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[CNC] Anilam 3200mk Help
- Thread starter 95ttoplt1
- Start date
Well I went to fire it up and play with it today and got all the messages for the battery being dead which was expected. What wasn't expected is that no one carries it and I had to order one. Dead in the water until Friday.
In the mean time, I noticed my screen under "machine" it only lists the two axis, as that what it was set up for. What is needed software/controller wise to add the Z? Will I be able to add a 4th axis after that? I'm trying to decide if this is worth working the kinks out of, or start to build a more modifiable controller.
In the mean time, I noticed my screen under "machine" it only lists the two axis, as that what it was set up for. What is needed software/controller wise to add the Z? Will I be able to add a 4th axis after that? I'm trying to decide if this is worth working the kinks out of, or start to build a more modifiable controller.
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- Feb 8, 2014
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- 11,176
That is a tough question. What I did is run mine with the 2 axis controller until I got used to it, and CNC in general. I started knowing nothing about CNC, but have a lot of experience in motion control systems. In the meantime I ordered in all the parts to build a new controller. When the Anilam controller finally failed, I did the upgrade.......right in the middle of a production run. I was up and running again in a day and a half. Finished that job, then started working on the Z axis parts.
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- Oct 3, 2015
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I'd agree with Jim, run it as 2 axis till you get it down pat, then upgrade. You can program it from the console, or from your desk top and transfer via a floppy( if you can find floppies anymore) You can also transfer programs via a RS 232 cable, but I haven't figured that out yet. I have the off line software for my desktop, but....you don't really need it, as you can write the program in notepad. It's all text. If it's like mine, there is a DFX converter in the OS. It will also convert G code to a point.
Do you still have the old controller? I found HH Roberts and they have a link explaining that 3200 vs 3300 is one I/O card. I looked and sure enough my board has three slots, and cards only in two. Could it really be as easy as adding another card and updating the software and adding Anilam Z servo set up?
I am getting excited to get it off the trailer, I'm about 25% through my shop upgrade(foam insulation,plywood walls). My health hasn't been cooperating lately so its slow going. I have been watching all the videos I can on it, and just general milling. I'm glad I got even a simple two axis. Little things, like radius cuts, milling holes etc. Since I don't have a rotary table yet.
I did download the offline software, but it wont run on this 64 but machine. I'll have to see if I have a old laptop that will work.
EDIT: Jim, do you know where the VGA into the CRT would be, or what it would look like? I see a couple VGA ports on one of the cards, but nothing is hooked to them?
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- Feb 8, 2014
- Messages
- 11,176
No, I actually sold it on ebay as soon as I finished the upgrade. Had it listed as not working for $250, sold in about 10 minutes!
You might try a VGA monitor in one of the ports. It could be that they have the monitor connected as RGB, so it might have 3 separate cables going to it.
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- Feb 8, 2014
- Messages
- 11,176
One caution! Make sure those are actually VGA ports. There is a lot of industrial equipment that uses HD connectors for other stuff, that old, they are probably VGA but you never know. 
It would suck to fry something if they are for something else.
It would suck to fry something if they are for something else.Well another baby step forward. I started today taking pictures of the card and found the answer to my question.
This is where my dim bulb lit up. I looked on the other side of where it said VGA and sure enough that is where I had a small cable connected that ran into the CRT box.
I put the card back in, and hooked my desktop monitor up to the VGA port and..
Success! This is much better than a crappy fuzzy CRT. Now just waiting on the battery to arrive and looking for a cheap monitor. Although, I do have a 42 inch LED TV in the shop with a VGA in. I might do some re arranging and set up a little CNC programming station in front of the TV.
I am starting to be a little leery of the system though. I cant remember the last time I saw a 486 CPU. While I'm sure its adequate for what it does, it seems like a step above a abacus in terms of computing power and certainly would seem easy to overwhelm.
So other little thoughts going forward to make it more user friendly(after looking over websites of companies that repair these). Input and opinions requested
1: Adding a card reader.
2. Adding the third axis
3. using that Ethernet port on the card to integrate into the home network( I don't have a computer with a RS432 port)
4. Would option 3 allow it to run Wifi in some form? That would open it way up. Cell phone control etc..
What is the "feature connector?
What is the Flat Panel connector?
As you can see I'm not a real computer genius, but this has been a fun learning experience so far. Thanks all for the help!
This is where my dim bulb lit up. I looked on the other side of where it said VGA and sure enough that is where I had a small cable connected that ran into the CRT box.
I put the card back in, and hooked my desktop monitor up to the VGA port and..
Success! This is much better than a crappy fuzzy CRT. Now just waiting on the battery to arrive and looking for a cheap monitor. Although, I do have a 42 inch LED TV in the shop with a VGA in. I might do some re arranging and set up a little CNC programming station in front of the TV.
I am starting to be a little leery of the system though. I cant remember the last time I saw a 486 CPU. While I'm sure its adequate for what it does, it seems like a step above a abacus in terms of computing power and certainly would seem easy to overwhelm.
So other little thoughts going forward to make it more user friendly(after looking over websites of companies that repair these). Input and opinions requested
1: Adding a card reader.
2. Adding the third axis
3. using that Ethernet port on the card to integrate into the home network( I don't have a computer with a RS432 port)
4. Would option 3 allow it to run Wifi in some form? That would open it way up. Cell phone control etc..
What is the "feature connector?
What is the Flat Panel connector?
As you can see I'm not a real computer genius, but this has been a fun learning experience so far. Thanks all for the help!