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Author Topic: Entering Pulley Ratio in Mach4  (Read 4699 times)

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Re: Entering Pulley Ratio in Mach4
« Reply #10 on: February 18, 2018, 06:09:17 PM »
Okay.  Good to know I don't need to enter the pulley ratio. I did follow the Mach4 manual but the confusion arises when something doesn't work and your trying to figure out why and you revert to see how you did it in Mach 4.

I still haven't got a variable speed from my Spindle. It just turns at one rpm no matter what S# I issue.

Offline Chaoticone

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Re: Entering Pulley Ratio in Mach4
« Reply #11 on: February 19, 2018, 10:50:31 AM »
Quote
I did follow the Mach4 manual but the confusion arises when something doesn't work and your trying to figure out why and you revert to see how you did it in Mach 4.

I think you meant "how you did it in Mach3" didn't you?

But yes, looking at how Mach3 did something to try to figure out how Mach4 does something often only leads to more confusion. Working with Mach4 is much easier when not comparing it to Mach3. They are different so they work different and do things differently. And the same would be true if using any other controller. Your time is far better spent learning how your hardware works. Once you understand how the hardware works setting up any controller is much easier.

What hardware are you using to vary the speed of the spindle?  
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Re: Entering Pulley Ratio in Mach4
« Reply #12 on: February 19, 2018, 05:11:06 PM »
Yes, it's probably not a good idea to revert back to Mach3 once you've committed to Mach4.

I'm using a NOWFOREVER 100ES VFD, a Gecko540 and a PMDX411 SmartBob running on a 2012 Shopmaster Patriot.

Joe

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Re: Entering Pulley Ratio in Mach4
« Reply #13 on: February 19, 2018, 05:29:24 PM »
Have you ever been able to change the spindle speed by changing the S rate in Mach (3 or 4)?

If so how is Mach communicating with the VFD so it can control the speed?
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Re: Entering Pulley Ratio in Mach4
« Reply #14 on: February 20, 2018, 08:59:01 AM »
Yes, both under Mach 3 and under manual control I've been able to change Spindle speed with various S commands. I confirmed that a S value issued matched the rpm shown by a handheld tach under both Mach3 and manual control of the VFD (NOWFOREVER ES100). It's just in Mach4 that the Spindle runs at a constant 850 rpm.

My index is on Pin 10 any my Gecko 540 assigns the Spindle to Pin 14.

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Re: Entering Pulley Ratio in Mach4
« Reply #15 on: February 20, 2018, 06:29:10 PM »
Have you configured the modbus plugin in Mach4 to communicate with your VFD?
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Re: Entering Pulley Ratio in Mach4
« Reply #16 on: February 20, 2018, 10:56:02 PM »
Eh?
Re: Entering Pulley Ratio in Mach4
« Reply #17 on: February 20, 2018, 10:56:50 PM »
Sorry, meant to type no Modbus ports on my PC
Re: Entering Pulley Ratio in Mach4
« Reply #18 on: February 21, 2018, 12:18:06 AM »
Hi Joe,
how did you control the VFD when using Mach3?
To my knowledge there is two possible ways
1) An analogue (0-10V) voltage OR
2) Modbus (a serial communication protocol)

Craig
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Re: Entering Pulley Ratio in Mach4
« Reply #19 on: February 22, 2018, 04:23:49 PM »
Seems they got it fixed. Sounds like they were using the analog out from the G540 to the VFD to control the spindle speed.

Quote
His PMDX-411's spindle speed signal was configured for Pulse Frequency mode
whereas the G540 requires PWM mode.


http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,36605.msg251426.html#msg251426
« Last Edit: February 22, 2018, 08:39:34 PM by Chaoticone »
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