Topics

11

SmoothStepper USB / Smoothstepper PWM output has long ramp up

« on: July 26, 2010, 05:10:19 PM »

I am using a smoothstepper, with plugin version Beta2 0.015ogx, along with Mach3 R3.042.040.

I am controllingf my spindle via PWM, through a Homann Designs Digispeed which converts the PWM to 0-10VDC, then to my Moeller/Eaton VFD.

Everthing is working as it should, except that when I first press "Spindle FWD" or type "M3" in MDI, the PWM takes about 60 seconds to slowly ramp up to the proper duty cycle for teh commanded speed. It seems to take teh same amout of time whether I am commanding a speed of 25%, 50% or 100% of the pulley Maximum.

Once I have run teh motor at commanded speed. turning the spindle off and on does not change the duty cycle seen on teh PWM signal(I should mention I am looking at the PWM square wave on a scope.

I started out using 1000Hz as teh PWM base frequency, but I now have it set at 200Hz, as it seems to work much better with teh Digispeed at that frequency.

Has anyone seen anything like this before?

ANdy

12

SmoothStepper USB / Smoothstepper loses communication when limit is triggered

« on: February 20, 2010, 09:26:10 PM »

I am setting up a new controller box using a smoothstepper(using plug V0150gx2). The box contains:
-(4) Geckodrive G201
-(1) Geckodrive G203V
-(1) 53VDC power supply(homemade: transformer, bridge, filter cap)
-(1) 12VDC power supply(wall wart)
-(1) 24VDC power supply(wall wart)
-(1) 5VDC power suppply(wall wart)
-(1) CNC4PC C4 Rev6.2Charge Pump Sense board
-(1) Homann Designs ModIO V1.1
-(1) Homann Designs MA-02 pendant BOB V1.0
-(2) Homann Designs MB-02 BOB V5
-(1) Homann Designs Digispeed V2.0
-(1) Minarik DC Speed Controller
-(2) custom 5-relay boards
-(6) high-current relays(AC power, and spindle DC power)

The box is wired up and hooked to a PC with a fresh install of Mach3(Version R3.042.037)
The PC is  a Dell Dimension 2400 with:
-2.4GHZ Celeron
-512MB RAM
-using PCI graphics adapter
-nothing installed except Mach andModBus reader

I have not yet hooked the controller up to my machine, it is on the workbench, with only the PC and the Homann MP-01 pendant hooked up.

Test go well until I get to the point where I want to simulate a limit switch. When I do so, the limit switch is seen by Mach, as indicated by the status display, and then after anywhere from 1 to 5 seconds, the SS locks up(red LED stops blinking, and Mach reports lost communication, or locks up also.

I have the SS filtering options set at 1,000, except for limits which is set at 10,000.

I also tried with the modbus disabled, and also with the HV stepper supply and the DC spindle motor controller off.

Same results.

Anybody else having this type of behavior with a smooth stepper? I am not sure how high I can go on the input filtering.

Andy Wander