Topics

1

Mach Screens / Screen 4 Buttons - Font Size and Transparent?

« on: October 18, 2014, 03:36:32 PM »

I'm taking a crack at my first screen set. Is there a way to set the default button background transparent instead of gray but still have an outline of the button? I want to use my screen background color rather than gray.
Also, can the font size be changed?

2

General Mach Discussion / Shuttle Xpress & Button Assignment Question

« on: October 18, 2014, 11:40:04 AM »

I want to assign a button on the Shuttle to emulate the TAB keyboard button so as to fly out the Jog  display.

I have a touch screen and all I want to try to use is the Touchscreen and the shuttle on a bench top mill.

Any idea how to do that?

Also, anyone have a favorite screen set for a touch screen to be used on a mill?

Thanks in advance.
Marty

3

General Mach Discussion / Doea Closed Loop Spindle Control Work and PID settings

« on: August 31, 2014, 06:45:30 PM »

I hear some say its broken while others say it works.
I have it some what working on a Dyna benchtop cnc mill. It has a hall effect sensor, a KBIC-120 DC motor controller and an Electrocraft E661 DC spindle motor.

I use the index pulse and have turned on the Closed Loop Spindle option in Mach3.
When commanding the spindle speed with an Sword in Mach, the spindle comes on and overshoots and then undershoots the commanded speed by several hundred rpm, but within 2-4 seconds, it holds within a few rpm of the commanded speed. I have not touched the PID settings from the defaults. That seems to indicated that Closed Loop Spindle works?

I'd like to hear from those who have it working and what approach did you take to tune the PID settings.
Thanks in advance,
Marty

4

General Mach Discussion / PWM Spindle Calibration help. G540 & KBIC-120 DC Controller

« on: August 25, 2014, 11:32:25 PM »

Having some trouble  with getting my spindle speed setup correctly in Mach3.

The particulars:
Latest release of Mach3 Licensed
Dyna DM2400 benchtop CNC Mill
Spindle motor is a stock 90VDC motor, but originally ran from a 75V Controller calibrated about 60V to produce 5000rpm at the motor
NEW DC Spindle controller is a KBIC-120. Usually takes 0-7VDC input. I had to set the MAX trim pot on the KBIC down to give me the 5K motor RPM which resulted in a max signal voltage of 4VDC
Gecko G540 Control
VFD signals in the 540 are wired to the 3 terminals on the KBIC-120 where the pot would go.
Test the KBIC-120 with a 5K Pot and it works fine, get full range of RPM out of the motor. (after setting the KBIC-120 MAX RPM where the max input signal would be 4VDC)
Proximity index sensor on the spindle pulley, properly setup in Mach.

Mach3 is configured per Jeff Birt’s document on configuring the KBIC:

http://www.soigeneris.com/Document/Gecko/Using_the%20Gecko_G540_VFD_Output.pdf

I followed his directions verbatim. Wired it verbatim. (The Dyna DM2400 has a SPDT switch where you can put it in “LOCAL” mode which switches the signal to come from the 5K manual Pot or flip it to “PROGRAM” mode  from the G540’s VFD circuitry to the input of the KBIC-120.  Jeff, thanks for posting this)

The Dyna has 3 pulley grooves giving 3 different speeds. I set these up in Pulleys. 0 min, and the maximum is set to the name plate chart max rpm on the speed chart on the side of the headstock. Ratio is set to 1.

My problem, when commanding the spindle speed from Mach using the S10000, (Pulley 1 will give a max speed of 10K rpm), Mach turns on the spindle and while a few RPM off it was close. I tweaked the MAX rpm pot on the KBIC-120 so that it was at 10k rpm showing on the spindle speed display in Mach via the index pulse. I checked it with a laser tach and it was right on. KBIC input signal to spin 10K rpm is 4VDC. I commanded S7500rpm and actually got 6910rpm (2.86VDC signal), commanded S5000 and actually got 6325rpm (2.65VDC Signal), commanded 2500rpm and got no spindle speed. (.001VDC)

This happens with the other 2 spindle pulley settings. The output from Mach/G540 is not following linearly.

With that in mind, I put the SPDT switch in LOCAL mode,  I turned the manual speed pot and measured RPM and signal voltages (they differed slightly than the Mach/G540 Combo) here is what I got:

325rpm - .553VDC signal
650rpm - .659VDC signal
1250rpm - .867VDC signal
2500rpm – 1.31VDC signal
5000rpm – 2.19VDC signal
7500rpm – 3.07VDC signal
10000rpm – 4.0VDC signal

So, in a nutshell, I’m pretty sure my controller is good. I need help configuring Mach/G540 so it outputs the proper voltages to control my spindle properly. I can’t seem to get Mach/G540 combo to output the signal voltage not much lower than a volt. I could not get my spindle to turn less than 1250 rpm in the above example.

