Thanks for the replies everyone! I'll try and answer everyone in this reply:
RogerN wrote: > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "David Braley" <davbra...@comcast.net> > To: "Enhanced Machine Controller (EMC)" <emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net> > Sent: Wednesday, September 16, 2009 1:47 AM > Subject: [Emc-users] Anilam 1100 and EMC2 > > I have a CNC lathe with Anilam Crusader ML that I converted to EMC, works > great. I also have an Anilam CNC Mill with a Crusader II control that I > plan to convert to EMC. I used a Mesa 5i20 board in the PC and a board > ($69) for the +-10V and another board ($69) for the digital I/O. The $199 > Mesa board gives you up to 4 servo ability, you could have your 3 axis plus > add a VFD for the spindle for spindle speed control. If you want you can > add an encoder to the spindle and have rigid tapping. > > You can leave your existing servos and wiring alone from the servos to the > amps. Get some connectors for the axis encoders (my mill has DRO scales) > wire to the Mesa board, wire from the Mesa board to the drives and you'd be > ready for the EMC conversion and configuration. If you wire your EMC > control to the mating plugs that Anilam uses, you could switch back to the > Anilam control if you need to run before your conversion is running, no > downtime required. > > RogerN > ******** Roger, It's super comforting to know that someone out there has converted an older Anilam control system to EMC. The idea you share of keeping the original machine running "as-is" while flushing the bugs out of the new one is brilliant! I also hadn't even thought about controlling the spindle speed or position with the fourth axis. I found the Mesa Website, and started to look over their offerings. Everything they offer seems super reasonable in price for sure. Do you know the part number for the digital pulse to analog card you mention above? You also talk about an additional I/O card. What would this be for? I only ask about the I/O card because the 5I20 seems to have so many extra channels. Are you possibly talking about an isolation I/O card to protect the 5I20? ********* ********* Ray Henry, The motors definitely have both dc tachs for velocity feedback, and quadrature encoder outputs for position. I also stumbled across some detailed schematics of the Anilam 1100 system online. Hopefully the schematics I found will have enough information on them for me to figure out how to use the older Glentek amps. There is a third board that is also used with the servo amplifiers. I have a feeling it's some kind of special board that makes them all work together. Leaving this third board is the main leads that go back to the computer controlling the servos and limit switches. ********* ********* John Thornton, The machine works just fine the way it is. There is one small problem starting to creep up though. Sometimes the machine will boot-up, get past post, load Dos, and then I get the message that the control software is loading and it just hangs. I think the Flash memory card on the motherboard is starting to get flaky. It has me a little worried to say the least. It was this problem that started me on the quest to just find a simple way to upgrade the computer. That is when I found out what would be needed to do it and the cost Anilam would charge. So the idea to convert to EMC became a no-brainer, if you know what I mean. ********* Thanks again everyone for the responses. I've been a lurker on this list for some time. I've also been a solid Linux user since '96, so I'm quite comfortable with the operating system. I'm really hoping this conversion goes well. If it does, I have an old, dead Bridgeport Series II sitting in the corner I would like to do a more comprehensive conversion on. The machine originally was a three axis NC tape machine that has ball screws and super giant stepper motors. But what is really cool about this old machine is it has a #40 taper, and a large tool changer! I'm thinking a conversion to new servos and amplifiers, with EMC2 for the brains would make the old Series II Bridgeport a really useful addition the my modest place. I work alone here in the shop, but it would really boost my productivity level if I could be running more than one machine at a time. Thanks again everyone! David ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Come build with us! The BlackBerry® Developer Conference in SF, CA is the only developer event you need to attend this year. Jumpstart your developing skills, take BlackBerry mobile applications to market and stay ahead of the curve. Join us from November 9-12, 2009. Register now! http://p.sf.net/sfu/devconf _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
