Retrofitting HURCO BMC30

Hello, I got a Hurco BMC30 from my job for free so i could not say no...

It does work sporadically  an locks up more often than not, but mechanically seems to be in good condition.
So my idea now is to simply retrofit it with Linux CNC.

Since I come from a automation background and works with engineering in general (mechanics, electronics and some coding on day to day basics) I have started to do new schematics an IO lists before i rip the old control system out which is a Ultimax 4 system.

The servos i got is Siemens servos, have not seen any other here on the forum that have Siemens system but anyway the machine will be better off with a new control system.

I have some initial questions about the way to go though.
I am planning to use MESA cards but have no clue what is the best choice is it best to use PCI cards like (6i25 or 5i25) or use ethernet based cards? I am aiming to use 7i77 and probably another IO card. Do not think there is enough IO:s on only the 7i77.

What is the best way to go?


 

The advantage of the PCI/PCIE cards is mainly simpler setup.
The PCI/PCIE cards also can typically run the servo loop faster
than the default 1 KHz, up to 4 KHz and above. This is
mainly an advantage if you have torque mode drives.
For the more common velocity mode drives, a 1 KHz
servo thread and  Ethernet connected FPGA cards are fine.

Some advantages of Ethernet connected cards are
galvanic isolation of the PC from the machine and
the ability to use mini PCs and RPIs as the controller
since no PCI/PCIE slot is required.
 

Thank you for the reply.

As you say the console is far away from the cabinet so having the computer close to the console would certainly solve a lot of problems. Was thinking of having a touch display as well which the touch is operated over USB. A solution could be using a repeater cable but this should then be tested before installing it in the machine.

I have seen your thread before and am a little confused.

I do not think my machine has a tool changer board, it has a relay board that I am currently trying to decide if it is going to be exchanged for DIN mounted relays the toolchanger should not be connected to that.
The toolchanger schematics for my machine looks like in the attachment, so it should just IOs i guess.
 

The ATC terminal strip I am currently not aware of where it is placed. Think it is on top of the machine on the toolchanger itself but could be wrong. Have not had the machine for that long so have not inspected it that close yet.

Will post the progress as it comes along, and will probably have more questions along the way.

I have a machine with Siemes Simudrives and servo motors. I also have the manuals for them, you can see pictures of it in the first page of this thread:
forum.linuxcnc.org/10-advanced-configura...error-spikes?start=0
If yours are similar I can send you some information.

Thank you for the advice, it certainly has it´s pros with this setup will have to consider this approach.

@Wieser,

Yes my machine also has simodrive 611:s. Seems to be a littlebit diffrent setup though. The BMC has the encoder feedback hooked up to the controller, only the spindle feedback is hooked up directly to the drive.

I do not know is this is bennifitial, time will tell .

I saw a detail in your thread that i wounder a little about, specially in this these screen dump: 
What are the boards to the right? Are these original from your machine or is it some special cards to hook up the cables for the drives?

Those on top are the original Siemens Sinusoidal to TTL "EXEs". They were mounted inside the Siemens 820M Control.

I built simple PCB adapter cards with the correct DB-connector to interface the encoder scales to those in my setup and added a screw terminal for 5V power supply of the encoders and A, B and Index output. 
In my case all axes including the spindle have a tacho feedback directly into the Simudrive and all the encoders were connected to the controller.  If your encoders are similar (DB15 and same pinout), I have four of them left. 

PS. if anyone sees that EXE at the right, that is for a rotating axis and it needs 15V on a specific pin to function correctly, that was a pain to find out. 

PSS. If somebody has datasheets for those, they still would be highly appreciated since they have more pins to send a fault/hardware missing signal to the controller and I don’t have them incorporated yet.