Messages

511

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Brian's Emco Compact 5 Retro

« on: July 10, 2006, 07:50:23 PM »

Hi Brian,

I don't have one of these changers. Just adding a module in the ModIO for Bengt and another user.

It looks like from the photos that Bengt has taken that you could add the sensors like on his changer.

Cheers,

Hello Peter,
This one has no sensors on the tool changer I was shocked! an open loop tool changer is just a little scary 

Could you tell me where your optics are on you changer?

thanks
Brian

512

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Brian's Emco Compact 5 Retro

« on: July 09, 2006, 07:59:03 PM »

Hi,

Very intersting Brian. I'm currently doing a EMCO toolchanger module for the ModIO. It is my understanding that the toolchanger has to opto sensor it it. One for the home position and another for the tool position.

Every time a tool position is passed, the single tool position sensor is activated. It is also my understanding that  there is a Motor Forward relay that when activated drives the changer in the forward direction. When deactivated, the motor is constantly driven in reverse to lock the changer in position.

It is my understanding that it operates as follows;

The home sensor tells you it is locked in tool position 1. So, initially if you don't know where the current changer position is the changer needs to be rotated until the home sensor is detected, then keep going until the tool position sensor is detected. Then turn off the Motor relay and the motor will reverse locking the changer into tool  position 1.

We now know where we are. To select a tool position, the motor is enabled and the number of position sensor transitions are counted until the desired tool position is reached. The motor relay is de-energised and the changer reverses to lock it down.

BTW this changer has 6 positions though. Maybe it operates differently.


Also, I'm using the same ModIO register interface as I did with the Mazak tool changer. Maybe we should consider using it as a standard for tool changer modules as they all need the same type of control.

John Prentice wrote the MacroPump routine for it and it has been uploaded publically somewhere.

Cheers,

Peter.

513

General Mach Discussion / Re: Spindle speed control

« on: January 18, 2006, 07:14:33 PM »

Hi,

Just found this thread. The speed control potentiometers on these controllers are fed by a DC voltage of approx 14Vdc, derived from a zener diode style regulator.

The positive side of this voltage  (P3) basically sit at mains potential. The 0V for the potentiometer sits at mains potential minus 14V. The KBiC controller speed trimpot just sits in series with the manual speed potentiometer to reduce the maximum speed.

As the voltages are around mains potential, you need to have isolation from any control voltage being generated from Mach2/3. This is where the DigiSpeed comes in. http://www.homanndesigns.com/DigiSpeedDeal.html It isolates the PC control voltage from the mains referenced control voltage in the KBIC controller.

Cheers,

Peter.