First, I am a complete newbie to CNC. I am a physicist and mechanical engineer with considerable electronic and computer experience (designed computers at HP in the 70's), I own test equipment including oscilloscopes etc., and I have had a manual machine shop for over 45 years. I have a Wells Index 520CEN that I bought as bare iron - all the electricals had been removed. Otherwise it is as new. I have nearly completed converting it for dual use - both fully manual and fully CNC.
I have a Wells Index 700 CNC system - a very early Bandit step motor system. This system has one bad axis drive board and one bad stepper, but I have been able to get it up and running and I am using it to control the X and Z axes of the mill so that I can at least use it to do something requiring a mill. The interface from the computer to the step drive card directly controls the motor windings - it is not step and direction - so any replacements must be original or I have some circuit design to do. I think it is best to move on unless I can find some reasonably priced replacements. Ebay guys want about $800 for the two parts - not worth that much to me. If someone has a Bandit or parts they do not need contact me and we can try to work something out.
I also have a Dynapath System 10 with Siemens servos and a Siemens Simoreg servo amp that I removed form a Lagun mill. I have done preliminary bench tests on the Siemens DC servo motors and tachs and they all appear to be good.The tag on the computer says: Dynapath System 10 MDI Serial no. 50301 and model No. 10-3M00-01. I want to try and bring that system up for use on the Wells Index 520 mill. The last two board slots on the left side as viewed from the front are vacant. Are these two slots supposed to be occupied and if so what is missing, or are these two slots for expansion boards - possibly more axes or more memory. What are these two slots for and do they need to be filled?
There is nothing currently attached to the computer and I did not expect it to run on power up, but I did expect it to come up and do something - maybe. I applied power to the computer and switched from standby to operate and only four things happened. 1) the fans came on. 2) the first red LED toward the front of the computer on the second board from the right came on. 3) after about 4 seconds the second LED came on. 4) at some point the speaker chirped. When turning power off the screen flashed very lightly and a bright dot appeared in the center for a few seconds. I expected the display to come up and give some boot up or some error messages of some sort as a minimum. Should it? What should it display?
I am guessing the monitor may be good but not getting video signals. It appears that there are two power wires going from the monitor to the power supply and that there are another two wires going from the computer to the video monitor. Is that correct and what kind of video signals drive the monitor? Is it composite video, serial TTL, or something else? What are the video signals? I would like to check and see if the monitor is possibly good but lacks video drive signals or if the monitor itself is definitely bad.
What is the minimum that must be connected to the back connectors to get anything out of this unit so that I can begin to assess its condition?
What microprocessor chip and memory chips does this unit use - or is it a processor made from distributed discrete TTL or CMOS chips?
I have absolutely ZERO documentation. Are manuals and schematics etc. available for download or as copies anywhere? Does anyone have ROM firmware listings?
Is there a reasonable upgrade path from this unit to something much better - ie.... just replace a processor board with a later one or add memory or upgrade firmware? or does one pretty much have have to junk it and start over?
I now this is ancient technology but I like a challenge and a chance to learn about something new. I am not afraid of G and M code programming either. This vintage equipment is something I am familiar with (I still have vintage EPROMS and a Programmer) and it is like renewing an old acquaintance. I also want a path to move into CNC without breaking the bank as I am retired and cash is very precious. I want to learn as I go.
If someone has a later vintage Dynapath I might be interested.
The Simoreg servo amplifier (MLFB 6RB 2012-38A00 and D165 G200/12 MREQ Nr: A) that is probably not useful to me as it has a three phase input and I am guessing it will not run properly on anything but true 3 phase. Is that correct or are people running the Simoreg amps on RPCs or something else. I have looked over the power supply and there are two layers of true 3 phase transformers with multiple secondaries in the Simoreg. Redesigning the power supply for single phase does not seem very reasonable. I also have much newer Anilam (Glentek) servo amps that I can use with these Siemens servo motors so I will probably sell the Simoreg servo amp. It is extremely clean and looks nearly new appearance wise.
Any advice, help, or documentation would be greatly appreciated.
Lee