Re: Spindle Speed with the GS2 Drive

[Gene Warren <gwarren-at-execpc.com>]

      Hi Matt,

  Matt Shaver wrote:
> 200303252109.35728.mshaver-at-erols.com">
> On Tuesday 25 March 2003 20:04, you wrote:
> >      This fall I am going to be involved with a retrofit of a
> > Wells-Index knee mill, model 810.  It currently has three axis movement
> > with servo drives (Westamp) and encoder (differential) feedback on each
> > axis.  The spindle is spun by a 3 horse, 3-phase, 1800 RPM, 220 VAC motor.
> >
> >      The "iron" is in excellent shape, but the electronic control is by
> > Sharnoa that needs to be scrapped.  We are going with the Servo-to-Go
> > card, a BDI box, and whatever else it takes for a professional retrofit.
> >     
>
> I retrofitted this exact machine with this exact setup a few years ago. It 
> works fine and it was very easy to do. Wish I had pictures... Basically, I 
> pulled out the Sharnoa control (an S-100 computer for those who know what 
> that is) and put a shelf in the cabinet. A PC in a desktop style enclosure 
> slid right in and I saved the amps, power supply, and encoders. The I/O was 
> done with an Opto22 board controlled through the parallel port on the PC and 
> using the existing 24Vdc relay logic on the field wiring side. I also had to 
> remove the operator controls mounted on either side of the spindle housing as 
> those functions are now controlled through the PC running the EMC, as well as 
> the paper tape reader and the operator display on top of the control 
> cabinet..
>     
    
       I know it's been a while since you  did the retrofit, but do you have
 any thoughts of anything that you did that you would 
  NOT do if you started the retrofit today?  Experience is a mixed blessing.
    
       How did you do the Operator's controls: Cycle Start, Stop, E-Stop, 
etc, without a pendant?  I cringe at the thought of running this machine with
a mouse, even though I know it can be done.
    
         How did you overcome the harsh environment of coolant and other
shop  debris?  Even a one-machine shop tends to be dirty around the machine
while  it's working.
> 200303252109.35728.mshaver-at-erols.com">
>
>
> Matt
>
> P.S. Fred Proctor took some pictures of this machine, maybe he's got 'em 
> somewhere, although I don't know if he got any of the inside of the control 
> enclosure.
>       
      
       If you can find them, I would like to see them.  (off list, of course.)
> 200303252109.35728.mshaver-at-erols.com">
>
>
> P.P.S. One of the old amps (the Z axis) finally went bad a couple months ago 
> and I replaced it with a Servo Dynamics amp which is working well.
>         
        
         That's how I do it at work, too.  Baldor sells an "almost" replacement
 for these Westamp drive.  I say "almost" because they fit in the amplifier
 "cage" exactly, but the signal connectors are different.
        
  Later,
  Gene