Machinists trying to retrofit V2XT without our pc guy

[cnckeith]

more photos on this page. http://www.centroidcnc.com//bridgeport_ ... dx-32.html

[ncpapaul]

Thank you, the more photos the better, Paul

[ncpapaul]

What is this part from the original V2XT equipment? It is called Axis Drives in the book I have but no other explanation

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[cncsnw]

DC power supplies. They make DC power out of AC power. There appear to be two or three separate ones there.

See https://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/bl ... upply.html

The largest one (which uses the silver capacitors) is probably for the servo motors, and probably puts out somewhere between 70 and 120 VDC. The smaller one(s) probably put out around 24VDC, for relay and solenoid coils and maybe for PLC input circuits.

The actual axis drives -- circuit boards which chop up the DC voltage and feed it to the motors -- are not apparent in this picture. They were at the bottom right in your original cabinet pictures.

You will need a DC supply for servo motor power, and one for solenoid and relay coils, when you do the retrofit. If you don't want to figure out this one and use it, you can install new ones.

[martyscncgarage]

My .02:
You need to identify all the wires coming from your limit switches. Tag them with the appropriate axis and end (X-, X+, Y-, Y+, Z-, Z+ etc)
You need to idengify all the cables coming from each axis servo motors. (Note if there are two cables or one cable coming from the axis servo motors, if two, one will be power and the other will be encoder/tach) Tag them with the axis letter
You need to find your spindle motor power cable. Tag it.
You need to find your lube pump power cable, verify its voltage, single or three phase. Tag it.
You need to find your lube pump float switch. Tag it.
If you have a cabinet cooling fan, find the cable that powers it, verify fan voltage. Tag it

YOU NEED THE POWER SUPPLY to drive your servo motors. You need to find an electrician or electronics technician to power it up on the bench, identify the terminal outputs and voltages.

Centroid ALL IN ONE DC kit comes with a power supply to power IT, NOT your servo motors.

In my video, you will note that I did not have a trasformer because my servo motors were Glentek 180VDC.
Your SEM motors are 112VDC max, hence you need the transformer, the bridge rectifier (those square looking little pucks with 4 prongs) and the DC filter capacitors (those large beer can looking things)

If you do not have electrical experience, you need to find someone with good basic electrical or electronics knowledge to help.
The schematics are pretty good and I tried to explain the circuits as best I could (for my first time) on the dry erase board videos.

Gutting the cabinet is what I would do, tag all the cables I suggested, have a piece of .100" thick aluminum sheet cut to fit the cabinet and start from there.

We'll try and help as best we can, but you might be served well by finding a Centroid Dealer near you to assist.
You will likely have to refit those servos with new encoders, buy them, the cables, and the cable terminating caps from Centroid. Do yourself a favor and do not try and make these yourself. Centroid will need to know the shaft o.d. when ordering the encoders.
Here is a pictoral of the encoder upgrade: http://www.centroidcnc.com/sem_dc_servo ... rofit.html

Good luck with your project, it looks like a nice machine and you will enjoy using it with a properly installed and configured Centroid Control.
Marty

[ncpapaul]

Thank you cncsnw & martys I appreciate the info, we are inching along but ya'lls help is the best. I have discovered martyscncgarage and watching the videos closely, thanks again, Paul

[ncpapaul]

Thanks Marty, we did buy a whole kit from Centroid, ALLIN1DC, cables, software, mobile pendant, encoders and all, pretty much had several long long conversations with several folks there on what to buy. A big box full of parts, supposed to be a complete kit, using my SEM servo motors. I also paid ahead $$ for hours of after support because I knew we would get tripped up once we got going. In this beginning I'm trying to self-teach it, with you guys help, and not tap that resource too quick. The whole project was dependent on my pc brain guy who builds all our testing, data acquisition equipment and computers here at Acoustics, but now he is really sick and is focused on living quality. I do have several pc smart engineers and some electrical controls people to ask questions here on campus. Problem is it quickly becomes too many cooks in the kitchen and no servers or dishwashers!
Thank you again, Paul

[martyscncgarage]

Thanks Marty, we did buy a whole kit from Centroid, ALLIN1DC, cables, software, mobile pendant, encoders and all, pretty much had several long long conversations with several folks there on what to buy. A big box full of parts, supposed to be a complete kit, using my SEM servo motors. I also paid ahead $$ for hours of after support because I knew we would get tripped up once we got going. In this beginning I'm trying to self-teach it, with you guys help, and not tap that resource too quick. The whole project was dependent on my pc brain guy who builds all our testing, data acquisition equipment and computers here at Acoustics, but now he is really sick and is focused on living quality. I do have several pc smart engineers and some electrical controls people to ask questions here on campus. Problem is it quickly becomes too many cooks in the kitchen and no servers or dishwashers!
Thank you again, Paul Paul 2.JPG

I'm sorry to hear about your friend.

Actually, the PC part isn't that bad. Sounds like you did the right thing and bought most of the componenents from Centroid. That's a good thing.
Do take pictures along the way and post your progress. "Eat the elephant one bite at a time" Save your support for when you need some help tuning motors or configuring. They guys at Centroid waste no time, they don't dally around. Just be ready, have your PC/Control where there is an internet connection. Don't use the same ethernet port that All in One DC uses. Buy a USB Wifi adapter....

You'll be OK. PIctures and video clips of what you run into will be helpful to those of us trying to help you. Once the control is up, you will want to upload or send report files with each inquiry. The report file tells how your control is configured and setup. Its also your back up in case your computer/drive crashes.

Remember to buy a PC that meets the minimum system requirements. You can buy it from Centroid all preloaded and configured!
Marty

[bmagnie]

I am the Mechanical Engineering Machine shop manager here at the Univ of Idaho. We recently upgraded our V2XT to the Centroid control. We bought the complete cabinet so our experience is not quite the same as yours. We resolved 2 issues that may be of help to you. I retrofitted our existing servo motors with the new encoders. I had to make shaft extensions that screwed onto the end of the shaft allowing the encoders to grasp onto it. I also made some adapters to space the encoder covers out as the new encoders are taller.

The other issue had to do with the limit switches. I used the original switches which happened to be wired normally closed (I think, opposite of what the Centroid was looking for). Some of them were also wired in series as well as not working properly. Once I got the limit switches straightened out I ran into another issue. During setup I followed the manual and had to reverse one of the directions of the axis. After that I had days of frustration. 6 pages later in the manual it states that if you change directions of an axis you have to change a limit switch setting.

Our conversion has been working great. I still need to shorten up the cables and then I will incorporate the spindle speed control.

Good luck.

[ncpapaul]

Thanks bmagine, we also had to machine a threaded adapter for our servo motors so that the encoders we bought from Centroid could have the crush shaft fit. And also the alum adapter to bolt to as well, they do very well in description and sample photos. I will be sure to look out for the limit switches operation and normally open/closed state, they are probably just like your's. I will be in touch, thank you, Paul