Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: willyinaus on October 16, 2008, 01:52:43 AM

Title: Mach3 BreakoutBoard and all that Jazz
Post by: willyinaus on October 16, 2008, 01:52:43 AM
Hi Guys,

I am a bit of a newb when it comes to Breakout boards and have purchased a C11 Breakout board to place between my Xylotex  and PC as I want to hook up some Homing switches and also use it to control the spindle I have set up anyway I have been reading what documentation I can find and I am a bit miffed .
I understand that I need to hook up 5v of power to the board from the PC using the usb power cable that was supplied  but do I also need to power the other side as well? if so is it just a 12v power supply I require, I have one that is 12v 1amp would that suffice or be to much to little?

Anything special I need to do in Mach3 I am running 2.0 Should I upgrade will I gain anything.

I just want to get in running and then I will do the Switches then the spindle one at a time.

I don't want to fry it or the driver   :'( so I thought I better ask first  ;).

Willy
Title: Re: Mach3 BreakoutBoard and all that Jazz
Post by: jimpinder on October 16, 2008, 11:52:36 AM
YES!!  I have been playing around with electronics for 55 years, and these cnc4pc boards are quite something - in fact all things to all men.

Basically you do not require all this, but since you have one, here we go.

The way I read the  script on the wiring is:

Yes - you need the connection to the computer. I don't know why you need the 5 volts, but it says you do. You might as well use the USB lead since it is provided.
You would also appear to need another 5 volt power suppy to the right hand side of the board - see 5 volts at 2 amps. I assume this is to power the board, and also provide voltage for the various switches that you may fit.
The 12 volt supply would appear to be for the spindle control system. Many of the  spindle control systems require a voltage between 0 - 10v to indicate the speed at which they are to run. My digispeed takes its power from the Omron inverter, so I don't need a seperate supply, but it seems that this board requires a seperate 12 volt supply, and also a common 0v connection from your spindle drive electronics.

When connecting seperate pieces of electronics together - and here you are trying to connect  a computer, to a breakout board, to a drive system and a spindle control, then all the parts need a common reference point (or voltage). This is usually 0volts.

However - where opto isolation is involved, there is no electrical connection. The power from your USB connection powers the input side of the opto electronics - which comes from your computer. The 5 volt supply powers the detector circuits of the opto isolation device, and powers the on board systems. The 12 volt input seems to power the conversion electronics from a 5 volt pwm signal (which Mach puts out) to a 0 - 10volt signal which the spindle control requires.

There are many cheap little power supplies available from Maplin (in UK) but I assume electronics shops elsewhere have similar items. You can use one of these with a 5 volt regulator chip which are available very cheaply. This would power the 5 volt.

If you spindle control system gives off the 12 volt supply, then use that to power the 12 volt side of the system, since it is going to control the spindle anyway. (You will still need the common connection as well)

Not much else to say really. The Xylotex box would have taken direct pin outs from the computer, without the Bob, providing you configured the plug correctly. I assume, therefore you attach a cable from the computer to the Bob and then from the Bob to the Xylotex. I assume you still have to configure Mach 3 to provide the output on the correct pins, provided the 25 pin connections are straight through.


Title: Re: Mach3 BreakoutBoard and all that Jazz
Post by: Sam on October 16, 2008, 12:26:26 PM
Information taken from here.http://cnc4pc.com/Tech_Docs/C11R5WG.pdf
More information can be found here. http://www.cnc4pc.com/Store/osc/product_info.php?products_id=161

"The analog output is optoisolated. An external +12vdc
power source is required. This circuit consumes less
than 10milliamps."

Personally, I just snipped the end off of one of my power supplies and used those. You have a ground, +5v, and +12V. I forget what color/voltage. Check it with a meter. You don't want 12v going into the 5v slot. I would rather not use the USB port for power, but that's just my preference. I would rather take power directly from the supply, not to mention its easier, neater, and no worries of being unplugged by accident. Be aware that some USB hubs are non-powered.
Title: Re: Mach3 BreakoutBoard and all that Jazz
Post by: willyinaus on October 16, 2008, 03:29:28 PM
Thanks guys for that see i probably would gave played with it for hours and not relised I needed that extra 5v.

I will be having a play in the next couple of hours with it and will get back to you.

Thank you

Willy
Title: Re: Mach3 BreakoutBoard and all that Jazz
Post by: willyinaus on October 16, 2008, 04:39:27 PM
Well guys yep it works like a charm I will try and set up the homing switches first then I will do the spindle.

I have seen some threads on spindle people setting up spindle so I will just follow them.

The spindle is a Chinese water cooled unit.

Anyway thanks again guys.