Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: AlanF on July 08, 2011, 03:10:18 PM
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I am a greenie with a freshly delivered machine from China. Needless to say, the documentation is pretty bad. I've got everything wired and hooked up and the XYZ all moves according to inputs and the limit switches all work but when I try to toggle the spindle it trips the reset off with the message that PWM bumped to minimum. Running the configuration check reports no errors. Running the Port Test reports system excellent set at kernel speed of 25000 Hz. The manufacturer's paperwork shows kernel setting at 100 Khz, but that didn't help and did show the pulse too fast errors. I am running Windows XP on a 2.6Ghz processor on a stripped down, non-Internet connected computer so there is no background interference. The spindle pins are supposed to be 16 and 17 but the circuit board definition for 16 says: STEP B-pass extension interface DB9 pin 8, and 17 says: DIR B-pass extension interface DB9 pin 7. So, any ideas on how to make the spindle run? It is a 1.5kw unit on 220V. I've attached the XML.
Thanks very much,
Alan
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Afraid that is a pirate licence you are using.
Hood
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Thanks for your reply. I fixed the license problem, but that didn't help. Any other suggestions?
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Well it did help in the respect that others will be willing to help ;)
Do you have documentation on the PWM controller you are using?
Hood
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BTW did you set a spindle speed?
Hood
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Oh and you are still using the pirate licence.
Hood
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Thanks again... I have purchased and installed the new license, and the program header reflects this change. I saved the XML file to overwrite the old one and assumed it would show the change but had to rename it in order to upload it on this forum. I don't know why it wouldn't reflect the new license. I set the spindle maximum speed at 24,000 rpm and minimum at 0. I don't have any documentation on the PWM controller, which I assume is the VFD circuit board.
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I am meaning have you set the RPM so that when you switch on the spindle it has an RPM to go to, if not I would imagine you would get the PWM bumped to min message. See screenshot below, the first shows typing a speed direct to the DRO and pressing enter key the second shows how you can switch the spindle on and set a speed via the MDI line.
I have never set up a spindle other than via a servo with Step/Dir so I am not sure exactly how it works but others have so I am sure if that doesnt solve the problems they will help.
Hood
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Setting a spindle speed by either of the methods you describe results in tripping the Reset button. I believe I have a configuration problem with getting Mach3 to recognize the spindle. The parallel port definitions show pin 16 as a STEP and 17 as a DIR which I don't know if is compatible with PWM control, or if I should specify pin 14 which is for a relay. At any rate I've tried all of the above combinations and get no results.
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Do you not have any documentation at all?
Hood
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I have some documentation but as I said, it is rather sketchy. Most of the screen shots are in Chinese, the English translations are bad; I've done better with the Mach3 manuals and using the machine docs as clues. I've worked out all my other problems that way and have it running now to where I could use a manual control router to get my job done, but I am still trying to solve the spindle control issue, since I paid an extra $500 for it, and it is too big for a paper weight. I blew out a surge suppressor monkeying with the 220V wiring to verify that the spindle would run if it had power. Fortunately I didn't fry any electronics in the process. Now I need some new parts that I'll have to wait until Monday to get, then I'll try some more experiments.
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Do you have a name and model of the VFD as that may get a manual.
Does the relay on the breakout connect to the VFD Start/Stop terminal?
Can you take some pics of the breakout board and post them as it may help.
Hood