Emco pcturn 50

[quizzze]

I just bought a Emco pcturn 50, my first cnc mini lathe but I'm having some problems starting it up.
When I got it I realized that there were afew bits and pices that gone missing in transport. The control keyboard, all the manuals and the software disks.
Fortunately the old 386 PC worked and the software were installed on it.
When I start it up I get a message that a "RS485 device is missing (KBD)" and it stops loading.

I have been told that you be able to run it with the PC keyboard only but you have to install the software again, which I don't have, or you can alter like a .ini file. The ting is that it runs on DOS and it wasn't yesterday I fiddled with that but I can't recall DOS useing .ini files.

Does anyone know which file to alter?

I'm trying to locate the missing parts but they are most likely never to be seen again. If that's the case are there someone that has a control keyboard for sale? And maybe a copy or a pdf of the manual to sell?

Grateful for any suggestions.

[quizzze]

I forgot to mention that it has a Siemens 810T contoller.

Quizzze

[quizzze]

Well since last post I've had no luck in retriving the lost parts and I've learned that I can't buy a new controlkeyboard because Emco doesn't make them anylonger. And the newer model uses a USB connection so it won't fit my DOS computer. Also it appears that the command line for searching after the keyboard lies in some .exe file and that's beyond my experience.
Could it be possible to make a plug to fool the software thinking a keyboard is attached? It uses a rs485 connection.

Any thoughts?

[RotarySMP]

I just used "RS485" as a search criteria in Ebay.de germany. There are plenty of RS232 -> RS485 sex change adapters listed for about €8.

Since RS232 was the old consumer serial keyboard interface before they went to PS2 and then USB, you shouldn't have any problem. I searched ebay fro RS232 keyboard and there is a guy in canada who sells them for $4. You can probably scrounge something like this locally.

[quizzze]

Well it's definatly worth looking into. Thank's.

[Binski]

try and look in the manual..

It is possible to configure the winnc program to work without the keyboard..
I dont know where to look for it anymore.. since i converted my machine to mach3 and sold all the old parts...

If you cant find it .. re-install the software... you can configure the software to run without the board...

[sansbury]

Unless you have a really good reason for keeping the old controller, it may be both cheaper and easier to retrofit new a new driver (such as a Gecko or HobbyCNC) and control it with Mach 3 or EMC2. You should be able to keep all the mechanicals and the old steppers. Depending on the controller design sometimes you can keep that too if it uses step/direction inputs that are easy to get to, but a new driver could probably be rigged for under $300.

[quizzze]

The software is installed on a windows 3.11 and is DOS based and named pcnc. There are a few .ini and .bat files but nothing happens when I alter them. So I'm guessing it's in a .com or .exe file which makes it abit harder.

The software disks, manual and keyboard where lost in shipping, probably for ever. The easyiest way would be to find a set of software disks or a keyboard. If anyone knows about some just laying around please let me know. Otherwise I'll have to replace it I guess.

[Binski]

whell in the install directory there should be a config file with a .exe extension..

In that config file you should be able to toggle the use of the keyboard on and off..

when you restart the software it should work...

Retrofitting is an option..

I could get a hold of some berger lahr D450 drives for the 5-phase stepper motors.. you cannot controll the the orginal motors with gecko drives because the original ones are 5-phase..


To convert to mach3 you will need 5-phase drivers or both new drives and motors... It's do-able i did also...

[quizzze]

Can't seem to find such a file or a setup file.
I only have some .bat files that makes the program start.
I have tried to alter them but no luck.

[Binski]

isnt there also something like a config.bat or something?

It has been a while since i converted my pcm 50 so i cant remember...

But retrofitting it would be a great option..

See if you can find some berger-lahr D450 drives...

Then you can still use those great berger lahr motors...

I did so too on my pc-mill.. i even made it 4-axis ...it runs great on mach:

"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FzuIzdA-es"]YouTube - 4 AXIS emco PC mill 50 in action (test)

And mach works nice too on a lathe:

"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xbKiMLeRkw&feature=channel_page"]YouTube - EMCO COMPACT5 cnc lathe monster retrofit mach3 first time running !


When you have those berger lahr drives for the 5-phase motors.. you can still use the 3-phase motor by installing an inverter..

Just connect everything to a mach3 break out bourd and you're in buisiness.

You can even use the original end switches...

It makes the machine much more usefull in my opinion...


At the other hand you could also try and find a newer software version of winnc for the pc-turn.. but the performance of the machine will improve drasticly..

For exemple... I fitted the D450 drives and set them to half step...
The normal traverse speed of the pc mill whas 750mm/min Now the traverse speed is 1800 and i can set it up to 2200mm/min but i wanted to be safe so i set it to 1800..

The spindle now runs 3000RPM instead of 2500... which is just helping me to engrave a bit better...

[stevenchan]

Dear all..
i have retrof mazatrol T1 Qt20.. i have problem with the servo TRA30A conennection at ZP1.. have any one have the detail pin out ?