Messages

1

Galil / DMC-4080 on-board amp hardware questions

« on: January 10, 2014, 12:24:34 PM »

Hello forum,

I have recently purchased a surplus dmc-4080 Ethernet controller that has two amp-43140 in it.  They are the 20w brushed motor amps.  I plan on retrofitting my old stepper BOSS Bridgeport to servo motors.  I have brushless servos and AMC B30A8 amps.  I didn't realize the dmc-4080 that I was purchasing had the amps installed in it.

My questions about the dmc-4080 controller that I have are:

1.  Can I use the controller with external amps as though it didn't have the 43140 amps in it?  That is, can I configure the axises and will it output the +/-10v drive control signal or step and direction, depending on how the axis is configured, from the "external driver" DB connector?  The manual infers 'yes', but in practice how well does that work out?  Can an axis be configured as a stepper while the brushed amps are installed?  I will need three axis configured for the AMC amps and possibly an axis for the spindle and an axis as a stepper for 4th axis (rotary or 3d printer head).

2) The amp power jack is marked "+/- 20-30V"  If I use the controller without using the amps can I power the controller with a +25v supply wired to the +terminal of that connector?  Will powering it in that way harm the internal 43140 amp?

Thank you in advance.

Mark

2

Galil / Re: Galil controller compatability (what works with the plugin)

« on: March 07, 2012, 04:03:15 PM »

I have two thoughts for your problems.  I have not set my machine up yet so no direct experience but remember reading in the plugin doc that there is a command buffer rate or amount that one can adjust.  If its large, there may be a delay during the homing that lets it get by the switch, or the acceleration is low and it does not decelerate fast enough to stop withing the switch hysteresis.

I don't think the work coordinate system issue is in the Galil card, they can be hard to manage in the cnc control.  I've only set the g54 g55 etc on the offsets screen, but move to locations withing a work system with gcode.

Hope this helps,

Mark

3

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach4 pre alpha testing

« on: March 06, 2012, 03:42:19 PM »

Hello,

P4 1.6GHz 512 ram xp sp3

nvidia geforce4 ti 4200

mach4 idle after start: cpu 75% mem 10,000K then settled to mem 6500K

Running outhouse: cpu 95% mem 16,000K

Mach3 idle after start: cpu 0% mem 44,000K

Mach3 running outhouse cpu 0% mem 57,000K

I too had to exit with TM. 

I could view the code and rotate it OK with no lockups

Hope this helps.

Mark

4

Galil / Re: VFD Spindle control 0 to 10V (not -10 to +10V)

« on: March 06, 2012, 08:42:47 AM »

I read the ACtech manual last night and didn't see a reference to isolated inputs but I suspect that they may be.  I did drive the 0-10v input directly with an Ah-ha if16 motion card with no issues.  To check for isolation should I test for line voltage on the inputs with respect to chassis ground?  Also, the serial link in the ACtech drive is for the optional keypad so a no-go there.

Modbus is an option.  I need to find out if anyone has used modbus for i/o and spindle control while using dmc-18x0 for motion.

Mark

5

Galil / Re: VFD Spindle control 0 to 10V (not -10 to +10V)

« on: March 05, 2012, 05:19:41 PM »

Yes, smoke is not good when we have an expensive card like the galil!

I'll set up the wiring as though I have an 1840 card and keep my eye open for a good deal.

I am using an ACtech vfd, made next door in CT., and I think it has a serial control feature.  Maybe I can make use of that?

Thank you for your help.  If I make progress on this front I'll post it.

Mark

6

Galil / Re: VFD Spindle control 0 to 10V (not -10 to +10V)

« on: March 05, 2012, 04:30:03 PM »

Thank you for the reply,

I have purchased a used dmc-1830 that I can resell, but having manual speed control with a POT on a manual toochange machine is not too bad a thing.

Another thought though, could one write a script that outputs a binary coded decimal on some output pins for the S speed code?  One could have a DAC to read those pins and output the 0-10v for the vfd.

Mark

7

Galil / Re: VFD Spindle control 0 to 10V (not -10 to +10V)

« on: March 05, 2012, 12:03:09 PM »

Hello Kenny,

I have a dmc-1830 that I am in the process of installing for a Bridgeport retrofit with servos.  Can we use outputs to generate pwm signal for 0-10v converter like we do with the parallel port?  That would be great since this board has only 3 axis.

Mark

8

Galil / Re: Galil controller compatability (what works with the plugin)

« on: February 26, 2012, 09:56:44 PM »

Hello,

I found out that the dmc-18x0 and 18x2 cards have a facility to control the amperage but those particular amps have a lower rated pwm frequency than what the cards put out so they are not compatible.

Mark

9

Galil / Re: Galil controller compatability (what works with the plugin)

« on: February 22, 2012, 02:19:50 PM »

Hello Steve,

I have a seat of Mach3 and am going to set up a brush-less servo system.  My compatibility question has to do with a dmc-1842 or 1840 card and A-M-C amplifiers BD30A8B. 

These amps use a pwm and direction but the datasheet says the user has to monitor the current and close the current loop:  "PWM & Direction (Direct) - Products with 'DD' and 'BD' in the model number - The user's PWM & Direction signals translate directly to the output. This means the user has direct control of the output duty-cycle and switching frequency. This type of control has the fastest response of all of our products since there are no gain stages or integrators. Since the drive doesn't close the current loop and current limiting is rudimentary (bang-bang current limiting rather than a smooth fold-back) it is up to the user to monitor the current and close the current loop."

The datasheet is here:  http://www.a-m-c.com/download/datasheet/bd30a8.pdf

1)  Is there facility in the galil cards to do this sort of current control or is it done with position feedback?  Or should I look for other amps with an analog 10v input?

2)  Is there an big difference in the two cars, 1842 vs 1840?

3)  will the Mach4 plugin work with either card?

Thank you,

Mark

10

Galil / Re: Please give me some cnc mill retrofit guidance ?

« on: February 21, 2012, 03:34:01 PM »

John,

How far have you gotten with your refit?  I've just started using mach3 on a Bridgeport Boss with steppers and want to upgrade to servos and a dmc-18x2 card.  I too have years in the shop programming and engineering and want to know how your doing.

Mark