Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Opinions wanted on Monarch VMC 45 with GE Fanuc 11 controls. Retrofit ?

At 02:19 PM 10/14/01 -0600, you wrote:

Hello,

>
> Does anyone in this group have personal experience with a VMC 45 ?

Not with the VMC 45 specificly, but I have worked with the Fanuc 11 on
some Mori-Seki's and OKK's

The '11' is a good control and has a good base of fundamental features.
As far as I know, it is still supported. As to whether or not
you would want to replace it, or keep it, I would say that if the control
is in good shape keep it. I have not had to replace any membrane
keyboards or CRT's so I can't comment on price, but I do know you can still
get those sorts of things from alot of different places.
It would also be worth checking the motors to see if they are brushless. If
they are, you should be in good shape.

Other things to look for ?

One of the biggest killers of older CNC m/c's is water based coolant.
If the machine has been powered down for any length of time, you
may encounter finiky errors such as over-travels during homing because of
stuck home switches and the like. So it is very important that
you have a good machine specific print-set and any specific manuals that
Monarch provided when the machine was delivered. Don't confuse
the machine specific books with the 'generic' fanuc books that come with
every control. ( Generally Yellow in colour if the machine was
made in japan, later white books if the control was purchased from GE-Fanuc )
Also look at residual swarf that is laying around the machine. Type (
Magnesium, Nicoloy...I'm sure I mispelled that..Steel ) and the
colour give a good idea of the machine handled. Also check the Way-Lube
system and try to discern if it was maintained. Are there any
maintenance records that go with it ? Did it have regular maintenance. Is
it the factory colour ?

Oh, almost forgot,the '11' easily handles RS.232 file transfers......

> If we needed to, could we ditch the GE control system and retrofit with

Linux EMC ??? I don't think the X,Y,Z axes would be a problem, but this
machine has a tool changer AND dual pallets.

>

If the machine had an NC control ( GE550,1050 etc ) or an early CNC (
Micro-Swinc, AB7320, DynaPath etc ) I think EMC has some merit.
However, don't be afraid to keep the fanuc going. It has a bit of a
learning curve in places, but it is popular, and alot of CNC machinists
know it !

Good Luck, ( I love the older stuff ! )

Wally