Denford Orac Turret working on Mach 3 macro
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Denford Orac Turret working on Mach 3 macro
Denford Orac Turret working on Mach 3 macro
Formerly: I need help with an 8 station Orac Tool Turret
I am trying to convert an 8 station Denford Tool Turret to run on mach3. The turret is the type with the small maxon dc gearmotor and 3 optical sensors that read 3 discs for tool position. By the electrical schematics, it appears that the motor runs full current in one direction to find the tool, then reverses at half current to lock. I will be replacing the original controller card with a ModIO from Peter Homann of Homann Designs. I will be using all the electrical and electronics that came with the turret itself. What I need is a flow chart of the logics, or sequence of events, input and output for the tool turret motor and sensors. Also, does any one know if I am correct about the reduced current when the motor reverses for lockup? Once the motor reverses and locks the turret does the motor stay on?
Any help would be greatly appreciated,
Max
Formerly: I need help with an 8 station Orac Tool Turret
I am trying to convert an 8 station Denford Tool Turret to run on mach3. The turret is the type with the small maxon dc gearmotor and 3 optical sensors that read 3 discs for tool position. By the electrical schematics, it appears that the motor runs full current in one direction to find the tool, then reverses at half current to lock. I will be replacing the original controller card with a ModIO from Peter Homann of Homann Designs. I will be using all the electrical and electronics that came with the turret itself. What I need is a flow chart of the logics, or sequence of events, input and output for the tool turret motor and sensors. Also, does any one know if I am correct about the reduced current when the motor reverses for lockup? Once the motor reverses and locks the turret does the motor stay on?
Any help would be greatly appreciated,
Max
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Re: I need help with an 8 station Orac Tool Turret
I have 2 Cyclone Lathes with Barufaldi turrets and I believe that once the tool change movement is complete a small voltage (May be 12V) is applied to hold the turret in position.maxporter wrote:I am trying to convert an 8 station Denford Tool Turret to run on mach3. The turret is the type with the small maxon dc gearmotor and 3 optical sensors that read 3 discs for tool position. By the electrical schematics, it appears that the motor runs full current in one direction to find the tool, then reverses at half current to lock. I will be replacing the original controller card with a ModIO from Peter Homann of Homann Designs. I will be using all the electrical and electronics that came with the turret itself. What I need is a flow chart of the logics, or sequence of events, input and output for the tool turret motor and sensors. Also, does any one know if I am correct about the reduced current when the motor reverses for lockup? Once the motor reverses and locks the turret does the motor stay on?
Any help would be greatly appreciated,
Max
.
The Denford toolpost fitted on the Orac Lathe was produced by denfords. It is fitted with a DC motor that drives a worm gear via a small gearbox.
When the turret rotates 24 Volts DC is applied. When it reaches the requested position the polarity is then reversed & dropped to 12 Volts. This is then held on permanently. At this point the toolpost will reverse onto the stop. If the voltage is too high when it is clamped there is a tendancy for the gear box to fail. The motor & gear box do get hot when in use & also vibrate.
There is a flow chart for the three sensors which I will post when time permits.
When the turret rotates 24 Volts DC is applied. When it reaches the requested position the polarity is then reversed & dropped to 12 Volts. This is then held on permanently. At this point the toolpost will reverse onto the stop. If the voltage is too high when it is clamped there is a tendancy for the gear box to fail. The motor & gear box do get hot when in use & also vibrate.
There is a flow chart for the three sensors which I will post when time permits.
The turret position feedback from the sensors is grey code not binary.
I am uploading the circuit diagrams for the Novaturn turret. I think this works the same way as the larger one. Maybe Martin can confirm?
Hope this helps![Question :?:](./images/smilies/icon_question.gif)
I am uploading the circuit diagrams for the Novaturn turret. I think this works the same way as the larger one. Maybe Martin can confirm?
Hope this helps
![Question :?:](./images/smilies/icon_question.gif)
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- Toolpost.pdf
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- NVT-D8A.pdf
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![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
- bradders
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Orac Tool post
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Denford toolpost
Thanks Bradders! This is exactly what I needed. I should be able to get the toolpost working in Mach 3 now, Thanks to everyone here and Peter Homann. ![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
Denford Orac Tool Post
Hi Steve,
I gave all the info, that the guys on this forum supplied, to Peter Homann of Homann Designs and he seems quite certain he can make it work with Mach 3 and his modIO. He is currently working on it and I expect to hear from him soon. When I do I will post the results on this forum. If you wish to enquire him directly, he has a website..... www.homanndesigns.com. He's very likable and I am sure he would be interested in hearing from you, or anyone else that is interested in this conversion.
