Hello,

At the moment i'm running a setup with a 2,2kw spindle 1x230V and a 1kw router as a dual z system.
I'm quite happy with the setup except the 2.2kw spindle is too light for the machining i do.
So i've ordered a new VFD 3x230V and a 6kw spindle. I can run the new spindle along the router wich would make the mach 4 proces much easier, but would prefer to use the 2,2kw spindle as my second Z. Any ideas of how to tackle this situation in mach 4?
Can it be done to control 2 spindles within mach 4?

All the best,

Adam

I use a head swap.

Can you explain me what a head swap is?

i will try.
There are values to change the head location.
mc.SV_HEAD_SHIFT_X is an example
I use them in a macro when I need to change heads.
I have attached my head shift macro.
In my m6 macro it calls this macro depending on tool number.
This has custom registers to store the offsets for different heads.

Bill

Thanks,

Clear!

I did "the same" with my router /spindle setup. Toolnumber chooses the router or spindle setup with a relay sending the signal to router or spindle.
But now i want to use 2 spindles and don't know how to put in 2 different spindles into mach 4. both have different vfd and different settings.

Thanks for your help!

Adam

I would think that for the different spindles you just need to switch the on signal and the rpm signal.
The settings on the VFD should not matter.
You can set it up so depending on the spindle the time to get up to speed changes.
It will take some programming.

I did study into this a bit further...


At the moment i don't know howto connect 2 different spindles onto one BOB.
On my BOB i only have one spindle relay (which if i would could send to another spindle with an extra relay).
But also only have one 0/10V output foor speed contol of the vfd.

Both spindles have different specs: spindle 1 freq:400hz 1*220v
spindle 2 freq:300hz 3*220v.

any idea howto approach this?

Keep Safe,

Adam

Use relays to switch between the inverters and the bob spindle relay and the 0-10v from the bob.
the freq on the inverters is still a 0-10v regardless of the frequency they output.
0 is no rotation
10 is full speed rotation

The mechanical part with the relays i will figure out.

But how do i get the setting right for 2 spindles in mach4?
Both have a different freq/speed - so the 0/10v will scale not correctly for one spindle if i can't setup both speeds.

I've attached 2 print screens form mach 4

Theoretically...

You'd have 2 spindle ranges setup in the Mach4 Spindle tab you showed, one for 8000-24000 and one with whatever the other spindle's speeds are.

There's an API..mc.mcSpindleSetRange(inst, Range) I think it is...that should let you swap between the two.