CNC Lathe controlled with OLD! PC, can I change the PC and SOFTWARE??

Hello I'm new here :)

I just Bought an old Boxford 280 TCL, CNC Lathe.

It's controlled with an OLD PC (using floppy discs, and running operating system: DOS- since its OLD)

The PC is connected with a DB44 connection (looks like a standard parallel port but has 44 pins)


My Questions:
1 Does anyone know if I can connect another (more designated) kind of "control box" instead of a PC -just using the DB44 connection (more or less) ?
2 Does anyone have any suggestions for how to get a more "up to date" kind of controlling (still using ISO G/M programming)

- I want to be able to use CAD/CAM (But I guess that's "only" a matter of the right Post Processor?)
- I'm working on a tool turret instead of the gang and on a C-axis.
3 is this ^ only a matte of the "Controller" or do I need the replace/ change the electronics on the lathe itself?

I hope I'm not asking too much, and if You could answer just one or some of the questions or give me some pointers I would Greatly appreciate it!
-
I'm use to programming CNC lathes and Mill's but i'm pretty new to the electronics and the machines themselfs

Hi is it using Steppers or servos ?
I would Simply Start there i use on my lathe ncbox linuxcnc and triplebeast combination
,..


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There are a few ways you can go, the PC you have is a ISA bus now legacy items, I would guess the DB44 is on a I/O card from one of the popular manuf of the time, if so it is ISA bus oriented and will not work with a later P.C.
You may want to look at Mach3, Linux or kanalog for a new system.
What type/make of motors and drives do you have? What was the old control s/w called?
Al.

Hello again. sorry for my late response but, my lathe is currently stored kinda far away, so I don't have many details by now. It uses SERVO motors (don't know the brand/manuf) can I use triplebeast for that? that looks kinda easy?

Hi if servo no but i found Granite devices which Drive the 1990 Year servos of bridgeport so Good Chance to Drive yours get the exact Data of your servos and if Stepper Steppers then we have a Look ,..


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Al_The_Man

What was the old control s/w called?
Al.

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Can't tell you much details since it's stored somewhere else for now... anyhow I'm not sure I know what you're asking?

thank you so much, I'll return asap when I have more details :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by teglberg

Can't tell you much details since it's stored somewhere else for now... anyhow I'm not sure I know what you're asking?

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Make or name of controller on the machine.?
Al.

sorry still haven't got much info. I can see in the Datasheets that there's different versions of my machine, some fitted with DC and others with AC servos, but all of them are Closed Loop Servos. Is this enough knowledge for me to start pointing me in the right direction? (the machines runs on 380Vac, so I'm guessing It's fitted with the AC closed looped servos.)

All servo's apart from steppers uses a PID closed loop system.
You may be better off looking at a modern PC and using Mach3 as a start, there are more sophisticated add-on's such as Kflop etc.
Keep as many of the power supplies as possible, there is probably quite a large part that has 1ph 120vac powered units.
Keep the servo's if possible, and get step/dir drives, unless going Kflop and using the Kanalog card.
Al.

Hi i agree with al
Adjust to a modern System with an actual pc (no matter if you use mach3 or linuxcnc ) but at the end of the day you need to control your servos so really get the real infos there
that your machine runs with 380 V is nice but for sure that is splitted in the box to like 110 v several times.
And you have a good chance to keep the servos
I did similar on an bridgeport 412 from 1990 !! The servos are huge but finally i found an solution
it is more like an open hart surgery keep as much of the existing machine but not too much ;)-
thomas

thanks for your reply. really appreciate all the help i'm getting here... can't wait to get the actual info so I can move along with this project! :D thanks again y'all!
btw. totally agree, I'd really like to keep the servos and re-use as much as possible (only the parts that makes sence to re-use ofcause)

Got time to look at the machine. Hope You can help me some more with the new info.
Can't find much details on the motors since the labels are gone.

I google'd the electronics (DIGIplan DC30) and appears to be STEPPER controllers?
Attachment 253446
Attachment 253454

so I'm guesing the motors for the axis' are steppers NOT servos?
Attachment 253450

the servo motor says "DCservomotor 8.5 NM" - that's worth keeping right?
Attachment 253448

there's a plate on the spindle with a lot of holes, looks to be some kind of encoder is that right?
Attachment 253452

The feedscrews (for the x-axis at least) isn't ballscrews - I'll check the accuracy when the machine's up 'n running and decide whether to change or not then.

Can you tell me if my "info" seems about right?

and where to go with my retrofit project from now
want to control with mach3/similar with NEW PC
want C-axis

(and later on turret with live tools...)

