Re: Any pics of cnc control cabinets?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Jim Dawson
I normally buy all of my hardware from Automation Direct. They have everything you need to build a professional panel.
https://www.automationdirect.com/adc/home/home
First create a complete parts list, include everything. Once once you have all of the hardware then you can do the layout. By looking at the sizes of the parts in the catalogs, or just measuring what you have, you can get a pretty good idea of the size of enclosure that you need. I normally make a layout drawing to start with. Automation Direct has downloadable 2D and 3D drawings of almost all of their components.
Do Not short your self on panel space, you never have enough room. My lathe panel is too crowded for my taste, but I had the back panel on the shelf so that's what I used. That's why there are no wireways on it.
You start by laying out all of the hardware on a flat surface. Everything on the pallet except the DMM hardware came from Automation Direct
https://www.cnczone.com/forums/attac...d=416608&stc=1
Enclosures
https://www.automationdirect.com/adc...ing/enclosures
If you need some guidance in this, I'll be happy to get you started.
Dang those are pricey enclosures.
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Re: Any pics of cnc control cabinets?
Those are some well designed panels Jim and some good advice.
It's also a good idea to try and keep the high voltage components separate from the low voltage one's. Connectorize or screw terminal everything (no wire splices). And keep the hot components in the airflow path. And oh, don't use the bottom of the box for fuse and cable storage like I do. Lol.
https://www.cnczone.com/forums/attac...d=416678&stc=1
Re: Any pics of cnc control cabinets?
Oh, and go buy yourself some ferrule crimpers. Something like https://www.ebay.com/itm/Crimp-Tool-...4AAOSwfYBcfiZ7.
They keep stranded wires at bay and make connections much more reliable. Cheap ones last a while, and the good ones are VERY expensive.
Re: Any pics of cnc control cabinets?
Thanks guys. Really nice looking panels. I think I'm starting to get an idea of how I want to lay things out. I'll have 2 cabinets. Main control cabinet will have 110vac coming in the top which will go to a distribution din rail. Another rail will be below it with my various din rail mounted dc power supplies for 5v, 12v, 24v, as well as my larger 48v supply which will be mounted next to that rail. The 48v supply will first pass through dmb break out board which has large caps to smooth out the power, then go to another distribution rail for splitting off to g540, couple other stepper drivers. The other power supplies on din rail for 5v, 12v, and 24v will have terminal blocks for distribution for going to smoothstepper, dmb board, air solenoids, etc. Below all this power distribution will be dmb board, smoothstepper, g540, couple other gecko drivers. Stepper motor cables will come off the drivers and out the bottom along with cables for air solenoids and e stop. No limit switches on my machine, just soft limits so much less wire going from control cabinet to machine.
Second cabinet will have 240vac coming in the top which will split off to breakers for vfd and dyn4 as well as a 24v dc supply for powering contactors. After the breakers I'll have the contactors and line reactors, then the vfd and dyn4. This cabinet will have rs485 coming in from pc for vfd control and a single cable coming in from dmb board inside other cabinet into the dyn4 in second cabinet. Cables coming out of second cabinet will be spindle cable and encoder cable/motor cable for the servo.
I'm sure I'll have more questions for you guys as I move on designing it. I'm still a bit unclear on my options for how I can assemble components on a din rail, like if I can have multiple dc power supplies with a few terminal blocks next to each one for distribution all in one rail, or if I need to have the power supplies on one rail, then have separate rails for each group of terminal blocks, ie one rail for each voltage. I think I can figure most of this out as I keep searching. I'll probably model the whole thing up in fusion and post it for you guys to look at, see what should be changed. I want it to look pretty and be easy to diagnose problems.
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Re: Any pics of cnc control cabinets?
I laid mine out horizontally and gave it a serious front panel.
Ammeters on all axes, status LEDs on many signals, and some more controls in the blank space at the bottom right.
If anything happens, I can SEE what it is.
Cheers
Roger
Re: Any pics of cnc control cabinets?
Wow, after looking at those enclosures on automation direct, I think ill just go to harbour freight and invest in a sheet bender and rivet gun. Make exactly what I want for much cheaper. That way I can also make a nice case for my mill turn setup.
I'm thinking it might be pretty cool to go pc tower build style. Plexiglass panel in front door, some leds, make it look really sweet.
Actually, thinking a bit more, I could skip the bender and rivots, get some thicker aluminum sheet, cut all the pieces on my cnc, fasten it together with countersunk screws from the outside with corner stock on the inside. Could make a really precise sharp looking enclosure. All holes for Cables positioned exactly where I want with no extra openings, precise drill locations for mounting boards on standoffs, some custom engraving, nice flush inset plexiglass window. My work area is 26x18, plenty big enough for all pieces since I'm splitting into 2 enclosures. This is gonna be a fun project lol.
Re: Any pics of cnc control cabinets?
Re: Any pics of cnc control cabinets?
I started with a sheet of 3 or 4 mm aluminium as a heatsink/baseplate.
I also used the CNC to carve the front panel.
And I still have the sheet metal bender for other projects.
Cheers
Roger
Re: Any pics of cnc control cabinets?
Finally getting around to doing this. Question on dc power distribution. should I just ground all my dc power supplies to the panel, as well as ground all components needing dc power to panel, and then just wire the positive to each component? Or is it better to actually wire the positive and negative from component to power supply? Electrically I don't think there's a difference, but not sure if one way or the other is proper. Seems like a lot less wiring if just grounding everything straight to panel.
Re: Any pics of cnc control cabinets?
I would not ground the DC power to the cabinet. It's just asking for problems. I keep all my DC circuitry isolated from the high voltage.
Re: Any pics of cnc control cabinets?
A unwritten law is that the enclosure you order always ends up being at least 5% too small! :rolleyes:
I have often got deals on used enclosures off ebay, some came with disconnect, terminals, P.B.'s etc, I even got one that was stainless!
I have always earth grounded my DC supplies where possible to the Star ground point, the service ground should also terminate there.
I have even put two VFD's in the same enclosure as the rest of the control.
For hook up wire, of course always use stranded conductor and my favorite is TR64 as the insulation is much smaller and avoids filling up the wire trough.
Another general rule is to place heat producing items at the top of the enclosure.
Al.