RYE QUANTUM - Omicron 3000 Controller SWAPOUT OPTIONS

[BEACHBLANKET]

Existing AXOR - MiniSpeed 200 Drives spec

Tachogenerator feedback ✔
Armature feedback ✔
Torque mode feedback ✔
SMT technology ✔
IGBT or POWER MOSFET bridge ✔
✔ Encoder feedback
✔ PWM + Dir. feedback

So the drives are PWM and not step and direct... there is literally nothing I can find on the encoders...

Due to my lack of CNC and machine code experience...Do you think I should really be looking at a full swap out i.e Controller/drives/motors?

[JAZZCNC]

So the drives are PWM and not step and direct... there is literally nothing I can find on the encoders...

Due to my lack of CNC and machine code experience...Do you think I should really be looking at a full swap out i.e Controller/drives/motors?

Ok well, I don't have any experience of controlling drives with PWM but my limited understanding is it's very much like +/-0-10v and while many controllers have PWM outputs I don't think they will be accurate or fast enough for this application.
However, I do know MESA who make cards that work with LinuxCNC do a card that will output PWM to do this but trust me it's a massive learning curve to undertake and I wouldn't advise it for a new user.

Regards full swap out then I suppose it depends on your budget and what your plans are for the machine.?
If I was using this machine as part of my business then it would be a full swap out for reliability reasons and easy access to replacement parts if it went down.

If it was for semi business that isn't reliant on the machine then I'd probably just swap out the controller and drives for Step + Dir DC drives and reuse the old motors.

If it was solely for playing around with then I'd probably look at LinuxCNC and MESA cards and reuse everything but the old controller.

Regards the Encoders the numbers point to it being 1000 line encoder but whether or not it'ss single-ended or Differential or not I couldn't say but it's easy to find out. Just count the number of wires coming out of the encoder. Single-ended will have 5 wires, Differential will have 8 wires.

Edit: You could also always go with a controller that outputs +/-0-10v of which there are a few. Cslabs IP-A or the ET10 from PV-automation and there are others.
Also again MESA makes +/-10v cards that will work nicely but again you'll have a learning curve because while LinuxCNC and MESA are super powerful they are unforgiving beasts and not very intuitive to set up for a beginner.
To give an example I'm very experienced but I've just built a plasma table that uses MESA - Linux with servos and I don't mind admitting I struggled massively at first and needed a lot of encouragement from an experienced Linux user (Clives S) to stop me from smashing the F@~#ing thing to pieces. Great when it's working but a B'##'rd to get working correctly.