Don't know if anyone has tried this but I have an NSK E2550, Gecko540, and Mach3.  I asked Gecko about the connection from the 540 to the NSK controller and I believe I have that correct.  When I try and set up the ports and pins in the Mach3 configuration tab I set both the set and direction to pin 14 and the ports to 1. Under spindle setup I set "Use spindle motor output" to "PWM". I disabled the relay control.

So far i cannot get it to work was hoping someone could offer some suggestions.

TIA

Dan

Hi Dan,

What is the NSK E2550 and what are you trying to do with it? And how does the G540 relate to this?

Daniel

The NSK is the spindle controller and the Gecko sends the signal.

Dan

Dan,

OK, so I understand the NSK is a VFD that takes analogue 0-10V.

As far as I know, the PWM signal is output to the step pin, so I'd suggest disabling the direction pin. If it doesn't help I would double check the connections are correct.

Daniel

So far no luck.

Motor outputs: I have pin 14 as the step pin and 1 as the step port.

Output Signals: Output #2 is set to Port 1 Pin 1.

Spindle Setup: Relay Control - Not Disabled (Disable spindle relays not checked). Flood mist Control - Disabled (Disable flood/mist relays checked). Modbus Spindle - Enabled checked. Motor Control - Use Spindle Motor Output checked, PWM control checked. All else as defaults.

So far I get nothing coming out of the Gecko on 7,8 and 9.   My assumption is that i should be able to measure the voltage that needs to go into the controller.

I attached a page from the Gecko 540 and the NSK controller to identify the connections.

Any help is appreciated.

Dan

I am having the very same problem.  I can't get anything to read out on ports 7,8,9 on my gecko540.  Anyone figure this out yet?

Most likely the motherboard is an older rev on the Gecko.  You need to talk to the tech guys at Gecko to see about a replacement.

Found the problem.  I just didn't understand how the VFD actually works.  First of all, I am not using a VFD.  I am using the gecko VFD to control an SCR, wich in turn, heats up my hotwire.  I thought that the 0-10VDC just came out of the G540.  I called gecko and they explained that the voltage on the VFD circuit has to come from somewhere else.  e.g. to test if VFD is working...  connect the negative side of a 9volt battery to pin 7 on the gecko.  connect the positive side of that battery to pin 9 (VFD +10VDC),  then connect a voltmeter to pins 7 and 8.  Basically the gecko takes in 10volts on pin 9, and releases 0-10 volts on pin 8.  Really, it just acts as an electronic potentiometer.  So if you set up a spindle pully in mach3 to have 0-100 rpm, and you set the rpm to 50 and turn on the spindle, you should see half of the 9-volt battery charge come out of pin 8 (with 7 as ground).

In my case, I got rid of the 9-volt batter and grabbed an old ac/dc converter in the back room and used it.

Everything works beautifully now.

I got the controller working with Mach3.  It wasn't all that hard but I did need to add a 24vdc power supply to get the start/stop functional.

I attached a modified G540 sketch if anyone is interested.

Dan