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Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: Sixgun_slim on December 27, 2012, 02:53:48 PM

Title: Mach 3 Gecko G540 Drive Spindle RPM won't display please help!
Post by: Sixgun_slim on December 27, 2012, 02:53:48 PM
OK I'm new to the forum but I bought a gecko G540 drive and  license to mach3 and set it up on a 7x14 lathe. I was able to get all axis moving and the spindle turning via PWM BUT I can't get the actual rpm to display. I am using a 4" disc attached to the end of the spindle with a 1/2" slot cut in it. I am reading it with a Sharp GP1A75E photointerupter I got from work free! I wired it up and when it is on the slot the output wire reads like 5 volts dc and when it is on the disc it reads .007 VDC. I have run the input + wire over to the gecko pin1 and the ground to pin 12 and I've tried every thing I can find to get any rpm disiplay on the spindle readout.

Does this photointurrupter sound compatible to use in this application?

Does my wiring sound right?

what port pin combination do I need to set to get this working?

Please help this is my last hurdle to actually getting the lathe running.

Thanks everyone for your time in advance,
Title: Re: Mach 3 Gecko G540 Drive Spindle RPM won't display please help!
Post by: Jeff_Birt on December 27, 2012, 02:59:17 PM
The G540 inputs need to be pulled to ground to activate them, they are internally pulled up to 12VDC. A sensor with a NPN type output will also work (NPN means that the sensors output is pulled to ground when the sensor is triggered.) You also need to tell Mach which port/pin the index signal is on.
Title: Re: Mach 3 Gecko G540 Drive Spindle RPM won't display please help!
Post by: Sixgun_slim on December 27, 2012, 06:33:05 PM
Thank You Jeff for the quick response I looked at the spec on this sensor and it doesn't say NPN I have a different sensor that says it is NPN so I may have to try to get to work

Thanks Again
Title: Re: Mach 3 Gecko G540 Drive Spindle RPM won't display please help!
Post by: Sixgun_slim on December 27, 2012, 08:11:57 PM
Ok So i had a Baumer Electric CFAM 18N1600 prox switch which had NPN capability NO and dialed it in so I could see the light on the switch going on and off. Now I still don't get the rpm to display. My gues is its wired incorrectly or the pins are noted incorrectly.

I have the plus and minus wires going directly to the 24v power supply that I am using to power the cooling fan. I have the output wire going to pin number 1 on the gecko drive. Now when I use the Fluke on it with the switch made it shows 12V and when its not made it shows a small voltage like .6 volts.  

Do I have to daisy chain all the grounds to the gecko drive I saw that somewhere? Currently I only have the 48v + and - power going to the gecko?

then I have the index input set to port 1 pin 10 . Now I am assuming since the wire is set to pos 1 on the gecko and that correlates to db25 pin 10 that would be the pin number please correct me if I am wrong

Do I also have to set input 1 to port 1 pin 10 as well? I've tried both they didn't seem to work.

Argh so frustrating I really thought this part would be a peice of cake compared to the rest but it has really got me pulling my hair out I was hoping to learning the rest of the program by now and I am reading and rereading the setup manual looking for something I've missed

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance
Title: Re: Mach 3 Gecko G540 Drive Spindle RPM won't display please help!
Post by: BR549 on December 28, 2012, 10:59:36 PM
Do you have the Machine in M3 mode. If it is not in M3 mode then I don't think the spindle speed will display.

Does the index led flash when you rotate the spindle by hand ?

Just a thought, (;-) TP
Title: Re: Mach 3 Gecko G540 Drive Spindle RPM won't display please help!
Post by: Jeff_Birt on December 28, 2012, 11:47:27 PM
The DC grounds of the power supplies need to be tied together. Run a wire from the DC ground or your 24V power supply to the DC ground of your 48V power supply.
Title: Re: Mach 3 Gecko G540 Drive Spindle RPM won't display please help!
Post by: Vogavt on January 04, 2013, 11:36:35 AM
I'm also having issues getting the signal to show up through the Gecko G540.

I'm using a reflective opti-switch.

I'm using a 5V PS with a 150 Ohm resistor to power the IR LED (1.6V Forward, hence the 150R to keep from annihilating the LED). I can see the IR is working by looking at it through a digital camera lens.

If I connect the multimeter to the collector and emitter wires and rotate the spindle by hand I detect changes in resistance when the spindle is at the reflective part. (I have black electricians tape wrapped around the spindle with a portion cutout.) I have the sensor sitting 0.005" from the edge of the spindle. Used a feeler gauge and push the sensor up to it, tightened down the screws, removed the feeler gauge.

I put the wire which I determined to be positive (collector?) in Pin #3 inlet on the 12-Terminal strip and the other wire (emitter?) in the #12 inlet. I then set the Ports & Pins to Index > Port 1, Pin 12. However, I'm not see anything on the Index LED from the Diagnostics page when I rotate the spindle. I've changed to Active Low, but still nothing is detected.

The debounce was set to 0, so I tried 2, 10, 50, still nothing.

Am I supposed to use some sort of Pull-Up or Pull-Down resistor at Pin #3? if so, what resistance?
Title: Re: Mach 3 Gecko G540 Drive Spindle RPM won't display please help!
Post by: Sixgun_slim on January 17, 2013, 02:37:10 PM
Ok,

Thanks to all for your help, I ended up buying a switch from Soigeneris and it works pefectly now. I get the rpm display and turn the spindle on and off. Now I have one last issue if anyonoe could help out I would appreciate it. How do you calibrate thye spindle rpm to what you actually punch ie m3 s750 only is say 150 rpm how to I tune in the rpm. I understand how to get the display tuned in but the actual speed I'm having an issue with.

Again thanks in advance

Title: Re: Mach 3 Gecko G540 Drive Spindle RPM won't display please help!
Post by: Sixgun_slim on January 18, 2013, 10:12:10 AM
OK saw the answer to another post from Peter on spindle calibration and set it up as he suggested

Thanks to all that helped out,

Title: Re: Mach 3 Gecko G540 Drive Spindle RPM won't display please help!
Post by: Vogavt on January 19, 2013, 08:35:40 PM
OK saw the answer to another post from Peter on spindle calibration and set it up as he suggested

Just so I get it correct, could you post the link?
Title: Re: Mach 3 Gecko G540 Drive Spindle RPM won't display please help!
Post by: Hood on January 19, 2013, 08:41:44 PM
Presume it will be this
http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,23468.msg164768.html#msg164768

Hood