(NEWBIE) How to use an (Fanuc) AC Spindle servo motor for an DIY CNC router

Andypugh, thank you soooo much! Was just on a walk with my dog and thought about it how god damn difficult it is for someone like me. I just thought about it why no company has an "configurator" like that one what PC Hardware shops have, where you can configure your computer. Lets say you choose an AMD processor, and in the next step you have to choose the motherboard, but you can only choose an motherboard which fits to the processor. Dont want to write all down what i was thinking the whole time while walking out my dog, but that would make it much easier for poeple like me.

Again, im really thankful for answering all my questions. Now, i can say i have make an step forward, after many days..

I will not get back to all your answers, because you have answered them just perfectly and i almost understand everything, but i have just 2 more questions about the parts i need from Mesa (have wrote already 3 days ago an mail to them but got no answer):

Question 1: Components
You know already my spindle setup (AC spindle motor with Vector drive VFD + encoder on spindle or motor (depending on ratio, but im pretty sure i will use 1:1 through toothed belt)).
Now lets say i want to use real brushless servo motors with servo drive for my XYZ axis.
For example that ones (german site): www.cncprofi.eu/product_info.php?info=p7...n-fl--130x130mm.html

Is then this setup the right for me:
MESA 6I25 Superport FPGA based PCIE Anything I/O card
MESA 7I77 Analog servo interface plus I/O daughtercard

I have read all the descriptions of both components and it sounds like that would fit (unfortunately, the most stuff i dont really understand), but do i need any other components like cards, boards, etc.? I ask, because the have PLUG AND GO kits (7I77-6I25), which sounds for me like thats all i need.

Question 2:
If the 6i25 is correct, then this card needs to be mounted trough the PCIE slot to my PC motherboard and install an Driver, or am i wrong?

If you or someone could only help me with that, then i think i can tomorrow start to learn Solidworks while drawing my project.

Would be really an big step forward and i could start to close almost 40 windows on google chrome..

BR
Denis

denhen89 wrote: Andypugh, thank you soooo much! Was just on a walk with my dog and thought about it how god damn difficult it is for someone like me. I just thought about it why no company has an "configurator" like that one what PC Hardware shops have, where you can configure your computer. Lets say you choose an AMD processor

JT's shop has some guideline diagrams on the front page:
www.mesaus.com

There are three manufacturers that I know of who actively support LinuxCNC use with their hardware
www.pico-systems.com/motion.html
www.generalmechatronics.com/en/linuxcnc
store.mesanet.com

I don't make specific hardware recommendations, I feel that I need to remain impartial in my advice.

I have read all the descriptions of both components and it sounds like that would fit (unfortunately, the most stuff i dont really understand), but do i need any other components like cards, boards, etc.? I ask, because the have PLUG AND GO kits (7I77-6I25), which sounds for me like thats all i need.

If those servo drives take +/- 10V analogue commands then yes, the 7i77/6i25 kit would work well, and would probably be all that you needed. Depending on the machine you might need to add on an extra smart-serial card for extra GPIO, or possibly something like a 7i73 to simplify control-panel wiring.

Pico and GM also have compatible options.

If the 6i25 is correct, then this card needs to be mounted trough the PCIE slot to my PC motherboard and install an Driver, or am i wrong?

No driver installation needed. LinuxCNC includes code to access all the hardware I have mentioned.

Sorry for my late reply!

Again, a BIG THANKS to you Andy for answering again all my questions ! Without your help i wouldnt make an step for the next week for sure :dry:

Also thank you for telling me about the 7i73 card, because i wouldnt know that and would have to order it again and wait Have added it to my list and will order this cards: 7I77, 6I25, 7i73

I have one more question (again.. ), but that is really not that important, i am just wondering a bit about that:
Why some poeple use Motion controll cards and some not, or do i understand something wrong?
I thought, the motion controll cards are always necessary when using servo motors for the axis. I am also asking because motion boards are on an special category on the Mesa site.

BR,
Denis

First, just for clarity, the Mesa cards used in Linuxcnc are not "motion controllers". They are FPGA cards used for hardware counting and timing. Linuxcnc is the "motion controller".

