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Yes, It is possible. I am regularly using the press brake that I retrofitted in this thread.

forum.linuxcnc.org/30-cnc-machines/42100...ons?start=100#228476

The homing still has issues, but the ram functions good. I use the backstop only on occasion if I am bending a high quantity of parts. I just calculate the offset from the backstop's start position without homing it. I believe it could be fine tuned to work better, but for the low volume of parts that I bend at a time, it does the job.

You can force a version in the Synaptic package manager.

Or grab the new 2.9.10 .deb from Github.

Some information about the nature of the machine might help prompt some more advice.

What type of motors does this use? Steppers, DC Servos? Brushless servos? (linear motors?)

Are the existing drives working, and do you intend to keep them?
The same for the motors.

What feedback do the motors provide to the controller? Is there also feedback from the axes (linear scales, for example)

Is there a toolchanger? How many spindles does it have?

Maybe attach a picture to help us visualise the project.

One thing to be very aware of is that the potentiometer on the KBIC controllers is at a very high voltage. It is referenced to DC+ so has 100V or so to earth.
If your digital potentiometer can't handle this then you might have problems.

I used this circuit to run a KBIC using PWM, which might be a better plan. Any logic-output (push-pull) optocoupler will work, but you probably need optical isolation to avoid letting the magic smoke out (DAMHIK)

photos.app.goo.gl/BpBKZob1TomX1gtSA

(It's shown with a VFD but it's basically a PWM-controlled potentiometer emulator)

Sorry, been changing PC's and laptops a lot lately, had this set to reply and lost track.
Not much i can help with, but, since you are modernizing everything, you could do without schematics, either way it will require a bit of "hunting for signals" to figure out the remaining wiring, probably the relay boards for interlocks and/or tool changer, the rest is being replaced.
Here is my lathe and a bit of info on how i go about when no schematics is available:
forum.linuxcnc.org/show-your-stuff/32784...-15-retrofit?start=0
And a Hurco BMC-20P mill that i had only a single page of schematics for it:
forum.linuxcnc.org/30-cnc-machines/33529-hurco-bmc-20p-retrofit

I was involved in one of the threads, and I don't know if the chap with the machine ever got it going.

I confess that for me it was an exercise in making a LinuxCNC-controlled system that didn't require G-code. It might be simpler to actually use G-code.

forum.linuxcnc.org/30-cnc-machines/42100...ions?start=10#204844

During the development of that, one thing I realised is that using LinuxCNC axes gives you homing for free. Though I think that some kind of special handling for following-error on the press axis might be important.

The special component in that setup above was designed to be largely pressure-based.

Anyway, I think that the GUI might be a useful start, even if you end up changing the stuff behind the scenes.

Snowwy, i am sure i have not formulated that very nicely, to much that makes me loose my marbles there, but mostly the "fear everything" mentality sweeping the world.
And i am for sure the most paranoid one here, yet i have to ask not to update as it is an ongoing hassle for many users.
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I would really appreciate if someone else would write something about this, and i will gladly delete this.
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People with a single machine that their business relies on, should really never update/upgrade, unless they want to risk it, others are welcomed to and even encouraged to as it provides invaluable feedback.
But most important, explain they do not have to and it is not a must, as they have been conditioned to from microshaft and it's useless code and non existing code auditing.

This sounds like a lot of fun, unfortunately all I can do is offer good wishes with the project. But keep us informed, and maybe there will be other questions that are easier to answer.

There is a new release (2.9.10) that reverts this change.
Unfortunately it's not yet available from our repository as I am having trouble with the archive signing key.
However, you can manually install .deb files from here:
github.com/LinuxCNC/linuxcnc/releases/tag/v2.9.10

Sorry for the slow reply, I haven't been able to find much time recently.

I think that the carousel component could be used for this, but you would need two instances of the component and I think that limitations of LinuxCNC (can't have two tools in the same pocket number) would mean that you would need to do some processing of pocket number in HAL to feed the right numbers in.

