How to Retrofit A Machine?

How to retrofit a machine? Basically, to retrofit or to upgrade a machine you need to remove the old control components especially the machine controller, motor driver, motor of each axis, the lead screws for manual machine, lubrication system if necessary, and the electrical cabinet if necessary. In fact, to retrofit a machine can be divided into two main categories, to retrofit the manual machine and to retrofit the old CNC machine.

A. Retrofit The Manual Machine

These are the components need to replace or need to add in order to retrofit the manual machine:

1. The old controller need to be replaced with CNC controller
2. Motor driver need to replace with servo drive
3. Motor of each axis (X, Y & Z) need to be changed with servo motors
4. Lead screws will be replaced with precision ballscrews
5. Manual lubrication system need to change with auto lubrication system
6. If the machine not equipped with coolant system then coolant system need to add
7. The electrical cabinet might need to be changed if necessary
8. Change the power supply with transformer for bigger KVA or with other power supply
9. Retain the original ELCB, MCB, contactors, terminal block and fuses if possible
10. Inverter need to be added to control the spindle motor if necessary
11. Retain the light system if necessary
12. The machine and electrical cabinet need to re-wiring
13. Repaint the machine if necessary (optional)


Precision Ballscrew


B. Retrofit The CNC Old Machine

These are the components need to replace or need to add in order to retrofit the old CNC machine:

1. Old CNC controller need to change with new CNC controller
2. Servo drive need to change with the new servo drive
3. Servo motor for X, Y and Z axis need to change with new servo motors
4. The PLC need to add if the servo drive doest not have enough I/O
5. Retain the Inverter for spindle motor if possible
6. Retain the electrical cabinet if possible
7. Retain the transformer or power supply if possible
8. Retain the original ELCB, MCB, contactors, terminal block and fuses if possible
9. Retain the precision ball screw if possible
10. Retain the lubrication system, coolant system and hydraulic system if possible
11. Retain the light system if possible
12. Re-wiring the machine and electrical cabinet
13. The spindle motor can be change if need more RPM (optional) - costly
14. Repaint the machine (optional)


Emerson Inverter for Machine Retrofit