Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: using a spindle encoder w/ Mach 3

« on: February 04, 2008, 12:48:25 AM »

lol... no worries.

 I won't be able to test the spindle w/ mach for another 2 weeks but I'll post my results then... thanks to everyone for all the helpful info.

2

General Mach Discussion / Re: using a spindle encoder w/ Mach 3

« on: February 03, 2008, 08:22:26 PM »

 I'm not sure I completely understand what you mean. I realize that the motor is not using a timing belt to drive the spindle, however, the encoder is attached to the spindle shaft and not the motor shaft so it is getting it's reading directly from the spindle - not from the motor. I don't see how this would be a problem, maybe you can you explain?

 My understanding of the original encoder setup is that the 60 ppr (A) channel was used to measure speed and the 1 ppr indexing (Z) channel was used for spindle positioning (threading). The B phase was apparently bypassed altogether.

3

General Mach Discussion / Arduino Diecimilia baord??

« on: January 29, 2008, 04:46:46 PM »

 Has anyone tried using one of these Arduino usb microcontroller boards:

http://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/ArduinoBoardDiecimila

 I should be able to easily program it to have the short pulse that's generated by the encoder trigger a delay or another signal of greater length so that mach can then read it. It's $35 so it would be overkill for this app however it includes 14 digital input/outputs (6 of which can be used as PWM outputs) and 6 analog inputs so it could prove worth the investment.

 Anyone have any experience with one of these boards?

4

General Mach Discussion / Re: using a spindle encoder w/ Mach 3

« on: January 26, 2008, 08:20:29 PM »

 I was told by the manufacturer that the encoder is designed to run at 5V (and only 5V) for both input and output. He also mentioned that the lathe was originally setup to use only the A and Z channels of the encoder; where the A channel (60ppr) was used for speed control and the Z channel (1 ppr) was used threading.

 

5

General Mach Discussion / Re: using a spindle encoder w/ Mach 3

« on: January 22, 2008, 04:03:33 PM »

 I hadn't seen those engineer's notes for the digispeed although I've already read the manual. Thanks for the info Peter... I appreciate that!

6

General Mach Discussion / Re: using a spindle encoder w/ Mach 3

« on: January 21, 2008, 06:12:21 PM »

 Yes, the encoder outputs a separate indexing (Z) channel that pulses at 1 ppr. I have the wiring diagram available for the encoder so it's not a problem to hook it up for a test. However, I'm trying to determine the output voltage before I attempt that. It appears to be 5v but I'm being cautious and waiting for verification before I proceed cause I don't want to risk frying my Grex. 

 Hood thinks the pulse from the indexing channel may be too short for mach to read through the parallel port (as he mentioned above) so I'm going to check into running it through the grex/ethernet port and see if that might help. If that doesn't cut it then I might have to find an alternative.

 On the subject of the smoothstepper; does anyone know how many drives/axis it can support?

7

General Mach Discussion / Re: using a spindle encoder w/ Mach 3

« on: January 21, 2008, 01:27:30 PM »

 How about through the ethernet port via the Grex/G100? Would that be worth trying?

8

General Mach Discussion / Re: using a spindle encoder w/ Mach 3

« on: January 20, 2008, 11:07:44 PM »

 I might be in some luck with this encoder... apparently it has a separate indexing channel (z channel) which generates 1 pulse per rev. The typical A and B channels generate 60 ppr but can't I just bypass these outputs and send the z-channel signal (providing it's 5v) back to mach? 

 Would it be worth a try?


 

9

General Mach Discussion / Re: using a spindle encoder w/ Mach 3

« on: January 19, 2008, 10:17:06 PM »

 Are you saying that it would not work even if I were able to get mach to acknowledge the pulses from the encoder (using the "several pulses per revolution" option and specifying the correct pulses/rev which matched the encoder)?

 As for the "controller" I was referring to the existing main controller board (LCB3) that is equipped with the cnc lathe. As it is currently setup the encoder connects directly to the controller board and the board ouputs signals to the spindle controller. I wasn't sure if Jim was referring to the signal being sent from the controller board to the spindle controller or if he was referring to another signal (perhaps sent from the board to the pc for the software to track!?!).

 Thanks again for all the help guys.

10

General Mach Discussion / Re: using a spindle encoder w/ Mach 3

« on: January 19, 2008, 05:53:12 PM »

 Thanks a lot for help... I really appreciate it!

 So by signal are you referring to the main controller board's output signal to the spindle controller or one that is sent back to the software/pc?