Layout of control cabinet

[Black Forest]

I have attached a picture of how I would layout my control cabinet. Nothing is fastened down and some of DIN rail will be removed and some will be added. All the high voltage wires run over the top and down the left side. The signal wires and low voltage wires will run down the right side. The VFD is mounted on the bottom left corner. Right beside the axis drives. Might that be a trouble area for noise? All signal wire will be shielded twisted pair. The VFD cables from the power in and to the motor will be shielded cable also. I am trying to leave room to mount an Eternet16 if I might need it in the future. I am still waiting on the extra contactor for the VFD to kill it in an emergency stop situation. I have one as you can see for the axis drives. All control circuits will be 24v DC. You can see the extra 10amp power supply next to the Acorn meanwell PS. Except for the drives and VFD everything is mounted on DIN rails with metal clips mounted to the components so I can snap them off easily if needed.

[suntravel]

The one from my lathe:





I Like to place the drivers on top, because they generate the most heat.

Try to keep more place between the drivers.

Uwe

[bbkengineering]

Amazing build!

How did you mount the acorn and relay board? I see that you used metal clips but how do you attach to the controller?

[suntravel]

I use screws and brass tubing for spacers to mount the Acorn boards.

Uwe

[ShawnM]

Black Forest, I’d recommend a lot more spacing between the drives and moving them as far away from the VFD as possible. The minimum spacing requirement for the drives is in the drive manual.

[Black Forest]

Black Forest, I’d recommend a lot more spacing between the drives and moving them as far away from the VFD as possible. The minimum spacing requirement for the drives is in the drive manual.

I will have to go look but I think in the final installation there is more space between the drives. In the picture above it could be the drives are just sitting there. The VFD is not mounted in the control cabinet now.

[Gary Campbell]

There are a number of ways to organize components in a control cabinet. Arrange by voltage, i.e., separate high voltage from low, separate signal from power, etc., arrange by thermal generation, i.e., components that generate the most heat are near the top so they wont heat others that do not, arrange by physical size, and arrange for wiring efficiency. Very seldom can all be optimal in the same design, concessions will have to be made. I like to prioritize voltage and thermal over the others.

Most DIY control builders tend to use a box that I consider too small. Nor do they separate components enough.

[suntravel]

Most DIY control builders tend to use a box that I consider too small. Nor do they separate components enough.

true

My first DIY build had a way to small box ( PITA to change something ), my second was ok till I changed to Acorn 6

But easy to maintain with screwless PTFix terminals.

Uwe

[ShawnM]

Most DIY control builders tend to use a box that I consider too small. Nor do they separate components enough.

So true Gary, so true. I see it all the time.
Pick the size enclosure you think you need and then buy a larger one.

[Gary Campbell]

It's like shoes. I'm a size 10. 11's feel so good that I buy 12's