Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 - UC100 - OX - Stepper stutter and stop

« on: November 04, 2016, 09:30:18 PM »

First problem is you are using mach 3, V0.066.... it has known problems and should be not used. Last stable version is 0.062.  Second problem is I don't see any common grounding (star) between components.   

2

SmoothStepper USB / Re: ESS slow load, Wake up board does not reply, mid stream failure -Debounce

« on: May 14, 2016, 07:15:30 PM »

Warp 9 seems to have put all it's efforts into Mach 4... a huge marketing mistake, Mach 4 a lousy product that is 50% functional and has many problems. Over 50 pages of "Bugs"  on their web sight. Instillation is problematic and a nightmare. ArtSoft's marketing plan (if they even have one???) has lost sight of it's customers. The fact that they are considering to charge $$ users of Mach 4 for "customer service"... another way to extort money for a lousy developed product is just wrong!  Just the fact that ArtSoft is charging $200 for the privileged of debugging a crappy program is tells you allot about the company.

3

General Mach Discussion / Re: Limit switch error when connecting VFD shielding to ground???

« on: April 29, 2016, 07:46:49 AM »

Thank you for your reply... too bad you are wrong. Anyone that says "Clean grounding is a myth" and "Safety grounding is all about creating as many ground loops as you possibly can." shouldn't be giving electrical advice. Seems you have no background with industrial VFD's and PLC's or any knowledge of machine grounding. If I can quote you.... I've heard enough hooey.

4

General Mach Discussion / Re: Dust Collector blowing fuses...

« on: April 28, 2016, 10:16:18 PM »

Depends on the Opto22 relay type. Is it a solid state type or contacts? Is the motor 120 or 220V and what is the HP? The blower motor probably takes 2 or 3 seconds to reach full speed which is fast enough not to cause relay overloading damage. The problem occurs when the motor is turned on and the relay contacts arc for a few millisecond. This causes contact pitting over time and eventual failure. 

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General Mach Discussion / Re: Periodically Tripping breaker when turning on machine...

« on: April 28, 2016, 10:01:32 PM »

Sizing is a little complex and depends on the size of the capacitor (uF) and the DC voltage at the capacitors. If the power supply isn't powered the capacitors slowly discharge until they are at zero volts. Options:

1) Contact the power supply mfg and see what they recommend.
2) Add a line reactor (a coil choke) to the AC line side of the power supply.
3) Use a switching type power supply.
4) Leave the power supply energized.

6

General Mach Discussion / Re: Limit switch error when connecting VFD shielding to ground???

« on: April 28, 2016, 09:44:24 PM »

A 220V VFD doesn't need a neutral. Just tape it up. The "T" input is for 3 phase power input. If you connect the neutral to the "T" input it was destroy the drive and trip the 220V circuit breaker. Run a separate "ground" conductor from a water pipe or circuit breaker panel ground bar for the VFD "Ground" lug and motor cable shield. 

7

General Mach Discussion / Re: Limit switch error when connecting VFD shielding to ground???

« on: April 28, 2016, 04:56:49 PM »

You don't have two hots and a ground... you have two hots and a neutral. Neutral and ground are two separate animals. Sounds like what you are doing is using the panel neutral as a VFD ground. Run  #10 or 12 wire from a earth ground such as a water pipe or circuit breaker ground bus to the machine. Then connect the VFD and VFD shielded to the new ground wire. Then use a separate power supply for the C10 or BOB (Break Out Board). Do not use the PC power supply for external device powering. 

8

General Mach Discussion / Re: Periodically Tripping breaker when turning on machine...

« on: April 28, 2016, 04:39:43 PM »

The power supply is the problem. Until the capacitors in the power supply charge they are a short circuit which is tripping the breaker. Typically this type of power supply have a current limiting resistor attached to the capacitors to prevent this. Switching power supplies don't have this problem.

9

General Mach Discussion / Re: Limit switch error when connecting VFD shielding to ground???

« on: April 28, 2016, 04:31:08 PM »

You have a ground loop path through the PC. It's bad practice to use the PC 5V or 12V power supply to power external BOB's. The VFD cable shield should be connected to a positive earth ground along with VFD ground terminal.  Its very possible your circuit breaker panel neutral and panel ground are not connected together and by connecting the VFD shield it's creating a ground loop. Most building codes in the US mandate neutrals and ground are seperate.

10

General Mach Discussion / Re: Dust Collector blowing fuses...

« on: April 28, 2016, 04:21:22 PM »

Fuses open allot faster than circuit breakers. Circuit breakers have a time over current curve. A 20A breaker can take up to 3 minutes to open when it reaches 18-20 amps. The typical start up current of a motor is 6 times the full load current until the motor reaches full rpm. It's safe to bypass the fuse and just use the circuit breaker for motor protection.