[Lotus23C]

G'day, I have an old desktop CNC router made in the early 90s for school education purposes. It's a techsoft camcut 300, or a multisoft robotque intelys F1000 depending what sticker you look at. It is mint except it doesn't work very well, software is obsolete and pretty limited. Has 3 axis, ball screws and limit switches, cut area is 250 x 300 x 80mm high, which isn't much but built like a brick outhouse.
Currently it has Easypower GD D200 controllers controlling motors with 8 wires (but wires paired up like it has 4 wires), The router / spindle is a B&D 240v veneer router.
I believe I can rip out the circuit board and replace the whole lot with stepper controllers, a breakout board and power supply. I am unsure how to control the mains powered spindle thou, is there a relay capable of this on breakout boards, or is something else required?
Anyone else done a retro fit similar?
thanks
Patrick

[awerby]

If the router doing the cutting is a normal hand tool (not a spindle controlled by a VFD) then you'll need to run the logic-level signals (usually about 5v) coming out of your parallel port or motion control card that go high or low on a software command (usually M3/M5) through the breakout board and to a relay that can turn your mains power on and off. You probably have a breakout board already in your system with a relay like that, but it's hard to say if it will work with all the new components.

Breakout boards sometimes have a way to control a VFD by generating a range of voltages (usually up to 10v) that correspond to different speeds. But your setup won't respond to that; all you'll get is on and off.

[Lotus23C]

If the router doing the cutting is a normal hand tool (not a spindle controlled by a VFD) then you'll need to run the logic-level signals (usually about 5v) coming out of your parallel port or motion control card that go high or low on a software command (usually M3/M5) through the breakout board and to a relay that can turn your mains power on and off. You probably have a breakout board already in your system with a relay like that, but it's hard to say if it will work with all the new components.

Breakout boards sometimes have a way to control a VFD by generating a range of voltages (usually up to 10v) that correspond to different speeds. But your setup won't respond to that; all you'll get is on and off.

Thanks, it runs one mother board that controls every I/O and runs serial not parallel. All the important components are obsolete as is the software and manufacturer gone bust years ago. So the mother board is in the bin as far as i'm concerned.
Yes, the router is a Hand Tool running ac mains power. I think those chinese breakout boards have an on board 220vac relay, but never seen one in the flesh, so not completely sure.
Thanks
Patrick

[john-100]

looking at the data sheet for the SGS-THOMSON GS D200 stepper driver can be run from a 46V DC supply
and supply 2A to the stepper motors

stepper drivers using Toshiba TB6564AHQ /THB6064AH stepper driver IC's
will be a better than cheep Chinese drivers using the infamous TB6560 IC's found on ebay

TB6560 driver don't last very long when powered by 36V power supplies supplied in some kits
( they live longer with a 24V supply but are still problematic )

I guess the machine is about 20 years old
are you intending to re-use the motors and power supply transformer ??

John

[Lotus23C]

Thanks John,
The machine is 23 years old, original software written for win95 for a serial port.
I won't be using the old power supply in the machine as most of it is built into the motherboard, the only thing not on the old motherboard is a toroidal transformer and that's not much use.
I intend (at this stage) to use the old steppers, not sure what voltage they were supplied originally, but assume they might be a bit slow running at 24v if they were set up for 46V originally.
Thanks for the info on the stepper drivers.

[daniellyall]

Lotus23C look up emco pc mill 30 that's what it is based on, I gutted mine and used a G540 and a superpid to get it going on Mach3

[Talkiet]

Hi Patrick! Neil G here... I recently bought a 6040CNC and am about to embark on building a much larger/stronger machine. The machine I have has been retrofitted with what seems like pretty solid electronics and motors etc. If you wanted to come and have a look, or copy the design - more than happy to help out. I'm just around the road as well now!

Also, if you were conceivably interesting in a larger/stronger machine, building 2 wouldn't be much harder than building one!

Cheers - N

[Lotus23C]

Hi Patrick! Neil G here... I recently bought a 6040CNC and am about to embark on building a much larger/stronger machine. The machine I have has been retrofitted with what seems like pretty solid electronics and motors etc. If you wanted to come and have a look, or copy the design - more than happy to help out. I'm just around the road as well now!

Also, if you were conceivably interesting in a larger/stronger machine, building 2 wouldn't be much harder than building one!

Cheers - N

Small world Neil.I have come along way since that post, I have 150kgs of machine (well, RHS bits tacked together really) sitting in my shed, best we exchange notes!

[tecfacet]

I am in Auckland ... moved here from the USA. Will be willing to give advice and help.

Roger

[Lotus23C]

I am in Auckland ... moved here from the USA. Will be willing to give advice and help.

Roger

Thanks for this. As far as the above router is concerned, I think I have it under control as it works pretty well with new drivers, bob and power supply.

[irongarment]

Did you get it working?

I am near Christchurch and I just acquired one of these. I have it working with the original software.