Re: BP Retrofit – Major Fork In The Road?

>--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "natchamp_87" <mark@h...>
>wrote:
> Hello group, I am hoping to get some insights as to the best
>approach
> to take for my CNC retrofit project. My project was on hold for a
> while because of other projects but I am getting ready to
>continue.
> I am retrofitting an M head Bridgeport, which I have installed a
>set
> of ballscrews for the Y and X axes.
>
> When I started my project I came across a deal for motors/drives I
> couldn't pass up. This is what I have:
>
> 3 Aerotech BM800 brushless servo motors
> 3 Aerotech BA20 drivers/amps
> 1 Aerotech U500 Plus ISA controller board
> 1 Aerotech BB501 interconnect board
> all mill-spec cables/connectors to connect everything together
>
> My dilemma is regarding the software I will use to control the
>whole
> thing. I could purchase the Aerotech MMI software that has
>complete
> diagnostics and tuning. It has a CNC interface mode, which looks
> like it covers the basics of CNC G-code control. However, I
> haven't seen that many people use the Aerotech stuff for
> retrofits and know that I won't have much, in terms of support,
> to fall back on. Normally, the Aerotech stuff is bloody expensive
>so
> I can see why but the quality is outstanding. Going this route, I
> wouldn't be able to use any of the wider used software like
> Master5, Mach1, etc. which I think would have a more feature rich
> interface as well as a broader base to draw upon for questions.
>
> Another potential route is to use something like the Rutex boards
> which take a step/dir signal and convert it into an analog voltage
> output which I could send to my drives. I'm not sure whether I
> would send my encoder feedback to the Rutex or the Aerotech drives
> and wonder if overall the accuracy of the system would be
>compromised
> by this setup. The good news is I would be able to use the more
>user
> friendly software for the interface.
>
> Has anyone ever seen/used the Aerotech MMI software? Or does
>anyone
> have any recommendations for which path I should take? Or
> potentially another approach? There are some pictures of my
>project
> on my website under "other projects". Thanks a bunch for any
> comments.
>
> Mark
> www.mark.hargett.com

Mark,
I have come across Aerotech only once
One of my customers, a laser cutting company had a machine with a
German dedicated DOS controller go down. As spares were unavailable
in a short term they went with Aerotech. Installation was easy but
they had controller problems from day one.
Main problems were it changed the orientation of nested parts and
also increased the sizes of nested parts.
It was went to different parts of the bed to cut when not in the
program.
They flew new boards over with no difference and they also flew
tech's over on two occasions, again with no improvements.

It got to the stage where the company put a notice on the machine
apologising to the operators about the software and pointing out that
bad work would not be blamed on them.
It finally got to a head when they worked out the running costs and
legal action was threatened. This experience cost this company many
hundreds of thousand of pounds. In the end a new DOS board was made
by the Germans so they could go back to their old system and Aerotech
packed up their bags and returned Stateside.

I never learnt if they had any satisfaction from Aerotech.
In defence of Aerotech they said the problem was because a laser only
needs a small tool offset like about 0.005" and this was causing
problems in their software.

John S.