Okay, this is starting to sink in a bit through my thick skull.
So, correct me if I'm wrong so I can start to plan this process. This is referencing my pictures earlier in this thread.
In a one line perspective, 1st I would have a computer at the operator station- either a laptop or a flat screen mounted in a Nema 4 box with a mini computer (or any computer capable of running Win 7/8/10), then cable down from the computer to the large junction box on the back. Any wiring that originally went to the existing tape drive cabinet and controls would be removed along with the ice cube relays in the control cabinet. Next install a board or stand alone motion control unit in the junction box and use either expansion terminal strips or cable from the board to a breakout board for terminals. Connect from the terminals to the existing drivers, including the power connections and/or 24V power where necessary ( some boards seem to require a 24V source?)
Power it up and set up.
I will be bringing in a 240V source to a terminal board and separating the Servo power and head power there since the servo drives don't require 3 phase and my VFD is sized only slightly larger than the power motor. I think it pulls 5.8 amps @ 240V 3 phase (1 1/2 hp). On the primary side of the VFD, this should equate to about 7.5 amps incoming. If I bring in a 20 Amp 240V power cord with a neutral and ground to the terminal board, I still have almost 10 amps @240V to serve the other loads- Servo drivers, quill power, computer power, and other various solenoids for oiling, cooling, and other loads which are negligible. I can always bump this up to a 30 Amp feed if necessary but I won't know for sure until I have a chance to run it and put an amprobe on the circuits.
Am I missing anything here or am I on track? The loose ends always kill me on these type of projects ( and end up nickle and dimeing me to death). If I get this done soon enough, I can devote some time to machining this summer when I'm off work a bit and also one of my other many hobbies now that the weather is good-
Thanks again for all the help guys, I hope there are others gaining something from all my newbie questions.
Bob