Messages

1

Parallel Port breakout boards, motherboards, and dedicated accessories / Question re: COM and isolation on your circuit

« on: October 17, 2016, 02:34:46 PM »

Steve, I'm following up on your comment from earlier today (3 posts above)

ERIC ASKED: "I am powering this circuit from the same 5VDC 1.5 Amp isolated supply that powers my ESS; however to do so, I had to connect COMMON from the ESS to the COMMON on the PMDX-107. It all works but I want to know from you if this is OK or if it will defeat the isolation."

STEVE RESPONDED: "As long as you do not connect the COM of the PMDX-107 to anything other than your relay circuit, everything will be fine. The COM and the Agnd of the PMDX-107 are isolated from each other."

ERIC RESPONDS: Steve, to get power to the relays I have to share the COM from the PMDX-107 with something else, so that would contradict what you advise. Presently,I am powering this circuit from the same 5VDC 1.5 Amp isolated supply that powers my ESS -- which means that COM and +5VDC are shared with my ESS Supply.

Do you advise I add another walwart supply just for the relay side of your circuit? (Even still, that would need to have COM tied to -VDC of the supply)

Does that make sense? I tried to describe as best as I could. Or, is there another way to isolate the power side? (some circuit perhaps?)

2

Parallel Port breakout boards, motherboards, and dedicated accessories / Re: How do I reverse output polarity on PMDX-107 to send - 10VDC to KBMG?

« on: October 17, 2016, 01:01:38 PM »

Thank you, Steve. I did not realize I was referring to the wrong device.

I now understand that the KMBG is the motor driver and the SI-6 is the isolation board (which I have now removed). Got it. Thanks.

3

Parallel Port breakout boards, motherboards, and dedicated accessories / Re: How do I validate that the PMDX boards are appropriately isolated

« on: October 17, 2016, 12:44:49 PM »

Thank you, Bob, for the swift and helpful (and educational) reply. I need to digest this.

4

Parallel Port breakout boards, motherboards, and dedicated accessories / How do I validate that the PMDX boards are appropriately isolated

« on: October 16, 2016, 12:18:46 AM »

Bob, I'm still wrapping my head around how to not violate isolation, but with so many independent supplies and come commons tied together I fear things make not be fully isolated.

Is there a basic test (e.g. ohmmeter) you recommend to validate that things are properly isolated?

5

Parallel Port breakout boards, motherboards, and dedicated accessories / Steve, I built the interface circuit and it worked first time. A few questions..

« on: October 16, 2016, 12:10:45 AM »

Steve, I've attached a photo of the interface board I built using your schematic. It's not pretty but worked fine the first time I powered up. Thank you!

Some quick comments/questions for you or Bob so I can call this done:
Comments:
- I have removed the SI-6 isolation board from the KBIC, per your instructions.
- I see that we are powering the MC 1458 OP AMP from the +- 15VDC coming from the KBIC. This worked.
- For the relays I used a $3 optoisolated dual relay board from my Arduino kit (see attached). This provides isolation and LEDs to make it easier to see what happening.

QUESTIONS FOR STEVE/BOB:
1. Your schematic appears to show capacitors between COM and -15VDC coming from KBIC Driver. What kind and value should I use?
2. I am powering this circuit from the same 5VDC 1.5 Amp isolated supply that powers my ESS; however to do so, I had to connect COMMON from the ESS to the COMMON on the PMDX-107. It all works but I want to know from you if this is OK or if it will defeat the isolation.

Please advise

6

Parallel Port breakout boards, motherboards, and dedicated accessories / Under Steve's direction, I replaced the LED with a new one. All is now well

« on: October 12, 2016, 06:53:01 PM »

Steve and I tested the circuit and concluded that the next step was to pull the LED and try a new one. I replaced the LED and the E-Stop LED comes on when E-Stop is activated on the PMDX-126.

I understand these things can happen and I really appreciate being able to talk to people who are smart and willing to stick with customers until the issues are resolved. That's what brought me to PMDX and that kind of service will keep me coming back to buy more.

All is now well and this case is closed.
Eric

7

Parallel Port breakout boards, motherboards, and dedicated accessories / Steve, you may have misunderstood -- I am not attempting to drive external LEDs

« on: October 12, 2016, 05:32:17 PM »

I simply want to get the PMDX-179 E-Stop LED (the on board one) to work.