Lastly does the Auto Spindle Configuration in Mach really work?
How about using the spindle in closed loop?

Any advice/thoughts would be appreciated.
Thank you in advance!
Marty

5

General Mach Discussion / Table Display from broken to different color solid line?

« on: August 22, 2014, 03:16:03 PM »

How do I change the table display in Mach3 from a broken line gray line to a solid line in a brighter color?
I tried to search and couldn't find an answer, so sorry if its a repeat.
Marty

6

Galil / Galil & VFD I/O

« on: July 15, 2012, 03:00:31 PM »

I'm close to being done with my control. Last item to wire to the ICM1900 is the 0-10VDC analog output and the FWD/REV command lines to the VFD. I am using the Y axis for the spindle for my lathe. X&Z are used for motion.

So do I can I just use Output 1 & 2 on the ICM1900 (Pins 66 & 67) for forward and reverse and reference Signal Ground (Pin 74) and use MOCMDY (Pin 29) for the 0-10VDC analog output to the VFD?

I assume its pretty straight forward in Mach3 ports and pins to setup.

Its the last connector I need to wire up.

I am using AMC DC Brush Servo drives, it looks like they just need a ground input to disable the drives. That's all I had planned to use, unless its thought it would be good practice to use a contactor to open the DC voltage TO the AMC Servo amps?

Thanks in advance,
Marty

7

Galil / Galil I/O Questions (17xx/18xx)

« on: July 01, 2012, 07:46:56 PM »

I'm converting a Clausing 5900 series manual lathe to CNC:
https://picasaweb.google.com/marty.escarcega/ClausingCNCLatheConversion

Making good progress, servo motor mounts/ball screw supports almost done.
Been working on the control and I have some questions:
I am using a Galil 1740, computer and plug in ready to go. I have uploaded my ICM1900 pin chart. I'd like someone to review it and see if it looks ok. X/Z axis typical. Want to use Y to command the VFD +/- 10VDC, W is for a future lathe turret.

My questions:
1. Kenny mentioned something about changing a chip on my ICM1900. Which one and when would I need to do that?
2. I would like an output for a mist system. It will simply turn on and off a relay. Which pin(s) can I use for such outputs and are they typically +5VDC to control small control relays?
3. I need an ESTOP input. Which inputs are typically used and do I use a ground input or a +5VDC input? or +12VDC input
4. I need an output (Like a charge pump). Once the computer is on line, I planned on turning on a +5VDC control relay which would in turn give me control voltage through one of the contacts, I press a system reset button and it will pull in a contactor to energize the Servo power supply and enable the VFD (Should I use a contactor for line voltage or just use low voltage enable circuits)
5. I planned on using limit switches on both ends of travel, one of which I had hoped to double as my home switch. I assume this is possible?
6. There are Auxillary Encoder inputs on the ICM1900. I wanted to use the X/Z auxillary inputs for an 100ppr encoder on each axis. From what I gather, I need to put an IDC 25 pin connector on the Galil motion control board and use a DB25 straight through cable to the ICM1900?

Anything else I should consider?

Thanks in advance,
Marty

8

Galil / Galil 17XX AMC 30A8T Setup questions (Clausing CNC Lathe Conversion)

« on: March 25, 2012, 01:00:20 PM »

Ok, I am converting a Clausing 12" lathe to CNC. While working on the ballscrew and motor mounts I decided to start working on the control
I have some questions:

I am using Advanced Motion Controls 30A8T Servo Amplifiers:
http://www.a-m-c.com/download/datasheet/30a8.pdf
I was curious to know what the dipswitch settings should be set at.
I am using Electrocraft Servo motors, 60VDC max terminal voltage, one servo motor is rated @ 4.9A continuous and the the other @ 10.2A continuous, the motors have Renco 1000 line encoders)
Which mode should it be setup for, Voltage, Current or IR Comp?

Of the pins on the AMC 30A8, other than pins 4 & 5 (+/- Ref in from Galil), which others might I use or might be useful to wire up?

I will be using a 58VDC 16A torodial unregulated power supply

My XP computer is setup with MACH3 and the Galil plug in. Galil is configured.

Does anyone have any example wiring diagrams of a Galil/ICM1900 and an AMC? (If not and I can get some guidance, I will try and create one for the next guy!)

I would rather ask question and get some guidance from those who have been there and done that, rather than let the magic smoke out!

Thanks in advance!
Marty
Mesa, AZ

https://picasaweb.google.com/marty.escarcega/ClausingCNCLatheConversion