[Al_The_Man]

I am suprised that Galil card users are not seen here much, apart from the Camsoft site. Especially in light of the number of PC slot cards and stand-alone versions sold regularly on ebay. Someone is using them for projects (apart from me).
It would be nice if there was enough to start a forum, and see some of the applications they are being used for and maybe get some ideas.
I would especially be interested to see if anyone is still using the old Galil Opint software for general projects. Also if anyone is using them to control Hydraulic servo valves with encoder feedback.
Here's hoping. :idea:
Al.

[JFettig]

Tell me more about these cards, what software runs them and what speeds etc.

I am interested.
Jon

[keithorr]

Tell me more about these cards, what software runs them and what speeds etc.

I am interested.
Jon

CamSoft runs a galil card with a gui interface. The native commands only seem useful on repetitive process machines. Maybe for packaging or drill cycles. Unless you like programming, the navite commands seem a little clumsy for all but the most basic mill/lathe type cnc processes.

[MetLHead]

Hey Al,

I've worked with the Galil cards a bit. Mostly I've worked with the Yaskawa SMC-2000, which is a repackaged Galil card. Let's see if I can remember what I've worked with them on...

I've done some programming work for Alexander Dodds on their CNC dovetailers using the SMC2000.

We retrofitted a glass cutting machine with a PC card Galil board and wrote a VB gui for it. Don't remember which card specifically we used.

I've programmed a flying shear that was used to cut cardboard strips for packaging. That was a pretty neat thing to see, these machines could cut up to 400 strips/minute! The SMC was used to index the material into the shear at a programmable length.

We did a similar application where the SMC controlled a servo press feeder. This was a retrofitted Littel system. This was another application where we wrote a VB front end for it, which included a part library.

I've also worked on some other specialty stuff with the Galil, with pretty good results. The programming language is somewhat unusual, but once you get used to it you can usually make it do what you want. For all these projects, we used the Yaskawa YTerm software for working with the controller, I haven't used the Galil software.

Regards,
Scott

[Al_The_Man]

Tell me more about these cards, what software runs them and what speeds etc.
I am interested.
Jon

Unfortunately there is not much in the way of 3rd party s/w other than Camsoft, although they do offer VB and C++ code examples for anyone wanting to write thier own, You can, however get very creative using the native command language (free), Examples http://www.galilmc.com/support/motioncode/index.html, for HMI you can use a PC for the PC slot type or PC or LCD intelligent teminals like Maple Sytems for Stand-alone type through RS232.
They are very powerfull and very fast, due to the fact they have the motion processor on board which operates independantly of PC etc.
So far I have use them for a 3 axis CNC line punch, 2 Cincinnati point-to-point milling machines, a 48" rotary table, a tube cut-off machine, and several back guages for Breaks etc http://cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12674
This example used the older DOS based Opint as I mentioned earlier, which essentially was a program that allowed the quick design of a HMI for motion control purposes.
Al.

[ViperTX]

EMC also supports the Galil card. I would probably use one if I could get it at some inexpensive price, but alas that has not happened...and I don't know anything about the cards.

[miljnor]

Tell me more about these cards, what software runs them and what speeds etc.

I am interested.
Jon

dito

These cards would be great except for the programing issue..

EMC support is awsome but I know nothing of EMC. Will it run on an older dos computer or is it strictly for the newer pentium 3+ stuff?

[ViperTX]

You can load Linux on just about any system and see a major speed improvement over DOS or Windows.

[miljnor]

Damn! thought someone would say that!

Now I have to learn some new stuff!

[murphy625]

Yup.. Im just another camsoft user of the galil card...

To much work to dig into the galil commands.. Doesnt make sense to have to go threw all that when a few hundred more bucks buys you the camsoft package that simplifies the important things.

I love my Camsoft package.. I dont understand why everyone doesnt own one...

[miljnor]

At 1995.00 dollars! thats why everyone doesn't own it! As for as for professional use, its a deal and a half but, for the DIY crowd thats a VORPLE price! (take your head right off! for those too young for monty)

[murphy625]

At 1995.00 dollars! thats why everyone doesn't own it! As for as for professional use, its a deal and a half but, for the DIY crowd thats a VORPLE price! (take your head right off! for those too young for monty)

Wow.. is that what the big package costs?

Mine was only about $500.. (General automation version)..

Not sure what all the difference is... My machine is not a typical CNC center.

[miljnor]

as far as I know thats not a package. thats just the software.. Maybe I am reading the web sight wrong.

[Al_The_Man]

Both are s/w packages but the one Murphy is refering to is the general HMI package, it is not used for full blown CNC.
Personally I prefer DOS based control when using a PC, as all you need is an operator interface, the PC does not need to have speed or processing power as the PID loop and encoder update is all done on the motion card. Windows is a bloated program manager and for the most part a CNC machine is running one dedicated program.
So far I have been unable un-earth anything that indicates EMC will run a Motion Card.
I though by the very definition EMC (Electronic Motion Control) that it was intended solely as software based system.
Al.

[miljnor]

what do the cards typicaly go far on ebay?

[murphy625]

what do the cards typicaly go far on ebay?

It depends.. Most that I see go for around $400 - $600.. depends on which card it is, what time the auction closes, etc etc...

[Al_The_Man]

Go to the main forum page click on the forum you want to post in and at the top is New Thread.
Al.

[Al_The_Man]

what do the cards typicaly go far on ebay?

If its the Legacy cards, which are still very powerfull, I have picked up two to three axis for $25. $100, ISA Bus slot or stand-alone, some of the stand-alone type have enclosure and power supply.
Al.

[CRAZYRICH]

Okay, I'll bite...... I have some of said equipment waiting to be finished in my garage shop. You can go the Camsoft route.... $$$$$$$ or there also is a site

http://www.jraco.com/

That has software for use with these cards. I've never used one but will send you guys there because of the price and seems to cover all the basic tools we desire.

I hope this helps everyone..... The Galil cards go for around 500.00 on Ebay for a 4 axis card. This will cover a 3 axis machine plus 1 axis for speed control. You need a interconnect module. Take a look at the Galil site and learn up on their systems. Register and gain access to a lot of tutorials. Then pull off your old dead controller and use all your existing amps and servos. You may need to add rotary encoders for feedback. USDigital is on the cheap for encoders.... you can use a dual feedback setup if you have a 1800 series of Galil card. The 1802 cards Don't allow dual feedback as I recall. It's all on their site. I have a 8 axis card and hope to run a mill and a lathe off the same card just not simultaneously. HUFLUNGDUNG ( MURRAY ) has set one of these up and seems to be at the top of the gene pool when it comes to information.

[Al_The_Man]

That s/w looks pretty good for the price, one thing though is the limited G-code range, no G41, G42, G31 etc, etc. Also it would be nice to have 'distance to go' on the position screen.
One of my gripes on the later Galil cards is the way of outputting signals through that 100 pin cable instead of the older ribbon cable method that was way cheaper, the cable and breakout box now is over $400.00. On the older legacy cards it was easy to mock up your own.
Al.