It does not and has not since the board arrived last week. Bob has been helping me and the above post was my answer to his question.

Can you help? I'd really like to get this working. Thanks!

8

Parallel Port breakout boards, motherboards, and dedicated accessories / Re: How do I get PMDX-179 E-Stop light to work when connected to PMDX-126

« on: October 12, 2016, 04:33:13 AM »

Bob, here are the answers to your requested tests
1. With the PMDX-126's EStop input grounded (Which makes the PMDX-126's red EStop LED turn off) the voltage across the PMDX-179 J3 Pin1 & 10 is 0.92 volts (zero point nine two)
2. With the PMDX-126's EStop input OPEN (Which makes the PMDX-126's red EStop LED turn ON) the voltage across the PMDX-179 J3 Pin1 & 10 is 0 Voltz (zero volts)

Could it be as simple as a bad LED which I can replace for you to avoid delay and shipping? Or, do you need the unit back for repair? (I just purchased it)

I await your instruction. Thanks.

9

Parallel Port breakout boards, motherboards, and dedicated accessories / Re: Random E-Stop events in Mach3 via ESS even though there E-Stop LED on PMD

« on: October 12, 2016, 04:28:44 AM »

Hi Bob Here are the answers to your questions:

1. The KBIC's "Enable" input is simply "connect to GND to enable, disconnect from GND to disable"
2. When I press the EStop switch, thereby opening the connection between EStop to GND, the PMDX-126 DOES recognize this as turn on the red EStop LED. And, it DOES also disable the KBIC,
3. I am supplying power to the ESS via a dedicated external +5V 1 Amp power supply. That is what your manual recommends when I am using the PMDX-126 to supply power to the PMDX-107.

Test results:
(1) With the KBIC's "Enable" input connected to the PMDX-126's EStop terminal (and KBIC GND to EStop GND), press the EStop switch to open the contacts to the PMDX-126.  Measure the voltage between the PMDX-126's EStop terminal and the adjacent GND terminal.
VOLTAGE IS 16.2 VDC

(2) No disconnect the KBIC's "Enable" terminal from the PMDX-126's EStop terminal.  Again, measure the voltage between the PMDX-126's EStop terminal and the adjacent GND terminal. Let me know what the two voltage readings are.
VOLTAGE IS 19.77 VDC. (It would appear that the KBIC provides a 3.5 volt drop when the KBIC Enable line is connected to the PMDX-126 E-Stop.. NOTE: I had my G540 removed from the circuit for this test. The G540 was also tied to the PMDX-126 E-Stop Input)

I hope this information helps provide a clearer picture and I look forward to your next instruction.

10

Parallel Port breakout boards, motherboards, and dedicated accessories / Solution: A circuit to create +-10VDC to drive KBIC Speed control from PMDX-107

« on: October 12, 2016, 04:06:30 AM »

[This circuit from Steve worked for me. (Thanks Steve) I'm pasting the emails from Steve here so that it can help someone else someday]

Hi Eric,
Well, despite my earlier confidence, I have not come up with a circuit that does not need you to use a relay. That being the case, I have to drop back and recommend a dirt simple one that uses two SPDT relays and a dual op-amp.

Circuit Overview
1. You would control the two relay coils using the Fwd/Run and Rev/Dir outputs from the PMDX-107. The PMDX-107 should be configured for the Run and Direction output mode.
2. The dual op-amp would be powered from the +15 and -15 volts provided by your driver.
3. One op-amp section would be configured as a non-inverting buffer for the Aout of the PMDX-107.
4. The other op-amp section would be configured as an inverting buffer for the Aout.
5. Then the relay controlled by Rev/Dir from the PMDX-107 would select between the outputs for the op-amp sections in order to feed the correct one to the driver.
5. The other relay would control the Enable input to the driver and provide additional isolation.

Schematic attached

Regards,
Steve Stallings
PMDX

11

Parallel Port breakout boards, motherboards, and dedicated accessories / Re: Random E-Stop events in Mach3 via ESS even though there E-Stop LED on PMD

« on: October 11, 2016, 11:48:11 AM »

Hi Bob,
- The ESS is mounted ON the PMDX-126 using the 6" cables purchased from PMDX
- Makes sense that this would be outside of the PMDX-126.
- I will explore adding filtering on Port 1, Pin 10 in the ESS Config.

