old DC servo's on Excello

I originally posted this in the LinuxCNC forum, maybe this one will have better luck in getting a response.

I just purchased an Excello mill in good condition with all the servo's, tachs, position transducers, etc. It originally had a Bendix controller on it but that failed and the machine has been idle for a very long time.

Here is what i have:

Micron position transducers
Indiana General DC motors
7 A, 85V, 1700RPM

Westamp A6513-10E-304(111880) servo drives (or whatever you call it.)

Osborne transformer with 62-68V and 1600 V.A Rating
I also already have a PC setup with linuxCNC and it has a MESA 6i25
I have a VFD for the spindle
The machine still has all the limit switches but is missing the oiler (they sold it already.)

What else do I need? Should i use the Westamp drives or get something more modern off of Ebay?
Is the 7133TA card the one I need to connect the Mesa to the drives?

The machine also came with a ton of blueprints for this machine and other Excello mills (around 30 or so total.)

Thanks,

Dan

The old Westamp drive had problems and were replaced with A-M-C or Copley Controls etc.
But these are analogue input, so if you use Mach etc then you need step direction, there is Linux that can use a motion card and Kflop that can incorporate analogue drives, however.
Al.

Would these work? Advanced Motion Controls Brush Type PWM Servo Amplifier | eBay

What is the servo amp DC power supply voltage?
Those are rated for 15amp cont and 80v DC max.
Al.

If the Westamp drives are good Linuxcnc should work with a Mesa 5I25/7I77 combination
(the 7I33TA/5I20 will work but the 5I25/7I77 card set is newer and cheaper)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PCW_MESA

If the Westamp drives are good Linuxcnc should work with a Mesa 5I25/7I77 combination
(the 7I33TA/5I20 will work but the 5I25/7I77 card set is newer and cheaper)

---

Thanks! The guy i bought the system from said the westamp should be good so i'll go ahead and order the 7i77.

Thanks!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Al_The_Man

What is the servo amp DC power supply voltage?
Those are rated for 15amp cont and 80v DC max.
Al.

---

It's an Osborne transformer and it says 62-68V. It's the transformer that was originally on the machine.

If that is the AC output that equates to 95vdc, if so that is a little too high for that model of drive.
Al.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Al_The_Man

The old Westamp drive had problems and were replaced with A-M-C or Copley Controls etc.
But these are analogue input, so if you use Mach etc then you need step direction, there is Linux that can use a motion card and Kflop that can incorporate analogue drives, however.
Al.

---

I'm going to give the westamp drivers a try and if they don't work i'll take your advice and pickup some of the AMC's on Ebay. Is there a manual with tuning info available that you know of?

Thanks again for the help.

Dan

The A-M-C drives are usually set for torque mode, tach is not used, in this mode A-M-C recommend Ref Gain is fully CW and Loop Gain fully CCW.
Al.

I just tried out the 3 axis with the westamp servos and y and z seem to work but x stalls. I'm not sending any commands, just turning on the system and don't have them disabled. Would this be an adjustment issue or an indication that the axis is bad? (it works if i plug the x into one of the other amps.)

Which of the A-M-P or Copley models would you recommend? It looks like most of them i am finding on Ebay are for up to 80 watts and i'm getting around from my power supply.

Thanks,

Dan

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Al_The_Man

If that is the AC output that equates to 95vdc, if so that is a little too high for that model of drive.
Al.

---

Do you know if the AMC 2AVRA amps on ebay will work? I was told they are a modified 20a20 but AMC won't give me any information. They are going for cheap right now ($19)


Thanks,

Dan

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Al_The_Man

The A-M-C drives are usually set for torque mode, tach is not used, in this mode A-M-C recommend Ref Gain is fully CW and Loop Gain fully CCW.
Al.

---

I don't have any info on those, they are most likely OEM specials.
Al.