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Messages - TinmanTed

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Old machines with original motors generally don't have high resolution encoders, so it's not really an issue.


Not sure that's really accurate. Most encoders on AC/brushless motors I find are more than accurate (4k+ edge counts/rev). 

Just type "AC servo drive" into ebay. Lots and lots of surplus AC drives and machines exist. There are huge quantities of AC motor drives mostly unusable by communities like this one for the lack of analog control. Using surplus AC servo drives would would be the least expensive way, by far, to upgrade to servo drives from steppers. with a huge increase in performance. Vast quantities of high power drives and servos can be had for cheap because the cost barrier to making them work is out of reach for most DIY CNC enthusiast.

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I am sorta worried about demand. But the pixi board sold in pretty good quantities back in the day. There are a few other products out there but not with the performance for high resolution encoders at high speed.

This is for retrofit only. A 'Glue" component that is controller agnostic -- that can open a market of high-quantity of older machines and hardware with analog drives and few other options for low-cost control upgrade.

So one Pixi-board per axis + a "parallel port" controller can control high-power AC servo drives (with analog inputs). It's compelling thing when you think about. I don't think people are used to this idea because it's never really been an option. 


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looking something like this...

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I've been thinking about producing a step and direction "PID servo loop closer" ... a circuit that makes a servo system "look like" a stepper motor. This is would be a new version of the Skyco P100 "Pixi" board -- a small board to enable control of analog servo drives with step/direction signals by closing the PID loop. Skyco had a good run but withdrew the product ~10 years ago.

The principle customer is one who wants to control analog servo dives with step and direction software (like Mach or EMC).

This product is personally appealing because it would allow me to replace the steppers on my Bridgeport with high-performance AC servo motors and drives. I have the motors and drives sitting on the shelf but there lacks an easy way to interface them with Mach3/4.

I think this could significantly open the market for high-performance AC servo retrofits -- especially when considering the surplus of AC servo drives and motors currently untapped by this group.

I'm finishing up my prototype now. This will be a professional product with proper documentation. Please respond If you are interested. Pass the thread along to anyone who might be interested. Let me know of other forums with similar or better visibly for this inquiry.

-Ted

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