Do you have any concern that the E-Stop signal into the PMDX-126 is also connected to the SIGM/KBIC ENABLE pin and the SIGM/KBIC COM (Ground) is connected to the PMDX-126 Ground?

When this KBIC was used for AhHa the ENABLE was hard jumpered to COM at the SIGM/KBIC but I decided to connect it to the shared E-Stop going to the PMDX-126.

Any thoughts are welcome.

Eric
 

12

Parallel Port breakout boards, motherboards, and dedicated accessories / Re: How do I get PMDX-179 E-Stop light to work when connected to PMDX-126

« on: October 11, 2016, 11:41:24 AM »

Hi Bob,
Again, thanks for the prompt response. Still no success with this but here are the answers to your questions:

1. I can confirm, on the PMDX-179 that I DO see the "Outputs Enabled" LED ON
2. I do NOT see the "Step Activity" LED flicker when  I jog an axis? (I believe that is because I am using an External G540 on ESS Port3 -- bypassing the PMDX-126). I temporarily reassigned X Axis ports and pins to Port 1 Pins 2&3 and jogged the X Axis and now I DO see the "Step Activity" LED light. So I believe that works fine. (May want to clarify that this LED is only for PMDX-126 onboard Step/DIR)
3. When I press and hold the "Test" push-button on the PMDX-126 here's what I see on the PMDX-179:
   Status LED = ON (You called it "Error Code")
   E-Stop Remains off
4. Out of curiousity, I pressed and held the "Test" button on the PMDX-107 and:
   Outputs Enabled = changed to OFF
   Status LED = ON
   E-Stop Remains off
5. I reread the documentation for PMDX-179 and noticed that it says the CONFIG switches are ignored at this time but that they should all be set to ON. Mine were all set to OFF from the factory. I changed them to ON. No change in results.

Please let me know what I should do next. This board is new and installed last week. Everything else seems to work on it. It's actually quite a handy board!

13

Parallel Port breakout boards, motherboards, and dedicated accessories / Re: Should I enable charge pump signal between PMDX-1267 and PMDX-107 Speed control?

« on: October 11, 2016, 11:17:15 AM »

Excellent.

Since I am using an Ethernet SmoothStepper which eliminates the need for a Charge Pump safety, I will turn that off on the PMDX-126 and reassign that pin for another purpose.

Thank you for the clarification.  (Might be useful to add to your next manual revision)

14

Parallel Port breakout boards, motherboards, and dedicated accessories / Re: How to connect G540 Motor PS to PMDX-179 so that "Motor Power" LED works

« on: October 11, 2016, 11:13:21 AM »

Thanks for the swift response and clarification, Bob. I did as you instructed and the Motor Power LED works. You may want to paste the clarification you wrote for me into the documentation as an example.

Thanks.

Eric

15

Parallel Port breakout boards, motherboards, and dedicated accessories / Random E-Stop events in Mach3 via ESS even though there E-Stop LED on PMD

« on: October 10, 2016, 04:49:36 PM »

I recently replaced my CNC4PC C32 BOB with a PMDX-126 board. While I am still learning, I find the PMDX-126 board well designed and a delight to use.

MY CONFIGURATION
ESS -->> PMDX-126 -->> MACH3
I also have the PMDX-107 and PMDX-179

PROBLEM:  I'm getting random E-Stop into Mach3 via ESS even though there E-Stop LED on PMDX-126 is OFF

I'm not sure the PMDX-126 is actually the source of the problem. I just want to know if there are some standard things to look for.

Apart from a possible issue with the PMDX-126 (unlikely) I think this could well be a (self-inflicted) problem in how I have shared the E-Stop signal and ground with my KBIC Controller and my PMDX-126 (See this post: http://www.pmdx.com/PMDX-Forums/index.php?topic=332.msg1386#msg1386 )

Here's what that looks like:

E-STOP SIGNAL  ---+-->> PMDX-126
                                        |
                                        +-->> KBIC "ENABLE" input

E-Stop, PMDX-126 and KBIC share common signal ground.


One thought I had was to disconnect the shared E-Stop and Ground wires between the PMDX-126 and SIGM/KBIC driver and see what that does, but before I make any more changes I thought I would seek your guidance on common ways to troubleshoot random E-Stop signals into my ESS even though the PMDX-126 E-Stop LED does not show an E-Stop condition.

Thanks.

Eric