Appears to be a mixture of DC servo and stepper?
The DC servo is most likely controlled by a ±10vdc analogue control, so if going step/dir you will need a different controller, if the stepper drives have step/dir input you maybe still able to use them.
The spindle has a PG (pulse generator disc for a hall or optical sensor.
If you want C axis control of the spindle (revolve around the Z) you will either need an auxilliary servo on the spindle or have a spindle capable of precise servo-like control.
Especially using Mach.
Al.

the DC servo is the spindle motor. Couldn't I just use that as is?

for the C-axis I'll (later) use an auxilary servo. (and belt drive)

for the axis' (X/Z) movement I might change to Nema34 stepper motors?
- I can use the stepper drivers if it has step/dir and if not I'll change them too
-right?


...anything I've missed? :)

That is funny in my retrofit we kept even bigger sem servos at x y and z axis
so if that is the spindle motor it is fine as well
that can be easily done by VSE 160 granite device with 0.10 v interface

and the axis x and z get us the spec of the motor or exchange it.
so i would use linuxcnc
triple beast bob board
lead shine boards for the x and y steppers
and the 0.10 volts for the spindle
endstops and you are done

you can get the encore signal from the servo back as a,b and z to make threading possible,

And i guess it will be possible with mach3 but i stay away from windows in that case because you get all problems of windows and no benefit
windows is not an real time system
thomas

That should be OK then if you can run the DC servo on the spindle, but what type of controller does it have?
It may have had velocity control when a slotted type tach is used as shown, for true C axis positioning you will need an encoder on the final spindle shaft.
Al.

I'll look at the spindle servo controller tomorrow..

If the C-axis servo (the auxilary servo i'll attach) has an encoder woldn't that be enough? ofcause it won't be 100% accurate but close?

(if) the axis' motors are steppers do i need to change them to Nema34 or can they somehow be converted to be used with mach3 (it all depends on the controllers?)?

If the drives accept step/dir you should be able to use them directly with Mach?
Presumably the motors and drives were matched and were up to the job on the machine.
There are usually two ways to set up a C axis on the spindle, one is to have precise servo-type control of the spindle motor, complete with an encoder on the final shaft, or add an aux servo motor to the final shaft and use that when C axis positioning.
Al.

If you Look at the Sem picture the small Little box on the end of the Motor is the Encoder for my Project i spent Lot of Time in the Sem documentary ,...


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sounds doable ;) think I'll just change the steppers and drives then :)

could you maybe send me some links for the stuff I'll need? :)

greatly appreciate your inputs!

ps. for the C-axis I'll attach an auxilary servo on the final spindle but let's not worry about that for now :)

I have very little experience with mach3 by now so it wouldn't be much of a step back to get started with another software (i.e. linuxcnc) so I guess I'll just follow your advice all the way :)
-linuxcnc basically has the same programming capabilities as Mach3 right?

If you like you can use my Build log of my lathe but it is on The Old Homepage but ill Switch it on for you the Transfer is manually. So it is Not on the New so far ,..


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That would be very nice thank you! :D

hi yesterday i have transferred the relevant parts to my new portal (wish i had a script )
Klippfeld K10B Drehbank Factory retrofit - tkamsker

it is german because i had no time to translate but goolge translate will help and pictures say more than 1000 words as we say in german ;)-
thomas

thank you very much! I'm looking in to it :) (my german's really bad so it might take a little while :b)

So I need to buy the triple beast controller - and 3 pcs. stepper motors

does stepper and limit switches just connect to the triple beast then?

do I connect the triple beast to the computer or is there something in between? (and can it be connected just using USB)

Might be easier to understand when I've bought the stuff...

Hi Triple Beast is just one of the options (leadshine g540 would be another) and Yes you can connect endswitches Vfd to it 2 Relais are also in there i have choosen them because of silence Ampere and really build in germany i know there is an USB possibilty but i use lpt board and linuxcnc so Yes you need an PC i have one with an it x board and lpt on them
Benezan Electronics

the G540 seems a lot cheaper.. any reason why i shouldn't choose that? :)

Hi it depends
I have chosen the triple beast because my steppers exceeded 3A i have one 4.6 A Stepper thats why i choose trp but looking at the manuals
http://www.benezan-electronics.de/ma...BOB-Manual.pdf and http://www.geckodrive.com/images/cms...8%20Manual.pdf
there are differences depending if it suits you.
i am under the impression that at gecko you need an 2nd 12V power supply
if you have smaller (3A ) Steppers then it might be sufficient
the trp also have some kind of sinus following (just read it in the spec) and thats why they are extreme silent. And strong. (i compared them to an breakout board and Leadshine 5xx

but really i think it doesn't matter read the specs see why suits you and go for it
thomas

ok. thanks a lot! :)

What about Leadshine MX3660, does anyone know that? that looks like a simple solution? couldn't I use that? (I like the "plug 'n Play type :b )

Hi yes from paper form it Looks Good the mx3660 but i have no experience with it what dös it cost ?


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found it on ebay or about 270 USD... so seems like the same price range as similar products..

I now help a Factory to Build similar as you if they get the Order i ll do the Control stuff so if you like i post it here or in an own thread up to you ,..


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Sounds great. Any news on that yet? :)