What is needed to retrofit Dyna 2200 and 2400 macines

[spanky1954]

I have 2 machines at school that will only run on the 486 wit Dyna software. I need to get them set up to run the Mach 3 program but need to come up with the correct hardware first. I am not familiar with PLC's but will learn quick. Any help that I can get would be truly appreciated.

Thanks,

Scott

[Hood]

Unlikely you will need a PLC unless there is a toolchanger involved.
Do you have any documentation on the machines (or a link) or even some pics of the hardware in the control box might help. How do they connect to the PC, is it to the parallel port or is it to a PCI or ISA card?
Hood

[spanky1954]

I have the manual and will take some pics of the machine inside and out. It is feed by a parallel input from a com port. I will get the info and get back.

Thanks,
Scott

[Hood]

Look to see if its a serial or a parallel port(printer port ), if its the latter it should be relatively easy to convert.
Hood

[spanky1954]

Thanks for helping Hood. It is a parallel input. Here are some pics.

[Hood]

If it is a parallel port connection only (no PCI cards or additional serial ports) then it should just be a matter of hooking up to a computer with Mach and configuring.
Do you have a pic of inside the box?
Hood

[spanky1954]

There are rom chips that are in the controller and you can manually create the code for creating a part line by line. You use it to set up the home position and reference points. I use MasterCAM to create the part and use the post processor to create the code for the Dyna. The code must then be sent from the computer to the Dyna. That is where the problem comes in. I will get an error on the Dyna every time I send the code to the Dyna if I use anything more than a 486 machine. Pentiums will not work. The cable used to transfer the code has a parallel end to the dyna and comes out of a com port on the computer. I dont know how that works but if you use the 486 with the com por configured it works. I hope this helps. The pics I took today were blurry looking in the box, Sorry

Thanks
Scott

[spanky1954]

Here is a PDF copy of the manual.

[Jeff_Birt]

I converted a 2400 a while back. Basically you have to remove the distribution board, which takes the signals from the Dyna controller and then sends seperate S/D signals to each axis and replace it with a Break Out Board. I kept the stock stepper drives but they are a bit odd in that they step on both edges of the step signal. This does not work well with the parallel port driver as it likes to put out very tiny pulses, even with the pulse with increased in Mach it only works fair.

 A much better solution I think would be to replace the drivers with a G540. The G540 will take care of the need for a break out board and gives you four new state of the art stepper drives. You can keep the stock 24V stepper power supply as it is a good match for the stock stepper motors. The stock stepper motors are also really good quality so if they work don't mess with them.

Send me an email to birt_j@soigeneris.com and I'll send you the wiring diagram of the break out board I made when I converted my 2400. As I mentioned before I would not recommend doing it the way I did it but the wiring diagram does show you which wires are which on the stepper control cables etc.

[mfgbydesign]

Scott,
I use NCLink (free download, no spam) from OneCNC.net with a MC post set up to output programs longer than 900 lines.
RS232 Pin-Outs:
1 - 1
2 - 3
3 - 2
4 - 5
5 - 4

Start NCLink, open the .nc file (do not send yet).
Send Settings:
2400 Baud
8 Bit
Even Parity
1 Stop Bit
RTS/CTS Handshake on
Remove spaces UNCHECKED
Line delay 5 ms

Dyna Line Mode, Read/Write, Download, Program Execute. Display's Ready.
Go to NCLink and Send File. File transfers until line 900, machine runs, pauses while DNC downloads the next 900, etc. Works Great!