As to why not every one uses them. Mostly it comes down to cost. And that for a simple stepper config on a simple hobby machine, they just are not usually nessisary.

Where I work we have a few old CNC wood carving machines, that originally, used old DOS PCs to control step motors via parallel ports. I converted these over to Linuxcnc, simply by swapping in a newer PC with Linuxcnc installed. I saw some small performance improvement over the old system (mostly due to better motion control) and I was able to easily add some new features to the machine. But there was no advantage to adding Mesa cards to these since they can't step any faster than they do now with software step generation, so I didn't waste the money on unnecessary hardware.

The reason cards like Mesa's are needed for a servo, is mostly because of the very fast encoder counts generated by the high resolution incremental encoders needed for good servo control. It is technically possible to read an encoder and generate a pwm to create an analog signal to control a servo using software through the parallel port, but the possible performance and resolutions will not be very good, compared to what can be done in hardware.

Thanks for your answer Todd, but i want to be honest, i am a bit wierd now.

First, just for clarity, the Mesa cards used in Linuxcnc are not "motion controllers". They are FPGA cards used for hardware counting and timing. Linuxcnc is the "motion controller".

As to why not every one uses them. Mostly it comes down to cost. And that for a simple stepper config on a simple hobby machine, they just are not usually nessisary.

For me everything is conflicting a bit.. Also, because on the Mesa store site is an Category named "LinuxCNC supported boards" and there is an Sub-Category named "Motion Control Cards", but there are other cards listed then the cards i should use for servo motors and drives: 7I77-6I25 + 7i73. So, i am asking whats the difference between "Motion control boards

You are saying "As to why not every one uses them", do you mean the Mesa cards i want to use or "motion control cards" ?

I changed my mind about using an used Fanuc spindle motor with an VFD, instead i want to use an "Servo Spindle Motor + Drive" from Aliexpress, so i have 2 very very important questions (im pretty sure that are the last questions!):

1. Would that "Servo Spindle Motor + Drive" (Analog +-10V) work with: Mesa 7I77-6I25 + 7i73 and LinuxCNC:
Spindle Servo Driver and motor 3.7kw,3ph, 380V

2. Would this Servos for my XYZ Axis work: AC 1KW 80mm 4N.M 2500RPM CNC Servo Motor 80ST-M04025+Matched Servo Driver+3m Cables 220V Servo System Kit from Factory Direct
Just a bit wierd informations for me, because on top of the description reads ...modbus "R232/R485", then next information is "Servo Drive Features: With MODBUS communication performance(RS-485 / RS-422 / RS-232), ASCII and RTU communication protocol" and in the Wiring Diagram reads: RS-232/48 communication port connect wird PC"
Then on the "7i77 - card" reads this in the description: "One RS-422 interface is provided for I/O expansion via a serial I/O daughtercard. All field wiring is terminated in pluggable 3.5 mm screw terminal blocks."
Do i understand it correctly: The Servo-Drive does support RS-232 / RS-485 / RS-422 that wire i need to connect to my PC ? I mean i will have 3 Servos Drives, that means 3 Wires + Spindle Servo Drive ?!
Too much for me...

Guys, im sorry for asking you all that questions.
Currently i feel a bit stupid, but i have to say, its the first time ever i have such problems (really). I never had to use so much time to search informations, ask poeple in forums, etc. .
I have always build my computers by own self (i know its something different) and everything had make some sense for me very quickly, but now its really to much for me.
Respect for your Knowledge and i am a bit wondering how long i took you guys to get that knowledge. Just cant believe someone without any experience with CNC would know all that stuff. Too many variaties of setups and components..
For me its also always pretty important to understand those things, and not just get told what i have to do and what components i need, for example in this case with the CNC equipment, but i think i will not understand it until i build couple different setups.

BR,
Denis

1 Yes
2 Maybe, You would need to get a manual for the drives to be sure. (I could not easily find one on line). If the the drives are capable of being controlled with a +/-10V velocity(speed) command, then yes they will work well with a 7i77 card. They probably do, but I could not find any definitive answer.

The RS422 interface is probably not a viable option for an axis control in Linuxcnc.

I had once looked into similar servos from China, but never went through with the purchase. So I can't really comment on them.