Advice on converting my VMC

[Chaz]

Yeah, i know Chaz.
But my plan is not necessarily finding a solution as cheap as possible. I will spend the money necessary(within limits) converting it to a good accurate VMC.
However i was hoping to find parts I`m able to handle without me studying programming for a couple of years before i get it up and running.
Hope i don`t sound impatiant though :-)

Just highlighting the scale of options, so from £50 to thousands for a controller.

[Boyan Silyavski]

Yeah, i know Chaz.
But my plan is not necessarily finding a solution as cheap as possible. I will spend the money necessary(within limits) converting it to a good accurate VMC.
However i was hoping to find parts I`m able to handle without me studying programming for a couple of years before i get it up and running.
Hope i don`t sound impatiant though :-)

The offline controller is simpler than the combo Windows-Mach3/4-motion control plugin-motion control. What programming? The first part of the manual covers manual programming of simple milling jobs i think that you mistakenly took for programming..

Once you set up your machine in controller menu
stick usb and hit probe, then play and you are done.

The mach 3/4 is the same as above, plus install Windows, plugin, macros, custom screens, etc.

All this talk about the offline controllers lately comes as search continues for simpler and more reliable than the windows combinations. These have existed from the time machine exists, now for first time they are cheaper than the windows solutions, which to begin with, were born out of necessity, cause a Siemens controller would set you up even today 10k

[JoeHarris]

Also, my experience of buying from China has been pretty good so far too. Like anywhere there are good and bad sellers.

[Proteus]

Go for it then Boyan 😉

[JoeHarris]

Go for it then Boyan

Senior Guinea Pig!

[m_c]

What PLC are you looking at Boyan?
.
Sometimes you have to use a PLC, and other times it just makes life a bit easier.
Mach 3 only has a 10Hz refresh rate for Macros, which means any sort of ATC with critical timing can't be done directly. I used a PLC for the turret on my lathe, as the locking mechanism timing needs less than 50ms between sensing an input change and an output being activated, which wouldn't be possible with a Mach 3 macro.
Mach 4 does have a faster refresh rate, but I'm not sure how fast it can react.
.
However most ATCs on a Mill aren't that time critical. It's a just a relatively simple process cycle, with the biggest problem likely to be how long it takes. It's just a case of working out the required sequence of sensors and outputs.

[Boyan Silyavski]

Go for it then Boyan 

I was just thinking aloud.

I know you have already made a decision.

Senior Guinea Pig!

Is this some kind of British sense of humour or a lack of one?

What PLC are you looking at Boyan?

The one he mentioned above in the thread

[JoeHarris]

I was just thinking aloud.

I know you have already made a decision.



Is this some kind of British sense of humour or a lack of one?



The one he mentioned above in the thread

No offence intended, yes blame the British sense of humour!

[m_c]

Is this some kind of British sense of humour or a lack of one?

Humour. Guinea Pig = slang for tester.

The one he mentioned above in the thread

I thought I'd missed a link.
Other option is their range of Click PLCs, which are cheaper, but are a bit more limited in terms of supply voltages, but the programming software is completely free (I see the DL05 software is limited to 100 words).