Messages

41

General Mach Discussion / Re: uc300 analog input outputs

« on: February 09, 2018, 06:20:59 AM »

Ah yes but that would be a nightmare for me!!
I'm a mechanical engineer with fair electronics skills but practically zero software ability or understanding, I would get tied up in knots trying to set that lot up!

Tony

42

General Mach Discussion / Re: uc300 analog input outputs

« on: February 09, 2018, 05:17:19 AM »

Craig, yes on a recent large Wadkin router,
  I looked at a system from zapp automation, but the complete system with new motors cost £2800 plus vat (more than the machine was worth).
There was nothing wrong with the sew DC servos fitted to the wadkin, as it had come out of a school and for all intents and purposes never used.
So to retrofit it with cncdrives equipment cost £600, much more acceptable to the customer!
There are still a lot of PMDC system, IE anilam bosch machines out there which is where I pick up work.
  I shall at some time look at the ac systems especially if the donor machine has knackered motors.
Horses for courses I guess.

43

General Mach Discussion / Re: uc300 analog input outputs

« on: February 09, 2018, 04:46:27 AM »

I am looking at their big servo drives for retrofitting larger machines I have just received one for evaluating, the only real downside I can see as of yet ,is that they don't accept differential encoders.
machdrives programing software is far more in depth, meaning cncdrives are quicker/easier to set up, but again the machdrives documentation is superior.
Machdrives are however a little cheaper to purchase from the uk, and you can purchase them via ebay, they do take a lot longer to arrive.
   I wouldn't use a bob as such, I always use cncdrives uc300 motion controllers which are worth every penny, even more so when I've got my questions answered.

The great thing about cncdrives is they do a completely integrated system, including servo over voltage brake units, which are essential on systems using 160 volt servos !!
  Machdrives make neither a motion controller nor a brake, although they are considering both of those as future projects.

It is as we say 6 of one half a dozen of the other, both have their place, I am about to load my machdrives servo drive into a larger bed mill which is running happily on dg4s180's to give it a full soak test and evaluation.


Tony

44

General Mach Discussion / Re: uc300 analog input outputs

« on: February 09, 2018, 03:51:25 AM »

OK all ,
   I shall be registering on the cnc forum now, so lets see what happens.
Can I just say again, that I think cncdrive products are second to non in there price bracket. I have used there products for 10 years on and off, never had a quality or functionality issue.
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to anyone, however machdrives in Australia are producing some competitive drives now and I have found their customer service and documentation faultless.
Maybe cncdrive need to sharpen their pencil in that department?

Tony

45

General Mach Discussion / Re: uc300 analog input outputs

« on: February 08, 2018, 11:48:53 PM »

"I'm assuming that all you need to do is enable PWM control in Mach3, and it should work."

Exactly proves my point,you should not have to assume anything with equipment that could potentially cause harm or damage.
Besides which My inverter, like most takes a 0/10volt input, there is a drop down box in the plugin control to set that ,along with other options, but how do you set mach to work under that setting.
As I said I dont want to be "playing around with it" untill I happen to fall upon it, or waiting in hope that some one on a forum can give me that answer, this information should be clear and concise.
  And again what pots on the feed over ride? a or b type? carbon or wire wound? and most importantly what value?

46

General Mach Discussion / Re: uc300 analog input outputs

« on: February 08, 2018, 03:13:20 PM »

Thats not what ive found, besides which there should be easily available documentation for a product, you should not have to rely on a forum to get setup information.
I like cncdrive products they are excellent,ive used them for 10 years now but there customer service is dreadfull.

47

General Mach Discussion / uc300 analog input outputs

« on: February 08, 2018, 05:35:23 AM »

Hi,
 I would like to connect the 0-10v input on my spindle inverter input, via my uc300's analog connector.
The manual says you can but is sketchy at best as to how you do that, and nothing on how you set it up within mach3?
 Also it has again the ability to set speed/feed override within the analog connector but fails to mention what value pots to use?

   Help would be appreciated as I have found its a bit of a lottery as to whether cnc-drives answer there emails or not !!

Cheers

48

General Mach Discussion / Re: Long encoder cables can you help

« on: February 04, 2018, 11:19:45 AM »

That sorted it , and to my shame it was all there in the manual!
  On the plus side I know more about line drivers than I did.

  Thanks all
Tony

49

General Mach Discussion / Re: Long encoder cables can you help

« on: February 03, 2018, 03:53:23 PM »

Mad dog, thanks reading your post has made me realize what the problem is ......probably!
I am using a line driver , but I've placed it at the drive end not the encoder end.....doh!!
I'll rewire it tomorrow and see if that improves it.
Cheers all
Tony

50

General Mach Discussion / Re: Long encoder cables can you help

« on: February 03, 2018, 02:22:37 PM »

What makes a cable capacitive? That seems something that you have to be wary of.