Messages

1621

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Changing default state of toggle buttons

« on: March 19, 2020, 07:11:11 PM »

Hi,
this post is best placed in the Mach4 General Discussion board, it would receive more views from Mach4 users.
I am at work at the moment but when I get home tonight I will post a series of screenshots as to how to get the PLC script open in the editor.
When I show you you how simple it is your'e going to curse yourself for not finding it for yourself.

Craig

1622

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach 3 CNC problem

« on: March 19, 2020, 05:52:26 PM »

Hi,
would CVID19 stop them from replying to an email?

Often times an email to a Chinese manufacturer actually goes to China....in galaxy far far away.

Craig

1623

General Mach Discussion / Re: Spindle control

« on: March 19, 2020, 04:31:14 PM »

Hi,
its been a whaile since I've used Mach3 but certainly Mach4 has the option of a step/direction spindle, and if memory serves I think
Mach3 does as well.

I do agree with the previous poster, steppers just plain run out of steam the faster they go. A step/direction servo is a good choice though.
I have a 1.8kW 3500rpm 6.2Nm (cont) Allen Bradley AC servo and drive as a spindle motor and it kicks arrsse!

Craig

1624

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach 3 CNC problem

« on: March 19, 2020, 04:25:24 PM »

Hi,
what does the manufacturer say about it?

Craig

1625

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Configuring Mach4 with Hitachi WJ200 without Modbus

« on: March 19, 2020, 01:09:38 AM »

Hi,

If someone has already figured this out please share. With all the parameters on this VFD I am hoping to be able to control spindle speed down to the rpm

I think your enthusiasm is running away with you, you will never successfully control the speed of a VFD driven spindle using
analogue control to greater accuracy than a few percent.

In the first instance you are powering an induction motor which, by definition, must have some slip. Therefore the commanded frequency
IS NOT THE ACTUAL RPM but about 3% higher than spindle rpm depending on load.

The second issue is why bother? Its nice to have control of spindle speed but within 5-10% is adequate. For years we've used
manual mills and lathes WITHOUT being able to close control the spindle speed and the parts still came out fine, if 3000rpm works
in the old manual mill, despite the optimum being 4000rpm, then my CNC will work at 3000rpm as well.

Craig

1626

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Configuring Mach4 with Hitachi WJ200 without Modbus

« on: March 18, 2020, 03:28:13 PM »

Hi,
see attached pic from the Gecko 540 manual.

It clearly shows three connections to the VFD.
Pin 7 Main Terminal Block of  the 540 to pin L of the WJ200
Pin 8 Main Terminal Block of  the 540 to pin O of the WJ200
Pin 9 Main Terminal Block of  the 540 to pin H of the WJ200

You seem to be labouring under the misapprehension that the so called 'PWM' output of the G540 is a digital pulse train....it's not....internal to the
G540 there is a PWM to analogue output circuit. If you hook the 10VDC supply to the PWM output circuit (pin H to pin 9) and its return (pin L to pin 7)
and probe with a mulitmeter between pin 8  and pin 7 of the G540 you should see a 0-10V DC voltage that varies with the commanded speed in Mach.
That varying DC voltage is  an OUTPUT ( pin 8 ) of the G540 and is connected to the voltage INPUT (pin O) of the WJ200.

Craig

1627

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Configuring Mach4 with Hitachi WJ200 without Modbus

« on: March 18, 2020, 01:47:30 PM »

Hi,
try wiring the return to pin O of the VFD. Pin O IS the analogue input pin, it shows it clearly, 0-10V, on the pic I posted
which came from the manual.

Craig

1628

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: ok lua lost on screen button

« on: March 18, 2020, 01:37:49 AM »

Hi,
theres some confusion happening here.

The first two lines are:

Code: [Select]

local inst = mc.mcGetInstance()
local ToolDrumAtSpindle = mc.mcSignalGetHandle(inst, mc.ISIG_INPUT9)
and the fourth line is:

Code: [Select]

if mc.mcSignalGetState(ToolDrumAtSpindle ==1 )  then
As you have written it 'TooDrumAtSpindle' is a HANDLE.....not a variable. Whereas in the fourth line you are treating in confused fashion,
for example you have written ToolDrumAtSpindle==1......what does that mean?. I can see what you are trying to do but you are confusing
a HANDLE and a VARIABLE.

Try this:

Code: [Select]

local inst=mc.mcGet Instance()
local ToolDrumAtSpindleHANDLE=mc.mcSignalGetHandle(inst, mc.ISIG_INPUT9)
local ToolDrumToSpindleHANDLE = mc.mcSignalGetHandle(inst, mc.OSIG_OUTPUT8)
local ToolDrumAtSpindle=mc.mcSignalGetState(ToolDrumAtSpindleHANDLE)

if (ToolDrumAtSpindle ==1 )  then
      mc.mcSignalSetState(ToolDrumToSpindleHANDLE,0)
   else
      mc.mcSignalSetState(ToolDrumToSpindleHANDLE,1)
end


So to correctly populate a variable requires a two step process, first you get the HANDLE, that is equivalent to the memory
address of the signal, then you use the mcSignalGetState(handle) to read the contents of that memory location.
To set an output you use the output signals HANDLE and the data or state which you wish to apply.

Craig

1629

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Configuring Mach4 with Hitachi WJ200 without Modbus

« on: March 17, 2020, 01:43:48 AM »

Hi,
Hitachi inverters a good quality and much respected....and they can't be controlled by an analogue input....twaddle!
Hitachi probably invented it!!

See attached from the manual. The first is the choice of frequency source. The second (page 4-5)shows quite clearly the possibility of
controlling the frequency (of the VFD output) by using a potentiometer OR a 1-10V analogue input OR a 4-20mA current input, and
as you point out pulse inputs, whatever they are. ALL of these input modes are virtually industry standard, and Hitachi is one of the
standards of the industry.....of course it has analogue input.

The PMDX-411 has only one port as does the Gecko540, you simply don't have enough IO to start buggering around with pulse inputs.
The PMDX and the Gecko support analogue output in the form of a 0-10V output derived from PWM. Don't try and re-invent the wheel,
use what PMDX, Gecko and Hitachi have provided.

Craig

1630

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: false signals from clearpath enable

« on: March 16, 2020, 06:42:23 PM »

Hi,

This way when a clearpath motor goes into disable mode, it can trigger a limit event.

Yes, that works....but if HLFB activates is it actually a limit event? No it is a motor fault. All that you require is that the machine stops
so having HLFB trigger a 'make believe' limit works but why not use a signal better suited like ISIG_EMERGENCY?
Even using one of the general purpose inputs like ISIG_INPUT13 say with an entry in the SigLib{} table to Estop OR FeedHold or
however you wish to handle HLFB events.

Craig