Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: boby on July 24, 2007, 08:31:45 AM
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Has anyone converted a 120 to Mach 3?
Bob
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If it's anything like my emco 140 it will need a whole new control to work with mach.
Does it have 5 phase steppers?
Is the main spindle a DC motor and what HP is it?
I am using the existing 5 phase steppers. The only drives I know of that will work are Vexta drives. They are on ebay for around $100/axis. If you have the german motors you will have to do some sluething to find the right part# for the vexta drive to work with it. I have some documentation that may be of some use.
The alternative is to replace the motors with more modern stuff. Mine were brand new, so I elected to use them.
The spindle drive is a bit more of a problem. Mine is a 7.5 hp DC drive, but it is a 400V motor. So I am running it at 250V. I will only get about 4hp cont. 5hp peak this way, but that is enough for my needs.
I am currently putting the thing together.
I'll help if I can.
Monty
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Check out Digital Machinist, a publication by Home Shop Machinist & Machinist Workshop. They had an article on converting an EMCO machine and it may apply to yours also. It was just a matter of clipping a latching type IC off the board and installing some jumpers, no extra drivers to buy. I just read it yesterday.