[brinmac]

hi , anyone ever retrofitted an older waterjetpro machine using the camsoft syatem ? i have an old higerman control that has become very troublesome and hard to find parts for. the camsoft system sounds great , maybe to much so .

thanks
robert brintle

[Karl_T]

I just looked at Camsoft's default .cbk for waterjet. looks like there is a custom macro for a hydraulic valve to control Z height with an encoder for feedback. Would not be at all difficult for an experienced Camsoft installer to do.

What do you have for drives and servos on your X and Y axis? Does the above system sound like what you got for Z height control?

Karl

[brinmac]

thanks for reply , my machine has panasonic servos and drives for all 3 axis , it is a 3 axis machine but z moves down to programmed position , then x and y travel , at end of cut z moves back up before rapid to next start point , machine also has relays to turn water and abrasive on and off.relatively simple system , is the retrofit doable by someone with limited electronic experience?

[Karl_T]

IMHO, Camsoft is the best most versatile control available, but it does have a steep learning curve. Whether you're up to it depends a great deal on your aptitude for this sort of work. I would use the analogy of learning calculus and differential equations - difficult but well worth it.

Or you might consider having someone get you going with a default setup. Then you could work on improving it. smaller, bite size chunks that way.

Karl

[Farmers Machine]

Look on the Camsoft website under specials, The CS 203 has a good motion card, and a 17" touch screen monitor. Look at the CS 204 and you will see a heavy duty hand held remote. Having this remote allows you to walk right up to the nozzle to set your G54 coordinates, or move in hand mode to remove a skeleton. with this remote your have cycle start, feed hold, feed override, E Stop, abrasive on and off, all in the palm of your hand with out having to be standing at the control, which also has all of these features. Cam Soft can set the computer up so it is almost plug and play. Call them to discuss your needs, but have every thing you want the control to do listed. If this is your money makin machine go ahead and get the CNC PRO software, you can also look into getting a twin monitor system on the control and have the CNC on one screen and the AS 3000 CAD system on the other screen. Cam Soft has the ability to cut the part from the drawing with out having to have a posted G Code program, and you can have over a terabyte of programs stored in the work file.
You or someone will have to be able to decipher the encoder cables from the servo motors, install the +/- 10 volts command to the servo drives, hook up all the travel limit switches, get from the OPTO 22 relay rack to the solenoids that turn the pump on and off, and the abrasive on and off. You will need to know the solenoids coil voltage so you get the proper OPTO relays, but a water jet is a relatively simple 3 axis machine to hook up on.

Welcome to the CNC that lets you have it your way, Not how THEY want you to have it !!!!!!!
If you had a chance to look at Fanuc, they have hundreds of options, You have to purchase every one of them that you want.
Every option available comes with CNC PRO for the cost of 1 option from Fanuc.

Farmers Machine