I gave all the info, that the guys on this forum supplied, to Peter Homann of Homann Designs and he seems quite certain he can make it work with Mach 3 and his modIO. He is currently working on it and I expect to hear from him soon. When I do I will post the results on this forum. If you wish to enquire him directly, he has a website..... www.homanndesigns.com. He's very likable and I am sure he would be interested in hearing from you, or anyone else that is interested in this conversion.
Denford Orac 8 Station Toolchanger Is Running In Mach 3!!!!!
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
Again Thanks for all the help & Info
Re: I need help with an 8 station Orac Tool Turret
Hi
The electrical / electronic mods all makes sense.
Is it possible to supply the VBscript macro that runs the toolchanger in mach G&M code.
It would be useful if you could post it on this site.
Regards
The electrical / electronic mods all makes sense.
Is it possible to supply the VBscript macro that runs the toolchanger in mach G&M code.
It would be useful if you could post it on this site.
Regards
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- Joined: Mon 23 Mar , 2009 10:00 am
Re: I need help with an 8 station Orac Tool Turret
Hi Max,
I'm attempting to convert my Starturn5 to run with mach3. It uses the same LCB3 controller as the machine you converted.
I'm wondering if the turret is the same as the Mirac/Orac. If so I would appreciate any schematics of your conversion.
Any other schematics of the hook up to the CNC4PC board would also be helpful.
Thanks
George
I'm attempting to convert my Starturn5 to run with mach3. It uses the same LCB3 controller as the machine you converted.
I'm wondering if the turret is the same as the Mirac/Orac. If so I would appreciate any schematics of your conversion.
Any other schematics of the hook up to the CNC4PC board would also be helpful.
Thanks
George
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- Joined: Mon 23 Mar , 2009 10:00 am
Re:
Hi Bradders,bradders wrote:Orac Tool post
Is the Starmill 5 fitted with the same Novaturn PC 2252 Turret elecrics as the Mirac.
They both apear to use the LCB3 control board.
I know that the Mirac has a 3phase inverter driving the spindle motor whereas the ST5 has a DC spindle motor.
Seems there is lots more discussion on the Mirac, was it built around the same time as the 5. Which came first?
As I understand it the Turret Electrics outputs 'greyscale' code. Sheet 8 of the schematics for the Novaturn shows Turret details dated 1999. This compares with schematic NoS1934 dated 2/10/84. It apears that 'Orac' 'Starturn' and 'Mirac' all used the same Turret electronics. Is this right?
I hope you dont object to the bombardment of questions.
Many thanks
George
Re: I need help with an 8 station Orac Tool Turret
I presume you mean the Starturn 5?
The toolpost fitted to this would not be the same as the Mirac. Some of the very early Miracs may have been fitted with a similar but larger toolpost.
It would work similar but the Mirac has a position switch & a clamp switch while the Starturn has a sensor & no in clamp switch. The motor reverses on to the stop at half voltage & then is left running to lock the toolpost in position. The position as you say comes from 3 sensors in greyscale. It should be similar electrically to Orac & Novaturn.
The toolpost fitted to this would not be the same as the Mirac. Some of the very early Miracs may have been fitted with a similar but larger toolpost.
It would work similar but the Mirac has a position switch & a clamp switch while the Starturn has a sensor & no in clamp switch. The motor reverses on to the stop at half voltage & then is left running to lock the toolpost in position. The position as you say comes from 3 sensors in greyscale. It should be similar electrically to Orac & Novaturn.
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Re: I need help with an 8 station Orac Tool Turret
Thanks for that Martin, again, I hope you don't mind the barage of questions. I thought the toolpost looked different but somehow got confused when I found that the electronics used to determine the position (using greyscale) are almost Identical across Starturn5 Orac and Mirac.
Somewhere someone has the Starturn 5 toolchanger working with Mach3, I just need to find out who, and maybe the can let me know how they did it!
Kind regards
George
Somewhere someone has the Starturn 5 toolchanger working with Mach3, I just need to find out who, and maybe the can let me know how they did it!
Kind regards
George
Re: I need help with an 8 station Orac Tool Turret
It's exactly the same as the Orac mentioned above but the toolpost is smaller & the electrics are mounted slightly different.
The operation is exactly the same.
The operation is exactly the same.
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Re: I need help with an 8 station Orac Tool Turret
Many thanks for all your help.Martin wrote:It's exactly the same as the Orac mentioned above but the toolpost is smaller & the electrics are mounted slightly different.
The operation is exactly the same.
