Author Topic: How to configure 422/407/Mach4  (Read 4489 times)

neilD321

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How to configure 422/407/Mach4
« on: April 28, 2018, 05:07:02 AM »
Ho Folks,

I finally got around to plugging in my new 407 to my 422 (which has been running beautifully for several years). I have followed the wiring diagram for my Huanyang VFD as confirmed in another post here https://www.pmdx.com/PMDX-Forums/index.php?topic=348.0 and also set PD001 and PD002 to 1

But I am having an issue trying to configure the plugin.
I have updated all software. Mach 4 Hobby to build 3481 and SmartBob USB to Ver 0.52.254

But the "Start Here" instructions for the 407 are written for an older version of Mach4 and it has changed quite a bit.
No matter what I set things to I get an error (unless I disable the spindle config).

Are there any more up to date default setup instructions for Mach 4 anywhere? I've looked about but cannot see any.

All/any help greatly appreciated.

Neil.


neilD321

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Re: How to configure 422/407/Mach4
« Reply #1 on: April 28, 2018, 07:23:53 PM »
Forgot to mention... I have also followed these instructions

New steps:
* Go to the "Configure" menu and select "Mach".
* Click on the "Spindle" tab
* In the first row (labeled "0" - zero), fill in the minimum and maximum spindle speed.  Note that even though Mach4 supports 20 different spindle ranges, by default it uses range #0.  It requires custom-written Lua code and/or a custom screen set to select a different spindle range.
* Optionally, you may fill in the spindle accel and decel times.
* Leave the feedback ratio at 1, this is only used when there is a sensor on the spindle to determine actual spindle speed and the SmartBOB does not yet support this feature.
* Set the "Max Spindle Motor RPM" to the max RPM that you want your spindle motor to turn.  This should reflect any pulley ratios between your motor and the actual spindle quill.  So this is the motor RPM when your spindle is at the speed that you entered in the "MaxRPM" field.
* Leave the "Step/Dir Spindle Axis" set to "None"
* Leave the "Enable Step/Dir Spindle Rigid Tapping" un-checked.
* Click on OK

neilD321

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Re: How to configure 422/407/Mach4
« Reply #2 on: April 28, 2018, 08:04:27 PM »
OK- progressing a little.

Now I've set the JP1 pin to on on the 422 and the 407 now appears to be powered up (hilariously this pin is hidden from view by the way I have it installed so I actually set the wrong JP).

Still no go but the error message has gone away :-)
« Last Edit: April 28, 2018, 08:06:40 PM by neilD321 »

neilD321

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Re: How to configure 422/407/Mach4
« Reply #3 on: April 28, 2018, 11:09:04 PM »
There's progress - I can now turn the spindle on/off from Mach4 but it runs at 120Hz no matter what I try.

I have checked the voltage output of the PMDX-407 which is going nicely from 3.4v to 9.5v and the led is dimming correctly.

So I guess I need to set something on the VFD??

I'm also having issues where sometimes the VFD simply refuses to save a PD change. Can't work out why. Very annoying.

neilD321

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Re: How to configure 422/407/Mach4
« Reply #4 on: April 28, 2018, 11:32:02 PM »
and...... I got it.

Firstly ensure the toggle on the side of the VFD is set to VI (wont run otherwise)

Settings on the VFD are now:
PD000 - 0 (not 1 as mentioned elsewhere thinking it's an unlock, cos it's not)
PD001 - 1, for external control
PD002 - 1, for external control
PD003 - 400
PD004 - 400
PD005 - 400

PD072 - 400, max freq
PD073 - 120, so it doesn't run too slow

so my issue was having a min speed set to 120 and then trying to set more than that using the PMDX-407 which the VFD was ignoring cos I had a min set.

It's WORKING :-)

neilD321

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Re: How to configure 422/407/Mach4
« Reply #5 on: April 29, 2018, 06:43:48 PM »
oh - and one more thing I learnt along the way...

When setting values on the VFD, if you change a PDnnn setting and press Set - you will see "End" for a couple of seconds. If you don't see that - THE VALUE DIDN'T CHANGE.
I assume the VFD does this when the value you are trying to set is invalid because of another value somewhere.
It should say "Err" or something, but it doesn't. It just moves on to the next PDnnn setting.