Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => Mach4 General Discussion => Topic started by: $cott on July 15, 2016, 02:31:39 PM

Title: How to show Spindle RPM in MACH4
Post by: $cott on July 15, 2016, 02:31:39 PM
I have a Sunfar (Simphoenix) E500 VFD driving a Air Cooled 24,000 RPM 220V 2.2kW spindle (Note: spindle is powered by 110-220 AC step up transformer ST-3000).  I am using Mach4 to control its speed using a MX4600 driver with a ESS controller.  I have MACH4 controlling the speed and direction properly.  My question is how do I get MACH to display the RPM on its DRO in MX4 screen set.  Do i need some sort of feed back system or is there another way?

Scott
Title: Re: How to show Spindle RPM in MACH4
Post by: da40flyer on July 25, 2016, 02:32:33 PM
Bump - I am interested in this as well.....  I am using a Tekno spindle and Delta VFD
Title: Re: How to show Spindle RPM in MACH4
Post by: Highspeed1964 on July 25, 2016, 02:56:45 PM
As I understand it, and if it is like Mach 3, then yes - you'll need a feedback loop.  I don't know the specifics but in the Spindle configuration there should be a check box for turning this function on and then some P, I, and D settings to fine tune for stable operation.  You'll need a pulse input from a synchronizing system (usually a disc that spins with the spindle and has 1 or more slots that are detected by a sensor) to input these pulses on an input pin configured for this purpose.  Then you can have the RPM DRO show the RPM calculated from this feedback system.

I've never done this so I'm not sure of all the details.  Have a good read through the manual.  There should be a section in the configuration chapter that goes over this.

Stephen "Highspeed" Kruse
Title: Re: How to show Spindle RPM in MACH4
Post by: bob_at_pmdx on July 25, 2016, 04:51:57 PM
In Mach4, the plug-in is responsible for measuring the spindle speed and reporting that to the Mach4 core.  How this is done (i.e. using a 1 pulse per rev sensor, an encoder or some other means) must be configured in the plug-in.  Though I guess if you have a VFD and a MODBUS interface it may be possible to map a MODBUS register from that device to the associated Mach4 register.  That is beyond my pay grade.

Once the plug-in reports the actual RPM to Mach4, it can be displayed in a DRO by assigning the "DRO Code" for that DRO to the "Spindle True RPM".  In the wx4 screen set this is already done in the field in the upper left of the "Spindle" section in the lower left corner of the screen.  If you want to display the *commanded* RPM, set the "DRO Code" to "Spindle RPM".

I am not familiar enough with the ESS plug-in to tell you how to enable spindle speed measurement.

Bob
Title: Re: How to show Spindle RPM in MACH4
Post by: $cott on July 25, 2016, 04:57:50 PM
Thanks Bob,

I will see what i can do to attach a sensor to my spindle.  Hopefully i can get to top of shaft in some way.

Scott