Mori Seiki TL5 Lathe controller upgrade with DSPMC

[piv]

Ive got a 1978 Mori Seiki TL5 lathe with a Fanuc 2000 controller. The controller is ancient and has to go. So its going to get a DSPMC with Mach3 to run it.  It swings about 500mm, has a 300mm chuck, is about 1100mm between centres and has an 8 place auto tool changer. The spindle has a two speed gearbox and a 22kW (30hp) mitsubishi DC motor on it. Back when it was new it probably cost as much as three or four houses. It spent the later part of its life making mining drill bits and drill pipe adapters.  So it has done some work, but all credit to its makers as it is in fine condition for such an ancient monument.

Thanks to the Mach3 forum, it seems practical to keep the Fanuc Gettys DC servos and drives and the Mitsubishi Diarol DL SCZ spindle drive and DC motor.

Ive got some before photos to show once I figure out how to upload them.

[Hood]

Looking forward to the pics, just use the additional options button on the reply page to attach them
Hood

[piv]

Here are the before pictures of the TL5

[piv]

And a few more.

[piv]

TL5 before  pictures

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Last before pictures.

[piv]

So you can see I got a few of the guards powdercoated when we took them off to move it. Once its up and running again we will give the rest of it a paint job. Its amazing how a coat of paint makes them look like (almost) new. The fridge size control box used to sit in front of the machine with a LED indicator panel (the one labeled Fanuc Mori) to show what G code was active and show the numbers. It did have a dnc connection to a PC. But its all too hard to use. We will put the "fridge" behind the machine and a PC display at the front.  I will start putting the DSPMC on it in about a week or so as I have a customers five axis router to finish off first.

[Hood]

Nice looking lathe, seems to be a few popped up here recently, not sure if any are retrofitted yet though.
Hood

[JHChoppers]

I'll be watching this build !!!  Can't wait to see your progress.

JH

[Budget Machine Tool]

Nice lathe. I'll be keeping an eye on you project. I wish mine was as big.