Modbus-interface with Prop handling serious CNC-iron

Nick Mueller

Hi!

I simply can't find my initial posting about the Modbus-interface I've built around the Propeller. So here we go again ...

I have bought a CNC-mill, a MAHO 700-C with a broken control (Philips 432). With about 3 metric tonnes, it can be called some serious iron.

My intent was to replace the control with EMC2.
Electronics were mostly from MESA. A 5i20-card, and a 7i33.
I added my homebrew Modus-interface that does handle all the INs and OUTs (drive relays and read switches), added isolating-amps to drive the servo-amps, added opto-couplers for the glass-scales.

I had to replace some bearings and to repair the servo for the Z-axis (vertical axis). That servo alone has about 4kW and weights 82 kg. I had to remove it three times and fit in again until everything was sorted out.

Anyhow, she's moving! Made my first complete homing-sequence yesterday: www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVHv3uXByrc

Some things left to be done like switching gears and interfacing the handwheel, extending it for 5 axis, ...
But basically, I could mill!


Nick

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Never use force, just go for a bigger hammer!

The DIY Digital-Readout for mills, lathes etc.:
YADRO

Post Edited (Nick Mueller) : 10/3/2009 8:56:42 AM GMT

Wurlitzer

Cool, it is fun and satisfying to bring life back to old iron with new bits and bytes.

heater

Brilliant! That is serious iron. Lucky if I can fit a Sherline in around here. Your Chief Engineer seems to be jealous of your diverted attention.

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For me, the past is not over yet.

Nick Mueller

Even more work for the Modbus controller:
Reading the position of the gearbox and switching on/off the two motors that move the gears. The direction of rotation of the two motors (that look like Bosch-screen-whiper motors) is controlled by an extra relais. The spindle-amp is disabled by yet another output of the Modbus. Before gears are switched, the interface waits for the spindle to come to an stop.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0rVbVixMw8

Next time CHIPS! (but silicon-free )

Nick

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Never use force, just go for a bigger hammer!

The DIY Digital-Readout for mills, lathes etc.:
YADRO

localroger

It is totally scary to set so much hardware in motion with a few lines of software, and oh so satisfying when it actually does what you expect. (And the other times hopefully some plant guys will be hanging around who can hammer the shroud you crushed back into shape after your brainchild closed the lid before raising it. Been there, etc.)

AJM

Very nice Nick! Keep us updated

Nick Mueller

> who can hammer the shroud you crushed back into shape after your brainchild closed the lid before raising it.

Haha! The one hammering things straight again will be me.
I'll add an automatic tool-changer much later. Not something a Propeller MUST do, but I guess a Propeller WILL do. I think it will be a autark sub-system that will have to drive some steppers and read switches. But the tool-changer won't happen this year.

I'll add the hydraulic tool-clamping switches and logic today. Hope I get that running and don't discover new places that need repair. :-/
EMC2 is really great. Easy to use out of the box. And if you want to add extras, you have all the sources and a lot of hooks to connect your specific software to. But sometimes a pain to get the right information how to do things.


I'll keep you informed...

Nick

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Never use force, just go for a bigger hammer!

The DIY Digital-Readout for mills, lathes etc.:
YADRO

Nick Mueller

OK, quite OT, but that's my world!
Got a new old shaper today. Quite impressive, but there are larger ones.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=psUZmMxY3-s

Back to the MAHO fixing the gearbox on Monday ...

Nick

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Never use force, just go for a bigger hammer!

The DIY Digital-Readout for mills, lathes etc.:
YADRO