Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: BBRREID on April 08, 2007, 09:51:35 PM
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Hi,
I need some advice on connecting my Norwin drive to my pc to run on Mach3.
where do I connect to the drives (pic of cover attached) to my parallel cable.
I tried pin 2 and pin 3 to comd - and comd + without any joy.Its a Boxford ACL lathe
and the old ANC control is done.
thanks
Brian
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You will need a step and direction to +/- 10V converter to run the Amps.. There are a few that you can get and I don't have a link to them :( A few of the guys here have used them in the past and I think they will tell you more.
Thanks
Brian
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Thanks Brian
I will just have to wait for a link.I need so get the machine back up and running ASAP.
It would be handy if someone in Scotland could come in and do the connection as I'm
not very good with electronics
Regards
Brian Reid
Reid Engineering
Dundee
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Send a Message to the user Hood, he is Scotland and may be able to help you.
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Thanks Brian
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Brian
As the other Brian pointed out those drives require an analogue velocity command signal(-comd +comd) not Step/Dir signals.
Seems Norwin are still in business, http://www.norwin.co.uk/dcdrives.htm
It might be worth trying to contact them to get a datasheet for your drives.
Looks like you will need to obtain a couple of the skyco cards to convert Step/Dir to the +-10v signal you require.
http://www.skyko.com/
It's either that or get yourself a pair of Gecko G320's or CNC Teknix Tek10 drives, and hopefully you have encoder feedback on your original motors.
What information is on the motor nameplates?
Wayne....
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Wayne, thankyou for the reply. here is the info on the motors:-
SEM perm. magnet dc servo motor
type mt 30E4-52
cont. stall torque 1.1 NM tenv
max rpm 2700 Volts 140
Pulse Amps 13
Tacho 9.5 volts/1000 rpm
body size = 4 " diam. x 7. 5/8" long
position is by glass scale on one of the machines ( I have 4 all needing repaired) and another 2 with encoders on the end of the leadscrews Heidenhain ROD 426.000B-250 ID. No. 295 434 35.
I really need to get at least one of the machines up and running ASAP but I dont know what road to take
Best Regards
Brian Reid
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Brian.
OK for what it's worth, first try to get the machine with the ROD426 encoders working first. These are 250 line differential output encoders and will work fine with either Gecko G320 servo drives ($114 each) or the CNC Teknix TEK10 Drive ($324 AUD) The gecko's will work just fine and there's probably no need to have the extra sophistication of the TEK drives.
These will all work out of the box with Mach3.
The encoders will need their own 5v power supply as the Heidenhain encoders have a faily high current requiremnet. I have the pinouts for these if you ned it.
Do you have a pic of these machines, it's not a machine I have seen I think.
Wayne....
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Thanks Wayne,
I will order the Geco drives and let you know when they arrive,
Regards
Brian
brian.reid@fsmail.net
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Wayne,
I will get some pics together and there is one updated machine on ebay uk just now
cheers
Brian
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Brian
Ah right it's a flatbed machine, I have two boxford TCL lathes here, they are slantbeds.
Before you rush off buying new drives, check what your bus voltage is going to the original drives. Although those motors are rated at 150v it's quite likely they are running at a lower voltage. Both the drives I mentioned have a max volatge of 80v DC.
The other drives in this range with step/dir inputs are the Rutex drives, but it seems some have had reliability issues with them, and support can be flakey!
It maybe that you will need to look into the psu's you have on the machine to ensure you stay within spec.
Was that machine equipped with a NEE control originally?
Wayne.....
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Brian just replied to your PM but see Wayne has given you some good info. BTW forgot to say in my PM I am in Carnoustie and workshops in Arbroath.
Hood
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Wayne,
the drives work fine its the control thats a gonner which is an ANC www.adolph-numerical.co.uk
and the large spindle motor SSD drive.I emailed Norwin and awaiting reply.
Brian
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Brian
Adolph, what a name for a CNC control!
