A used 1992 Kitamura Mycenter Zero CNC machining center, purchased for $3000 and currently undergoing a full retrofit with a Centroid Hickory controller, custom breakout PCB, and modern electronics.
The Acquisition
This 1992 marvel runs on the reliable Fanuc 0M-C CNC controller. However, there’s a catch with vintage controllers — they lack solid-state memory. When the backup battery runs dry, you risk losing all parameters, rendering the machine inoperable.
I wasted no time crafting a custom DB26 to DB9 DNC cable for the Fanuc 0M and read out the parameters over DNC to safeguard against lost settings.
Moving 3.5 Tons Solo
On New Year’s Eve, I moved this 3.5-ton machine into my workshop entirely solo using VEVOR machine skates and a pallet jack.
Custom PCB Retrofit (Part 2)
In Part 2 of the retrofit, I replaced decades-old wiring with a custom breakout PCB for the Centroid Hickory controller. The build covers schematic design in EasyEDA, solving real-world interface challenges like integrating a 5V Renishaw probe and generating a 0–10V VFD signal for the coolant pump.
This project is ongoing. Join the Discord for live updates.