Re: I need help with an 8 station Orac Tool Turret
Bradders,
I don't suppose you have the blueprints for the Orac changer itself do you? I'd like to build one from scratch. Not having to design it from scratch as well would save me a lot of time.
thanks,
v
I don't suppose you have the blueprints for the Orac changer itself do you? I'd like to build one from scratch. Not having to design it from scratch as well would save me a lot of time.
thanks,
v
Re: I need help with an 8 station Orac Tool Turret
Hi Everyone,
I know this is a very old thread, but it appears that there is some interest as one of the members spent some time tracking me down. I do have a working 8 station turret running on mach 3. It is a denford turret with no changes to the turret or the electric components contained within the turret. I am not using the turret on a Denford lathe so,I did have to make a controller board with power supply external to the turret. I will find the schematic for the external controller and post it here as soon as I am able. Here is the VBscript macro for the M6Start file in Mach 3. This macro has been running the turret fine on my lathe.
Tool = GetSelectedTool()
OldTool = GetCurrentTool()
NewTool = Tool
MaxToolNum = 8 'Max number of tools for the changer
While NewTool > MaxToolNum
NewTool = Question ("Enter New Tool Number up to " & MaxToolNum)
Wend
Call StartTool
While SelectedTool <> NewTool
Call CheckPins
Wend
SelectedTool = NewTool
Call StopTool
SetCurrentTool(NewTool )
'//// Subroutines /////////
Sub StartTool
ActivateSignal(Output3)
'Code "G4 P4.0" 'Wait for the tool to rotate past the sensor
While Ismoving()
Wend
End Sub
Sub CheckPins
If Not IsActive(Input3) And Not IsActive(Input2) And Not IsActive(Input1) Then
SelectedTool = 1
End If
If Not IsActive(Input3) And Not IsActive(Input2) And IsActive(Input1) Then
SelectedTool = 2
End If
If IsActive(Input3) And Not IsActive(Input2) And IsActive(Input1) Then
SelectedTool = 3
End If
If IsActive(Input3) And IsActive(Input2) And IsActive(Input1) Then
SelectedTool = 4
End If
If Not IsActive(Input3) And IsActive(Input2) And IsActive(Input1) Then
SelectedTool = 5
End If
If Not IsActive(Input3) And IsActive(Input2) And Not IsActive(Input1) Then
SelectedTool = 6
End If
If IsActive(Input3) And IsActive(Input2) And Not IsActive(Input1) Then
SelectedTool = 7
End If
If IsActive(Input3) And Not IsActive(Input2) And Not IsActive(Input1) Then
SelectedTool = 8
End If
End Sub
Sub Stoptool
DeActivateSignal(Output3)
End Sub
I hope this helps someone
Max Porter shaftalignmentatyahoodotcom
I know this is a very old thread, but it appears that there is some interest as one of the members spent some time tracking me down. I do have a working 8 station turret running on mach 3. It is a denford turret with no changes to the turret or the electric components contained within the turret. I am not using the turret on a Denford lathe so,I did have to make a controller board with power supply external to the turret. I will find the schematic for the external controller and post it here as soon as I am able. Here is the VBscript macro for the M6Start file in Mach 3. This macro has been running the turret fine on my lathe.
Tool = GetSelectedTool()
OldTool = GetCurrentTool()
NewTool = Tool
MaxToolNum = 8 'Max number of tools for the changer
While NewTool > MaxToolNum
NewTool = Question ("Enter New Tool Number up to " & MaxToolNum)
Wend
Call StartTool
While SelectedTool <> NewTool
Call CheckPins
Wend
SelectedTool = NewTool
Call StopTool
SetCurrentTool(NewTool )
'//// Subroutines /////////
Sub StartTool
ActivateSignal(Output3)
'Code "G4 P4.0" 'Wait for the tool to rotate past the sensor
While Ismoving()
Wend
End Sub
Sub CheckPins
If Not IsActive(Input3) And Not IsActive(Input2) And Not IsActive(Input1) Then
SelectedTool = 1
End If
If Not IsActive(Input3) And Not IsActive(Input2) And IsActive(Input1) Then
SelectedTool = 2
End If
If IsActive(Input3) And Not IsActive(Input2) And IsActive(Input1) Then
SelectedTool = 3
End If
If IsActive(Input3) And IsActive(Input2) And IsActive(Input1) Then
SelectedTool = 4
End If
If Not IsActive(Input3) And IsActive(Input2) And IsActive(Input1) Then
SelectedTool = 5
End If
If Not IsActive(Input3) And IsActive(Input2) And Not IsActive(Input1) Then
SelectedTool = 6
End If
If IsActive(Input3) And IsActive(Input2) And Not IsActive(Input1) Then
SelectedTool = 7
End If
If IsActive(Input3) And Not IsActive(Input2) And Not IsActive(Input1) Then
SelectedTool = 8
End If
End Sub
Sub Stoptool
DeActivateSignal(Output3)
End Sub
I hope this helps someone
Max Porter shaftalignmentatyahoodotcom