Messages

31

SmoothStepper USB / Re: Mach3/USB SmoothStepper will not control spindle speed

« on: April 11, 2015, 01:14:48 PM »

Here is an updated XML for Pompey. In short the problems were that you did not configure the SmoothStepper for spindle control, you have to set the base frequency and spindle type in the SmoothStepper configuration dialog. I also turned off the spindle PID feature in Mach 3 Ports&Pins spindle tab; it does not work with external motion controllers (and does not always work well with the parallel port either.) Also in the SmoothStepper configuration all of the maximum Axis Step frequencies were incorrect for your steps/unit and feed rate. The formula for calculating this setting is in the documentation I linked to above. The Spindle setting in Motor Tuning were also not correct, the information on how to configure the Spindle Motor Tuning is in the documentation I linked to as well.

You also need to set up your pulley settings to match your machine. Since I don't know this information about your machine I could not set it correctly.

I hope this helps. Remember I'm helping here just to be nice...

32

SmoothStepper USB / Re: Mach3/USB SmoothStepper will not control spindle speed

« on: April 11, 2015, 11:05:36 AM »

Guys, please understand I DO NOT work for Warp9. I have a full time job and I run Soigeneris. Even though I have very little free time I still try to pop in on all the forums and help people out. If I miss something every now and then I'm sorry, I'm only human.

I posted the link to the documentation for you Bill as your message did not really say much about what you were working on, what you had tried etc. Since I just added the spindle information to the documentation a few months ago it is possible that when this tread started back in January it was not there.

It is not very encouraging to go out of your way to help other people out and then have them piss and moan because you don't do it fast enough.

33

SmoothStepper USB / Re: Mach3/USB SmoothStepper will not control spindle speed

« on: April 11, 2015, 08:40:33 AM »

When trying to set up spindle control there are lots of small parts to consider. How is your spindle controlled? Simple relay or do you have some sort of VFD or speed control. What sort of interface signals does the spindle controller take? What sort of PWM or Steps/Direction converter are you using? There are also a couple of SmoothStepper specific settings to be aware of but mostly spindle control is the same with the parallel port or SmoothStepper.

Take a look at: http://www.soigeneris.com/Document/Warp9/Installing_and_Configuring_the_SmoothStepper.pdf . Toward the end of this PDF I describe the major steps in getting spindle control working. Note that you have to find out what specific settings your PWM or Step/Direction board require. For example a PWM converter will have a base frequency that it is designed to run at and you have to program this in the SmoothStepper configuration. If you have a Step/Direction board then it will have a maximum step frequency that it is designed to work at.

Hope that helps...

34

General Mach Discussion / Re: Macros cause missed steps with 2010 ScreenSet & SmoothStepper???

« on: April 05, 2015, 07:22:15 PM »

If your not seeing missed steps with G01 then it is probably not a motor tuning issue. More likely noise of wiring related.

So your using the spindle as a common (ground)? That is mixing up AC "earth" ground and DC Common, that is a sure path for noise to enter your system.

35

General Mach Discussion / Re: Macros cause missed steps with 2010 ScreenSet & SmoothStepper???

« on: April 05, 2015, 06:37:52 PM »

I don't think your missing steps has anything to do with the Mach 3 version. It is more likely that it is a mechanical or motor tuning issue. It could even be electrical noise fooling the probe input.

Juggling Mach versions always seems to cause more problems than it fixes. My advice is to stick with .062 and make sure you have the latest SmoothStepper plug-in and driver.

36

General Mach Discussion / Re: Macros cause missed steps with 2010 ScreenSet & SmoothStepper???

« on: April 05, 2015, 06:11:28 PM »

When you do anything in a macro that causes movement you should put a 'while ismoving' after it. That pauses the macro until the movement stops and you will get predictable results.

In Mach 3.43.058 and later there was an internal change in how Mach controlled the size of one of the buffers used to talk to the plug-ins. So if you use .058 or later be sure to use the latest SmoothStepper plug-in or things won't work properly. I recommend version .062 as I have seen too many reports of odd behavior introduced in .066.

37

SmoothStepper USB / Re: Cable length issues

« on: March 26, 2015, 03:54:18 PM »

I have them in stock

38

SmoothStepper USB / Re: Cable length issues

« on: March 19, 2015, 09:25:30 AM »

Long USB cables for any purpose are problematic. If your trying to power the device with the USB cable then you will have a lot of issues. I suggest using a small 5V power supply to power the SmoothStepper: http://www.soigeneris.com/meanwell_ps_05_power_supplies-details.aspx . For an industrial machine I think you will find the ESS would have been a better choice, you would need a 5V power supply for it as well.

39

SmoothStepper USB / Re: Correct Mach settings for Smooth Stepper ??

« on: February 05, 2015, 09:44:50 AM »

I have talked to a lot of people who have purchased a 'cheap' machine from China (typically via EBay) and have yet to come across one that actually worked correctly. I know that China is full of smart folks who can make top notch products but what everyone wants is 'cheap' and 'cheap' is what we get.

Don't get too hung up on getting an exact RPM as it is not usually that important. With a 20,000RPM spindle if your within a few hundred RPM your fine. You may want to double check the motor specifications and see if they programmed the VFD correctly for that motor. Some VFDs will have an 'auto tuning' that will set the PID, etc. don't run it until after you program in the motor specifics though.

40

SmoothStepper USB / Re: Correct Mach settings for Smooth Stepper ??

« on: February 03, 2015, 12:18:02 PM »

Output 1 has nothing to do with PWM. Typically a motor speed control has a 'start' input (digital)  and a 'speed' input (analog). Some speed controls may also accept PWM directly but for the most part you will have a PWM->analog converter. Your Output 1 pin would go to the 'Start' input and the PWM 'step' pin goes to the PWM input of your converter (or speed control if it accepts PWM directly.) The 'direction' pin on the PWM setting is not used but the ESS will whine if you don't set it to something. You can use something bogus like Port 5 Pin 1.

The ESS configuration is in the Plug-in Control menu in Mach 3.