GEC Gemini spindle drive from Boxford 260 VMC

Hi all,

Apologies for diving straight in with the questions.
I've just picked up a couple of Boxford CNC machines however both have faulty GEG Gemini spindle drive boards. One has been totally chopped out (as in hacksawed from the connectors) but judging by the scorch marks inside the casing it suffered the same fate as the other.

The one from the 260VMC looks like it had the typical C2 failure and the resulting fire took out some of the components further up the board.

http://www.torquedup.co.uk/forum/ima...a67f581496.jpg

The questions really would be, does anyone have one of these boards that would be able to help me out in identifying the burnt components so I can re-order and replace to fix the board ? Either a few decent hi-res photos of the burnt area or if you'd be able to provide me the details, either would be great. If someone could measure the values of the tuning pots that would be amazing.

Failing that, does anyone know if there's any of these boards available or if they can still be bought (unlikely I know) ?
I could do with another anyway as the board got cut out of the 125TCL.

Thanks in advance.

I think I'd be looking at a new drive given that level of damage.

I can't remember, but if these are for DC spindle motors, I'd be looking at a KB board for a suitable replacement (KBIC are single directional, and I think KBID are the dual direction version).

The board doesn't look as bad in the flesh as it does in the pictures. The majority of it is smoke damage from the burning cap and the leds. The tracks are all still intact and the board is still structurally sound. It's been cleaned up a bit since that picture however it's over at my brothers (he's the electrical side i'm more mechanical) so I can't get a better shot.

He's pretty confident it can be repaired, it'd just help speed up the process if there was a reference board to work from as i've not been able to find much info at all on the boards.


Yes, they are Lenze DC spindle motors 180v 0.45Kw in the machines. I'll have a look into the KB boards as well.

Cheers for the info.

i have 125 here, i'll dig it out later and get you some pics and info.

I've got one here you can have FOC and I'm 90% sure it works. Got all the guts out of 125tcl Just arrange carriage and I'll box the lot up for you.

Thanks for that JAZZCNC

I've sent a PM.


i2i, thanks for the offer. Hopefully I should be ok with the stuff from JAZZCNC. If you don't mind though, I'm sure I'll be back to pick your brains on other bits of the 125tcl ?

Thanks,

Si

no probs, i'm always about.

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Originally Posted by i2i

no probs, i'm always about.

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i2i I'm looking for a chuck for a 125tcl if you know of any or what fits.?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JAZZCNC

i2i I'm looking for a chuck for a 125tcl if you know of any or what fits.?

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I'll have a nose at it Jazz.

Hi Jazz, you have PM http://www.torquedup.co.uk/forum/images/smilies/tup.gif

Anybody else have any info on these drive boards ?

Could still do with some details of the burnt components or if anyone has one/knows where I can get hold of one.
Cost for repairing this one shouldn't be much at all however i'll still need one for the other machine as well.

Thanks in advance.

Si

Hiya, old thread, but are you still looking for this info?

can i ask, how did you wire up your spindle controller? im currently wiring mine up after putting it off for 2 years! I need to know what voltage the signals need to be that switch the yaskawa connector block thing, been working out al;l of the pin outs but cannot confirm if it is a 24ish voltage (think its 18 or 28 i believe is wha it supplies of my head...


how did you control your spindle speed?

Thanks

Nat

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Roadrunna

Anybody else have any info on these drive boards ?

Could still do with some details of the burnt components or if anyone has one/knows where I can get hold of one.
Cost for repairing this one shouldn't be much at all however i'll still need one for the other machine as well.

Thanks in advance.

Si

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Hello Roadrunna,
Just seen your post about the GEC spindle burnout. I've just had the same problem the first time I ran a newly acquired 125 Lathe. I hope you managed to fix it, and I would be grateful for any advice you could offer.
Rgds
Mike

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Roadrunna

Hi all,

Apologies for diving straight in with the questions.
I've just picked up a couple of Boxford CNC machines however both have faulty GEG Gemini spindle drive boards. One has been totally chopped out (as in hacksawed from the connectors) but judging by the scorch marks inside the casing it suffered the same fate as the other.

The one from the 260VMC looks like it had the typical C2 failure and the resulting fire took out some of the components further up the board.

http://www.torquedup.co.uk/forum/ima...a67f581496.jpg

The questions really would be, does anyone have one of these boards that would be able to help me out in identifying the burnt components so I can re-order and replace to fix the board ? Either a few decent hi-res photos of the burnt area or if you'd be able to provide me the details, either would be great. If someone could measure the values of the tuning pots that would be amazing.

Failing that, does anyone know if there's any of these boards available or if they can still be bought (unlikely I know) ?
I could do with another anyway as the board got cut out of the 125TCL.

Thanks in advance.

