Let your students learn about LinuxCNC. But this project is not the best as a first project. What I would suggest is to buy a very small milling machine. one small enough that one person could lift it onto a bench. Then convert it to CNC. Or build a CNC router from scratch. THese are easy projects and students learn quite a lot. Also for teaching CNC operations the small machine is just as good as the larger one.
I would not attempt a LCNC retrofit of this size until you have some experience with LCNC. First convert the mini-mill, build a router, then attempt the larger project. LCNC is a software system, it will need hardware to run on. The best hardware platform is an older PC, You can get these for free if you scrounge. Then buy some interface cards from Mesa, Then motor drivers and power supplies and then wire and connects and assemble the system. As said start small. If one of you students can do this kind of work, he is valuable and can find a good-paying job. On Tue, May 10, 2022 at 12:07 PM Stuart Stevenson <[email protected]> wrote: > Dominic, > Was the machine running when you received it? This will affect your > decision if you have to repair/purchase servos and/or drives. The more cost > to get the machine components in running condition will start to lean > toward a package purchase. > With the GE550 control I assume the machine was built somewhere before > 1980. It may have been made later than 1980 if the purchaser ordered the > 550 control. > As you are facing the machine do you see an approx 6 inch diameter > glass/plastic/metal cylinder on the left side about six feet from the > floor? If so, the spindle is a floating spindle for canned cycle drilling > and tapping. The air cylinder counterbalances the spindle and allows it to > drop until the tool touches the workpiece. The tool then retracts a small > amount, the drive engages and the canned cycle starts. It will take some > configuration to make this work in any system you purchase. > Do the spindle adapters (tool holders) have what looks like many gear > teeth around the edge to drive the adapter? If so, the adapters will have a > roll pin in place of one tooth. The tool changer will hold the tool against > the spindle as the spindle rotates slowly until the roll pin falls into a > slot allowing the tool change arm to fully seat the tool adapter. As you > use larger drills and end mills the teeth will begin to break off the > adapters. > I have never seen another machine with either of the above described > "features". > > I ran/programmed a VMC 75 with GE1050 control from 1980 until 1985. > > HTH > Stuart > > > On Tue, May 10, 2022 at 1:03 PM Todd Zuercher <[email protected]> > wrote: > > > Linuxcnc is simply software, but it can interface with numerous hardware > > interfaces, such as from Mesa, Pico and others. For example you might > want > > to use some Mesa cards to interface with the old servo amps, motors, and > > encoders of your old system. This is no small task. If you want a more > > turnkey system including replacing all old servo systems something such a > > Centroid system may be simpler, but much, much more expensive. But if > you > > will be paying someone else to do the work it may be the better option. > > > > Todd Zuercher > > P. Graham Dunn Inc. > > 630 Henry Street > > Dalton, Ohio 44618 > > Phone: (330)828-2105ext. 2031 > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Dominic Francisco <[email protected]> > > Sent: Tuesday, May 10, 2022 1:43 PM > > To: Enhanced Machine Controller (EMC) <[email protected]> > > Subject: [Emc-users] explanation of Linux/EMC > > > > [EXTERNAL EMAIL] Be sure links are safe. > > > > Boun Giorno to the Cognoscenti: > > Our non-profit, veteransinitiatives.org nee 'VITAL', is a 501, C-19, > > whose members compose a mouthy collection of gun-totin', somewhat > > irreverent (somewhat?) reprobates who have defended our priceless Nation. > > We are composed of machinists, chemists, mechanics, patternmakers, > > electroplaters, welders & 1 metallurgist (you never want more than 1 of > > them in your rabble!) > > Our mission is to > > teach the elements of mfg technology to our most deserving citizen, our > > DisAbled American Veteran (DAV) & our ambulatory Paralyzed Veteran (PVA), > > so they may obtain career employment in our Nation's mfg sector. this is > a > > 'thinly-veiled program' to save lives; that is, the lives of MilVets who > > have returned from the 'killing fields'. > > For the last 4 years we have been moving machinery (~35 tons) from > our > > shop in CA, to the primitive, eastern territory of Nevada; this is mining > > country: Au, Ag, Pt, Cu, Rh, W ........ > > We have several machines we wish to convert to 4-axis NC. one of > these > > monsters is a Monarch 75 VMC, equipped with ~100 lb servos. we have > removed > > the GE-550 'refrigerator'. > > Could your 'cognoscenti' explain the process of adapting the > Linux/EMC > > to our machines? is this system a NC controller, does it resemble the > > contemporary NC controllers such as the Pico, Centroid, Mesa & MACH-3 > > systems? does it contain similar hardware: encoders, tachos, amps, A/D, > D/A > > converters, zero-crossing detectors & a motherboard? > > Or does it consist only of software? > > > > Please be as specific as you might,with your recommendations. > > > > May our Lord protect our valiant warriors, > > dominic francisco > > [email protected] veteransinitiatives.org > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Emc-users mailing list > > [email protected] > > > > > https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flists.sourceforge.net%2Flists%2Flistinfo%2Femc-users&data=05%7C01%7Ctoddz%40pgrahamdunn.com%7Cd82ee2032bd6450b364d08da32acab01%7C5758544c573f47cebee96c3e0806fb43%7C0%7C0%7C637878014445920502%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=XSg%2BfpVQQ3siaXjKpJvO2egpWMHu%2FEPQy6kuxuKQUao%3D&reserved=0 > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Emc-users mailing list > > [email protected] > > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users > > > > > -- > Addressee is the intended audience. > If you are not the addressee then my consent is not given for you to read > this email furthermore it is my wish you would close this without saving or > reading, and cease and desist from saving or opening my private > correspondence. > Thank you for honoring my wish. > > _______________________________________________ > Emc-users mailing list > [email protected] > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users > -- Chris Albertson Redondo Beach, California _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list [email protected] https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
