Messages

136

SmartBOB controllers and dedicated accessories / Re: Setting up proximity sensor

« on: April 11, 2016, 12:48:17 AM »

I connected the blue wire to com the brown wire to 12v pos+ and the black wire to screw #1 on the input side of the 424 spot j16

Sorry, this is pretty picky, but I'd like to confirm the connections to the PMDX-424:

The PMDX-424 does not have a terming labeled "com" except on the step/dir connectors (J7 through J11) and the relay connector (J18).  Did you mean that you connected the blue wire to the "gnd" terminal on J16?

Likewise, the PMDX-424 +12V supply terminals are labeled "+12U".  Is this terminal on J16 where you connected the brown wire?

I tried input 1, motor 0 -- with no luck. Only get a light in the machine diagnostics and a limit switch fault in the history line. Any suggestions

Which light or lights on the machine diagnostics page did you see turn on when did it turn on (i.e. turned on when the limit switch triggered, or turned on all the time, etc.)?

If the PMDX-424 input is mapped to a Mach4 limit switch input (such as the "Motor 0 --" that you mentioned) then when the switch triggers you should see messages like these if you click on the "History" button in the lower left corner of the Mach4 screen:

    Limit Switch X-- tripped!
    Mach halted due to X++ LIMIT switch

Are those the messages you saw?  Or did the message really mention the word "fault"?  If so, please let us know the exact error message (hint - click on the "History" button and you can copy/paste all of the messages).  Oh, and send us the profile package as Steve requested :-)

Bob

137

Announcements / Updated PMDX-424 SmartBOB Quick Start Guide (Rev 0.6) published

« on: April 08, 2016, 04:00:19 PM »

We have published an updated version of the PMDX-424 Quick Start Guide.  This is document revision 0.6.  Most of the changes were minor punctuation or re-wording.  We did correct the wiring connections for the DC powered version of the PMDX-424, added more detail to the mechanical dimensions drawing, and added the pin-out for the USB header.

You can download the manual from the PMDX-424 page (down near the bottom):
http://www.pmdx.com/PMDX-424

Or from the User's Manual page:
http://www.pmdx.com/Manuals

Bob

138

Announcements / Re: SmartBOB-USB plug-in updated to 0.38.188 - PMDX-424 Rev B support added

« on: April 07, 2016, 03:48:32 AM »

Release version number is 0.38.188 (fixed in post above and subject line).

139

Generic Spindle interfaces, I/O boards, Misc boards and panels / Re: PMDX-106, PMDX-122, Huanyang VFD setup)

« on: March 30, 2016, 12:38:34 AM »

Here are some things to try:

(1) Can you control the spindle from the VFD front panel?

(2) There is usually a register that determines where the VFD looks for control info.  There are usually values for "front panel" or "internal", something like "Analog" or "0-10V" or "Fwd/Rev" or "external", and sometimes "RS-422" or "MODBus" if your VFD supports those interfaces.  See if you can find that register or registers.  In the example from jbolt above, those look to be PD000 and PD001.  See also the comment in this thread by Steve on July 19th, 2015 about a jumper inside the VFD that you may need to change.

Once you verify that you can control the VFD from the front panel, and then change the registers so that the VFD is looking at the 0-10V analog input and the Fwd/Rev terminals, go on to try this:

I presume you have a PMDX-126 along with the PMDX-107.  Is that correct?  Have you looked at our app note AN001, "Mach3 Configuration with 3 Axis and PWM Spindle Speed Using a Single Parallel Port" (http://www.pmdx.com/AppNotes)?  Even if you are using Mach4, that app note will give you the necessary PMDX-126 and PMDX-107 DIP switch settings.  And if you are using Mach3, it also gives you the Mach3 settings to make sure the spindle PWM signal appears on the correct pin.

If you are using Mach4, what motion control device/plug-in are you using?  If you are using Mach3, are you using a PC parallel port to connect to the PMDX-126?  Or are you using an external motion controller such as a SmoothStepper?

(3) Make sure you have the spindle PWM signal assigned to Port 1 Pin 16, and the spindle direction signal to Port 1 Pin 14.

(4) If your settings are correct, when you command the spindle on, with a non-zero speed, you should see the LED on the PMDX-126 at connector J6, the terminal labeled "16" turn on, as well as the "PWM" LED on the PMDX-107.  The brightness of those LEDs should vary with spindle speed - the higher the spindle speed, the brighter the LED.

(5) When you turn on the spindle in the forward direction (i.e. with an "M3" command), you should see the "Run/Fwd" LED on the PMDX-107 turn on.

If you do not see the expected results for steps (4) and (5), then we need to investigate your Mach3/Mach4/Motion Controller configuration.

Bob

140

Generic Spindle interfaces, I/O boards, Misc boards and panels / Re: PMDX-106, PMDX-122, Huanyang VFD setup)

« on: March 28, 2016, 06:17:43 PM »

I don't seem to be able to find a copy of the manual for that model on-line.  I would also check register PD070 which (based on the post above from jbolt) determines whether the analog input for speed control is 0 to 5V or 0 to 10V.

