Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: gene8522 on October 05, 2013, 12:01:43 PM
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I have the Chinese Huanyang VFD & Spindle from ebay. But I would like to upgrade to a better drive. So if you are using something other than the Chinese Huanyang VFD. Please tell me about it. I have looked at the GS2-23PO drive from Automation Direct but i can't find any information on how to control the drive from Mach3 running the Mach3 2010 Screenset.
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I run a GS2 and control it over modbus. You could control it over modbus or the digital inputs if you want mach to control it. You can operate it from the front panel if manual operation suites you. List your requirements and I'm sure you will get some suggestions on how to do it. My suggestion is to do it over modbus. This will have very little to do with your screen. Watch the video tutorials on modbus and download the manual for the drive. All the addressing and parameters information is in the manual. You can get Qmodbus for free. Its a nice app I use to help answer modbus questions. Get the drive, wire it up to your spindle, use qmodbus to turn it on/off/fwd/rev and adjust the freq. Once you get the hang of it will be pretty easy to set Mach up to control it.
Brett
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Most people not using the Chinese VFD are using Hitachi's. They run about $200-$250. I believe that they also use Modbus. Their may be a thread here about using them. If not, there's definitely one at CNC Zone.
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I run a GS2 and control it over modbus. You could control it over modbus or the digital inputs if you want mach to control it. You can operate it from the front panel if manual operation suites you. List your requirements and I'm sure you will get some suggestions on how to do it. My suggestion is to do it over modbus. This will have very little to do with your screen. Watch the video tutorials on modbus and download the manual for the drive. All the addressing and parameters information is in the manual. You can get Qmodbus for free. Its a nice app I use to help answer modbus questions. Get the drive, wire it up to your spindle, use qmodbus to turn it on/off/fwd/rev and adjust the freq. Once you get the hang of it will be pretty easy to set Mach up to control it.
Brett
I am not familiar with the modbus controls. What type of cable do you use to connect the vfd to the PC?
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The cable and its connections are covered in GS2 manual. I used some cat6 with I think it is an RJ12 connector and I used a usb to 485 adapter at the pc with screw connectors for the serial side but you could just use a serial connector (DB 9) if your PC has a serial port. You can find all sorts of usb to serial adapters. Automation direct sells some and cables to go from adapter or serial port to drive.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-to-RS485-FTDI-interface-Converter-BOX-/280710974429?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item415bad8bdd
Brett
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I have used both of the mentioned above BUT I ran them as analog input. NO modbus or serial to fool with.
(;-) TP
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The cable and its connections are covered in GS2 manual. I used some cat6 with I think it is an RJ12 connector and I used a usb to 485 adapter at the pc with screw connectors for the serial side but you could just use a serial connector (DB 9) if your PC has a serial port. You can find all sorts of usb to serial adapters. Automation direct sells some and cables to go from adapter or serial port to drive.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-to-RS485-FTDI-interface-Converter-BOX-/280710974429?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item415bad8bdd
Brett
Brett,
How is the KMTronic hooked to the PC? Does it come with a cable for the USB port on the PC?
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I have used both of the mentioned above BUT I ran them as analog input. NO modbus or serial to fool with.
(;-) TP
Could you post more details about your wiring. I would like to buy a better VFD Drive but I have not been able to get any details on how to connect the VFD to my PC running Mach3. Before I spring the $$$$ for a drive I would like to know what cables to get to hook up the PC to the VFD Drive. I've seen some VFDs that have built in RS485, so do I need an USB to RS485 interface at all?
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I cant remember if the one I got came with a usb cable or not. I don't think it did. It used an a male to b male cable.
Brett
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IN both cases I used a Step to analog convertor so that I had 0-+10v to work with. Then you simply wire it direct to the VFD for speed control then you also wire a signal to run CW or CCW.
It does not get any more dependable or simple to hook up.
Just a thought, (;-) TP
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IN both cases I used a Step to analog convertor so that I had 0-+10v to work with. Then you simply wire it direct to the VFD for speed control then you also wire a signal to run CW or CCW.
It does not get any more dependable or simple to hook up.
Just a thought, (;-) TP
I hate to admit but you are dealing with someone here the is a little illiterate when it come to some electronics. Could you be more specific in your instructions of the wiring for the VFD. Where would I find more information about "Step to analog convertor"?
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Step - Analog converter
http://www.cnc4pc.com/Store/osc/product_info.php?cPath=25&products_id=58&osCsid=401b9415e28ad76ee028c0fc941a877f
I use this one on my Hitachi. Works like charm. I only use it for the fwd/rev function though. I prefer to manually control the spindle speed with a potentiometer, and that is wired directly to the VFD, if I remember correctly. A couple things to keep in mind when getting a VFD is to make sure it can use modbus, if you intend to have modbus. Not all of them can. You might want a breaking resistor to stop the spindle too. Some VFD's require an additional piece of hardware in order to connect the resistors. The additional hardware can cost as much as the drive itself. The hitachi sj200 (probably other models too) does not require any additional equipment (other than the resistors) and is modbus capable. There's allot of bang for your buck, and I suppose that's why they have a large following.
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Braking resistors aren't required on a spindle motor unless there is a heavy inertia load on the motor. End mills or tool bits don't have the mass to do this. Motors act as generators when the rotor is being spun by an external source after the power is removed. All VFD's can absorb a fixed amount of this voltage. Braking resistors absorb motor's feed back voltage when it exceeds the drive's capability limit. Unless the drive deaccel is set for 0.1 seconds a braking resistor is a waste of money, wiring and panel space. A 5 or 10 second deaccel rate will not trip the drive.
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That would be your opinion not mine I always attatch and use the braking resistors with a VFD for spindle use.
Money WELL spent in my opinion.
(;-) TP
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And if you have an ATC, you don't want to wait 10 seconds for the spindle to stop.
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Well I'll tell you what BR549... disconnect the braking resistor pack and see what happens. Run the spindle motor to 24k RPM and push the drive stop button... If the drive doesn't trip on high DC bus voltage you have a $200 paper weight taking up space in your panel. Some people on this site have little or no electrical background and give out bad if not dangerous and costly advice.
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I have 2 dead HITACHI drives sitting here(not mine) with blown final drives from running without the resistors AND trying to stop fast. I tried to tell them what would happen but some people never learn. (;-) AND no Hitachi would NOT warranty them either. YES they will tell you it should work fine but experience dictates otherwise.
Just a thought, (;-) TP
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That would be your opinion not mine I always attatch and use the braking resistors with a VFD for spindle use.
Money WELL spent in my opinion.
Ditto. Cant be waiting around for spindles to stop. Time is money. Parts need to go out the door, and I don't want to spend any more time in the shop than what I have to. A breaking resistor cost what..less than $15. I'll take that any day of the week. Lets see how this breaks down, and I'm being conservative for my machine use....10 seconds X 100 = 16.6min per day X 5 = 83 min per wk. One 5 day week is bad enough, let alone months or a year. That's not just lost time either, its lost production as well. Your right, some people on here do give bad, costly advise. Good thing we have great people like Terry (BR549) that freely give their vast knowledge to the masses.
Thank you Terry.
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Pardon my ignorance but are the Huanyang drives that bad? I am waiting on delivery of a Delta, are they any better or worse?
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I am using a Teco drive from FactoryMation and it works fine. The Spindle was designed by a guy in St. Pete, FL but built in China.