Would you mind giving some info and pointers on your set up to save me wasted hardware / time pls?
Not at all
Q:-
I'm thinking using the same Rutex drives - R2010 if using brush motors. Which size / make motors did you use on each axis ? (love the tensioning system by the way!)
A:-
I got some Electrocraft E240 motors off Ebay which already had encoders on them i think the 240 refers to ounces . These motors come up on Ebay regular, sometimes in Germany , i got mine in the uk for £21 each , i had to machine covers for the encoders.
Q:-
You used HP 512 count encoders. I may use US Digital - cheap and I have 500 count ones already, is 500 count ok, are enclosed encoders better?
A:- enclosed encoders will probably last longer but you could protect them with some sort of casing. 500 counts would be fine i got 4 micron resolution with 512 counts and i have not read the encoder in quadrature which is another little bonus of using rutex drives .you can get far better resolution if you read them in quadrature but its a trade off for fast travis speed.
Q:-
Bob Campbell breakout board - was it the combo board?
Can you connect the homing switches to it, did you use limit switches as well?
How did you get the Campbell board to run the spindle.
A:-
Yes, version 5
Yes i connected home switches to it, and i used limit switches to e-stop mach3 through the bob campbell board and also e-stop the rutex drives using a relay in the e-stop circuit.
The Campbell board has a 0-10v analogue out and two configurable relays to control a V.F.D. (Inverter drive)
Q:-
You said why you didn't use the Gecko's drives but could the GRex controller have been used, why I ask is that I'm going to link up the ATC and probably have to use a ModIO PLC - maybe Homann but need to work out if the Campbell board or GRex will integrate with this better.
A:- The Grex controller could be used in place of the Bob Campbell board and you would get a lot more functions,i/o's etc. for your toolchanger.
the Grex has step and dir. out , and you will still need to attach your choice of drives to the Grex .
Q:-
I also want a 4th axis at a later stage and the Rutex system allows for a 4th drive in there, but may struggle if I need to replace the ATC motor. The Homann ModIO may cope with this though and run the original ATC stepper via it's existing driver -
not sure what it is yet as I havn't received the mill yet! should arrive air freight next week - I'm trying to plan out the project before-hand and get the bits before it arrives.
A:-
I built a toolchanger for a full size machine that has run in my workshop for about seven years. I used a picservo dc drive from J.R.Kerr automation(
http://www.jrkerr.com/boards.html) and a simple sequencer board from the same, i think they intergrated the simple sequencer into the drive at a later date but you could ask them if it was of interest.
I just sent ascii characters to the simple sequencer from a plc to do the position of the carousel and an air system to do the up,down,in,out also controlled from the plc. works really well and the picservo was very reasonably priced.
Sorry to flood you with questions but I don't think anyone elses set up matches closer than yours!
Not a problem at all i only hope my ramblings make sense . If i can be of any help at all or i have missed something please just message me or leave a post, i've been a bit hit and miss with the internet lately but i am usually more regular, sorry for the delayed reply.
Regards col