Deckel Retrofit FP4A

I saw the code. I will have to look to adapt it to my machine.

Also, a question. Does it makes difference which interpolators you use on the machine? I don't know if mine linear encoder is Heidenhain. since i did not disconnect it from the machine.

Did you buy MESA from USA, or from EU? I see that 7I77 is not available in Europe, or at least not on stock.

Modern scales generally have the A/D conversion in the read head and output TLL or differential signals which you can feed straight into a Mesa Card. the LS-403 Heindenhains need A/D conversion units in between  (called EXE). SOme of the Maho's used Phillips scalle which used some funky protocol, I dont know of anyone interfacing with them. Put a scope on a scale output, and hand wind the screw and see what you get.

I bought mine in the US years ago. Today I would use a 7i97. Saves a bit of space.

Well i think that this one is here, on my Deckel, since i do not see any Heidenhain marks. But i will remove one from machine to see which one is used, since in documentation i do not have any data about measuring system. If i understood documentation it is interpolatin sine wave in TTL signal.

With usage of 7i97 there is no need for 5i25 if i saw correctly. It is connected with ethernet. So i suppose that it can support more I/O than 7i77?

Take a look at the mesa manuals, but I expect both the 7i77 and the 7i97 have the same 32 outputs and 16 inputs. You will probably need an additional 7i84 to have enough I/O  if you want to control the gearbox and ATC.

I will take a look. A friend of mine lives in US and will come soon in Serbia. So i think that he will bring MESA hardware. And maybe interpolators.

Do you think that it would be smarter if I use some simple plc to control ATC, rather than LinuxCNC?

I know nothing about a Deckel ATC, but the one on my Schaublin lathe is only a single output (Pneumatic tool release and turn, and 4 inputs for the four positions). LinuxCNC has a built in PLC - Classic ladder, or for more complex control, you can write a comp. I dont see much point in finding space for an addition PLC which you have to integrate.