Cross pollination of controllers, drives/amps and servos

[Tywash]

Can you mix different brand controllers, drives/amps and servos? Such as Galil motion control, with Parker servo drives and Allen-Bradley servos? These were just random choices (X+Y+Z)

It seems like most companies use a proprietary cabling system between components. I didn't know if there was a work around of if you have to commit to just one.

Can you get away with contol and drive from one company and servos from any other? It seems like this is the case from what I have been reading, just want to be absolutely sure.

[NC Cams]

If the feedback loops between the motors/amps/controllers are compatible, you should be able to interface them.

However, if the amp is looking for a tach F/B and you don't give it one because the motor doesn't have a tach or a way to mount one, you could be in for trouble. Ditto that for any motor that needs a commutation F/B signal for it to run.

There are/maybe work arounds but they may require some adaptive circuitry or other chicanery to make them work.

The first thing you'll need is pin out information. WIthout that, you're screwed. It also helps to have some electronics engineering capability in some situations.

You may get into a case where you'll need an electronics backgound to turn "active lows" in to "active highs" or other wire banging stuff like that - some of the "wire banger" lingo is NOT self evident to understand/figure out.

In the case of Bridgeport mills, that is essenitally what they did - mix and match amps and motors (Ex: MSI drives, SEM motors) BUT they were at least compatible as they had the F/B's that were needed to do so).

Without the proper feed back interfacing, the answer to your question is probably a resounding NO.

[Al_The_Man]

There are quite a few manuf. that make drives and not motors and vice-versa.
The main thing is, is to obtain as much specification as possible before looking for a match.
BTW Galil use rebranded A-M-C and Allen-Bradley use Reliance (ElectroCraft), principally because they now own the company.
This is fairly prevalent practice.
From personall experience in mix and matching, I found that DC and DC brushless are fairly straight forward, it is AC sinusiodal that can get tricky, due to the lack of information on resolvers that are often custom made by the motor manufacturer.
Most pin out information can be obtained online.
Two other manufactures of motors and drives are Copley-Controls and Aerotech.
Al.

[Tywash]

i think I am leaning towards Galil motion control for the simple fact that I like Camsoft's features. Does anyone know if this interconnect module will allow me to run other companies servo drives?
ICM-1900

[Tywash]

I answered my own question thanks. The answer is yes and no.

[Al_The_Man]

This unit breaks out 100 pin edge connector interface signals for hard wiring, so it does not so much depend on the break-out board (ICM1900) but the card features.
Common ones are ±10v analogue, sinusoidal and step/dir.
Al.

[Tywash]

After reading Galil's application notes yes it's possible to run almost anyone's drive and motors. But from glancing through the application notes you can run in either torque or velocity modes, but only in an open loop.

For closed loop you will have to keep your brands the same. Controllers, encoders, motors, and drives oh my!

Now this may not be true with all controllers, just with this one (Galil Optima) Now if only there was a unifying standard for everone to rally behind.

[Al_The_Man]

Originally Posted by Tywash But from glancing through the application notes you can run in either torque or velocity modes, but only in an open loop. For closed loop you will have to keep your brands the same. Controllers, encoders, motors, and drives oh my! .

Never even heard of that or experienced that
The only way I use the Galil card is Torque mode - closed loop, and I use any drives, motors, encoders that I can get that will do the job.
The velocity drives are only used mainly now for replacements for older controller that may have problems using torque mode.
Al.

[Tywash]

I am more than willing to admit that I am grossly misunderstanding the documents I have glanced through. I just never saw the words "closed loop" listed in them. It is possible the whole document was a description of a closed loop system and I am not comprehending it.

[Al_The_Man]

Originally Posted by Tywash I just never saw the words "closed loop" listed in them. It is possible the whole document was a description of a closed loop system and I am not comprehending it.

That may have been the case as Galil pretty much are geared toward closed loop systems for servo's . Unless it is Stepper control.
Al.