Koike Aronson Plasma Conversion - sanity check on Mesa board selection?

Hello All,

I recently got a 5x10 Koike plasma table with a super old controller that is no longer supported by the three companies that were involved in it. I'm not happy with the performance of the machine (and how old the controller software is) and I cannot reconfigure it due to administrator passwords that have long since been removed from the memories of those involved. 

I'm very comfortable with Linux, control theory, wiring, and would like to modernize this setup with LinuxCNC / PlasmaC.

The machine has 2 channel + Index encoders, brushed motors, Advanced Motion Controls 12A8 Drivers (+/- 10v input), and Tachometers to close the loop with the motor drivers. I also have a Hypertherm Powermax45XP.

Browsing the (currently available) selection of Mesa cards I have stumbled onto this solution:

+ 7i36 4 Channel Analog Servo interface
+ 5i24-25 FPGA PCI Anything I/O Interface
+ THCAD2 High isolation A-D accessory
+ a machine from my closet


I was curious if this setup was reasonable for a retrofit? Any advice would be appreciated -- thank you kindly!

I would get 7i96S and 7i77 as they seem ti be awailable often.
This way you have 5 step/dir and 6 analog chanels with 7 encoders and another spindle.
And THCAD, of course.
Othervise, 7i92 and 7i77 or just 7i97 for analog systems, if they can be found.

The 7I92T[x] is available.

Thank you for your thoughts! Forgive my ignorance, but what would the step/dir channels get me for this setup? My understanding is that I cannot use them for the axes as they are brushed motor controllers. Is this just a thought for future proofing?

Thanks again!

brian_cant_code wrote:

Is this just a thought for future proofing?

Yes.
That and availability, but the main reason, you have everything future proof, if the old drives die, you can get any type of new drive, be it step/dir or velocity +-10V controlled, and change nothing on the Mesa/controller side.

Love it, great thinking!One new question along the lines of this upgrade - would an Animatics smartmotor Z be supported? It looks like it has four inputs (Up, Down, Manual/Auto IHS, and "Cut 1"). This is currently driven by the Innerlogic THC which just commands up/down via relays based on the arc voltage (or so it appears). The smartmotor seemingly has a built-in function for rapid Z then a precise Z when you're in the range of touching material. Given this I'd have to have some open-loop conversion for initial torch-height to seconds of lift after an ohmic Z sensing? Is this reasonable?Also, here's what I've compiled based on your suggestions -- thank you so much!