Bridgeport Manual to CNC conversion...

**Colin Barron** · 01-04-2020

Hi,
where did you buy your Panasonic servo motors and drives.

**Chaz** · 01-04-2020

Originally Posted by Colin Barron

Hi,
where did you buy your Panasonic servo motors and drives.

Who are you asking?

**JAZZCNC** · 02-04-2020

Originally Posted by Colin Barron

Hi,
where did you buy your Panasonic servo motors and drives.

I was in a thread a few weeks ago and it was pointed out to me how much Yaskawa had come down in price. You can get 750W set for around £450-500 on Ebay just search Yaskawa Sigma. I'd use these over most other makes and DMM or Delta etc don't compare to Yaskawa, esp when it comes to tuning and software. They basically tune them selfs on the fly. Go to youtube and check out the Vides and the tuning software.

**Chaz** · 02-04-2020

Originally Posted by JAZZCNC

I was in a thread a few weeks ago and it was pointed out to me how much Yaskawa had come down in price. You can get 750W set for around £450-500 on Ebay just search Yaskawa Sigma. I'd use these over most other makes and DMM or Delta etc don't compare to Yaskawa, esp when it comes to tuning and software. They basically tune them selfs on the fly. Go to youtube and check out the Vides and the tuning software.

A good shout. The 'premium' brands are worth it if you can afford their kit.

**Colin Barron** · 03-04-2020

You did a very positive youtube video on the BST servos/drives, how did they perform on the machine? The 750w Yaskawa drives at £500 is that second hand.

**JAZZCNC** · 03-04-2020

Originally Posted by Colin Barron

You did a very positive youtube video on the BST servos/drives, how did they perform on the machine? The 750w Yaskawa drives at £500 is that second hand.

If you are talking about the 1.8Kw then yes they worked fine, they actually ended up on a Lathe. Well 2 did the third I still have waiting for a project.
I've also got some 600W 60mm here that I may do a video on as well.

The Yaskawa where new here a link for one I just did a quick search on Ebay, if you look around you may find them cheaper. They are fluctuating in price I've noticed, obviously because of the state of the markets.!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/750W-YASK...f7dd09cee77dea

**JAZZCNC** · 03-04-2020

Colin if you use servos what controller are you going to use and how do you plan to run them.? Analog or Step/Dir.

**Colin Barron** · 03-04-2020

I have a Denford Easiturn 3 which had old electronics which did not work and i have removed them. I then thought i would reuse the steppers and drivers or steppers and the likes of the Leadshine 882 or if new servos are a direct replacement (mechanically) then the BST servos at about £250 each looks a decent bet.
On the controller front the Chinese controllers look a better bet than the mach3 bits and pieces which look like a project in themselves. A decision must be made before the controller is purchased as i believe i must specify incremental or absolute type (whatever that means?).
I was looking at the GSK clones such as Newker http://newker-cnc.com/index.php?m=co...=166&l=3&id=91

**JAZZCNC** · 03-04-2020

Originally Posted by Colin Barron

A decision must be made before the controller is purchased as i believe i must specify incremental or absolute type (whatever that means?).
I was looking at the GSK clones such as Newker http://newker-cnc.com/index.php?m=co...=166&l=3&id=91

Yes, it's a bit of a mind field with these controllers so be careful, I've been looking for Mill controllers. Make sure you read all the tech spec because some have limited memory amongst other differences like how many simultaneous axis can be used at one time.

Regards Absolute and Incremental then it relates to the Encoder type used on the Servo. The BST uses incremental encoders as do most other types of servos unless you state you want Absolute.

The difference being that with incremental when you shut down the machine, the controller has no idea where the position of the machine is when it starts back up so you have to home the machine at the start of each day. (or if the servos are powered down) Just like you do with the stepper system.

Absolute Encoders retain the position of the servo even after shutdown, they do this by having a battery attached to the cable to power the memory of the encoder. This means you don't need to home the machine on startup and the drives/encoders know at all times where the machine is located, even if after power down someone manually moves an axis. (provided the battery power doesn't fail or the encoder cable is unplugged from the motor)
There is some setup I believe to be done when first installing because the drives/motors/encoders need to be told where Zero is located etc and the controller needs to support Absolute type but after that they work just like Incremental but without the need to home on startup.