Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: Chinese Machine; no spindle control

« on: July 10, 2011, 04:27:08 AM »

I have some documentation but as I said, it is rather sketchy. Most of the screen shots are in Chinese, the English translations are bad; I've done better with the Mach3 manuals and using the machine docs as clues. I've worked out all my other problems that way and have it running now to where I could use a manual control router to get my job done, but I am still trying to solve the spindle control issue, since I paid an extra $500 for it, and it is too big for a paper weight. I blew out a surge suppressor monkeying with the 220V wiring to verify that the spindle would run if it had power. Fortunately I didn't fry any electronics in the process. Now I need some new parts that I'll have to wait until Monday to get, then I'll try some more experiments.

2

General Mach Discussion / Re: Chinese Machine; no spindle control

« on: July 10, 2011, 02:14:39 AM »

Setting a spindle speed by either of the methods you describe results in tripping the Reset button. I believe I have a configuration problem with getting Mach3 to recognize the spindle. The parallel port definitions show pin 16 as a STEP and 17 as a DIR which I don't know if is compatible with PWM control, or if I should specify pin 14 which is for a relay. At any rate I've tried all of the above combinations and get no results.

3

General Mach Discussion / Re: Chinese Machine; no spindle control

« on: July 08, 2011, 08:36:08 PM »

Thanks again... I have purchased and installed the new license, and the program header reflects this change. I saved the XML file to overwrite the old one and assumed it would show the change but had to rename it in order to upload it on this forum. I don't know why it wouldn't reflect the new license. I set the spindle maximum speed at 24,000 rpm and minimum at 0. I don't have any documentation on the PWM controller, which I assume is the VFD circuit board.

4

General Mach Discussion / Re: Chinese Machine; no spindle control

« on: July 08, 2011, 06:11:12 PM »

Thanks for your reply. I fixed the license problem, but that didn't help. Any other suggestions?

5

General Mach Discussion / Chinese Machine; no spindle control

« on: July 08, 2011, 03:10:18 PM »

I am a greenie with a freshly delivered machine from China. Needless to say, the documentation is pretty bad. I've got everything wired and hooked up and the XYZ all moves according to inputs and the limit switches all work but when I try to toggle the spindle it trips the reset off with the message that PWM bumped to minimum. Running the configuration check reports no errors. Running the Port Test reports system excellent set at kernel speed of 25000 Hz. The manufacturer's paperwork shows kernel setting at 100 Khz, but that didn't help and did show the pulse too fast errors. I am running Windows XP on a 2.6Ghz processor on a stripped down, non-Internet connected computer so there is no background interference. The spindle pins are supposed to be 16 and 17 but the circuit board definition for 16 says: STEP B-pass extension interface DB9 pin 8, and 17 says: DIR B-pass extension interface DB9 pin 7. So, any ideas on how to make the spindle run? It is a 1.5kw unit on 220V. I've attached the XML.
Thanks very much,
Alan