[zoeper]

Hi Guys/ (gals?)
I have been putting off the inevitable control retrofit for my 3 axis vertical mill with Anilam GXM control for too long now.
Recently the machine started acting up again. I re-soldered a lot of the boards etc, but this afternoon it just ran off in Z without warning, wrecking an expensive carbide cutter and my tool setter.
Long and short is that I just do not trust the control any more.

I would like to retrofit the control and also replace the old dc servo's (4.5Nm cont. stall torque) and drives. (these still use encoder and tacho feedback and whine like a ringing ear)

I do sometimes make money with the machine in my spare time, but would like to keep investment in the old iron realistic.

Based on info provided, would anyone care to suggest a control/ pc based control and servo option?
Something with post processor support for Fusion or other Cam packages would be a big plus.
Also worth mentioning is that I have a old nikken 4th/5th axis that I drive from two nikken alpha controllers for indexing only. If I can incorporate these into the new control it would certainly be a big plus also. Nikkens are currently also fitted with DC servos, but I can retrofit to AC servo's if required.

Any suggestions or warnings welcome.
Thanks
P

[Jim Dawson]

I would take a hard look at Centroid products.

[wmgeorge]

Ditto Jim, I would look at the Acorn and see if it fits your needs. I run Mach4 with Ethernet ESS on my router. You will need a decent Windows 10 computer, don't take my word for it please. Go to the online Acorn Forum and look around.

[OlfCNC]

You can use UCCNC, Mach3, Mach4, look around: CNCdrive - motion controls

[zoeper]

Thanks for the input so far.
Is Centroid a much more refined option than something like linuxCNC?
What would the equivalent AC servo motor size be to replace my SEM dc servo's?
Info on motor plate:
Type MT.30U4-48
Cont Stall torque: 4.5Nm
RPM 3000,
140V,
Pulse Amps 57
Tacho 9.5V/1000RPM
Insulation F

Thanks
P

[Jim Dawson]

Centroid is pretty much plug & play, with a lot of options.

A 0.75 or 1.0 KW AC servo would be a good choice for the DC motor replacement. My first choice in servos is DMM Technologies https://store.dmm-tech.com/

[rodw]

I would seriously look at Linuxcnc and some of the Mesa hardware. I know you say they are noisy but you could probably also keep your existing servos and encoders to keep costs down. The Mesa 7i77 is a popular choice for servo control. Ask for recommendations on the Linuxcnc forum as there are a wealth of people there experienced with retrofits and Mesa are there offering amazing support every day.

[shineworld]

Take a look at RosettaCNC, could be a choice:

https://rosettacnc.com/en/
https://www.youtube.com/user/thoth2487/videos

[zoeper]

Hi Guys,

Thank you for the input,his is just the kind of discussion I was hoping for. I will start looking at your suggestions and see what a realistic budget is for this project.
My DC servo's are well aged and quite possibly part of my current headaches. I am also busy cleaning the servo motors as they are badly built up with carbon deposits and shows signs of arching.
I would prefer going with new tech, but I might have to settle for less than I would like.

Regards
Pieter

[rodw]

One case for keeping what you have is that they would have been matched to the task at hand. Are you confident you can choose as well as the manufacturer did? Not pushing that way, but something else to think about.

[zoeper]

I hear you on that one Rod,
Tech is '92 vintage, so even if it might have been best then, not so sure now.
I spent the past couple of days servicing the motors and fixing a servo drive. Have the motors running (and not running away) now.
After a bit of a run-in, the cycle start button refuse to work. (it beeps when pushed, but have no effect)
I must be getting old as I am just not enjoying this crap anymore.
(Maybe tomorrow it will work again and all will be forgotten?)

[asuratman]

What about the program to use if you use acorn cnc or linux ? Is that acorn cnc has the same gcode as mach3 so that it has the same pp as mach3 ? Just to ask ...