Need Help!- Delta Tau PMAC Defiance VTX-1

[VTX-1]

Anyone run or have access to a Defiance VTX-1 mill?

I am trying to track down the original PMAC board used in the controls. If anyone could send me the model number of this board or even a picture....it would really help my search. Thank You!

Please shoot me a message if you know anything about this machine....I'm trying to find out as much as I can.

I received a quote from the original control mfg. but I cant afford to have them do everything. I am trying to buy the components myself to help cut the cost.

I have help on a retrofit when I decide to throw in the towel on the original controls.....This is my last try.

Thanks!

[MetLHead]

The Defiance VTX machines use the Creative controls (www.creat.com). I don't have access to one at the moment, but I have installed these controls. For three axis machines, their preferred flavor of PMAC was the PMAC lite (w/ dual port RAM). If you contacted Creative, they should have been able to tell you what PMAC was in it.

Are you trying to install one of these controls, or are you trying to repair it?

Scott

[VTX-1]

Scott,

Thanks for writing. I purchased a VTX-1 without the controls. I am trying to track down the original controls or build them.

I have been working with Creative. They have been very helpful. Unfortunately, I am a hobby user....I just can't afford to buy a new control from them. I would like to present them with the parts needed (cheaply sourced from ebay or ???? ) and pay Creative for the labor and programming.

They have listed the Delta Tau PMAC as my biggest expense, but I do not know which one to buy. You said they prefer the PMAC lite (Thank You) but, is a PMAC Lite simply a PMAC Lite or are there many versions of the PMAC Lite?

Thanks Again for all your help!!

Josh

[MetLHead]

Josh,

Do you happen to have the dongle for the software? If not, then this is another major expense. What components do you have? The computer? The drives and motors? If you can, a few pictures would be helpful too.

As for the PMAC, you would be looking at the PMAC either ISA or PCI with the dual port RAM. The PCI would be preferred, but check with creative make sure the PCI is OK, I don't remember ever using this version. Although, a quick check of the DeltaTau web site doesn't even list the ISA version. Here's a link to the PCI:

http://www.deltatau.com/Common/produ...ware=&manuals=

Hope this helps,
Scott

[VTX-1]

Scott,

Thanks for the link!

I noticed the one you sent was a 4 axis. Can I install something like this in my control and add a 4th axis to my machine later?

To answer your question:

I have a mill that is complete on the inside(Motors and drives)....I have cables that plug into the side of the control cabinet and that it where it ends.....No clue where the other ends of the cables go.

I'm new to CNC by the way. I purchased this machine to learn on.

I have "A" computer just not "THE" computer.
I will need the software and dongle....Creative has offered to sell this to me.

I do have pictures but it is not letting me upload them. I'll try again in a few minutes.

Thanks Again,

Josh

[MetLHead]

Josh,

OK, I've got a pretty good idea now of where you're at with it. The PC side of it consists of:

PC box with parallel port (for the dongle), PMAC board, DOS(!) and probably an ethernet board. I highly recommend using a CompactFlash to IDE adapter in place of a hard drive:

http://www.acscontrol.com/Index_ACS....CF_Adapter.htm

This works very well for a couple of reasons: a) DOS is limited to 2GB, which is a readily available CF card size. b) They won't suddenly crap out on you. c) If you get one that is removable from the front you can just pop it out and stick it into the card reader on a Windows box for transferring files (no floppy disk!).

If you do want ethernet you may have to look around to find an adapter card that has DOS drivers. Some motherboards with the built in ethernet are impossible to get DOS drivers for. So you can just find an old card at your local computer shop, they probably have piles of used parts you can get cheap.

As for the 4th axis, this is not so simple. The 4th port on the PMAC is usually used to command the spindle RPM. For 4th axis you would have to go to the 8 axis PMAC card.

I don't want to discourage you, but this is not a simple project. Have you asked Creative if they can supply you with a new computer with the PMAC and software already installed? Or, at the very least see if they can provide the machine setup files.

Scott