Messages

111

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: 1997 DYNA MYTE DM4800 VMC to Mach3 Conversion

« on: October 14, 2011, 07:47:12 PM »

JH,
    Wow man you are simply getting WAY too good at this stuff.  You need to start a build a CNC machining center class or something....haha I would be in the front row dude!!  Nice looking machine you have there. I have seen a couple of them come and go for good prices but knew nothing about them.  Good luck on this build, I doubt you will need it. Peace

Pete

Thanks Pete !  It's a beast, got the Y axis moving today ...  It's been 2 steps forward and 1 step back on this project.

112

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: 1997 DYNA MYTE DM4800 VMC to Mach3 Conversion

« on: October 13, 2011, 06:28:37 PM »

HI JH,
Congrats on geting the toolchanger rotating!

I have (3) Vmc's with the carousel toolchanger and none of them have a home switch for #1 position. They rely on setting the carousel to the #1 position to start and a bit system to remember which tool is in the spindle.

Did you use a home switch on BP carousel?

Yes, the stock BP412 has a Home SW and an Index SW. 

After the conversion to Mach3, when the ATC is initialized, I have it programmed to find home first.  Then the home position is tracked. While the machine is running, its checked each time the carousel is moved.  It will eStop if it finds home when it should not be homed and if home is not found when it should.  Most of my coding has multiple saftey checks like this.

Thanks,
JH

113

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / ATC Carousel AC Motor wiring

« on: October 13, 2011, 05:31:16 PM »

The ATC Carousel only rotated in one direction as indicated by the previous owner.  This could be the AC Motor, Relays, Starting CAP or the Controller.  I wanted to make sure the AC Motor was functional as I plan to keep this and only replace the old relays and controller.

The ATC Carousel AC Motor has 4 leads on it, strange to me as most AC Motors only have 3 with a starting cap.  My guess is the motor manufacture exposed additional winding for a braking system.  After some internet digging and prototyping, the ATC Carousel AC Motor is now functional and rotates in both directions!    Attached is the schematic diagram I have come up with to make this functional.

However, the ATC Carousel index switch is bad and there is no home switch to indicated position 1.  The index switch will be replaced and a home switch will be added.

Thanks,
JH

114

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Minor Update

« on: October 12, 2011, 12:54:13 PM »

With the basic core electronics functional, I started digging into the basic I/O of the machine.

The Y home switch was not functional only the limit switch was working.   I replaced it with the slow down sensor from Z (nice to have a spare…).  The entire housing was full of grease and grit, and the switch would not open.  Now the housing is clean, sealed and operational.  The X Y and Z Home switches are all functional and interfaced to Mach3, connected as Normally Closed for best noise immunity.

I had some issues with the M1 and M12 ModBus boards, I think it was the serial interface hardware that was not functional.  I have used CNC4PC products over the last 7 years and never have had an issue.  I talked Arturo Duncan and he is taking care of us.  I should have a functional ModBus I/O system up and running soon.  The ATC Pneumatics and Sensors will be hook up this I/O System, so for now the ATC is on hold. 

Thanks,
JH

115

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: 1997 DYNA MYTE DM4800 VMC to Mach3 Conversion

« on: October 10, 2011, 12:17:57 PM »

Another thing about mach which can be a disadvantage is the way it homes. The big machines have a slow down sensor so you can  go at full rapid speed to this then slow down to a set speed to home the machine. Handy if you have big travels. Mach doesn't work with a slow down as far as I know.

This would be easy to add to Mach3:  Move to you see the slow down sensor at a given feed rate, stop, then home at the slower rate.

116

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: 1997 DYNA MYTE DM4800 VMC to Mach3 Conversion

« on: October 08, 2011, 01:56:16 PM »

fot toolchange if you can use PLC, i think is better and safer
mach run in windows and it not safe %100

Amir

If your worried about windows mach3 and safety, then you shouldn't being using windows and mach3 for your axis control and user interface either.  Or mach3 at all ....  Just saying

117

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: 1997 DYNA MYTE DM4800 VMC to Mach3 Conversion

« on: October 07, 2011, 06:17:27 PM »

JH are you going to use a PLC for the ATC this time or are you happy with the approach you used on your previous mill?

I appreciate you taking the time to post your efforts not only because it helps others to learn but because it is inspires many
people to complete their retrofits.

Keith

I like the logic and control in the control itself.  VB is easy to use and it provides access to all the core internals of Mach (ie eStop, User Interface Input, logging, ect )  For me, its easier to do it in VB M6Start.m1s and other Macros than a PLC ladder diagram.

Glad this helps,
JH

118

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: 1997 DYNA MYTE DM4800 VMC to Mach3 Conversion

« on: October 07, 2011, 06:13:36 PM »

Are you going to be using the PP? What drives will you be using?
Hood

The plan is to use the Parallel Ports (PP) for the real-time I/O (Step/Dir on XYZA, Home and Limit Switches, MPG Inputs, … ).  The signal to noise ratio is not the best with these but I will be able to over come this as before.  I did look into the PLC stuff, but at the last minute I decided to stay in my comfort zone and go with PPs.  Also, I have a lot of code and state machine logic that can be reused in VB, thinking this might save me some time if I stay with PP.

I did add a Modbus serial I/O card for the none real-time I/O (ATC, Lube Pump Control and Monitor, Spindle RUN, FWD, REV,  … ), its has 12 Inputs, 12 Outputs and some ADC inputs and DAC outputs as well.

For the drives, I am currently evaluating some AC Brushless Servo Drives from Mach Motion.  I still need to get some more of basic electronic core in place to dynamically tune them on the system unload a load.

Thanks
JH

119

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Core Electronics

« on: October 06, 2011, 02:42:49 PM »

Been working on the core electronics for the machine…  PC with XP, Dual Parallel Ports, Break Out Boards, ModBus IO, Charge Pump, Solid State Relays, Power Supplies, Fuses and Power Strips. 

The charge pump circuit with eStop is the first item and is up and running.  I cleaned the lube pump guts and fixed the lube low/alarm switch!  It’s now connected to the eStop circuit so the pump only runs when the system is “READY” and will light an LED on the main screen when the lube is low.

Thanks,
JH

120

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: 1997 DYNA MYTE DM4800 VMC to Mach3 Conversion

« on: October 05, 2011, 11:02:48 AM »

Is it 40 or 50 taper?
John

CAT 40, looking for pull stub info now....