Messages

1

Parallel Port breakout boards, motherboards, and dedicated accessories / Re: Connecting Clearpath servos to pmdx-126

« on: April 30, 2018, 08:49:47 AM »

Hey Jason,

Not TOO old a thread so hopefully not too much of a dredge. Hopefully you'll see this!

I'm in the same position you were in January!! I have one ClearPath SDSK I want to wire to my Z axis leaving my Gecko's on the other three for now. I am not that sure how to wire the enable AND the HLFB. I can possibly get the step/dir right!!!. Can you explain exactly how you have Enable and HLFB wired to the PMDX-126? I'd appreciate it.

I have a PMDX-126 Rev. C

Tom

2

Generic Spindle interfaces, I/O boards, Misc boards and panels / Re: PMDX 107, PMDX 126, ESS, PWM signal blip

« on: February 05, 2018, 04:12:57 PM »

One more reply to my replies and then I gotta wait for some help!!

I've made some progress although I still don't know what's up. I set the VFD to use it's onboard pot for Hz change, Mach4/PMDX 107 still in charge of Run/Stop. Still had the problem!! So it isn't the 0-10v going out that's the issue, it's the spindle being told to stop and start. Never thought of that.

So I set the VFD back to using the onboard run button, and presto, the spindle runs and runs and runs. So I suppose the VFD isn't causing this heartache!

 I guess I can go back to using Mach4/PMDX 107 to change Hz and manually start the spindle with the onboard button, but that's less handy than having Mach4/PMDX 107 control run/stop and the onboard pot handling Hz. This way an Estop in Mach4 will NOT stop the spindle, right?

So, any suggestions on how to fix the PMDX-107 starting/stopping the spindle? I have not put the scope on the 107 start/stop lines but figure my test pretty much confirms the VFD is being TOLD to stop and start randomly. I know this is probably some noise issue, but I haven't a clue how to approach it.

Thanks,
Tom

3

Generic Spindle interfaces, I/O boards, Misc boards and panels / Re: PMDX 107, PMDX 126, ESS, PWM signal blip

« on: February 04, 2018, 02:59:56 PM »

I don't see a way to edit my post so I'll add here.

Not being able to make any parts I fired up Mach3 on a different computer hooked to the machine and had the same stop/start issue with the spindle immediately. So it ain't the computer, it ain't Mach3/4 or bad profiles or any of that. With the PWM going I don't think it's the ESS. It HAS to be hardware or something between the PMDX-126/107 and the VFD, doesn't it? This is a big, big mystery to me!!

I'm going to set the PMDX-126 and 107 to not use the chargepump just for something to do in the meantime!!

4

Generic Spindle interfaces, I/O boards, Misc boards and panels / Re: PMDX 107, PMDX 126, ESS, PWM signal blip

« on: February 03, 2018, 05:29:05 PM »

Caught on tape.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/boy6iy15hss3aqe/2018-02-03%2015.48.44.mov?dl=0

Red is 0-10v from the PMDX-107

Yellow is PWM from PMDX-126 Pin 16.

I tried PWM 20Hz, 50Hz, 100Hz, and per Andy 300Hz, same thing.

It seems obvious to the unwashed that when the spindle stops the PWM marches on, the 0-10v drops to zero. Not as obvious is why?

I cross posted on Warp9 in hopes someone has a suggestion.

Tom

5

Generic Spindle interfaces, I/O boards, Misc boards and panels / Re: PMDX 107, PMDX 126, ESS, PWM signal blip

« on: February 03, 2018, 02:03:20 PM »

I'm going to dredge this instead of starting over.

I'm on Mach4 now and still having an issue.

Another guy over on Warp9 had this problem and changing PWM from 25Hz to 100Hz  in the ESS plugin config. solved his. I've tried 20 to 500 and it seems I have another problem now. My spindle stops/starts, like stop for a second, stopped dead, then starts. Sometimes it'll run for half an hour then start this stopping/starting. Sometimes it'll sag off and speed back up, sometimes it'll speed up and slow back down. Scope on Pin 16 shows PWM going while the spindle is stopping. VM on 0-10v out of 107 goes to zero when the spindle stops.

Something else bothers me, but perhaps it's nothing. I reached in the box and touched the back of the 107, side opposite the terminal strip, and the spindle speeds up!! Seems to take 3 fingers, one won't do it! Is this normal, probably is, but I'm wondering if I have some sort of connection problem somewhere that this does this!

