Arrow 500 retrofit

[Machellar]

good day all

just finishing up the retrofit on our Romi/Bridgeport lathe - new Mach3 controller - new Kollmorgen drives and motors with a Hitachi VFD - it's been a challenge but, we're just about there - need the spindle speed tweaked and i can start cutting again...

next is our Arrow 500 - same thing, new Kollmorgen drives and motors. we've decided to go 480v on all motors and drives meaning we had to have the original spindle motor rewound from 230v to 480v since, they say, there is no such thing as a 12000 rpm motor that runs 480v. There will be an REFU drive controlling the spindle motor (REFU is a German company). By the way - the guys that did the rewind on the motor did a sweet job!  

What we have learned from the Romi refit will make this one quite a bit easier and faster... until we get to the 21 tool ATC - how the heck is this going to work?  
I've been reading through some of the "tool changer" posts and have some idea but, not really.
I know we'll be using a PLC (Allen/Bradley) that we carry in our central stores but i'm not sure were to start

any advice/direction would be appreciated

thanks

Mark

[Hood]

If the PLC has ModBUS then it shouldnt be too hard
Hood

[dresda]

These guys retrofit The arrow with a PC based control. http://manufacturingnewsweb.com/archives/controls/dec06/maintenance_tech.htm
Does your machine have the CT control from the UK or the control now owned by Vickers?
Ray.

[Machellar]

thanks Hood - i'll check that out - nice to have a place to start

Ray - the old control is a A2100 - Vickers
thanks for the link - i may end up giving them a call

Mark