Anyone converted a Denford VMC 1300 Pro to Mach or LinuxCNC?
I've recently acquired a VMC 1300 Pro and would prefer to use industry std software to drive the brute. I've found other forums with smaller Denford mill conversion advice (using the same NextStep controller). Just wondered if there's anyone UK-based who has experience too
Re: Anyone converted a Denford VMC 1300 Pro to Mach or LinuxCNC?
I realise I may have been better posting in the Milling Machines, Builds & Conversions thread, where there are threads on Denford conversions
Re: Anyone converted a Denford VMC 1300 Pro to Mach or LinuxCNC?
There are plenty people who've converted Denford mills, although I would guess the number of VMCs produced isn't that great, so the number that have been retrofitted will be even less. There won't be much difference in terms of the basic electronics between all the machines using the NextStep controllers.
What do you mean by industry standard software?
There are quite a few options available, some better than others, but it all depends what you'd like to achieve.
Re: Anyone converted a Denford VMC 1300 Pro to Mach or LinuxCNC?
Thanks for the reply m_c. I'm thinking Mach 3 (or 4) or LinuxCNC to drive the VMC via a parallel connection to the NextStep "bottom board".
This is my reference data sets acquired from the web so far:
Baldor Nextstep Step and Direction pins - 96way connector
http://www.denfordata.com/bb/viewtopic.php?f=54&t=2264
documenting step and direction signals to the Baldor "bottom-board" stepper drives
CIRCUIT DIAGRAMS for the VMC 1300 Pro
http://www.denfordata.com/bb/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=3721
Second post in the thread has the Pro diagrams - the Pro uses a Baldor Microflex servo control for the spindle drive
Baldor Drive Microflex Installation Manual
http://www.denfordata.com/bb/viewtop...ilit=microflex
this servo control is a real beauty, I've no idea what they cost
Really detailed and well illustrated (with videos) blog by Jay Summet about conversion of Micromill 2000 to Mach 3, a series of 4 posts, starting with X, Y, Z and concluding with spindle speed
http://www.summet.com/blog/2016/01/1...rol/#more-3679
Jay's conversion to drive the spindle motor controller via a PWM signal involves some board mods that I'm reluctant to do, so will look for add-on board to get the 10V analogue drive for the spindle speed (I still have to check that the MicroFlex spindle is controlled in this way)
Looking on diycnc.co.uk for suitable BoB and step to 10V converter
Re: Anyone converted a Denford VMC 1300 Pro to Mach or LinuxCNC?
I have a converted triac, which is the same size as a 1300 and atc.
Running it in mach3 with machstdmill screen Set, the machine runs a treat.
All you would need to do is take denfords stuff out and put stepper drivers in, breakout board something like a pmdx as the machine has an atc, a spindle v4 board amd a new psu in
Re: Anyone converted a Denford VMC 1300 Pro to Mach or LinuxCNC?
Thanks Andy, I was hoping to have a go with the "stuff" that Denford build in, at least initially. There's no ATC on my VMC, nor 4th axis (at mo), but it is the Pro version with the bigger/faster spindle drive
Re: Anyone converted a Denford VMC 1300 Pro to Mach or LinuxCNC?
It sounds like you've got a good plan, and found the majority of the required information.
Nothing wrong with trying what's already there. By keeping the NextStep card, you should also have all the required supply voltages already there, as I'm fairly sure the bottom board contains all the rectifiers/capacitors, with the top board just being the actual motion controller.
Re: Anyone converted a Denford VMC 1300 Pro to Mach or LinuxCNC?
OK, hit my basic lack of knowledge at step 1 - select a BoB to get parallel to the 96-way connector. I thought all BoBs were about the same, but now bewildered by the choice! I don't mind investing in a decent one, just can't work out what I do and don't need
Re: Anyone converted a Denford VMC 1300 Pro to Mach or LinuxCNC?
Google pmdx126
You will also need a pmdx104
Re: Anyone converted a Denford VMC 1300 Pro to Mach or LinuxCNC?
Have you had a read through this thread? - http://www.mycncuk.com/threads/9829-...nford+novamill
It's for a Novamill, but the general cabinet wiring will be very similar.