Camsoft on Mikron HSM700 Looking for Advice
Hi there,
I've got a Mikron HSM700 (1997 or 1998 machine) that currently has a Heidenhain Atek HS Plus control on it. While this machine currently is up and running rather well, the control is one of the most finnicky controls I've ever come in contact with. We had explored the option of replacing it earlier this year when the control box died on it. We ended up going with an OEM unit, but are now realizing more and more that this control is causing our machine to be underutilized. I've gotten to a point again where I need to explore options of retrofitting a new control on this machine. I had gotten quotes from other outfits, but personally was a little concerned with price, install time, flexibility, and usability. My brother turned me on to Camsoft yesterday, saying it looked rather unique, flexible, and powerful. I called them up and talked with Gary on the phone for quite some time. While after the phone call I felt that Camsoft will be powerful enough, I have a few more detailed questions that I hope you guys here can help me sort through. I apologize for the length of this, but I want to be as thorough as possible.
#1 Main concern is integration with the servo drives currently on the machine. The machine has Bosch Sercos drives run via fiber-optics and a slew of other cables\connectors. If I can keep this drives in there and not have to install others, this would in my opinion be the safest and most economical option. I understand the Bosch sercos is proprietary and keeping the stock drives in there may not be an option. Mainly looking for input from people that have had any experience with them.
#2 The machine must be able to retain all the stock options. What I mean here is that the control will need to handle the stock thermal compensation that is on the spindle (spindle has remote chiller for it), the stock safety interlocks (on all 4 doors, on tool changer, etc), unist Uni-lube air mister\mist extractor, Torit dust collector, and be able to handle Blum tool touch off laser.
#3 And possibly more important than anything else is that the machine must be reliable. I am not worried about the machine itself in regards to reliability, it is one of the most solid machines built I have seen to date. I know that Camsoft is windows based which will make that far easier for me if the need be to maintain. The current Heidenhain control is Unix based, and if anyone has tinkered with that, they understand the frustrations that can be involved. Basically the machine must be able to run nonstop and be able to just take anything that is tossed at it. All I feel I should have to do with the machine is keep it clean and lubed up; not worry that some sort of electronics is going to crap out on me.
If anyone has any questions, I will be glad to respond. I appreciate any input anyone may have. Here again are some of the machine specs for reference to help.
1997 Mikron HSM700
Heidenhain Atek HS Plus (pre tnc430\530 control)
Bosch Spindle and Axis Drives (sercos)
Step-Tec 42,000 RPM Spindle with remote chiller (remote chiller also controls an air conditioning unit inside where all the electronics are at)
Blum Tool touch off laser (Blum P87.0634-014-A2/2/32-1)
If anyone has any questions, feel free to contact me. I also have a slew of pictures of all of the machine if anyone would like to see those as a reference (I will upload to my FTP as soon as I can). Again, thanks for any help and input on this.
Andrew Gore
Three R Plastics Inc.
atek controller on Mikron 700
Hi Andrew and everybody,
Same machine and the same controller. What can I say - good machine and awful controller.
We had to change the IP address in the controller because of new network setupin the building.
After we did ip/netmask and host name change in administration/config the controller said that it has to reboot and since then nobody is able to log in anymore using the user name and password (cnc/cnc) that we were given when the machine was installed in 1997.
Do you have such experience?
Does anybody know the original root password for this controller? Perhaps they are the same for all machines of this kind?
We need help Micron HSM 700
We need help
We have a machine Micron HSM 700 CNC HEIDENHAIN Atek plus want it to bridge the kopyuteru via ethernet
But we do not have the documentation how to do it
Can you give us recommendations how to do it
We'll be very grateful
Re: Camsoft on Mikron HSM700 Looking for Advice
Hello Friends,
I need Micron HSM700 Electrical Manuel to installation. If You post it to me. I will appreciate.
[email protected]
Thank You in advance
Re: Camsoft on Mikron HSM700 Looking for Advice
Never had the opportunity to run one or actually touch one, but have heard that they are extremely well built iron.
This machine is 18 years old so a retro fit should only be done if it has very low hours and light duty work done on it. In 1997, Ford and GM had the best you could buy in pickups, by todays standards the old ones are not worth the trouble it would take to keep them running. Every thing on your machine is specific to 1997 and possibly earlier. There have been quantum leaps made in energy regen servos and the speed and accuracy which they can respond in the last 18 years, and a lot of the old stuff is no longer supported.
As far as CAM SOFT, it is an open base PC control for up to 8 axis's. I think currently they offer near 400 I/O digital or analog.
I have a 1987 Esab oxy fuel gantry cutting torch still using the original servos with Cam Soft Pro. I am using a slightly modified CBK file that came with the kit and the girl will fire up and make parts any time day or night. Cam Soft can do ANYTHING that has to do with machine movement or I/O control. A milling machine for Cam Soft ability would be equal to shooting a mouse with a deer rifle.
You will have to have an electrical control genius to remove the old CNC and install the new CNC.
The Cheapest and best money that you will ever spend will be to take a bunch of pictures of the machine and make pages of lists of all the things that you will want your new CNC control to do, and then Hire Cam Soft to build the CNC for you and create the CBK file exclusive to your machine. Cam Soft has a vast library of mill controls from a simple 2 axis Bridgeport to large gantries that machine aircraft wing and jet engine components. Your new CNC can be as user featured or as simple to operate as you wish to make it. When you purchase Cam Soft Pro. your purchase will include every option available on that day and paying your yearly maintenance will allow you the best tech support and future upgrades in the industry.
My 2 cents on configuration would be to have dual 27" monitors, one with touchscreen for the CNC control, and one for the cad cam system. the best hand held remote that Cam Soft offers, digital hard drives with out a physical spinning disk, that don't give as much trouble in a work shop environment.
My last 2 cents, you could go and get a Fanuc CNC and get the full blown retro fit with Fanuc motors, Fanuc drives, The world famous Fanuc control with 8" monitor and Fanuc cables, and then you can sit down with the Fanuc sales rep and start going over the options that you want to buy for $5000.00 to $9000.00 each so that your spindle will actually turn on and the table will move, cutter comp is an additional option too, If you really want to get fancy and save a program to a USB stick or network to a server, that is 2 more options you can purchase.
I wish you a lot of luck on this retrofit, with the proper help from Cam Soft and a very qualified electrical service provider, your retrofitted machine will perform better than the day it was new.
Farmers Machine