Fanuc Quatromill Conversion
Posted: Tue 04 Aug , 2015 9:04 am
About to undertake a Fanuc Quatro conversion to Mach3 and will doc my findings here.
The basis is a control box by RoutoutCNC utilising the existing Fanuc motors, which I will re-wire into the new control box. The company have converted Triacs successfully on the same lines. I believe PNC and possibly Heidenhain Quatros have been converted to Mach (using other methods) but I am not aware of any Fanuc-based ones that have been converted, so this may be new ground. Rare in any format, I have seen only 1 Fanuc Quatro to date.
Until now, the thought of replacing the existing axis motors with say, Nema drives, has put me off any such conversion.
I will need to wire the auxiliaries separately, as there is no provision for them via the control box. This will mean the spindle motor (1.5kw/2HP), column motor (1/2 HP I believe), coolant and lube motors, plus work light. I will source an VFD for the spindle (probably with single phase input). I may not really need the column motor operational, since the Z drive Fanuc motor gives about 4 inches of travel, which is all I need.
I have been advised by Routout that it may be possible to leave all auxiliaries "as is" and run off the old cabinet (the Fanuc control, which has coolant, Spindle inverter/On/Off, will of course be in error as soon as a drive axis is disconnected, but the column motor say, may still be operational).
More when I get started and receive the control box.
The basis is a control box by RoutoutCNC utilising the existing Fanuc motors, which I will re-wire into the new control box. The company have converted Triacs successfully on the same lines. I believe PNC and possibly Heidenhain Quatros have been converted to Mach (using other methods) but I am not aware of any Fanuc-based ones that have been converted, so this may be new ground. Rare in any format, I have seen only 1 Fanuc Quatro to date.
Until now, the thought of replacing the existing axis motors with say, Nema drives, has put me off any such conversion.
I will need to wire the auxiliaries separately, as there is no provision for them via the control box. This will mean the spindle motor (1.5kw/2HP), column motor (1/2 HP I believe), coolant and lube motors, plus work light. I will source an VFD for the spindle (probably with single phase input). I may not really need the column motor operational, since the Z drive Fanuc motor gives about 4 inches of travel, which is all I need.
I have been advised by Routout that it may be possible to leave all auxiliaries "as is" and run off the old cabinet (the Fanuc control, which has coolant, Spindle inverter/On/Off, will of course be in error as soon as a drive axis is disconnected, but the column motor say, may still be operational).
More when I get started and receive the control box.