Machsupport Forum
Third party software and hardware support forums. => NC Pod => Topic started by: jed102 on October 31, 2007, 05:33:15 PM
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Can someone (if there is anyone out there) please tell me what version of Mach3 I need, what plugin version and what firmware version I need presently to get my servo system running, at least just a little. Ports and pins numbers? I can pay you for 50 bucks for enough information to get things working!
As you can tell I'm getting desperate. I don't even care if I can't do homing etc. Just want to move an axis or two, or even get my dro to show a jog move,...SOMETHING! Sorry for sounding upset about things. It just gets to you after a while. There's precious little information to go on.
Sincerely,
Frank
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Hey Frank,
I just started looking at Mach3 today but, if you have stepper motors rather than DC servo motors, the first two tutorials will have you up and running in a couple hours. If, on the other hand, you have DC servo motors like I do (I have the Vital Systems MOTENC-Lite and DC servo motors) then it's not quite that easy.
From everything I have read so far, Mach3 doesn't support closed loop at all so you need something like the GeckoDrive controllers which provides the servo loop but accepts step and direction inputs.
If anyone knows of any drivers for Mach3 that support a closed loop servo I would also like to hear about it.
Pete
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Hi Pete,
Sorry, I must have been tired the night I made that post. I completely forgot to mention that I am using an ncpod along with Mach3, but because the ncpod is still experimental and there is very little information on getting it up and running, I am at a stand still. My servos are set up with Gecko drives and holding strong, I just need to get a step and direction signal from Mach3 into the ncpod via the usb port.
I actually had no problem getting a servo system running on Mach via the parallel port a few years ago, but wanted better performance this time around, so I decided to go with the ncpod controller board and take advantage of its reported better performance. I may end up having to throw away the ncpod and just use the parallel port due to lack of information.
Thanks,
Frank
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Hey Frank,
I think this link has everything you need. http://ncpod.oemtech.com/
Pete
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Yes, I have been there and have followed directions to no avail. I also have read pretty much everything out there and and have set up ports and pins accordingly. It may be something simple, but without an active user forum I am stuck.
Frank
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Frank , I don't have a pod but you may have better luck with help if you post your setup info as best you can. Most of the guys here will respond if they feel they can help but they need info to evalulate you setup. Thanks Drew
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Hi Frank, I have contacted a member that has succesfully set up a pod. I hope he will chime in soon. I haven't messed with a pod myself.
Brett
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That would be great if he would chime in Bret. In the mean time I have to deal with a fried ncpod. The so called regulated 5 volt supply that I was using for the pod suddenly began to output 7.6 volts. Blue light no longer comes on. Thankfully Carl at Oemtech is going to send me a new one, so when I receive the new one I can get back to the setup task again. Also, as Drew suggested it might be good to try to convey more details of my setup when I am ready. Maybe Carl will give me a few hints too.
Frank
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Assuming that you have the step and direction lines correct I would guess that you don't have the +5 from the NCpod board connected to the all thecommon terminals of the G320's
dan Mauch
Camtronics Inc
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I will check into that thoroughly when I receive the replacement ncpod, though I thought I had wired that correctly. I'm guessing it will be a couple of weeks before I get my replacement up here in Canada.
Thanks!
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Well, I got my ncpod back from Carl at Oemtech (good guy), found a psp game 5 volt supply and hooked everything up according to the new instructions at http://www.artsoftcontrols.com/PlugIns/NcPodUserManual.pdf and now all three servos are working with Mach3 on my mill ;D It seems the problem was the labeling on the board was different than in the new instructions with certain board versions that have back to back step and direction connectors. Bottom line is, go by the new instruction wiring diagram. I'm likely going to need to mount my g320 drivers on heatsinks since they get pretty warm. I can touch them and keep my fingers on them without pain. That's about how hot they get.
Now I am trying to get my kbcc-125r dc spindle motor drive working with the dc-05 Digispeed-nc digital to analog converter, in order to control rpm via Mach3. So far all I'm getting is my spindle turning without any control over speed or torque. If anyone has any clues, I'd like to hear from them.
Thanks,
Frank
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I cannot understand English well.
You may have already tried it.
Only on the display of the computer, did you give test of the empty mawashi driving?
Can you mention the almost all of the connection diagram?
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I can take some pictures tomorrow and put them up. The spindle is actually direct drive and motor is running free at the moment (no belt) no "mawashi". I'll try to give some screen shots of the settings as well.
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I put a pot on the kbcc dc spindle control p1, p2, p3, connectors (the same terminals that I had the Digispeed connected to), and found that the kbcc wasn't tuned at all for my motor, so I am working on that at the moment.
Once I get the motor running well with the kbcc using the pot, I will get back to the Mach3/Ncpod/Digispeed control interface. So far I have control of the motor speed with the pot, but I only am using about a tenth of the full clockwise rotation, so it is very sensitive.
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Ok kbcc is now tuned and wired to the Digispeed again. This time when I click self calibrate in Mach3, it actually starts off slow and gradually speeds up to maximum speed, when it was finished self calibration I saved it. However, when I go to move the speed bar up or down in Mach3, it just stops the spindle. So, I am stumped again!
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Spindle set up is now working, after entering a spindle speed in the mdi screen :)
It is a Portercable 3.25 hp router directly driving a precision jewel makers lathe spindle. I'm guessing it will be perfect for high speed milling up to 15,000 rpm or so.
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Hi, I'd like to know this also. I just got my ncpod and it spins my motor with the OEM basic control panel, however, although I loaded the plug-ins and check the ncpod box when starting mach3, the mach3 "ports and pins" config area does not give me a usb selection to check like the one shown in the online picture, instead I get a "maxnc" box.
How do I use this ncpod with mach3 then?
Thanks for any help,
John H.