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Hi Mike, i have one of these sat in my machine which im converting ATM, so could send you some pics. I have some on my flickr page here: https://flic.kr/p/qiaQ61 will take some more and upload later on today.

Im just trying out how to configure my spindle driver to work with my new spindle controller, and thinking i need to get a diagram, but no one has a wiring diagram, or no one has released it into the public, so i have been having to trace and reverse engineer it. unfortunatly i cannot find information on the contactor relay setup to find out what voltage it is fed with to switch. I need to find someone with the machine before its taken apart so i can trace the wires!

Are you in the UK? and where are you located? im in Bristol.

Nat

hi, i've setup a few of these spindle drivers on mach3, but it's been a while since i've seen one. I used a diycnc sp4dc board to give the 0-10 isolated signal and run command. First off i would replace the old film caps with new ones as they will fail eventually, and it's pretty dramatic when they fail. I have some pics hiding on my comp somewhere of the layout, but there is a thread on this forum about wiring the gemini board to mach3

Hi i2i, Will do with the caps, prob tomorrow! im curious as to what other options there are instead of using these spindle drive units. I want to use the existing motor, but may look at other controllers (VFD) and see what they cost and if it is worth it...

Am wiring up my spindle controller now so hopefully i will be able to reply after!

i2i, i see your into retrofitting machines (as mentioned on another forum post) which machines do you retrofit? or is it whatever the customer asks? or do you do it to sell on?

Hello Nat, If you are referring to the direction change relays they are 240volt. I have a connection diagramme, showing the hard wiring, but no electronic info. You can get the diagramme from Yahoo groups/ Boxford users/files, or I can send you a copy if you let me have your email address.
Have taken an "educated" guess at the components to repair my board, and receive replacements today, so should know in the next couple of days if it fixes the problem.
I'm in Kidderminster.
Rgds
Mike

Tank you Mike, I will try a look to see if I can find this document.
this afternoon I took apart the yaskawa contactor and realised how it operates and is connected, so hopefully the diagram will confirm this. I believe it uses the relays on the Oxford relay card in the rack to switch the inputs to live on the opposing feed. I have therefore wired the live inputs for both sides through the relays on the spindle controller board, therefore if I am correct, the spindle poles will change over depending on the relay operations through mach3.

i was hoping to get some nice pics of the board components today but I left my camera at home, and there were no spare cameras at work which was extremely surprising considering I work at aardman animations, where cameras are everywhere! Anyway, I will post some pics of the board tomorrow as will bring my camera in.
if you could email me he diagram if you have a spare moment, although I'm going to try and find the group, that would be appreciated.

my email is

npoate @ hot mail dotty com

thanks

nat

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Originally Posted by Roboteernat

Tank you Mike, I will try a look to see if I can find this document.
this afternoon I took apart the yaskawa contactor and realised how it operates and is connected, so hopefully the diagram will confirm this. I believe it uses the relays on the Oxford relay card in the rack to switch the inputs to live on the opposing feed. I have therefore wired the live inputs for both sides through the relays on the spindle controller board, therefore if I am correct, the spindle poles will change over depending on the relay operations through mach3.

i was hoping to get some nice pics of the board components today but I left my camera at home, and there were no spare cameras at work which was extremely surprising considering I work at aardman animations, where cameras are everywhere! Anyway, I will post some pics of the board tomorrow as will bring my camera in.
if you could email me he diagram if you have a spare moment, although I'm going to try and find the group, that would be appreciated.

my email is

npoate @ hot mail dotty com

thanks

nat

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Just for info you guys
There are two of these controllers on Ebay at the moment if anyone is interested
one used refurbished
One "new other "

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Roboteernat

Hi i2i, Will do with the caps, prob tomorrow! im curious as to what other options there are instead of using these spindle drive units. I want to use the existing motor, but may look at other controllers (VFD) and see what they cost and if it is worth it...

Am wiring up my spindle controller now so hopefully i will be able to reply after!

i2i, i see your into retrofitting machines (as mentioned on another forum post) which machines do you retrofit? or is it whatever the customer asks? or do you do it to sell on?

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Sorry to be so late replying, i seem to miss the alerts sometimes. I mainly convert Denford machines, but i've worked on Boxfords, Isel, old bridgeports, Harrison M300, M250, whatever is about. They can be customer machines or whatever i buy in, but they are getting a bit scarce now.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by i2i

Sorry to be so late replying, i seem to miss the alerts sometimes. I mainly convert Denford machines, but i've worked on Boxfords, Isel, old bridgeports, Harrison M300, M250, whatever is about. They can be customer machines or whatever i buy in, but they are getting a bit scarce now.

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HI i2i Your not the chap i spoke to on eBay about modifing a boxford 125 lathe couple weeks back? Do you advertise your retrofitting on ebay?

no, i think that's routout cnc