Converting an old DMU 50, where to start?

Thanks for the replies guys, If I remember correctly it is a 1998 model, and has a Heidenhain TNC 124 Controller. I think I managed to figure out in the electrical scematics it had a +-10v control, but I might be wrong... Will post pics to morrow. My final goal is to be able to add the rotary A-axis and be able to upload g-codes made in inventor-cam or mastercam

so dmu 50m. if the drives are analogue velocity mode, thats a good start, however the 1ft5 motors may not have encoders, they may rely on glass scales. by 1998 though i think they were standardised in a format linuxcnc might be able to use. it might also be after the transition where they used glass scales on eveyrthing - the dmu50 m was a "low cost" machine for them. good news though is you should be able to find documentations on all siemens parts.

on converting the table, NC was an option, but i dont know if it was just motors added to the same table. the table might also need a brake or have too much backlash to run as a true interpolated cnc axes.

Confirmed, +-10v drivers, and encoters! These are the exact wiring diagrams that came with the machine. I think we are on to something here... image missing /media/kunena/emoticons/cool.png







 

so they are profibus, but they have configurable analogue IO as well (looking at the drive manual) which it seems your machine is using. will be 1ft5 or 1ft6 or 1fk6 motors - likely 1fk6 as this was a lower cost machine. drawings suggest the encoders are on the motor. siemens has full manuals for everything and you can actually buy new drives still.

they are also - of course - very high performance compared to many new drives you can buy even today.

I think ill be looking for a dmu 50 M now... haha.

im also curious now, you show 2 of the axis motors, both have brakes. i wonder if all 3 do as some sort of safety feature.

Yes, they all do have brake. The brake is connected parallel on all motors and seems to be only for emergency stopping