Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Thoughts on PC Based Control Retrofit....pictures of the specimen

Jon, my target number is $1000 or less. Depending on what I can
scrounge...powersupplies for example? Perhaps it would be better
to buy them.?

Appreciate your advice, spoke with Matt Shaver too, he
recommended the Gecko drive too ...

I do have an electric lube pump. A VFD would be nice. Matt and I
chatted about that, but what way is there for the control to know
what rpm the motor is running at?

VFD's and that sort can be added on later. I can terminate that I/O
to a terminal block and add later.

Your Parallel I/O board sounds interesting. I'll stay tuned.
Marty

On 4 May 2001, at 4:28, Jon Elson wrote:

> Marty Escarcega wrote:
>
> You had better define "low buck". Some guys want to do a complete
> retrofit with a 4.77 MHz 8088 PC from 1972, with a cost limit of $150.
> Some guys think $5000 is cheap after seeing a machine retrofitted at
> work for $30,000.
>
> > spend the money where it makes sense and as I get it. Little at a
> > time. I want to go PC based. What will I need to do the conversion?
> >
> > Anyone done one of these?
>
> Yes, definitely. 1 233 MHz Pentium PC, fully compatible with the
> Linux hardware compatibility list, with a floppy, CDROM, 32 MB of
> memory, and 2 parallel ports, one of them EPP or ECP capable.
>
> You can use the parallel port directly to drive the stepper drivers,
> but I will be coming out with a single board that drives 4 stepper
> axes, with optional encoder feedback, for a target price of about
> $200. I can't guarantee that price since the last design details
> aren't worked out yet. This board will give much smoother velocity
> ramping, thereby allowing higher feed rates.
>
> You will need to do some significant wiring for the spindle, coolant,
> and lube, if it is an electric lube pump. If you don't have 3-phase
> power, I strongly suggest one of the newer VFDs. You get variable
> speed, reversing, dynamic and DC injection braking, motor overload
> sensing, the possibility of controlling spindle speed from the PC,
> etc. with one of these, as well as single to 3-phase conversion.
>
> Check out Gecko Drives for stepper drivers. I think you can do all
> this for a little over $1000. Don't underestimate all the wire
> terminals, cables, cable bushings, relays, etc. All that small stuff
> adds up.