Bob

141

SmartBOB controllers and dedicated accessories / Re: Xylotex Stepper Box and Smartbob 422

« on: March 27, 2016, 02:07:35 AM »

I presume you are using a 26-pin ribbon header to DB25 cable between the PMDX-422 and the Xylotex box.  If so, the ribbon header end should have a "key" on it - a bump sticking out in the middle of one of the long sides of the connector.  If it does not have this "key", make sure that the cable is plugged in the proper orientation:  Pin 1 on the ribbon header is on the end of the connector closest to screw terminal connector J3, and the silk screen text "www.PMDX.com".  Gray ribbon cable usually have a red stripe on pin 1 of the cable.

To set the step/dir pin-out, go to the Mach4 "Configure" menu and select "Plugins...", then click on "PMDX SmartBOBUSB" (or on older versions of Mach4, click on the "Configure" button next to "PMDX SmartBOBUSB").  On our plug-in configuration dialog, click on the "Motor Config" tab.

Bob

142

Parallel Port breakout boards, motherboards, and dedicated accessories / MOVED: Cannot activate Pins

« on: March 26, 2016, 07:29:13 PM »

This topic has been moved to SmartBOB-USB controllers and dedicated accessories.

http://www.pmdx.com/PMDX-Forums/index.php?topic=248.0

143

SmartBOB controllers and dedicated accessories / Re: Cannot activate Pins

« on: March 26, 2016, 07:29:01 PM »

You don't directly assign pins for the step/dir signals.  As shown in step (3) in section 5.2 of th PDMX-411 QuickStart Guide, Motor0 is automatically (and permanently) assigned to pins 2&3, Motor1 to pins 4&5, Motor2 to pins 6&7 and Motor3 to pins 8&9.  Go to the Configure menu and select "Mach...", then click on the "Axis Mapping" tab to mao the motors to your various axes.   You also need to click on the "Motors" tab to configure the steps/inch (or steps/mm), max velocity and acceleration for each motor.  On the "Motors" tab, click on one of the motor names (i.e. click on the word "Motor0", not the checkbox next to it).  Then edit the parameters down at the bottom and click "Apply".  Do the same for each motor.

To select which pins are "step" and which are "direction", go to the "Configure" menu and select "Plugins...", the click on "PMDX SmartBOBUSB" (or on older versions of Mach4, click on the "Configure" button next to "PMDX SmartBOBUSB".  In our configuration dialog, click on the "Motor Config" tab and you will see various configuration parameters for the motors.

Bob

144

Generic Spindle interfaces, I/O boards, Misc boards and panels / Re: PMDX-106, PMDX-122, Huanyang VFD setup)

« on: March 25, 2016, 11:19:09 AM »

And how can I register PD045 and PD044??

The registers are settings that can be programmed from the VFD front panel.  I don't know which model VFD  you have, but there should be a button on the front panel labeled something like "PGM" (for "program").  Pressing that button will display the various "registers", each register has a number (like the "PD044" or other values mentioned in jbolt's post above).  The up and down arrow buttons cycle through all of the registers.  Each register controls some aspect of the VFD's behavior.  If you have the manual for your VFD, it should describe the programming procedure and also list all of the regsiters and what the values mean.

In the case of the 2 registers I mentioned, I admit that I just copied those register numbers from jbolt's post, presuming that your VFD would have the same register layout.  There should be one or two programmable registers that determine how the "FOR" and "REV" terminals are used.  Often they can be "forward" and "reverse", or "run" and "direction".  You want to program them for "forward" and "reverse".

There is a post in this like that describes how to select a register and change its value:
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/diy-cnc-router-table-machines/129938-heck-program-huanyang-vfd.html

Bob

145

Generic Spindle interfaces, I/O boards, Misc boards and panels / Re: PMDX-106, PMDX-122, Huanyang VFD setup)

« on: March 24, 2016, 10:16:24 PM »

I am also working on this VFD. but I am using PMDX 107... so i need wiring diagram of VFD with PMDX-107

See figure 2 in the PMDX-107 manual for the analog connections:
PMDX-107 "Agnd" goes to VFD "AGM"
PMDX-107 "Aout" goes to VFD "VI"

For the forward/reverse controls (using jbolt's connections from above):
PMDX-107 "COM" goes to VFD "DCM"
PMDX-107 "Fwd/Run" goes to VFD "FOR" (with VFD register PD044 = 02)
PMDX-107 "Rev/Dir" goes to VFD "REV" (with VFD register PD0045 = 03)

See sections 4.1 through 4.5 for the DIP switches (hint - "Normal" mode, Relays as "Forward" and "Reverse", probably "Require Charge Pump OK", "fast PWM filter response" and 10V reference).

Bob

146

SmartBOB controllers and dedicated accessories / Re: VFD spindle controler noise

« on: March 22, 2016, 10:44:20 PM »

Looking back though your previous posts, I see that you sent us a diagram back in Nov of last year.  I'll see if I still have that hanging around and if it has the detail that we need for this problem.  But at least a couple of pictures of your current configuration would be helpful - showing what is in your control box and how everything is connected, and one showing overall layout/position of the PC, control box and machine.

