Spindle control issue

[spumco]

Dear UCCNC folks,

I have a question/problem with a completely re-wired mill, but I'm at a loss in troubleshooting it.

Basic setup: WinPC,Mach3 3.043.066, UC400ETH, PMDX-126, PMDX-107, Hitachi WJ200 VFD, and a Marathon motor. UCCNC Mach3 plug-in has been updated to the latest version automatically.

Spindle is under PWM control from the PMDX-107 daughterboard. Mach3 is set to "ignore spindle relays", and the motor pins are set according to the PMDX manual (Port 1, Pin 14 is DIR; Port 1, Pin 16 is PWM).

The issue is that the spindle rotates clockwise with both an M03 and M04 commands. If I change the DIR pin to 'Active Low', both commands rotate the spindle counter-clockwise. Speed of the spindle is accurate, just not the rotation direction.

Since changing the pin state changes the motor rotation, it's obvious that the UC400ETH, breakout board, spindle control board, and VFD are working properly. This narrows it down to Mach3 or the UCCNC plug-in.

Issuing M03 and M04 commands with the Mach3 400ETH plug-in diagnostic window open reveals that pin 14 is not changing state, confirming that everything downstream of the software is following the commands appropriately.

While I intend to purchase a UCCNC license shortly, I would like to get my licensed copy of Mach3 operating first so I can finish commissioning the mill overhaul without having to navigate completely new software.

So, any ideas? Is there some setting in the plug-in configuration I need to change? Am I missing something in Mach3, unrelated to the plugin, and should seek help in a different venue? Just thought I'd try here first...

Thanks,
Spumco

[cncdrive]

Hi,

First of, this is not a mach3 support forum, but this forum is to support the UCCNC software.

Second, please make sure to download and install the latest UC400ETH-Mach3 plugin, from here: http://www.cncdrive.com/UC400ETH.html (Point 2. UCx00 automatic installer for Mach3)

Third, if the newest plugin still has the issue you described then please e-mail us with your problem description and your .xml setup file you running for mach3 and tell us the mach3 version number you using.

[A_Camera]

The issue is that the spindle rotates clockwise with both an M03 and M04 commands.

If my memory does not fail there is an error in the Mach3 release. By default the M3 and M4 macros are identical, both contain the command DoSpinCW(). This confused me as well when I first tried to spin the spindle in CCW direction the first time. So, my advise is open the M4 macro, check that it gives the right command, i.e. DoSpinCCW() and not DoSpinCW(), whci is the M3 macro.

Check also the configuration of your VFD. My VFD has a parameter which prevents the spindle from spinning in CCW even if the VFD is commanded the software (Mach3 or UCCNC) to do so. I can set the VFD up so that it always spins the spindle in CW direction, even when commanded otherwise.

Good luck.

[spumco]

For anyone interested, the spindle control problem has been narrowed down to the Mach3 plugin, not any of the hardware or Mach3 itself.

I purchased a UCCNC license and it works perfectly at setting the spindle speed and direction. Balazs has given me a working 'trick' to use Mach3 and the plugin, but CNCDrive folks will troubleshoot after the holidays.

Despite UCCNC working fine, I'm still interested in being able to use Mach3.

-Spumco