2011/7/28 Dave <e...@dc9.tzo.com>: > If it still runs, study the machine with the help of the operator if > possible. Operators are oftentimes a great source of information. Plus > if you get along with them well, > they will tend to help you out if they know that you want to help them > out. Oftentimes they will reveal quirks in the machine that you will need > to accommodate with the new system.
I am not sure if it is possible to run the machine. They say that they were working with it and then something happened to control cabinet. Mechanically machine is said to be fine, but I doubt that I have a chance to test that. But the operator is there on site and since he is the only guy to work on their CNC machines, there is nobody else for him to talk about cnc stuff but me, so I feel that the task of making a contact is partially solved by default. > The tool changer, gearbox and spindle will probably be your biggest > challenges. Yes, that is what I suspect. I am now trying to get some information, how they are intended to be working. That toolchanger even looks complicated, so I expect to spend some time figuring out, how that stuff should work and then some more time actually getting it work that way. And then there is a spindle gearbox, which expects some signals from CNC controller to electrical valves to change the gears, so I will also have to spend some time reading about gearchange component to understand, if that can be used. > Are you tying into the existing motor/drives? Yes, client says that motors and drives are fine. I hope so. BTW, what is best way to test that? Can I test it by removing motor from machine and applying some small voltage (for example, +1.5V from AAA battery) to input of servo drive? I suspect that I will spend some time, figuring out, how to tune feedback loop in those drives - they are analog drives with +/- 10V input from cnc controller and there are tachogenerators on motors to provide feedback to servo drives and resolvers to provide feedback to cnc controller. I have no idea, how they are meant to be tuned. > Make sure you are clear on what they want and expect before you start > taking it apart. Misunderstandings can be expensive. Do You mean - what do drives want in terms of input signal from CNC controller and motors and what type of mode - velocity mode or torque mode do they operate? Or do You mean what does client want? The first one definitely is easier to handle :)) > If you don't have a detailed agreement, write one up and have them sign > it before any work starts. Thanks, actually I have had my lesson on working without a contract and outlined technical details and have experienced those "we-never-told-you-something-like-this" arguments. > Also take lots of high resolution digital pictures before any work begins. Thanks, it did not come into my mind to save as much information about initial situation as possible. > What brand/model of machine you are looking at? It is GF 21 71 S 5, produced in 1989 in USSR, pretty big machine. Viesturs ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Got Input? Slashdot Needs You. Take our quick survey online. Come on, we don't ask for help often. Plus, you'll get a chance to win $100 to spend on ThinkGeek. http://p.sf.net/sfu/slashdot-survey _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
