CNC Machine Maker Praises Advantech’s PCA-6743 for its Legacy Support

Project
As a leading CNC (Computer Numerical Controller) machine maker established in early 1970’s, our customer has been offering milling and turning machines for tool room and production environments to worldwide markets for many years. They are not only toolmakers, but total solution providers, offering everything from full machines to computer-based control and integration services. The customer designs, builds, and supports a full line of horizontal and vertical machining centers, bridge mills, bed mills, knee mills, turning centers, and lathes. Their CNC controls are compatible with traditional G & M codes, as well as featuring user-friendly conversational programming and high speed capabilities. 

Fast machine migration is a key factor for success in adapting to new challenges in the industrial machinery industry. However, this migration is always costly. Component legacy support saves both time and cost and has a minimal impact on the business, making it an attractive option. For this reason, Advantech’s reliable, high-quality platforms with legacy support was the customer’s final choice.

Requirements
‧ISA legacy support for easy migration
‧DOS support
‧BIOS customization
‧Revision control
‧Global support able to respond immediately

System
Advantech’s latest low-power platform, the PCA-6743 half-size SBC (Single Board Computer), has a more reliable native ISA interface than most ISA products in the market which have been converted from PCI. PCA-6743 features a fanless, DM&P Vortex86DX low-power processor with speeds up to 800 MHz and 512/256 MB on-board DDR2 memory, as well as CRT/LCD dual display outputs that enable simultaneous machine operations for more user friendly and flexible applications. It comes with a variety of I/O connectors: four USB ports, eight COM ports, a LAN connector, PC104 connector, parallel port for EPP/ECP/SPP, and 8-bit GPIO that perfectly meets the specifications needed by a CNC machine. PCA-6743 with DM&P Vortex86DX processor includes an integrated floating-point unit, and an optional module for four RS-485 interfaces with auto-flow control. 

Inside the CNC machine, there are four ISA add-on cards for controlling the axis motions and I/O switches. PCA-6743 is the main board that communicates with those add-on cards. Since the customer’s add-on cards were designed with ISA interfaces from the beginning, it would have required higher investment to redesign the machine to use a different interface. This project required 1,000 units per year to support the CNC machines. PCA-6473, with its native ISA card reduced the overall cost of implementation. Products with a native ISA card are increasingly rare to find in the market. PCA-6743 also meets RoHS, CE and FCC certifications.

Conclusion
The CNC machine maker and their existing customers that use the machines are very satisfied with this solution because it has helped extend their machine’s life span. Advantech played a key role as partner, co-designer and hardware supplier. Advantech also provided BIOS customization to enable legacy drivers to work in the machine, as well as longevity support, global services, and quick response times that the customer could not find from other IPC companies.

Recommended Products

PCA-6473  DM&P Vortex86DX ISA Half-size SBC with LVDS/LAN/PC104/CFC/8 COM