Messages

131

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 4.0 Rev Update

« on: September 05, 2009, 05:08:09 PM »

On the subject of cutter comp with the new version of Mach, will it only work on linear lead in/out or can I use arc lead in/out with G41 G42..?
My Fanuc machines will do cutter comp on linear and arc leads..

Thanks, John

132

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Re: Cut Circle,Passes,and Cutter Comp

« on: September 05, 2009, 03:45:16 PM »

Just a thought on the cut comp. My Cadcam only uses cut comp for finish passes. It calculates a path for the rough pass by stepping the tool left or right by half the diameter of the tool set in the cadcam tool library plus the finish amount.

I've noticed some cadcams use G41 or G42 for rough and finish which to me is the wrong way..

John

133

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: 5 Axis Mill (Trunion type), with Arm ATC, and Pallet changer control.

« on: September 02, 2009, 05:50:05 PM »

Scott

A nice movie of a Mazak 5 axis trunnion machine with pallet changer..Ace screen layout too with machine simulation on the screen!

Would love to get a mach screen like this one!

Also noticed it has a travelling gantry for X Y Z too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CJIzKclDLk

John.

134

Galil / Re: Mitsubishi HF-SE Ac servos and drives.

« on: August 20, 2009, 06:04:50 PM »

Thanks Kenny it looks like  I will be able to use the Galil in step and direction mode for the mitsubishis and then set the other two axis for the Etel motors in which ever mode they require.

I'll check the Automation Direct sight and also going  look at the Teco motors too..the Mitsubishi motors caught my attention because they have the same mounting hole spacings and flange size as my Fanuc DC motors but it pays to look around     

John

135

Galil / Re: Mitsubishi HF-SE Ac servos and drives.

« on: August 20, 2009, 05:03:23 PM »

Thanks Kenny and Nosmoking here is the Reply I received from Andrew at Mach motion:

" John,


What are the old Fanuc motors rated at, as far as motor RPM and torque?  If you can get me this info than I can match it up to the Mitsubishi servos and let you know.  The Mitsubishi drives have 4 control modes, differential step and dir, +-10v ( I think torque or speed modes) and positioning sequencing normally activated with a digital input.


We have a little adapter card that connects to the top of the drive for easy access to the step and dir and drive error signal.  It also allows us to use a standard Cat5 cable as the control cable.  We have another mod-jack on the drive for emulated encoder out put, that will be used down the road with a motion controller.


If you will be using the drives in position mode than you can use their on-the-fly-auto tuning, which I think surpasses any other brand of servo drives on the market. "


I can see now that the adapter board is used for easy connection only.

I wanted to use the Galil as I intend to use  Etel Ring motors on the 4th and 5th axis and these will be using different drives to the Mitsubishi and may not be compatible with the step and dir out put from Mach3 (still waiting for info on the Etel motors!)  ...

John

 

136

Galil / Re: Mitsubishi HF-SE Ac servos and drives.

« on: August 20, 2009, 04:05:49 AM »

Kenny

I've just done some more reading on the Mitsubishi drives and it looks like they are analogue.

http://www.machmotion.com/pdf/MR_E.pdf

It seems that Machmotion uses its 106 breakout board and links this to each drive via a converter board plugged into the drive so the drive will accept step/direction.
I'm still not sure on this so I have emailed them to get more info.

http://www.machmotion.com/Parts-&-Accessories-Breakout-Boards/c36_26/p158/MachMotion&%2339s-IO6-Breakout-Board/product_info.html

If it is the case that the drives are analogue I presume I can use the Galil to send the analogue signal to the drives but still have the drives reading the encoder feedback and closing the loop...? or would I use the Galil to close the loop...

John.

137

Galil / Re: Mitsubishi HF-SE Ac servos and drives.

« on: August 20, 2009, 12:52:19 AM »

Thanks Kenny that's great. Thought I had better check before I went ahead!!

John.

138

Galil / Mitsubishi HF-SE Ac servos and drives.

« on: August 19, 2009, 06:59:45 AM »

Hi, I am looking at the Mitsubishi Ac servos and drives as they have the same mounting holes and flange size as My Fanuc 5M and 10M DC servos so would be an easy replacement.

http://www.machmotion.com/Drives-and-Motors-Mitsubishi-Servo-Drives-&-Motors/c47_49/p135/Mitsubishi-50-in/LB-Class-AC-Servo-Motor-with-Brake-&-Drive/product_info.html

I have a Galil DMC 1880 optima...will I still need to use this with these drives..I know the drives will accept the Step/direction  that Mach 3 puts out and the drives will close the loop but can the Galil be used like a smooth stepper to smooth the pulse train from Mach or will it not be necessary with these drives..?


John.

139

General Mach Discussion / Re: Automatic tool changer with mach

« on: July 13, 2009, 03:01:01 AM »

Thanks Brett and Ger that was the answer I was hoping for .
Will check that video, time to get learning!!

John.

140

Galil / Re: Which servo amplifiers?

« on: July 13, 2009, 02:55:29 AM »

Looking forward to seeing some pics of your machine as the project unwinds . The Fanuc motors are very good quality and work really well in my experience...after all they are still making money for you 26yrs on!!

The 401 alarm is usually motor related ie. a build up of carbon dust and damp in the motor or in extreme cases can be a faulty tacho or encoder but this is quite rare.
Slop in the motor bearings can cause this too if the windings are moving about too much.
Good thing to check the brushes for wear although i'm sure you already have this under control!!
If the motors are left standing for a long period the brushes can rust the commutator too..been there done that!!

Will you be using the Fanuc spindle motor and drive..? Would be quite expensive to replace ! I'm presuming its a Fanuc AC model 3 or above with an A06b-6044 drive..?
Not sure if you can rigid tap with the Fanuc motor by adding an encoder..? I think the motor uses a Tacho for speed.
Mine has a resolver to position the spindle for a tool change (M19) as well.

John.