The ShopBot Control System
Upgrade for PRT
Tools (PRT Version 4g) is a plug-in
replacement Control System for existing ShopBot
PRT CNC Tools. It will
bring faster cutting and faster positioning to
your tool at the same time providing 2.5 times
greater resolution and improved smoothness.
You'll get an immediate performance boost with
little time or trouble and at a very reasonable
cost. You'll also still have all the familiar
ShopBot Software
capabilities you've become comfortable with as
well as complete file compatibility, except
that all your projects will now run faster.
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While your actual speeds will
depend on cutting factors, condition of your
tool and the weight of accessories on your
gantries, we expect you will be able to
achieve realistic cutting speeds of 4-6 inches/sec and
jog speeds of 8-12 inches/sec with this
Version 4g Control Board. Best cutting
speeds will come with a spindle.
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Because the Geckodrive stepper
drivers microstep at 10:1, rather
than the 4:1 of the current
PRT drivers, you
will get higher resolution motion and can
expect improved smoothness in cutting.
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The
PRT Version 4g Control Box has
connectors that match your existing motors
and input and output lines. The update
should take only a few minutes.
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With this upgrade Controller, an additional four inputs and four outputs
are added for a total of eight inputs and
eight
outputs.
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The board is provided
with four Geckodrive 203 stepper drivers,
which
easily snap into (and out of) connectors on
the board. The board also has a connector
for an optional fifth driver for tools with
a second Z axis or indexer. Connections for
the additional axis are the same as on
current PRT
Version 3 Control Boards and can be set to
operate as any of ShopBot’s 5 movement channels.
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The Upgrade uses
the same Control Card as our PRS tools. Pulse rates of about 30K steps/sec are
available with a standard
USB interface.
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Note that
outputs from this system are limited to
2A/phase - just right for your existing
PRT motors.
-
Yes, an older PR tool can also
be upgraded with this Version 4g Upgrade.
But, you will
need to re-wire your motor wire connectors
to the standard four-wire
PRT connection.
Computer Requirements -- You need a PC
with an available USB port that is running
Windows XP/Vista/7. At minimum: Pentium 800 MHz, 512M RAM, Graphics
display 1024x768 for shop, 1400 x 1500 for
design. [Only works with the Sb3 (Windows)
version of the software; does not run with the
old DOS version.]
