Messages

11

SmoothStepper USB / ESS -> PMDX-126 and PWM Spindle

« on: June 20, 2021, 02:22:13 AM »

I am almost done with my mach3 transition to mach4 with a ESS and PMDX upgrade along the way. The final piece of my puzzle is spindle speed control with PWM. When I map 'motor on' in the ESS setup and in the Mach4 config, the spindle turns on and off. When I map 'spindle pwm' (there is no Mach4 mapping) in the ESS config, the pin is always 0v. If you are using PWM to control your spindle, I would love to see your ESS and Mach configs around these particulars.

Happy Making

12

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: PMDX --> VDF Grounding

« on: June 20, 2021, 02:07:00 AM »

I made a little progress since the previous post. When using the 'motor on' mapping in the ESS and again in Mach4. I can turn the spindle on and off. Where I am now having an issue with PWM. In the ESS config I map a pin to 'motor pwm' and in mach there is no corresponding mapping so I am left to hope the stars align. My PWM pin always shows 0v so I feel I am missing something.

If you are running an ESS with PWM to a VFD I would love to know a little more about your ESS setup and MACH4 config.

13

Mach4 General Discussion / PMDX --> VDF Grounding

« on: June 20, 2021, 01:39:45 AM »

I am finishing up the transition from Mach3 to Mach4 with a PMDX and ESS upgrade. The last step before I can button things up is the Spindle PWM. With a potentiometer hooked up to the VFD 10v+, ACM and AVI, I can control the spindle speed. My original setup only had two wires going to the VFD (AVI and ACM). I connected the PMDX like the previous card to AVI and ACM with a 5v max.

Should I be able to run the CFD with just two signals?

No matter what I do, I don't think the power is getting ti the VFD because the two cards don't share the right ground. A voltmeter shows power at the terminals, so maybe. The VFD and PMDX are both grounded to the machine. The control signals are coming from the PMDX on a terminal block that has pc GND which is different from the shared ground mentioned previously.

Does the PMDX need to share a pc gnd with the VFD?

If you have this setup or could shed some light it would be much appreciated!

14

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: going from 3 to 4v2. Motion controller selection

« on: June 18, 2021, 02:37:35 PM »

@Bill_O Understood!
Thank you for all your help. You have helped get my machine moving and the relays working.

15

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: going from 3 to 4v2. Motion controller selection

« on: June 18, 2021, 02:00:41 PM »

Almost there...
I moved my jumpers from multimode back to Pin 1 and Pin 14. The relays are working and the VFD is showing fwd and rev!

The last step for the spindle is getting it to spin. In my Mach3 setup Spindle Motor Output and Spindle Motor Control were checked. For the new setup I am using a CW/CCW PWM motor. I am using the motor-on mapping in Mach4 but I would really like to see a motor-pwm mapping. Am I missing something?

16

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: going from 3 to 4v2. Motion controller selection

« on: June 14, 2021, 10:49:41 PM »

Moving to the spindle now...

The ESS is working with the PMDX-126 and Mach4. The limit switches and motors are working, now it is time for the spindle via a Delta VFD-E. I would like to use the relays onboard the PMDX-126 to denote spindle direction. I believe my wiring is correct, but I need some help with the configuration. Looking at the setup below, can you please tell me how to configure the ESS and Mach4?

JP1 - Multimode
K1 Com --> VFD - DCM -- Input signal
K1 N/O --> VFD - M1 --> ESS - Clockwise

JP2 - Multimode
K2 Com --> VFD - DCM --> Input Signal
K2 N/O --> VFD - M2 --> ESS Counter Clockwise

J6 - 1 = PC5v+ --> VFD - ACM --> ESS - Spindle COM
J6 - 16 = Port 1 Pin 16 --> VFD - AVI --> ESS - Spindle PWM

Motor 5 is set up as a CW/CCW. When I run test commands (M3 and M4), I do not hear the relays on the board clicking. If you have any setup suggestions I would love to hear about them.

17

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: going from 3 to 4v2. Motion controller selection

« on: June 10, 2021, 11:44:02 AM »

That is exactly how the mill is configured. Is there a way or do I need to let the mill know when it is at limit++ or limit--?

Does the machine need to know these states?
limit and home = limit++
limit w/0 home = limit--

18

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: going from 3 to 4v2. Motion controller selection

« on: June 09, 2021, 11:29:19 PM »

Great day in the morning, my mill is moving, thank you!
@BILL_O you are a badass

There are two limit switches per axis that move with the machine. They hit bumpers as they move along. One switch hits a bumper on each end. The other hits one bumper on one end. I have the two bumper switch mapped to limit ++ and limit --. The switch that hits one bumper is mapped to axis home. Is that correct? Where do I map the combo of the two switches to denote the machine being at the ++ limit vs the -- limit?

19

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: going from 3 to 4v2. Motion controller selection

« on: June 09, 2021, 09:59:38 AM »

Thank you!
Yes, your setup had some trick stuff in it, but it was great to see what I can add later. Your labels make sense for the limit switches. Since port 1 and 2 only refer to the J11 and J12 jumper blocks, how do I refer to the pins my motor controllers are connected to?

20

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: going from 3 to 4v2. Motion controller selection

« on: June 09, 2021, 01:12:53 AM »

@Bill_O Thanks for the response and images!
I spent some time in the shop tonight and didn't get very far. I understand the mapping from the ESS plugin to Mach4, but I am getting confused with the PMDX-126 to the ESS mapping.

Specifically

• Which port on the PMDX corresponds to which pins.
• How to reference lettered PMDX pins in the ESS setup.

Attached is a shot showing which pins I am using on the PMDX-126, does this setup look correct?
Motors on the bottom limit switches on the top.

Thanks!