Best cheat Chinese lathe controller

[Muzzer]

I think they are probably used quite widely on Chinese industrial machines ie not just for export to Western hobby users.

Mine came with connectors and rather long tails with all connections labelled up. They all come out of the controller on D connectors of various sizes. The main criticism would be that the wire gauge is very fine indeed which makes attaching crimps or ferrules rather tricky. When I shortened the tails, I transferred the labels which was a PITA.

These controllers are self contained, so include display, membrane keyboard, IO circuits, USB socket and power supply (for the controller, not the servos). The outputs can be connected directly to the stepper / servo drivers using step / direction signals. If you want a closed loop system with external encoders feeding back to the controller, I think you need a different version. The limit switches, VFD controls, probe input etc are also direct connection.

I first used it on my larger machine (Shizuoka). The original controls cabinet was big enough to climb inside and I managed to fit everything into the operator console box (at head height) but that was a bad move. Apart from cricking my neck, it was a real pain in the dick trying to access all the connections when building and commissioning it. That's when I changed it to the Acorn system in a sensibly sized cabinet, with an all-in-one PC on the desk alongside. Much better and it means I can do Fusion 360, email, music etc as well.

I now have the Newker controller on my Bridgeport. It's not the tidiest installation but there doesn't need to be a lot in the cabinet. I have DMM Tech servos for X and Y and a Leadshine Easyservo closed loop stepper for the Z axis. The Z axis assembly is partially disassembled in the photo, as I am fitting a revised, simpler concept.

Here's the Bridgeport (clone) machine


The inside of the cabinet showing the rear of the Newker controller


And the front panel of the mill version (990MDCa, 4 axis version)


Here's my first cut on The Shiz using the Newker controller. I wimped out and used a piece of The Brown Stuff but it all worked out fine.