LPKF ProtoMat S62 Retrofit Advice

andypugh wrote: Do you have the drive documentation?

Unfortunately not. The X and Y are controlled from the manufacturers proprietary controller (SMCU II) and don't have separate stepper drivers. The SMCU II also communicates with another box - DAC1005. There is some documentation about this ( www.microsys-e.com.tw/webfiles/66b0614f-...0e-6f6bec4d1231.pdfl ) but I'm not sure if that's enough.

I have managed to get it moving using the LPKF BoardMaster software (albeit only just!). Since there are two RJ45 ports on both the SMCU II and the DAC1005 I wonder if there's a way to send commands from the boardmaster software and monitor what's happening via the other port? I guess once I've got the IDs for each component then that's a step in the right direction.

In case it helps anyone (future me included) the DAC 1005 uses CANopen (CiA 402) between 125 kBit/s and 1 MBit/s with 1MBit/s being the factory setting. LocalCOM is a proprietary protocol.

(as per www.microsys-e.com.tw/webfiles/66b0614f-...30e-6f6bec4d1231.pdf )

To be honest, if you don't have the packet structure of the CANOpen packets documented lack of hardware and drivers is the least of your problems.

It s very long ago when I tried to do can-open via can. <99...
If I remember right you had to have a startup phase in which you had to define what values you want to address and where they are.. Everything is and has to be configured.
That was no fun. And we used nice driver cards, not cheepo, from Hilscher.
Beeing you i would not try that road.
m5c
Mike

If you are interested in LPKF ProtoMat unofficial 3rd party application just join
www.facebook.com/groups/lpkfuserclub

Hello maltandmake !

I have a C30. I am thinking about replacing the motors with AC servos and using LinuxCNC or Pathpilot for the control. I would use a 7i77 and 6i25 or 7i76 for step direction.
I did come across this on Hackaday: hackaday.io/project/175303-refurbishing-lpkf-protomat-c20

Have you made any further progress?

Thanks,

Iron-Man