Messages

11

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Setting up Spindle/VFD control Issues

« on: February 08, 2019, 06:35:10 PM »

Ok So I need to drop the voltage from 13.2 to 10volts.

Can this be done with a simple Resistor voltage divider circuit? http://www.learningaboutelectronics.com/Articles/How-to-reduce-voltage-with-resistors.php

If So am I better to use say a 1k resistor as R1 or a 10K for example.

Also where would I connect the earth from this circuit to? The comm of the VFD I would guess but doesn't this create a short circuit?

Or is the other method you mentioned better using a LM317? how is that done?


Lastly why does the VFD have a 12V (13V) output when its analog inputs only work with 0-10v :S

12

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Setting up Spindle/VFD control Issues

« on: February 08, 2019, 04:39:05 AM »

Ok so progress! I wired and configured the way you said and now have control of the Frequency on the VFD except for one problem. The GeckoG540 is outputting 0 to 13volts. Maybe thats why they say not to connect it to over 12v as it cant reduce anything over 12v down to 10volts?

So yeh looks like I might have to drop the voltage.

Next problem is I setup Output 2 as Spindle On And the output is working (testing with multimeter) but the VFD only activates the X1 terminal when X1 and Comm terminal (on the vfd) are connected. and Output 2 on the g540 doesnt seem to have continuity to Comm on vfd so im not sure what to do there. Maybe run a wire from the Comm terminal on the VFD to the pin12 on the GeckoG540 (power supply ground)

13

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Setting up Spindle/VFD control Issues

« on: February 07, 2019, 06:09:57 PM »

Wow thanks JoeAwesome for the indepth reply!

I only require a spindle on and the vfd is set to turn clockwise.

The VFD does have a “12v” out but while I was checking things I happened to probe between this post and the comm post and it was showing 13.2volts. I do remember reading somewhere in the gecko manual not to let this be over 12v. Is this a problem?

14

Mach4 General Discussion / Setting up Spindle/VFD control Issues

« on: February 07, 2019, 04:08:25 AM »

Hey all.
Mach4 4.2.0.3804
ESS Build 232
Gecko G540
Nowforever VFD

Ive been using the setup for awhile with just the Potentiometer on the VFD for spindle control, I want to setup software control with the ESS/Gecko/Mach4

Ive set it all up as I believe it should be (following manuals etc) but as soon as I connect the wiring from the GeckoG540 to the VFD it activates the spindle and sets it at 232hz no matter what I change?

My wiring is as follows:
Gecko G540 Pin 7 (VFD Ground) --> Comm Terminal on VFD
Gecko G540 Pin 8 (VFD Out) --> X1 Terminal on VFD (Spindle FWD Input)
Gecko G540 Pin 9 (VFD 10V) --> AIN1 (Analog Input 1)

Software setup:

Mach 4 ESS plugin config:

Spindle: Type = PWM
Frequency Hz = 400z (im not actually sure about this one? how do you know the base hz, I just choose the max hz

Pins Config:
Port 1 - Pin8 - Out - Active High - Spindle PWM
Port 1 - Pin9 - Out - Active High - Spindle FWD
Output Signals:
Spindle Motor PWM - Enabled - Mach Mapping ESS Only - Pin1 Mapping "Spindle PWM"
Spindle FWD - Enabled - Mach Mapping ESS - Pin1 Mapping "Spindle FWD"

Mach 4 Config:
Output Signals:
Spindle FWD - Enabled - Device = ESS - Output Name Spindle FWD

Ive tried setting different pins, setting active low, changing spindle FWD to Spindle ON, even swapped the wires on the VFD (x1 and AIN1)

Oh I should mentioned Ive changed all the setup parameters on the VFD to suit analog control through AIN1.

But yea no matter what I try it just turns the spindle on straight away at 200odd hz

Im out of ideas.

15

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Stepper motors interfering with each other using mach4?

« on: January 25, 2019, 04:19:21 PM »

All good, found it
https://warp9td.com/index.php/kunena/7-general-discussion/7746-losing-steps-during-keyboard-jog

16

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Stepper motors interfering with each other using mach4?

« on: January 25, 2019, 04:18:00 PM »

Craig, do you have a link for the thread on the Warp9 website? I cant seem to find it?

17

Mach4 General Discussion / Stepper motors interfering with each other using mach4?

« on: January 22, 2019, 04:11:38 AM »

Hey all, So had my machine running with Mach3/parallel port and all ran smooth and no sign of this issue.

I "upgraded" to Mach4 and a Ethernet smooth stepper and now if I manually jog one axis at a time there is no problem but say im jogging down the Y axis then while keeping the keyboard down arrow pressed I press the right arrow and jog X a little bit then let go of X (all while still jogging Y) the steppers make a very audible "doonk" noise (technical description)

same thing If I do X continuously then tap Y.

I realized If I do say Y continuously and hold my hand on the Y stepper when I start and then let go of X and hear the "doonk" noise I can feel it in the Y stepper so its as if stopping travel in another axis momentarily stalls the active axis?

It does not have any issues with running G-code whether in the MDI or a program.

It has been bad enough to cause me to loose steps while manually jogging and loosing my location. Now im very careful to not jog more then one axis at once.

Im thinking it may have something to do with the keyboard plugin?

Advance thanks for the help
-Clint

18

Mach4 General Discussion / Mach 4 keyboard increment jogging randomly swaps to inches?

« on: January 22, 2019, 03:58:05 AM »

Hey all, Using mach 4. my gcode is in metric, my machine setup units and units mode is in metric. But sometimes when I go to jog using the keyboard in increment mode I set it to say 1mm but the machine moves 1inch. which can be quite scary when not expected and near something!

I close and re-open Mach 4 and its back to normal.

Is this a known problem? or any ideas what could be causing it?

Anything I could try/check to nut it out?

Now im in the habit of always testing it out first in the direction away from my stock to make sure its in metric but I should not have to

19

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach 4 not stopping at manual tool change

« on: January 01, 2019, 01:50:29 PM »

Yep checked that setting and it is set as “T on M6 line is tool to use”

i’ll try it the other way.

20

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach 4 not stopping at manual tool change

« on: January 01, 2019, 04:52:55 AM »

Actually doing abit more reading and in Mach4 I went to "operator" menu then "edit/debug scripts"

There was one called M6 and contained the following:
function m6()

   local inst = mc.mcGetInstance()
   local selectedTool = mc.mcToolGetSelected(inst)
   local currentTool = mc.mcToolGetCurrent(inst)
   
   if selectedTool == currentTool then
      mc.mcCntlSetLastError(inst, "Current tool == Selected tool so there is nothing to do")
   else
      --Remove this line if you would not like the Z axis to move
      --mc.mcCntlGcodeExecute(inst, "G90 G53 G0 Z0.0");--Move the Z axis all the way up
      mc.mcCntlSetLastError(inst, "Change to tool " .. tostring(selectedTool) .. " and press start to continue") --Message at beginning of tool change
      mc.mcCntlToolChangeManual(inst, true) --This will pause the tool change here and wait for a press of cycle start to continue
      mc.mcCntlSetLastError(inst, "Current tool == " .. tostring(selectedTool) .. "   Previous Tool == " .. tostring(currentTool)) --Message that shows after Cycle Start
      mc.mcToolSetCurrent(inst, selectedTool)
   end
end

if (mc.mcInEditor() == 1) then
   m6()
end

But that was not happening for me? it was like Mach4 is just skipping past the M6 command?