Problem- Frewire servo drives

[TOTALLYRC]

I just picked up a machine that I am sure I will have to retrofit since it doesn't work.
It has a softservo system that doesn't work and the drives themselves use a Firewire connection to the computer.

Does anyone know if the Firewire drives are good for anything other than the dumpster?

If they could be converted to analog input that would be great as the power stage is just fine.

Mike

[mactec54]

TOTALLYRC

Softservo don't have a firewire system,But they do/did support it. What drives/motors are in the machine & what does the control look like

There system is one of the best out there & are quite easy to trouble shoot

Post some photos

[TOTALLYRC]

Hi Mactec54,

Softservo doesn't use the Firewire drives anymore but they at one point did.
There is no CONTROL per say as the 4 drives are daisy chained together via Firewire and then connected directly to the computer via Firewire.

The computer didn't have the 1394 Firewire card installed when I picked it up.

It also appears to be missing another card that would handle the I/O for the MPG and other things.

I won't be able to get the machine inside for a week but I guess I could run power to it outside to do some diagnostic work if need be.

I don't want this to sound confrontational but the person I got this machine from said that this machine never truly worked or never worked properly from day one and that Softservo was not much use in getting it running. They have gotten away from the Firewire drives just for this reason.

Softservo doesn't seem to be a player in the CNC business. Up until I looked into this machine I had never heard of them. Not that I have heard all there is to hear about CNC.

Having read some of your posts from when this machine was discussed last you seem to be a big supporter of Softservo. Do you currently have any Softservo systems running Firewire drives up and running?

I would like to believe that this can work but don't want to put a ton of time into a questionable system when I know Mach3 works like a charm and I have most of the stuff on hand to convert it.

If the existing system can be gotten up and running for a few hundred dollars and some time then I will look into it otherwise I will put some new drives on it and convert it to Mach3.

I don't have pics yet so if you tell me what you want me to take pics of I will do so.


Mike

P.S. I just went and reviewed their site again. One of my pet peeves is no prices. Let say I really like the system and decide I want to get it, how do I know what the cost is? Looks like lots of money when they don't put pricing or a least a systems starting as low as XX.

[TOTALLYRC]

I was so busy yammering that I forgot to answer one of your questions.

It has the Ormec Servowire SAC SMS210/E for the X,Y, and Z axes with the Z having a brake on the motor. The 4th axis has a SAC SWS205/EP drive

Motors are made by Custom motors and are 230v 1.0 HP.

The control is just a nice custom touch screen PC that is form fitted into a cabinet. The computer is nicely done and is about 1ghz.

Mike

[TOTALLYRC]

While we are discussing making this work does anyone know what a good analog input drive would be that would work with these motors?
I have 2 Kollmorgen Servostar cd drives that should work but they are a little low on amps (3).

Mike

[mactec54]

TOTALLYRC
I have 1 machine that is running Softservo control, for 10 years now,& is in use everyday

It sounds like you will have a problem with having parts missing,The ormec drives are a very good drive, & I think there service is ok too

I do not run that system on my machine I use the Softservo VersioBuss system, it still uses fiber-optic cable, I only use Yaskawa Drives/Motors

I think someone messed up your system, as once they are running there is very little to go wrong, You can't do any testing without the card in the computer, as this talks to the drives

Softservo mostly only deal with OEM manufacters so is quite hard to get the answers that you may need

I think you should call Ormec first about your drives/motors as the motors may be matched to those drives, & they may not run on anything else

I think your system was done/put together by Ormec & just ran the Softservo software, I would start with Ormec

[TOTALLYRC]

Hi Mactec,
I will look thru the documentaion that I have and will call ormec if need be.
I will update this as the SAGA continues.

Thanks.

I just unloaded the machine from the trailer so I am getting closer to getting it inside the building.

Mike

[mactec54]

TOTALLYRC

What machine is this control mounted on

[TOTALLYRC]

The control is mounted on a CMS Toolcrafter.

Mike

[TOTALLYRC]

I was able to get the computer inside the shop and powered up. It was easy since we removed the entire operators console for shipping. 4 screws and 6 wires.

As soon as it booted it had a message that the Firewire card was missing. It also seems to be missing an I/O card of some sort.

Looks more and more like Mach3 is in its future.

Mike

[TOTALLYRC]

Since I kneed this running and really don't want to learn another software package I pulled the servo drives out.
I will be installing Mach3 with a DSPMC controller.
I am putting the V2 controller on my BTC-1 and will put the V1 controller on this.
The lathe tha was going to get the V1 DSPMC will get a pport breakout and some yapsc converter since I just picked them up from a fellow Zoner.

The drives are available if anyone needs them or has a use for them.

Mike