Messages

21

General Mach Discussion / Re: Spindle runs in Parallel mode OK but not in ESS ?

« on: March 24, 2013, 02:41:24 PM »

Maybe try reducing the pulse width in the ESS plugin for the spindles step/dir signal.
Hood

Hi Hood

Thanks for the reponse, worth a try, if memory serves it is currently 5us, same as Mach3, the machine is at work so I can`t try it till tomorrow, let you know how it goes

Regards
Rob

22

General Mach Discussion / Spindle runs in Parallel mode OK but not in ESS ?

« on: March 24, 2013, 11:26:48 AM »

Not sure if this is the right place for this post, if not then my apologies in advance as I am new to this Forums ways/layouts

My issue is that when using the ESS system I can only get the spindle to run constantly at 2200rpm or less, it will run at higher speeds but not for long and it appears that the higher the speed (Max 4000) the quicker that everything "drops out" and goes to "E Stop Condition".

Pressing the on screen Mach3 "Reset" button will reset the system and the spindle can be started again straight away.

There are no "error" or "alarm" messages and no fault lights on the spindle drive.

Setup is :-

Latest Mach3 lockdown 66 version (62 version has also been tried but just the same)
Latest Smoothstepper version ESS_v10h2d1a (Version ESS_v10eb1a has also been tried but same issue)
CNC Doctor isolated spindle step/dir to Analaog converter http://www.cncdoctor.co.uk/b1-vsc-v1_64.html
Motion Control simple BOB, straight through no electronics on board
Smoothstepper ESS board
Spindle motor 4000rpm Brushed DC Servo with Tacho feedback to drive
Sprint Electronics DC Motor drive (New)

Everything looks OK, output to the Sprint DC Motor from the step/dir to analog is correct, eg, set 2000rpm in MDI in Mach3 and the output is 5Volt DC, 3000rpm will output 7.5Volts DC, drive has been adjusted to give the actual correct rpms for these inputs and with a cheap Laser Tacho speed checker speeds are within acceptable tolerances. The "ramp up" has been backed right off so I don`t think it is that.

I am sure it has to be a setting either in Mach3 or the ESS plugin that I have missed/got wrong but for the life of me I can`t find anything that makes any difference. It all works OK on a Parallel port but I am trying to get away from using these due to problems with "pins" going down.

Any/all help no matter how great/small will be much appreciated as this is costing me a fortune in headache pills 

Regards
Rob

23

General Mach Discussion / Re: Aerotech motion systems

« on: November 09, 2010, 05:52:24 PM »

Thanks Hood

Hmmm, that sounds OK if it will work like that, I am considering using another bigger Aerotech drive/motor for the spindle and looking at using a spare axis (The Gali is 8 axis) to control it from Mach, I`m thinking if that was possible I could have rigid tapping  

Hah, Just got some more info in !!

Seems that to be able to do the proper sinusidal commutation with the Hall Effect required by the Aerotech drive/motor system the Galil has to use 2 axis to control the phases so that would mean I would have to use 6 axis on the Galil to run the X,Y and Z axis, might still be psooible then to run the spindle as an axis and a 4th axis ??

Anyone any more thoughts on this setup ??

Regards
Rob

24

General Mach Discussion / Re: Aerotech motion systems

« on: November 09, 2010, 05:06:35 PM »

The  Galil should be all you need although check on the Galil part of the forum  to make sure it is a supported model. If your Galil does not have the breakout with it you will either need to buy one or make one up.
Hood

Hi "Hood"

I looked at the Galil section and it says DMC 1800 is supported so I am assuming that means the DMC 18** series of motion cards

Thanks for the response, so from what you are saying if I were to get a Galil ICM-2900 Interface  unit that is all I would need to use the existing Aerotech BA drives, BM brushless servos with the Galil 1880 motion card.

Been reading a bit more on the Aerotech system, seems the encoders are fed back to the motion card via the original Interface card and the commutation is done at the original motion card, will the Galil card do the same thing for the servos/drives ?? I can`t seem to find any info on this, from reading a few posts on the Galil section I`m not sure just whether it will or not!!
Sorry for all the "dummy" questions but I`m a bit new to the DIY side of CNC machine controls !!! 

Regards
Rob

25

General Mach Discussion / Re: Aerotech motion systems

« on: November 09, 2010, 11:49:26 AM »

Thanks for the fast replies fellas.

Here is a bit more info for you.

The system is all connected and working, the motors are on a small Denford bench top mill that someone used at a College for a project and the system is currently running from a PC with very old Windows 3.1 and the Aerotech "Legacy" U500 software Version 4.18.

The problem I have is that it was never intended for CNC mill, although I could probably use the 4th axis to operate a spindle drive the software is not suitable for use with a CNC Mill, it is fine for a fixed height Z and linear X and Y moves but it has no tool library not does it have a tool height call out like G43 for example, it does have cutter radius comp but without the full control over the Tool Z height I would have to manually re-set the depth for every cut as I can`t see any way either in the software (So far !!) of pecking down levels, tapping, drilling etc, etc.

All the hardware seems to be fine and suitable for working together on the mill, just seems to be the software that is the problem for what I want to do. Would be a crying shame to have to take it all off and re-fit the whole thing  

From the spec on the drive amplifiers this is what it says for operation with brushless motors "Torque (Current), Velocity, Dual Phase"
so I`m thinking these won`t work with the Mach software then

Regards
Rob

P.S. I have got hold of a Galil DMC 1880 Rev G Motion control PCI card, so if that will work the drive amps what else would I need to run Mach and all the periherals like coolant, auto lube, etc ??

Link to drive specs http://www.aerotech.com/products/amps/baspecs.html

26

General Mach Discussion / Aerotech motion systems

« on: November 09, 2010, 09:04:00 AM »

Can anyone tell me if they have used or know if it`s possible to use Mach3 with an Aerotech system of BA drives, brushless DC motors BM130 and the Aerotech U500 "Ultra" ISA Motion card (4 axis), also in the system is the Interface card BB501 and an Opto isolated I/O board.

Thanks in advance for any info/help with this.

Regards
Rob