Messages

301

General Mach Discussion / Re: Rutex and Mach3 problem

« on: March 28, 2007, 09:08:00 PM »

Brian,

Thanks for the suggestion.  I think you are on the right track but so far grounding changes have not made a difference.  Mr Rutex thinks I need to ground to the Campbell board as well.  I still get good step pulses that look clean and the correct levels.  I have tried switching the BOB with the jumper so that com is 0, connected to PC ground and to the limit switch ground but no joy.  Any other ideas?

Thanks
Keith

302

General Mach Discussion / Rutex and Mach3 problem

« on: March 27, 2007, 07:10:11 PM »

I have a Campbell board interfaced with a Rutex step and dir to analog conversion board controlling a Yaskawa amp and motor.  The Rutex does great with their tuning software so I think that side of the hardware is working properly.  When I try to control the motor with Mach3 tuning program, the Rutex does not put out any analog voltage despite a proper step and dir signal being input to the  Rutex from the Campbell as seen on an oscilloscope.  I think everything else is set up properly in Mach 3 and the system will control the 2 stepper motors in the system fine.  There is something I am not doing correctly but I can't see what it might be.  Any ideas as to what to check?

Thanks
Keith Clark

303

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach, Rutex, Yaskawa combination

« on: March 11, 2007, 11:23:29 PM »

Scott,

Do you think running in torque mode would make any difference as opposed to speed reference mode?

Thanks,
Keith

304

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach, Rutex, Yaskawa combination

« on: March 11, 2007, 09:46:09 AM »

Scott,

The mode switch disable has been set to prevent the change from PI to P mode.  It seemed simpler to just eliminate this variable.

I have adjusted the encoder count from 500 to 8192 and there is not any improvement.

I hope the caps will cure the problem

As far as the encoder count goes, Mach wants a steps per inch value.  I am confused by quadrature count, encoder ppr and step multiplier.  If the encoder is set at 8192 ppr with a step multiplier of 4 the actual steps per revolution by Mach would be 2048?  If I set 2048 with step of 1, the steps per revolution would then be 2048?

thanks,
Keith

305

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach, Rutex, Yaskawa combination

« on: March 10, 2007, 11:49:49 PM »

Scott,

There are settings on the amplifier through a keyboard which tell the amplifier to ignore 12 and 13 and use 14 and 15.  The Rutex signal is connected to 14 and ground to 15 for sure. The P.OT and N.OT are not activated as this amplifier was wired without limit switches originally to that is not a problem.  One thing I am wondering is if the notPCON feature is messing things up.  Are you familiar with this feature? Now, the notPCON is open.  I think the next thing to try is to connect that pin to 24v and see what happens.  There seems to be some noise in the system possibly.

On a good note, I was able this afternoon to get the motor to move in both directions with Mach3! However, the movement is very coggy and it still does not want to move consistently but in one direction.  I will try tomorrow to switch the dir to active high and see if that makes a difference.  Lots of trial and error, but mostly error...

I have just been advised that the Rutex should be in an electrically isolated box and some caps across the power in to clean up noise.  I hope that will make a difference.

306

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach, Rutex, Yaskawa combination

« on: March 09, 2007, 10:07:36 PM »

Scott,

I am using 1CN pins 14 and 15, the IN-B Auxiliary input.  Pins 12 and 13 are connected.  The amp is a CACR type.

Thanks,

307

General Mach Discussion / Mach, Rutex, Yaskawa combination

« on: March 09, 2007, 09:08:43 PM »

I am struggling to make a Yaskawa servo motor and amp work with a Rutex step and dir to +/-10v converting board.  I had hoped to eventually make these work with a Campbell breakout board and Mach3.  The problem is that although I can turn the Yaskawa motor easily with +/-10v to the Vref input, the Rutex board will not cooperate.  The PC is generating step and dir signals that look good on the oscilloscope, but no J3 output occurs to move the motor.  When turn off the servo amp, the Rutex drive puts out a full + or -10v depending on which direction I passively turn the motor shaft.  I am wondering if the resolution of the motor's encoder is a problem.  I can set any level of resolution with this Yaskawa amp up to 8192 ppr.  I am running the amp and motor in speed reference mode.  The motor will jog nicely with the amp's jog feature and with an exogenous voltage input.  The tuning software does show communication with the encoder as it displays position and the steps as I passively turn the motor's shaft.  I know this is a very complex task as the hours I have spend in trial and error prove.  Hopefully, someone might be able to shed some light.

Thanks
Keith Clark 
Oklahoma City