I've revived the linked thread over on Warp9, so hopefully between you guys and Andy I can get this stopping/starting fixed. I actually started to like Mach4 and now it's almost unusable because of this spindle thing.

Thanks,

Tom Hesselman

6

Parallel Port breakout boards, motherboards, and dedicated accessories / PMDX-126 and CNC Drive DG4S

« on: February 01, 2018, 12:45:26 PM »

I have a PMDX-126 Rev. C, running now with Gecko G320X drives. I'm going to replace the Gecko's with CNCDrive DG4S-08020 drives.

My first question is about the error/reset lines. The Gecko's have one ERR/RST terminal where the DG4S drives have separate Error and Reset terminals. But....5.6 in the DG4S manual mentions wiring them together, but not having to wire them together. So am I correct to assume they'll wire all the Error lines to ERR- and all Reset lines to RST and 5v to both COM and ERR+?

Second question, the encoders are powered from the Gecko's now. It seems that I need to supply 5v (or 12v) TO the DG4S drives to power the encoders, or the "digital part of the device." Section 3.2, page 6, of the doc explains this. Is that right, I supply 5v to Pin 4 and 8 or 12v to pins 7 and 8 on the drives? Then THAT 5v would also go to the ERR+ and COM terminals on the PMDX-126 J13?

Sorry to seem so ignorant but every time I do this I'm afraid I'll blow something up and reading the manuals, while I understand a bit, I really DON'T understand what's happening with all this electricity flowing around!!!20

Link to DG4S manual:

http://cncdrive.com/downloads/DG4S_series_manual.pdf

Thanks,

Tom Hesselman

7

Generic Spindle interfaces, I/O boards, Misc boards and panels / Re: PMDX 107, PMDX 126, ESS, PWM signal blip

« on: February 16, 2017, 11:38:13 AM »

Here are 4 captures of when the spindle slows and speeds back up and when it stops.

02_01 and 02_02 the spindle slowed and the scope triggered. Looks like the PWM is consistent thru there.

02_03 I don't know, looks like the 0-10v went UP then down, triggering on the down as it's set.

02_04 the spindle STOPPED and never restarted. On that one the PWM looks to have dropped along with the 0-10v.

So what have I got going on here? Any ideas?

8

Generic Spindle interfaces, I/O boards, Misc boards and panels / Re: PMDX 107, PMDX 126, ESS, PWM signal blip

« on: February 13, 2017, 12:28:40 PM »

Steve/Bob,

I've contacted Andy at Warp9 and we're 'working on it.'

Would it be possible for either of you to read this entire thread and see what YOU think?

http://warp9td.com/index.php/kunena/7-general-discussion/6442-mach3-ess-pwm-spindle-problem?limitstart=0

Thanks,

Tom

9

Generic Spindle interfaces, I/O boards, Misc boards and panels / Linearity.dat?

« on: February 08, 2017, 06:43:16 PM »

In the PMDX-107 PDF, page 12. There is reference to deleting linearity.dat, depending on Mach3 version. I delete it, run the machine, linearity.dat is back, so is it safe to assume that's just the way Mach3 v_____.043.062 does it? So if you've EVER run the auto calibration, THAT messes up linearity.dat, but otherwise linearity.dat just lives there and gets saved seemingly every time Mach3 runs, looking at the file date. Everything seems fine, but I was just running thru my setup relearning stuff and ran on this in the PDF.

Curiosity killed the old guy!!!

10

Parallel Port breakout boards, motherboards, and dedicated accessories / Re: PMDX-126 Rev. A to Rev. C

« on: December 29, 2016, 12:30:37 PM »

I fixed my issue with a PMDX-104 and 12 volt solenoids!! I did NOT try MOV's on the 110v solenoids. I could not get rid of the estoping in Mach3 with the 110v solenoids any other way, so I gave up.

It looks to me like there are MOV's on the PMDX-104 and there seem to be MOV's on the  12v solenoids. but, alas, there also seems to be MOV's on the K1/K2 relay's on the PMDX-126, so who knows.

Anyway, that's fixed and we're moving on.

Thanks,

11

Parallel Port breakout boards, motherboards, and dedicated accessories / Re: PMDX-126 Rev. A to Rev. C

« on: December 20, 2016, 07:12:01 PM »

OK, I have the relays and probe working per your instructions, and the instructions in the manual had I chosen to read it better!!

