Flood Coolant Set Up Questions

Spent quite a bit of time today trying to figure out why the spindle won't reverse. No luck.

In addition to the information above Here's more:

DS1 comes on with a M3 and M4 command.

DS2 comes on with a M3 or M4 command.

DS3 comes on at power up.

DS4 does not come on with a M# or M4 command.

DS5 flashes rapidly with a M3 or M4 command.

The Mach3 pin 16 or 14 lights do not come on when a M3 or M4 command is entered. I'm assuming you are referring to the pin lights on the Diagnostic screen.

JP2 is in multi-mode. Dip switch 8 is closed. To verify I changed dip switch 8 to open and K2 relay does not energize.

Tried using pin 1, and 17 as Dir pins but this made no difference. Also tried a few VFD parameter changes that didn't work out.

I rechecked my Mach3 configuration and double checked it against the PMDX-126 and 107 manuals. And I unwired and rewired the 107 board to the VFD. No luck here either.

I've attached a wiring diagram for the 107 to VFD for reference. I'm thinking I have a bad spindle control board.
 

Attachments

  • VFD to 107 Wiring Diagram.pdf
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DS1 comes on with a M3 and M4 command. - Check SAT

DS2 comes on with a M3 or M4 command. - Check SAT

DS3 comes on at power up. - Check SAT

DS4 does not come on with a M# or M4 command. Check UNSAT

DS5 flashes rapidly with a M3 or M4 command. - Inconclusive. See Table 9 of PMDX-107 manual to see if flash pattern corresponds with error codes

The Mach3 pin 16 or 14 lights do not come on when a M3 or M4 command is entered. I'm assuming you are referring to the pin lights on the Diagnostic screen. - Correct, was referring to the Mach3 pin status screen LED's. UNSAT.

P1-P16 screen LED may not be visible as it's putting out the PWM signal and may appear odd as it's probably trying to blink at some high frequency.

P1-P14 should come on at an M4 command and stay off at M3, as the 107 uses P1-P14 as the direction signal. Pin low is FWD, pin high is reverse.

If Mach3 isn't sending Port 1 Pin 14 high at an M4 command, then the PMDX-126 and -107 aren't receiving a reverse direction command. Even if nothing is connected to the computer or ESS, Mach3 should still report via the screen LED's that P1-P14 is 'high' when M4 is commanded.

JP2 is in multi-mode. Dip switch 8 is closed. To verify I changed dip switch 8 to open and K2 relay does not energize. - Check SAT

I'm thinking I have a bad spindle control board. - not sure about that yet.

TESTS:
1. Next step is to figure out why (or verify that) Mach3 isn't sending P1-P14 high at M4. I don't know enough about the ESS to determine if that could interfere with the signal. I would put a multi-meter in the ribbon cable terminal (use a needle in the terminal) to the PMDX-126 and check for 0VDC between P1-P14 and ground. Then call M4 and see if you get voltage at that pin.

1a. Voltage = problem in PMDX-126, 107, or the VFD (electrical, wiring, or programming). Skip to Test 2.
1b. No voltage = problem with ribbon cable or ESS/126 terminals, ESS (electrical or plugin), or Mach3 configuration. Skip to Test 4.

2. If voltage is present at Test 1 (above), then check PMDX-126 P1-P14 LED adjacent to connector J6 (next to big transformer). Command M4 and see if that LED lights up.

2a. P1-P14 LED lights up = Problem with 107, 126 to 107 cable or connectors. Skip to Test 3.

2b. P1-P14 LED doesn't light up = May be problem with 126. Not sure if using the 107 supersedes or overrides this LED, manual is not clear if this output LED should light up when a 107 is connected.

3. P1-P14 LED lights up, but 107 LED DS4 does not = Problem with PMDX-107 connector, ribbon cable, dip switches, or dead 107 board.

3a. If no LED, then check dip switches 1-3 on 107, wiring connections, and ribbon cable. Unfortunately, the J18 connector pin-out is proprietary and you'l need to get in touch with PMDX for further trouble-shooting if a continuity check of the cable is SAT and the dip switches are set properly.

4. Something other than 126 or 107...
4a. Check ribbon cable continuity, check for bent pins.
4b. Verify ESS plugin. Re-install if necessary. Check configuration. Voltage test at ESS P1-P14 output pin.
4c. Verify Mach3 config again. I know...again...

My suspicion is that there's a Mach3 or ESS configuration problem and not a hardware issue (or not exclusively a hardware issue) - you should have gotten the P1-P14 screen LED to come on even if nothing is connected to the computer.

