Messages

31

General Mach Discussion / missing steps???!

« on: March 18, 2008, 12:15:39 PM »

Hi,

I don't know if this is the right term, but I am just about done with an installation (retrofit of a Shizouka cnc knee mill using the original steppers), and sometimes when I run a rapid using mdi mode, my x axis motor just 'whines' -makes a higher pitched noise than usual and just sits there.  I have 14 thou of backlash which I know I need to fix.  Usually, it doesn't have any problem, and it is the only axis for which I have programmed backlash.  The Y axis is set to the same motor tuning parameters. 

I am using Gecko 203V's.

Any Ideas?

Thanks.

Bill

32

General Mach Discussion / Re: Six wire motor wiring

« on: January 30, 2008, 12:23:50 PM »

Ian,

Thanks a lot.  I'm going to give half winding a shot.

Bill

33

General Mach Discussion / Six wire motor wiring

« on: January 28, 2008, 04:31:39 PM »

Hi,

I am retrofitting a Shizouka cnc knee mill with a Bandit controller
which has some 6 wire steppers on it and I am trying to figure out
whether I should wire them in full or half winding. The drives that
were on there have inputs for A1, A2, Acommon, B1, B2, Bcommon, so I
can't tell from the previous wiring scheme. I have 203V's. Looking at
the schematic for the old drives, for each winding, there is a diode
between the common and each side of the winding. The diagram shows
the diode inside a dotted line rectangle with a transistor as well.

The rated amperage on the motors is 3.1 and the rated voltage is 4.5 (I
think).  The power supply on the machine is 45 Volts.

Any ideas?

Thanks,

Bill

34

General Mach Discussion / Re: retrofit - steppers or servos?

« on: October 04, 2007, 12:46:08 PM »

I am going with steppers and trying to reuse the power supply components as suggested.  Those components are: 1 multitap transformer, four power capacitors, three bridge rectifiers, and three regulators.  I am confused though because I looked up the regulators' voltages and the highest voltage regulator is for 14 Volts.  I have Gecko 203V drives which say the voltage should be between 4 and 20 times the rated voltage of my motors which is 4.6 Volts.  That makes a minimum of  18.4 Volts.  Any ideas on how to proceed?

Thanks,

Bill

35

General Mach Discussion / Re: retrofit - steppers or servos?

« on: September 01, 2007, 01:53:33 AM »

So I'm pretty convinced to go with steppers but would like to re-use the drives if possible.  I have some emails out to find the wiring schematics (I'm not sure yours will help since I have steppers on mine - thanks though).  If I go with the gecko's it's hard to figure out which model driver to use.  Is the "short circuit protection" offered by the 212's worth it? 

Bill

36

General Mach Discussion / Re: retrofit - steppers or servos?

« on: August 31, 2007, 11:15:46 PM »

Jim,

Thanks for the info.  Any feel for what kind of performance difference there will be between steppers and servos?  Speed, smootheness of cut, reliability...  Also, if I do use steppers, are there cheaper (but still reliable) solutions than the geckos?   I see a lot on ebay.

Is the main problem with the servo solution making the timing belt reducer? 
If I use the stepper motors that are on there, can I do microstepping?  How will I be able to wire them up without wiring diagrams.

Anybody have the schematics for a Bandit II?

Bill

37

General Mach Discussion / Re: retrofit - steppers or servos?

« on: August 31, 2007, 01:38:26 PM »

Arnie,

First of all, thanks. 
I have a Galil controller, and access to several servo motors and drives, so that option is tempting as well....
Now for the info I found. 
It appears I have a Bandit Controller.  Probably a bandit Level II.  The model number on the rapidsyn motors is 2D-112-101AS.  I took a number of pictures that I hope are helpful. 
The current is 3.1A. 
The Voltage is 4.6 VDC.

I couldn't make out the rpm. 
The model on the driver is 214 072 01 D 

I do not appear to have any schematics for this machine - only for bandit III which may be very similar.

I have schematics for the 214 076 21 drivers (from Bandit III).

I have attached several photos.

38

General Mach Discussion / retrofit - steppers or servos?

« on: August 30, 2007, 04:30:24 PM »

Hello,

I am finally ready to do my first mach retrofit.  After considering retrofitting a machining center, I'm stepping back and am going to retrofit a Shizuoka cnc knee mill.  It currently has steppers on it which are nice and mounted and obviously the drivers for it, etc.  I am tempted to use those.  For step angle, it says I.8 (is the "I" really a "1" ??).  The brand is rapidsyn on the motors, the enclosure says "the Hasbach company" and the manuals say Allen Bradley. 

So I guess I have two questions:
1) Can and should I use the existing stepper motors.
2) Can and should I use the existing stepper drivers?

Thanks,

Bill

39

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach and External Motion control devices

« on: April 17, 2007, 01:39:35 PM »

I am using the galil 2130...same as 2180, 'cept less axis...it works with mach3...it's on a lathe with amc analog drives, brush servos and 2500 cpr encoders....thanks, Roo Trimble

Thanks for the info.  I'll let you know how mine goes.

40

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach and External Motion control devices

« on: April 05, 2007, 02:55:10 AM »

I "think" it will ...

Thanks Brian,
I guess we'll see.  I just bought one and will be trying it in the coming weeks.  I asked the Galil people and they said the only difference was that the 22xx has faster ethernet, but like I said, we'll see.
Bill