Hi guys, I have recently purchased a used 9x20 cnc lathe with dc servos and I'd like to put updated drivers and a controller on it. I've pretty much been dismissed from 3 other forums due to my lack of knowledge. We all have to start someplace right? I was wondering how tolerant this forum is before I get started with my stupid questions? Don't want to waste anyones time. Sorry to be so direct but I'm a little frustrated at this point. I bought the lathe under the guise that the community forum for the controller I wanted to use would be more helpful but was essentially told to find help elsewhere. I'm not trying to badmouth other forums. I just don't seem to meet their level of knowledge for them to invest any time or effort. Enough of the pity pot. If there are people here willing to tolerate uneducated elementary questions, I have a bag full and am seeking guidance. Thanks Fig
Nothing against beginners here so ask away. Just don't assume there will always be someone johnny-on-the-spot with a quick fire answer. Patience is a virtue here. And while electrical is not my area so I won't be of much assistance, someone is likely to drop in who may have an answer so you might as well start posting the information they will be needing starting with any information you can provide about the existing servos and power supply.
There are all types of members on here, Openbuilds is a lot of diy machines built on a open source platform like most they start it has hobby and go onto bigger machines It can be a bit quite on here at times so please be patient I take it you have been looking at Mach 3/4 using the parallel breakout boards ? There's no such thing as a stupid question, yes I have come across some elitist forums if your not earning money from it or have $$$$ or $$$$ in equipment with a large workshop they don't really want to know YouTube is a good tool for researching stuff NYC CNC and Keith Fenner are 2 I follow
The lathe is a Techno Isle. I was thinking Mach 3 initially but after seeing a few YouTube's on the Centroid Acorn I might go in that direction and it was suggested by their staff when I emailed them a few weeks ago to use Gecko g320x drivers. I'd like to determine if the servos that are on it are compatible before I make a purchase. These items will cost more then the lathe so I want to make sure. The servos are MCG Part No: 2234 - M4130 MFG Code: 000152 - 0030 Torque Cont: 50.00 oz - in. Current Cont: 1.99 Amps I believe the encoders are Dynapar HS35 A guy who has a lathe like this sent this bit of info: They're standard line driver units, quadrature output a, b, z. They are 4000 counts per Rev. 5 volts input. Techno used several different models, but all had the same numbers. He is in the same boat as me. Trying to convert it with little success. He also sent pin information and a print of the servo motor, a reference sheet for the encoders, and a file with some information about the existing circuit panel. These are in PDF format so I can't post them or don't know how to. My background is hobby machining with manual machines. I've been kind of tinkering for about 3 years. I make no claims to be a machinist but I enjoy what I can do. I had some cnc, AutoCAD and PLC logic in college 30 years ago but that was the extent of my experience as my career veered in another direction. I've always had an interest in this field but have only recently had the oppurtunty to pursue.
I am very much a novice. I joined this forum on Oct 31. I have found every one to be awesome when it comes to forums. I feel welcome. Several have taken the time to help me with my novice questions. I have found no condescending attitudes so far.. So I am well pleased. Praise Jesus. For whatever it's worth.
I'm not familiar with that type of servo, can you pull the back off the servo and see if there is a part number on the encoder ? ac or dc motor ? brushed or brushless what colours do you have coming from the servo ? it shouldn't be to hard to work it out, does the servo have a 15 pin D plug ? MCG is now - Ametek. https://www.dynapar.com/uploadedFiles/_Site_Root/Products_and_Solutions/HS35_DS_702034_3.pdf if cost is a issue look at the leadshine servo drivers
The encoder should either have 2 or 3 output pairs, 5v + and a encoder ground - are there 2 cables going into the plug ? if so one will be the encoder and the other is motor power (thicker gauge wire)
Does the control board that's in there not work ? or do you want to upgrade it ? The servos are 18-24v brushed, and you have a vfd for the spindle motor A quick look at drivers and you looking at $100 each the Leadshine DCS810 what is fully programmable via rs232 Leadshine Technology Co., Ltd. A lot of the wiring from the encoders is not needed as its done internally by the drivers and/or the controller Its just a case of getting your head around the wiring
a flyer for the lathe Metal LatheDAVinci That lathe uses the LC controller board, it also shows you the stepper motors Techno CNC Router Support Online Help Troubleshooting Guide Lc board Layout and pinouts, looking at the pinouts shows that you will need a differential and not a end feed driver http://support.technocnc.com/pdf/0229_LC_and_Lathe_Board-Callouts-Connectors.pdf Hope this is of some use
Pin outs for the encoder 2 A 3 B 4 I or Z 5 +5V Encoder 10 A 11 B 12 I or Z 13 Encoder GND I doubt the encoder is a HS35 as its too new and the wrong style but it is a Motor Mount Incremental Encoder
A bit more digging, I found that Techno changed servo/motor suppliers, I have found the specs for those encoders used with the LC controller board..................... 1000 line, Square wave, 2 channel quadrature output with index, 5v DC line driver encoder 1000 Line = 1000ppr (pulses per rev) or 4000 steps/counts per rev That's all the info you need tbh
Thanks for all the replies. The control board is no use to me since I didn't get the pci card or the software with the lathe. The internet searches I've done show the pci card around $475. I dont know about the software. I thought modern drivers and controller would be better, if I can use the servos and encoders. I have a few other PDF files if someone could let me know how I can upload them. I get an error when I try. They are saved to my Google Drive. Maybe that is the problem.
All the info you need is above to wire the motor and encoder to the driver then its just a case of 4 wires to connect it to your controller of choice - repeat as required for the further axis If you look at the leadshine link the full manual is on there site with full and clear instructions The only issue I see with the geko drivers are there only meant for a end feed encoder so wouldn't be suitable
OK thanks. That seems reasonable. What is an end feed encoder? I have searched but didn't find a definition.
sorry that was a pebkac, I meant single end single ended vs differential There are many articles on google some very technical Single-Ended vs Differential signal - Omega Engineering To put it simply differential signals are used when there is emi and rfi (interference) what could be a issue, in your case, The route cause would be the brushed motors, If you was using brushless motors single end sensing wouldn't be a issue
