.
thanks
Onkar