Luckily I did consider the possibility of multiple carousels being used, so you just use
loadrt carousel num_pockets = 10,10
to load two 10-pocket carousels

for example you could use pockets 0-10 for one carousel and 100-110 for the other. Then in HAL you would check the pocket number (comp component) and if >= 100 enable one carousel, and if <100 enable the other. Then pass pocket number - 100 to both carousel components (only the one that was actuated would move)
The sequencing could be done in any way that works for you, but G-code is one way. See the sim config configs/sim/axis/vismach/VMC_toolchange for an example that runs the tool magazine with the carousel component and handles the rest of the sequence in a g-code routine. You could equally well use classic ladder or a python script if that suits you better.

On the other hand ... I've gotten tons of invaluable feedback from those brave/patient enough to adopt the latest version and provide bug feedback ... much of it coming from people running a business with said machine (some of the best feedback is from folks who actually use it constantly).

1. Not important as everything is changed, except the metal parts.
2. Looks quite sturdy so it should do lite metal milling, depending on the toolchanger
3. Nothing to retrofit, just install LinuxCNC and make a new config for it.
4. Leadscrews have backlash, so that will limit precision, LinuxCNC has the compensation, so can be tuned.
5. Seems to much for here in Europe, so that is something we can not help with as it might be cheap where you live.

No idea if this is of use to anyone - but below is a very quick and dirty hack to generate a set of panels from a string of EtherCat devices - that will show the input values / lets you toggle the outputs.

Simply run it; and it will generate an ethercap.xml file, a hal run file, a wiring file for hal and a hal.xml panel. 

Largely as I was testing different setups/pulling cards and this process got a bit tedious.

Dw.

Hi

I'm considering buying an old CNC machine, but I haven't been able to find any information about it online, so I'm not sure if it's a good investment.
The machine is based on a Burgmaster with a Föhrenbach DCNC 82V4H plate (built in 1987).

Originally it was equipped with DC servo motors, but after the original controllers failed, the previous owner retrofitted it with NEMA 34 stepper motors, inexpensive digital stepper drivers, and Mach3 running on an old PC through a parallel port.
Mechanically, the machine appears to be in very good condition.
Specifications so far:

Approximate travels: 700 × 500 × 200 mm (X/Y/Z)
Weight: 800 kg
Cast iron construction
Precision dovetail (prismatic) guideways
Fine-pitch lead screws on X and Y
Ball screw on Z
2 kW belt-driven spindle motor with manual pulley speed selection
6-station mechanical indexing turret tool changer
Threaded collet holders on each station (one currently has a 16 mm end mill installed)

I removed the way covers to inspect the machine. The guideways, lead screws, and table all appear to be in excellent condition. There is virtually no visible wear, and the machine seems to have seen relatively little use. Most of the cosmetic damage is simply from having other equipment and materials stacked against it over the years.

My only concern is the spindle. There is a slight amount of radial play that can be felt by hand with a tool installed, although I haven't measured it with a dial indicator yet. I plan to do that on my next visit.

The mechanical turret and spindle arrangement make me think it was originally designed primarily for drilling and tapping, rather than as a conventional milling machine. However, I mainly plan to machine aluminum and plastics (Delrin, nylon, PTFE), not heavy steel.

The alternative would be buying a manual milling machine and performing a complete CNC conversion myself, but by the time I add motors, drives, ball screws, and a controller, the total cost would be very similar to this machine.

If the spindle eventually turns out to be the weak point, I would even consider replacing it with a modern spindle in the future, while keeping the existing cast iron structure.

My questions are:
1. Has anyone seen or worked on a Föhrenbach DCNC machine like this?
2. Does this sound like a drilling/tapping center with limited milling capability, or a light milling machine?
3. Would you consider this a good candidate for a LinuxCNC retrofit?
4. Is the combination of dovetail guideways, lead screws on X/Y, and a ball screw on Z a significant limitation for aluminum machining?
5. Assuming the spindle bearings are still in reasonable condition, would you consider this machine worth buying for around USD 4,500? (kind of a good price in Bolivia)

Any advice or experience would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks! 
 

What is pin "machine-is-enabled" connected to in hal?