In addition to what Steve mentions...

Did you try leaving the motor cables unplugged and connecting the one or more limit switch wires and see what happened?

When you say you "unplugged the motor cables", are these the cables from the motor drivers to the motors themselves?  Or the cables from the C10 board to the stepper drivers?  I presume they are from the stepper drivers to the motors.

Are the stepper drivers inside the control box?  If so, try disconnecting the C10 from the stepper drivers and DO connect the motors to the motor drivers.  See if that still causes the issue.

Bob

147

SmartBOB controllers and dedicated accessories / Re: VFD spindle controler noise

« on: March 17, 2016, 01:09:15 PM »

A quick test is to disconnect the limit/home switches from the breakout board and see if that alters the behavior.  How close is the control box to the spindle motor?

Bob

148

SmartBOB controllers and dedicated accessories / Re: VFD spindle controler noise

« on: March 16, 2016, 04:09:13 PM »

Let me make sure I understand your configuration:

The vfd is not connected to the motor control box

I presume the "motor control box" is where you have the SmartBOB and (if I remember) the C-10 break-out board.  So there are no wires going from the the control box tot he VFD (i.e. 0-10V control voltage, or signals for forward/reverse), correct?

it [the VFD] is mounted on a wall about 3 foot from the motor control box and the motor supply cable runs directly to the spindle thru the wire carrier tracks.

"motor supply cables"?  Is the the AC power to the VFD?  Or is this the wiring from the VFD to the spindle motor?  Or both?

The spindle wire is shielded cable and the drain wire is connected to earth ground. So I was hoping you could give me some suggestions for getting rid of the electrical noise as that looks like the problem.

"spindle wire" - is this the wiring from the VFD to the spindle motor?

So, if I read this correctly, with no control wired from the SmartBOB/break-out board to the VFD, you manually turn on the spindle (from the VFD controls) and this causes Mach4 to stop responding.  Is that correct?

The usual cause of this kind of problem is electrical noise from the VFD/Spindle motor corrupting the USB communications.  This could be conducted noise through AC power lines or signal control lines, or radiated noise.  And these issues can be challenging to track down.  Our usual suggestions include

- making sure all VFD wiring is as far as possible from the PC, SmartBOB, break-out board, and limit/home switch wiring (or any other signal that feeds into the break-out board)

- making sure that the AC power for the PC and any break-out boards is as isolated as possible from the VFD (and stepper/servo motor) power wiring.  This can mean powering them from two different AC lines from your breaker panel, or if they have to run off the same AC power line from the breaker panel, they should "meet" at the wall outlet, not at a common outlet strip on the machine.  This isn't always possible, but we may ask you to try this for testing purposes.

- use shielded wiring for home/limit switches, with the shield grounded to the break-out board's ground

It would be very helpful if you could draw a wiring diagram for your system and post that here.  Include all of the AC power wiring and grounding connections that you have in your system.  Pictures of you machine, specially the PC and control box) would be helpful as well.

Bob

149

Parallel Port breakout boards, motherboards, and dedicated accessories / Re: Will a PMDX-126 rev C work to replace this BOB which came with

« on: March 14, 2016, 01:53:00 PM »

Not to step on Steve's toes...

One thing to try is to connect only your motor drivers to the PMDX-126.  Disconnect any sensors or EStop switches (and connect a jumper wire from the PMDX-126's ESTOP input to the adjacent GND terminal).  Then try jogging the machine and see how the motion is.  This will help make sure that you have the step/dir/common connections configured correctly before we go on to looking at you sensor inputs.

Also - double-check the AC input voltage selector switch on the PMDX-126.  We ship the boards with the switch set for 230/240VAC as a safety precaution.  If you are running 110/120VAC then the switch needs to be changed.

Bob

150

Parallel Port breakout boards, motherboards, and dedicated accessories / Re: Charge Pump to G540 from PMDX-126 with PMDX-411

« on: March 10, 2016, 11:18:31 AM »

If you are using the G540 connected to a PMDX-126 via the ribbon header J19, you do not need (and can not use) the G540's charge pump feature.  As long as you have the charge pump enabled on the PMDX-126, the PMDX-126 will make sure that the step and direction signals to the G540 are held inactive (low) until there is a valid charge pump (and also no EStop).  So disable the G540's charge pump.

The longer answer is that the "pin 16" signal on J19 comes from the 2nd parallel port on the PMDX-126, not from the the first parallel port.  That allows 6 step/direction pairs of signals along with spindle control on port 1 pins 14 and 16, and charge pump on port 1 pin 17.  This mode has 4 step/dir pairs coming from the first parallel port and 2 more from the 2nd parallel port.  There *is* a mode on the PMDX-126 ("Jumbo" mode) that drives J19 pin 16 from parallel port 1, but that simply clones the signal from pin 3 (creating a hardware slave motor on pins 16/17 that is a copy of pins 2/3).

Bob