Denford Software & Machines

I have just acquired a Novamill, with Electronics and am looking at conversion to Mach3.

The existing Electronics have a Denstep Controller (shows as D281 with V2.1 firmware - shows s/n 0C00271100 label on the processor) atop a Baldor F391 Optimised Control - s/n 0C00270971 - for the Stepper drives, and a Sprint 400 Spindle Driver board. (The machine has no information label with Model - Serial No - Date etc... on it - looks like it has been removed from the side of the Electronics box).

As I have no software associated with the machine, I was looking at my best options, and it seems that the MACH3 route is the favoured way forward - I can't afford to upgrade the controller to v5 software and board change. So I have looked into what I might need to do to the beast to get it running with MACH3.

It seems from other's writing on the forum that it would be feasible to remove the Denstep controller, and utilise a breakout board connected through pins on the 96 way DIN connector for the steppers (seems these pins are identified), and also the Spindle, and the datum switches - not sure I have found these pins yet on the 96 way DIN.

In looking at Breakout boards, it seems the UIM2901-5A Mach3 BoB is a possibility, offering Stepper and Spindle control - not sure what to do with the Datum's on it at this stage.

Has any one any experience of this BoB, and whether it is feasible to do what I want - which is a low cost conversion using as much of the Electronics as I can ?

Any input would be gratefully received.

ManxAnts

I've not heard of that BoB but plenty others have been recommended and used on here, eg:
viewtopic.php?f=45&t=3568
viewtopic.php?f=45&t=3184
Look under starmill and triac mach3 conversions as well as Novamill as the electronics are similar

Have you had much success with this board or did you opt for another? I have this board for a similar conversion on a novamill at the moment, I have the Axes running and am now trying to get the spindle and switches running, im want to use the original spindle board ut not sure on the wiring or whether im missing some information.

I ended up with the System1v2 board, with System4 Spindle control from DIYCNC. I had used the 28v line for the Baldor Logic input to drive the System1v2 board, but not managed to get the x, y and z axis steppers working, so tried a separate psu (20v, 3a Laptop supply), and managed to get some motion - the 28v line appears to be AC to the Baldor, and the System1v2 board required DC - Duh you might say, but I had assumed the logic input voltage to be DC.

I couldn't work out what was stopping the spindle from working - I had used the 0 - 10v output from the System4 board, connecting to the red / blue wires feeding the Sprint 400 spindle control board. In searching the forums further, I came across Peter Healey's most helpful info on his conversion to Mach3. It gave additional pinouts for the 96way connector onto the Baldor Board.

After some checking and ensuring the wiring was as expected (my wire numbers didn't match the diagrams I had retrieved from the site, but it gave positional info) (found one relay Peter included was not on my electronics), I was able to get the spindle working. Using his info, and making various setup changes in the MACH3 setup. I now have a working spindle with variable speed, and x, y and z axis movement. It helped having a basic config file provided by Roy at DIYCNC.

I then connected the travel datum switches as home switches, and have set soft travel limits.

Mach3 is running, and I have control from the software, including travel, variable spindle speed, eStop and Safety Guard and datums. The mach 3 User Manual has setup info, and gives a lot of valuable advise.

I am now trying to ensure I have the correct travel for the axes, need to check the stepper ratio's are correct - just more hours in the day to do everything and still work !!

It's then onto sorting out the best software to use to produce designs and gcodes - more hours please !!