Yam-550 with crusader ML sem 140 vdc anilam encoder Acorn?

[martyscncgarage]

Forgive me, but you are likely going to spend more money in mistakes and time in frustration.
CNC is not cheap.
You want to use Acorn? Buy AC servo drives that take step and direction. Putting stepper motors on that machine is an exercise in futility and going backwards in the machine's design.

Buy once, cry once.
If it were me first choice for that machine, All in One DC.
Second choice PERHAPS Oak and trying to reuse the old analog drives. I have not tried it, I'm unsure I would personally.
Third (and maybe my second) choice, is Acorn and GOOD AC Servo drives.

All these choices are going to put you between $2-$3k minium.
The resale value of the machine is affected as well in my opinion.

My .02
Marty

[Muzzer]

If you look elsewhere in the Acorn forum you'll see mention of the cncdrive DG4S-16035 drives which are for brushed DC servo motors like yours and they take step/dir inputs. I have them on my Shizuoka mill (with an Acorn), driving SEM motors like yours. My motors already had Heidenhain encoders in them, which connect directly to the drives. The "L25" encoder seems to be available from a variety of manufacturers, so easy to look up. The drives are 160V 35A (hence the model name), so well suited to your motors.

It would be nice to replace the existing installation with modern brushless servos but if you reuse the existing motors, there is a lot less messing about involved. Depends how much budget you want to blow on it. My machine works fine with the new drives and there was no need to change any of the mechanical stuff.

Those cncdrive DG4S drives are available in the US and also in EU, depending where you live.

[Muzzer]

I must say, that looks like a neat machine you've got there. Seems to be in great shape, original paint, very little use and wear. Without being able to look closer, I'd say the electronics appear to be 1980s vintage?

If you don't know the year of manufacture, you can get a fair idea if you look at the individual components on the boards. Back then, most electronic compts were marked with a 4 digit date code such as "8625" which would mean 1986 week 25. Generally, you'd expect the machine to be perhaps a year or so older than the compts within it.

Looking forward to seeing how you get on with this!

[Jmamc711]

I must say, that looks like a neat machine you've got there. Seems to be in great shape, original paint, very little use and wear. Without being able to look closer, I'd say the electronics appear to be 1980s vintage?

If you don't know the year of manufacture, you can get a fair idea if you look at the individual components on the boards. Back then, most electronic compts were marked with a 4 digit date code such as "8625" which would mean 1986 week 25. Generally, you'd expect the machine to be perhaps a year or so older than the compts within it.

Looking forward to seeing how you get on with this!

Thank you it’s a 1986 model I am posting some more pics of the electronics now

[Jmamc711]

Here are some more pictures of the computers so next think I will be trying to work out as I decide on what boards to run is the power supply. I know I have seen the transformer and blue round capacitor and a rectifier. This was all hooked to a normal wall plug. If there is any direction I can be pointed to safely test and what parts since there is so many extra parts are needed a direction would be great Thank you also if there is any way to reuse the screen and or dial that would be great also.

[frijoli]

That's a really clean machine. Shame the controller went.

[Jmamc711]

That's a really clean machine. Shame the controller went.

I agree I was excited I wish there was a shop I could drop the box off at and for a few hundred bucks be working. It was used at a college that closed down so never in an industrial setting.

[martyscncgarage]

That's a really clean machine. Shame the controller went.

I agree I was excited I wish there was a shop I could drop the box off at and for a few hundred bucks be working. It was used at a college that closed down so never in an industrial setting.

All the more reason to do a proper control upgrade.
CNC conversions are not inexpensive.
Done right, you'll get lots of good reliable service out of it, with little frustration. Just my experience talking...I respect everyone's right to do what they want. It's a good time to do so, with so many choices.

Marty

[Muzzer]

I agree I was excited I wish there was a shop I could drop the box off at and for a few hundred bucks be working....

But a machine of this age and rarity is just a heartbeat away from failing at any moment and the cost (or possibility) of the required repair is unknown. That's why machinery like this has little or no commercial value beyond its scrap value. When you have a machine that appears to be in great condition and has been well put together, you have the basis for a very cost effective project.

As for the original controller, it will have minimal memory size, getting a program into it will be painful and you may find that the g codes are quite unusual. On the other hand, if you fit a modern controller such as the Acorn and give it modern toolpaths from the likes of Fusion 360, it will sing along in a way the manufacturer would never have imagined.

You can probably junk the entire contents of the cabinet, as very little of it will be of any use - and the modern replacement will occupy considerably less space.

Keep us updated on progress!

[Jmamc711]

Today has a little progress finally pulled out power supply components. I believe it is all I will need for my 140 volt needs. I have been trying to find manuals on them to no luck first off it was hooked to 120v so I assume on the transformer it’s one ground one hot on black and white wire? To test it? Out put should be around 100vac? Then through fuse then bridge rectifier then to capacitor. Then the capacitor should read + - 140vdc? The correct way to test dc volts is across the top? Thank you for your help