Press Brake CNC Control & G-Code

Hi,

It’s gone very well... we still have a wish list of things we want to do and add, and the beauty is that we can do these things (including integration into our ERP/production planning systems). We’ve run it steadily since last summer; it’s a big job and it took quite a while to get it right.

We’ve built a customised PyVCP interface, but the plan is to build a more complex Gtk based UI, where we can add a richer UI.

We have fine control of X and Y axis, Y0 axis positioning and control of the hydraulics.

We did have to rip out all of the existing control gear (even the wiring and terminal blocks) and started from and empty cabinet. We have a PLC controlling the dangerous things, LinuxCNC controlling positions axis directly, and the two interface to bring it all together. We have light beam safety, the usual chains of E-Stops, a hand pendant, foot control and an on-panel HMI for monitoring the machine operation and easy control of PLC options (like the auto-return, hydraulic pressure etc - all can be set and read in the UI of course).

We originally thought the LinuxCNC part should be easily bypassed if it doesn’t work, and we needed to use the machine manually. In retrospect, it doesn’t need this. We’ve even removed the functionality, so without LinuxCNC running, the machine is a brick - this ensures the calibration and offsets are never lost (saving lots of time).

Don’t forget to document everything as you go along!

Where are you based?

By based you mean, the machine? the kind of machine?

English is not my first language.

What country are you in? Was wondering if close enough.

México, Sonora.

Sry for that short answer, I was busy and sent it from the phone.

Well I'm about to do that retrofit, I'm selecting all I need to get it running, all electrical cabinet will be new and more simple, is an old machine from 1992, it has linear scales for Y axis (RAM), and encoders for the other elements (gauges and crowing system), some parts are driven by DC servos and others just by ac motors and contactors, I will go for a PLC to control the delicate parts of the process and use LCNC as an HMI, as you said at the beginning perhaps there is a better way to control a press brake, i don't like the controllers available atm, and some of them are very expensive.

Recently I wrote one article to fully explain things about press brake, hope it can help the audience: machinemfg.com/press-brake-ultimate-guide/