But, my old problem of the relay's Estopping Mach3 is still there.

My setup as it is now.

I have one of your 110 filters on the 110 into the box, that's NEW with this new box build
Getting 110 to the K1/K2 relays from the PMDX mains input right below them.
I have tried wiring the relays to another 110 circuit in the house, but in a house, 110 is 110, COM is COM!!
Tried with main 110 into the box coming thru a UPS and without it
I'm switching 110v STC air solenoids
Tried all combinations of the K1/K2 relay and the solenoids
Tried a third, although similar, solenoid, all are STC 110v solenoids
It almost always trips the Estop when turning the K1/K2 Relays OFF, seldom when turning them ON, if that helps.
If I remove the solenoid wiring, the K1/K2 alone do not trigger the Estop. I can flip 'em on/off all day, click, click, click, no Estop.

I'm about to quit with this, put a manual switch on my Fogbuster, and be done with it. But.....it IS nice to have control of the coolant.

Do you have any suggestions?

Perhaps different solenoids, different voltage, running from their own power supply?

Would the placement of the wiring TO the solenoids from the relay's have some effect on this?

I have a small cap on the Estop input on the PMDX, been there for years.

Anything to try before I just wire a switch to the solenoids and be done!!

Thanks,

Tom Hesselman

12

Parallel Port breakout boards, motherboards, and dedicated accessories / PMDX-126 Rev. A to Rev. C

« on: December 19, 2016, 06:53:31 PM »

OK, I bought a brandy new PMDX-126 Rev. C to replace my Rev. A while rebuilding my box. The K1 Relay is the question. On the Rev. A, did it use Port 2 Pin 14 and now it uses Port 1 Pin 14?

I use Mach3.

I have my spindle using Port 1 Pins 14 and 16, so I guess I can't use K1 unless I figure out something else. Is that right?

I'm not good at all this and it's been years since I originally built my box. Everything seems to work except for K1. Is there a solution for this? Do I need to do my spindle differently to get Port 1 Pin 14 freed up? I hope not, spindle setup is a royal PITA as I remember!!

Any suggestions appreciated!!

OH, and are probe merged inputs the opposite of the way they were on Rev. A? My probes trigger the led on the board, but are active when not triggered in Mach 3. I guess I have to look into this one a little more!!

Thanks

Tom Hesselman

13

Generic Spindle interfaces, I/O boards, Misc boards and panels / Re: PMDX 107, PMDX 126, ESS, PWM signal blip

« on: October 27, 2016, 12:37:51 PM »

If I put a scope on Pin 17 and managed to catch it in the act and saw , what would this indicate, the ESS?

14

Generic Spindle interfaces, I/O boards, Misc boards and panels / Re: PMDX 107, PMDX 126, ESS, PWM signal blip

« on: October 26, 2016, 11:15:25 AM »

Did this ever get resolved? The thread just died on 8/12!

I'm pretty sure I'm the guy with the original issue a couple years ago! Never fixed it, it still randomly stops the VFD and starts back up. It's very random, nowhere near once per hour, but less often. Might be a week. It's always when it's running along just fine and the spindle slows. Once it stopped and never did restart before I hit eStop to stop the crunching cutter/part!! Most times it winds down, never completely stopping, then winds back up and continues along just fine assuming some tiny endmill didn't break. When this happens, the readout on the Hitachi VFD showing Hz, goes to zero, and when it starts back up, it goes back to whatever is/was correct.

Other than that, the 126 Rev A/107 combo works just fine on a BP clone belt head on Mach 3.

If you guys solved this, via email or something, post it up here!!

Try thosj1@gmail.com or thosj@new.rr.com if you're rooting around in email. This WAS before this forum existed, pretty sure

15

Parallel Port breakout boards, motherboards, and dedicated accessories / Re: PMDX-126 Rev B K1/K2 Relay issue

« on: January 25, 2016, 05:43:14 PM »

The computer was behind the UPS but the control box was NOT. I moved the control box behind the UPS and all is well. Well, "well" with the power to the K1/K2 relays now coming from a separate source but still plugged into the same house circuit as the UPS and all it's stuff. So, even though I don't get it, I'm fixed.

Thanks once again, PMDX IS the best!

Tom