Whats up with the original control? Just womdering whether it might better to repair that if it's a simple fault.
Your drives may be OK, but not being step/dir input drives makes life difficult unless you want to fork out $1000+ on a Galil card! Even then I'm not sure yet how well mach is integrated with the Galil's.
The skyco cards I mentioned earlier take step/dir and convert to +-10v velocity command, but If I recall correctly the drives should be running on Torque mode, what differnce it makes over veloicity mode with the skyco I'm not sure.
The final decision is of course down to you, and you have quite a few options. Each have their issues.
With the Gecko's or any other DC Brushed drive with step/dir you would probably be up and running quicker. But you will have to ensure the DC Bus voltage in your lathe is 80v or less.
You should probably also get yourself a breakout board to inteface your parallel port to the machine the CNC4PC type seems to be the best value for money these days.
There are likely things you can resuse from the old control. like the MPG (Jog encoder) if ones fitted.
It's likely your machine also has a spindle encoder, this is not usable for screwcutting with mach via the parallel port. If you wish to have screwcutting and use the parallel port then a simple index signal is required. There are other devices that MAY allow spindle syncing via encoder sooner or later (G100 from Gecko)
Wayne.....
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Wayne ,
I emailed Norwin and got a quick reply here it is:-
The drive requires an analogue (+/-10V) speed command. How are you going to
generate this from the parallel printer port?
Regards,
John Stanness
Norwin Electronics Ltd
"speed command" does this help ?
Brian
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Brian
Speed Command = Velocity Command which is what I called it above, but never mind!
No you can't get a velocity command direct from a printer port, but there are at least two devices that will convert stepper drive type Step and Direction commands into +-10v which effectively converts the drive to a drive working in Position Mode rather than Velocity or Torque mode.
The devices are the Skyco Pxie 100 board as mentioned above, or the Rutex R991H. The pixue is the newest and the best priced on the market.
You original drives seem to ve Velocity type as they have a Tacho input. As I said above I'm not certain how well any of the above devices willl work in Velocity mode rather than Torque.
The only certain thing is you are more likely to be able to get your motors working from a Gecko G320 with less headaches.
I wish you were down south I'd give yo a hand!
Wayne....
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Thanks Wayne,
my son measured 95 volts dc going into the drive so we will have to work out a way to reduce to 80 volts
I emailed Gecko with the info from the motors and I had a look at the Skyko which seems like a good idea also
I will have a look at Rutex also.its gonna have to be make my mind up shortly.
thanks
Brian
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Brian
Well trying to convert the 95v to something the Gecko's will be happy with will probably be more work than using the Skyco Pixie boards.
I did take a look at their faq yesterday to see if there was anything about torque v's velocity modes, and it seems it should not be too much cause for concern.
The pixies are also cheaper allround to implement.
Give em a go.
Wayne....
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Thanks Wayne,
In the process of ordering 2 boards. If they work I will order another 8 boards
Brian
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Brian
How well is your project progressing?
Wayne...
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Think he may have other things on his mind at the moment, forklifts are involved :(
Hood
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Just an update
still waiting for skyko boards, took delivery of beaver cnc mill, power supply needs renewed on Yamazaki cnc lathe, coming today I hope
and slight problem with Beaver mill ( goes into Allstop sometimes half-way through program),encoder needed for Bridgeport interact1 heidenhain 145 a little behind with orders to busy to have a nervous breakdown so everything just fine
Brian
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Was passing your workshop earlier and was going to pop in, think maybe I made the right descision ;)
Hood
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Hello
I'm have got lathe tuch as in the name of the topic.
I'm looking for manual of cnc lathe such as on a picture. I have only programing manual ( i can make available this manual for somebody).
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Wanye,
got the Skyko's and I cant tune them in maybe the fact that the encoders are on the end of the ballscrew and not the motor
every time I press the jog key in Mach3 the Skyko faults out
I am now thinking about the Viper drives verses the Geko. any thoughts on this
Brian