Messages

391

SmoothStepper USB / Re: spindle hookup

« on: March 18, 2009, 11:44:18 PM »

I have a 2.2K spindle from china and am using the smooth stepper board, I can not find any where exactly how to wire the spindle control to the SS board for speed control and on and off


Thanks in advance
Curtis

Hi Curtis,

I'm assuming that you also got a VFD with the spindle?

The VFD should have an input for a 0-10V dc signal that can be used to control the spindle speed. It probably also has inputs for enabling the
spindle as well.

What you need is something like the DC-06 DigiSpeed that I sell. It will take the step/dir spindle control signal from the SmoothStepper and convert it to an isolated 0-10Vdc control signal. The DC-06 also has a couple of small relays on board that can be used for controlling the start/stop or enable inputs on the VFD.

http://homanndesigns.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=39

The VFD also probably provides a 10V dc supply that is needed by the DC-06, so you don't need the onboard dc/dc converter.

As to setting up the Spindle control in Mach3, have a look at the relevant sections in the Mach3 manual.

If you want to send me a pdf of the VFD, I can give you more detailed advise.

Cheers,

Peter.

392

General Mach Discussion / Re: I'm just a tease

« on: March 18, 2009, 09:05:38 PM »

Hi Brian,

That sounds good, and I'll be happy once it's sorted.

Peter.

393

General Mach Discussion / Re: I'm just a tease

« on: March 18, 2009, 06:39:49 PM »

BTW the bug Peter is talking about is one dead click on an MPG (Art has looked for this 2 times and not found it).. Hardly anything that will make you see lost steps on the machine..

...................

So Peter, Other then the dead step on an MPG over ModBus what are the over a year long standing bugs that have you upset?

Thanks
Brian

Brian,

I'm disappointed, more than upset. I don't have all my emails with me at the moment , but as I recall the last post by Art was that he said he had been looking for a problem that didn't exist.  (to do with the timing tick counter), and not the one I was reporting.  This problem has been around for a very long time, much longer than 12 months. In fact it must have been well over 12 months ago that I sent you a ModIO and LCD display so that you could look into the problem. Has the ModIO ever been off the shelf and used?

The problem is NOT "one dead click". As I have described on a number of occasions and produced a video to demonstrate the problem, The issue is to do with an axis not moving when the calculated MPG velocity is less than 1.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2TBe1DU4Hc

If the calculated velocity is 1 or greater than the axis will move, otherwise it does not. One of the purposes of an MPG is to jog the machine to a position. It is very frustrating when you are very close and you move the MPG slowly as you come close to an edge, and nothing happens. so you then need to move the MPG faster and suddenly it moves, overshoots with varying consequences. So please don't dismiss it as "one dead step". From the symptoms of the problem, it would appear to be a rounding error, maybe to to with float to int conversions.

 
Now both Terry, and Andy have reported issues with the MPG operation. I also have other reporting the same issue. I understand that for whatever reason, this is very low on your priority list, and as such I find it difficult to accept that it will probably never be addressed, as there will always be a new set of "bells and whistles" to add.


Peter.

394

General Mach Discussion / Re: I'm just a tease

« on: March 18, 2009, 01:02:38 AM »

To be honest I'd be more interested in a version with year old bugs fixed rather than a fancy display. But hey... that's just me. 

Cheers,


Peter.

395

General Mach Discussion / Re: mpg's and parallel ports

« on: March 17, 2009, 10:49:32 PM »

Hi,

Have a look at the pendant kit I sell.

http://homanndesigns.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=74
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57759


Cheers,

Peter.

396

General Mach Discussion / Re: reversed image? in mach

« on: March 15, 2009, 05:10:02 AM »

Hi,

You need the jog keys to control the cutting tool movement, not the table. On my mill, the left button moves the table to the right so that the tool bit moves to the left. Similar thing happes on the Y axis.


Cheers,


Peter.

397

Modbus / Re: Modbus and Timing

« on: March 08, 2009, 05:16:16 PM »

Hi,

The Modbus timeout defines how long the Modbus Master (Mach3) will wait for a slave (ModIO) to answer a request.It is the time between sending a request and receiving a reply. Usually50ms- 200ms is a good timeout value.

The Master can only send one request at a time, so it can't send the next one until it receives the reply for the current one.

This timeout delay should not be confused with the refresh rate. The refresh rate (25Hz) is how often the Master sends the request. With, 25Hz, requests are send every 40mS. Most slaves will respond within a few millseconds of receiving the request. Depending on you baud rate, and length of request/reply you can calculate the round trip time per message transaction.

Note: Everytime Mach3 sends a Modbus request, the timeout timer is started, when the reply is received, the timer is stopped. If the timer reaches the timeout value, Mach3 stops waiting for thecurrent  reply and moves on to sending the next request.

The transactions are scheduled as per the modbus configuration definition. The user only has control over how often the requests are sent, and not when. Mach3 when and what gets sent.That said, Mach3 attempts to send the requests to the slavesat the defined rate. It should be noted that if you set up too many requests at too high a rate, Mach3 will not be able to keep up . In this case it just does the best it can.

When scheduling the requests think about the data you are reading/setting, and set refresh rate appropriately.

I hope this helps.


Cheers,


Peter.

398

Modbus / Re: Are you using a Teco Genie II SG2 PLC/PLR successfully with ModBus?

« on: March 06, 2009, 05:05:11 PM »

* 38,400-N-8-2/RTU (the default and unchangable rate)
* Different wire
* Isolating it from the VFD
* Seperate power supplies
* Different ModBus adapters
* Monitoring/Testing outside of Mach3 using SimplyModbus
* Resistors/Terminators as indicated in the manual

Since I have the VFD working so well over ModBus, I'm wondering if there is a anyone that is successfully using the Teco SG2 PLC working over ModBus?

Hi,

By Different wire, I presume you mean you are using a differential RS485 bus for the 2 units. If so make sure you have the bus termination resistors in.

Also, you have provided very little information on your problem. We need more information.

Cheers,


Peter.

399

Promote and discuss your product / MP-03 ModIO Pendant Kit now Available

« on: March 04, 2009, 02:12:59 AM »

Hi,

The MP-03 Pendant Kit is now available for sale.

http://homanndesigns.com/store/index...products_id=74


The MP-03 is a Kit of Parts that can be built into a Robust and full featured hand-held Pendant. The Pendant is based around the modbus MC-01 ModIO controller and LCD display. A Mach3 plugin is also supplied that enables easy setup but allows for customisation of the pendants functionality.

Included with the pendant kit is the following documentation and software files:

• DXF file of pendant enclosure with cut-Outs
• Schematic diagram for the Pendant wiring
• GCode .tap files for milling the enclosure
• MP-03 Pendant Mach3 Plugin.

Please note: This is a Kit of parts and not an assembled unit. You will need to have moderate soldering and electrical wiring skills. Additionally, you will need to mill out the enclosure cut-outs. As an option you can have the enclosure pre-milled if necessary.

Cheers,


Peter.

400

SmoothStepper USB / Re: SmoothStepper now available in Australia

« on: March 03, 2009, 08:10:07 PM »

Hi Crocky,

Great. Let us know how you get on.

Cheers,

Peter.