Messages

31

General Mach Discussion / Re: spindle load feedback to mach3

« on: December 17, 2012, 02:40:31 PM »

have atached the io page.  may tell you more about the rs485.  nowhere in the manual does it talk about the output or give any info about this output at all.  i assume there is some other programming manual that i just don't have.

the invertor is a vp10 vacon unit

32

General Mach Discussion / mach3 on VMC or production lathe

« on: December 17, 2012, 08:44:20 AM »

hey guys.

have been putting some thought into a bigger and better machine.  i currently have a bp clone with ac servos running mach3.

as great as it is i want better.  more spindle speed, full enclosure, higher pressure coolant and of coarse a tool changer.

i am also wanting a cnc lathe.  converting my 14x36 is an option but i would rather not.  

i have seen plent of machines for sale at some reasonable prices but if i was to buy say an old mori lathe or vmc what sort of result would you expect to get from a conversion to mach3 and how hard/easy would it be.

i understand this depends alot on my experience with machinery and i have very little.  i have never used a plc

what i don't know is does a vmc work on the same sort of design as my knee mill with servos?  eg no glass scale feedback.  sevos drive the screws either through belt or direct drive.  tune the servo for best result.

what i am curious to know is if a vmc would be pretty much just a larger version of what i have already done but just a little more complicated because of the tool changer, auto lube system etc.

i have been reading jh choppers threads and he makes it look so easy.  and seems to get a great result.

would i be better holding out saving my coin and getting somehting newer not needing a retrofit and starting there.  for me it is more the destination not the journey but i also am not flush with coin to throgh at a 30 year old chunck of iron

your thoughts thansk

33

General Mach Discussion / spindle load feedback to mach3

« on: December 17, 2012, 08:33:55 AM »

i have an invertor that has a rs485? output.  seems to just be 2 wire termainals.

is there a way i can feed back the amps/load to mach3?

34

General Mach Discussion / Re: What buttons on your control?

« on: December 05, 2012, 04:45:09 PM »

Yes, its kind of like a SS on steroids
The CSMIO/IP-S has differential Step/Dir and can pulse to 4MHz like the SS, it also has 24v I/O and the analogue I/O. With the analogue you can use the inputs for your overrides and the outputs can directly control a VFD via 0-10v signals, so no need for a separate spindle controller.

The CSMIO/IP-A is similar except instead of Step/Dir outputs it is analogue for controlling servo amplifiers that only accept analogue control input.

The CSMI/IP-M is sort of the baby brother of the S, it has less I/O and only 4 Axis and only 125KHz pulsing but it still has the analogue I/O for overrides and spindle speed.
Hood

intresting.  i plan to retrofit my lathe so maybe this is a better option than the s/steeper/bob/dc-03 etc.  alot neater solution bay far. 

have you found it a good little unit? easy to program etc?

35

General Mach Discussion / Re: What buttons on your control?

« on: December 05, 2012, 07:17:41 AM »

so looking at that i assume that would be something you would use instead of a smooth stepper.?

is it pretty much a smooth steeper and bob all in one?

36

General Mach Discussion / Re: Display Spindle load VFD in Mach3?

« on: December 05, 2012, 06:57:46 AM »

came acrosse this thread searching for spindle load via mach 3.

my inverter has a rs485 connection i believe.  it is just 2 terminals labelled A and B in the middle of the io list.

i know sweet FA about modbus but happy to learn.  is this something i can work with?

37

General Mach Discussion / Re: What buttons on your control?

« on: December 05, 2012, 04:08:59 AM »

I like the sounds of a pot.  any more info on the CSMIO that you speak of

38

General Mach Discussion / Re: What buttons on your control?

« on: December 05, 2012, 01:54:55 AM »

whats involved with adding the rotary switches for spindle and feed override?

do you also then have a feed reset button?

39

General Mach Discussion / Re: What buttons on your control?

« on: December 04, 2012, 08:18:40 AM »

iintrested to hear to answers to this one.  i am just about to build a control panel and have written my list but i do think i have gone overboard on the amount of buttons i need

40

General Mach Discussion / Re: Hi all, new guy struggling with DC-03 & mach

« on: December 04, 2012, 08:06:49 AM »

all sorted. horay

ended up getting onto peter.
after discussing what we had found during the coarse of this thread the fix was quite easy.  basically the issue was caused by the logic of the bob.  i am no electronics guy but as i had positive logic (i think that is what peter called it) to was sending a 'flat out' signal to the bob all the time.

the dc03 status led should flash slowly when the spindle is running from a f5 start (start and run at min htz) and when it is commanded to increase the rpm the signal is sent to the dc03 and then the led will flash fast as it is recieving the pwm signal.  i was getting the fast flash from first power up of the dc03.

the unit works great and i am now so much happier about the whole set up.  i have put in to much time and money to have something this simple rain on my parade

thanks to all that helped me with this issue, i knew it would be such a simple fix.

maybe this simple fix will help someone else in the future.