Which Mesa Card Should I Buy?

rodw wrote:

Spumeco, Now you just need to add one for a mill and lathe 

 

Okey-dokey.

Gang-tool lathe
7i96s/7i85s/7i84D/7i73
3 spindles (servo-main, servo-sub, VFD live-tool)
Headstock mounted part-off slide
XZ linear scales
Encoders for main/sub/V-axis
Air control for main & sub drawbar, 3/ea mists, plus two automation cylinders (part load/unload)

 

4-axis mill
7i76e/7i73
Steppers on XYZ
Servo on harmonic A
VFD spindle w/1:1 timing belt drive - motor encoder goes to 7i76e
PDB
18-station carousel ATC, stepper driven w/5:1 planetary

 

spumco wrote:

8 - PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
[...]
Below is a sample chart of common Mesa cards, reasonably accurate as of the thread posting date.  Double check the values in the chart and use it to narrow down your selection(s).

 

Attachment not found

 
 

I am a complete beginner and still in the process of deciding which board(s) to buy so this thread has been amazing. Thanks!

Small thing that I may or may not have caught, though. In the list the 7i96s shows a 0 at MPG. But while not having designated MPG pins per say, it can supposedly convert some other pins to run an MPG. Maybe one of the axis banks or something like that?
So, say, for a 4 axis machine with one stepper/servo on each axis (like what I am aiming for) the 7i96s still has one axis not being used and hence, if I am correct, can still work with an MPG.
Maybe worth making a note of as I would think a lot of people buying that board will only use 3-4 axis:)

The 7I96S can have up to 4 MPGs on its isolated inputs
 

@GeckoWorks & @PCW - Thanks for pointing out the 'alternative' MPG connection situation.  Overview post updated; if my edit is unclear, please suggest some wordsmithing.

Hello everyone,
Thank you for this forum and the work accomplished. Knowing a little the possibilities of configuration of this software this update is for essential.
a few years ago I built a complete 5-axis continuous milling machine under linuxcnc.
It works very well with a // port and a STV2 “break out”, DMA860H drivers and a VFD. so I control :
- 5 continuous axes
- Spindle stop/run/speed ( G code )

However, not enough I/O for coolant and other functions.

The only drawback is that I'm “obviously” lacking precision with 5 continuous axes. I therefore need to install rotary encoders on my B/C axes. But there's no more possibility on my Break Out card. So I have to change my system completely.
I want to start with Raspberry Pi4 . Despite the tables above, I'm not sure about my choice of Mesa boards. What would you recommend for such a configuration?

Thank you in advance.

 

@JackRay,

Nice machine!

I'm sorry, but I've never used a Pi with Mesa or LCNC.  I think your best bet is to do some searching in the "Computers" sub-forum, and post a new thread in there (or "Driver Boards") specifically seeking recommendations for Pi + Mesa combinations.

I suspect there isn't any difference in Mesa selection if you plan to use an ethernet cable (rather than the RPi-specific 7C80 or 7C81), but someone else should be able to provide more guidance.

Hi I am converting a Tree Journeyman 325 to LinuxCNC. The XYZ analog servo controllers all work so I need 5 encoder inputs: X, Y, Z, Spindle, MPG jog wheel. I have a 5I25 and 7i76 from a previous mill conversion but I don't think they will be useful.
Is a 7I95T a good match? I may want to use the 7I76 for additional IO.

Thanks

arauchfuss wrote:

Hi I am converting a Tree Journeyman 325 to LinuxCNC. The XYZ analog servo controllers all work so I need 5 encoder inputs: X, Y, Z, Spindle, MPG jog wheel. I have a 5I25 and 7i76 from a previous mill conversion but I don't think they will be useful.
Is a 7I95T a good match? I may want to use the 7I76 for additional IO.

Thanks

You might want to start a new thread if you have further questions, but here's a quick answer:

The 5i25 can work with a 7i77 (or 7i77D) DB25 daughterboard if you want to reuse it.  You'll need a computer with the appropriate slot, of course.

If you want an 'all-in-one' board then the 7i97T is the analog-output board you need, not the 7i95T.  The 7i95T is for step/direction output.

Either of the above options will have enough drive outputs and encoder inputs to work with your Tree.  Note that your MPG, while technically an encoder, does not require the same high-speed encoder input that a servo drive does.  The MPG can be connected to MPG-specific IO on the above boards (taking up two input pins), leaving you with two spare drive outputs and HS-encoder inputs.

I've not personally used Mesa analog-out boards, so please review your drive command signal requirements and verify the above boards outputs and encoder input signals will work with your drives and spindle control.

Ah, you are quite right a about the 7I97T, I was looking at it earlier but got confused when I returned later.

I have a computer that can use the 5i25 but I will probably leave that for another stepper conversion.