-S
 
spumco said:
DS1 comes on with a M3 and M4 command. - Check SAT

DS2 comes on with a M3 or M4 command. - Check SAT

DS3 comes on at power up. - Check SAT

DS4 does not come on with a M# or M4 command. Check UNSAT

DS5 flashes rapidly with a M3 or M4 command. - Inconclusive. See Table 9 of PMDX-107 manual to see if flash pattern corresponds with error codes

The Mach3 pin 16 or 14 lights do not come on when a M3 or M4 command is entered. I'm assuming you are referring to the pin lights on the Diagnostic screen. - Correct, was referring to the Mach3 pin status screen LED's. UNSAT.

P1-P16 screen LED may not be visible as it's putting out the PWM signal and may appear odd as it's probably trying to blink at some high frequency.

P1-P14 should come on at an M4 command and stay off at M3, as the 107 uses P1-P14 as the direction signal. Pin low is FWD, pin high is reverse.

If Mach3 isn't sending Port 1 Pin 14 high at an M4 command, then the PMDX-126 and -107 aren't receiving a reverse direction command. Even if nothing is connected to the computer or ESS, Mach3 should still report via the screen LED's that P1-P14 is 'high' when M4 is commanded.

JP2 is in multi-mode. Dip switch 8 is closed. To verify I changed dip switch 8 to open and K2 relay does not energize. - Check SAT

I'm thinking I have a bad spindle control board. - not sure about that yet.

TESTS:
1. Next step is to figure out why (or verify that) Mach3 isn't sending P1-P14 high at M4. I don't know enough about the ESS to determine if that could interfere with the signal. I would put a multi-meter in the ribbon cable terminal (use a needle in the terminal) to the PMDX-126 and check for 0VDC between P1-P14 and ground. Then call M4 and see if you get voltage at that pin.

1a. Voltage = problem in PMDX-126, 107, or the VFD (electrical, wiring, or programming). Skip to Test 2.
1b. No voltage = problem with ribbon cable or ESS/126 terminals, ESS (electrical or plugin), or Mach3 configuration. Skip to Test 4.

2. If voltage is present at Test 1 (above), then check PMDX-126 P1-P14 LED adjacent to connector J6 (next to big transformer). Command M4 and see if that LED lights up.

2a. P1-P14 LED lights up = Problem with 107, 126 to 107 cable or connectors. Skip to Test 3.

2b. P1-P14 LED doesn't light up = May be problem with 126. Not sure if using the 107 supersedes or overrides this LED, manual is not clear if this output LED should light up when a 107 is connected.

3. P1-P14 LED lights up, but 107 LED DS4 does not = Problem with PMDX-107 connector, ribbon cable, dip switches, or dead 107 board.

3a. If no LED, then check dip switches 1-3 on 107, wiring connections, and ribbon cable. Unfortunately, the J18 connector pin-out is proprietary and you'l need to get in touch with PMDX for further trouble-shooting if a continuity check of the cable is SAT and the dip switches are set properly.

4. Something other than 126 or 107...
4a. Check ribbon cable continuity, check for bent pins.
4b. Verify ESS plugin. Re-install if necessary. Check configuration. Voltage test at ESS P1-P14 output pin.
4c. Verify Mach3 config again. I know...again...

My suspicion is that there's a Mach3 or ESS configuration problem and not a hardware issue (or not exclusively a hardware issue) - you should have gotten the P1-P14 screen LED to come on even if nothing is connected to the computer.

-S
Click to expand...

Wow! Thanks for your comprehensive test procedure. I'm going to go your route but first I'm going to try one more thing. I spent several hours searching the net for any information on a similar situation. Came up empty handed until late last night I came across an archive file from another machining forum. Buried in about 500 files was a thread that walked through almost exactly the same problem I'm having. There wasn't much detail given (it appears that the problem was discussed and resolved over the phone) but the conclusion was the end user had a corrupt Mach3 configuration file. Reloading Mach solved the M3/M4 problem. I'll report back.
 
Dying to find out the deal, and I'm hoping it's a config problem. You really didn't change anything on any of the board config switches other than enabling K2.

And you didn't report a "saw a pretty blue spark" event, so I'm crossing my fingers all the electrical pixies are still where they're supposed to be.
 
spumco said:
Dying to find out the deal, and I'm hoping it's a config problem. You really didn't change anything on any of the board config switches other than enabling K2.

And you didn't report a "saw a pretty blue spark" event, so I'm crossing my fingers all the electrical pixies are still where they're supposed to be.
Click to expand...


Yeah, I'm anxious too. I also posted on the PMDX forum. Received some feedback with a few things to try. I got tied up yesterday with "other" things. Today I plan on finishing the configuration.
 
Not much to report. The lack of CCW rotation is still there. This is what I did today.

1. Finished configuring Mach3. I purposely didn't save any of my configuration so I wouldn't reload a bad configuration. All components work as they should, except the spindle.

2. Checked continuity from the ESS Pin 14 through the ribbon cable and to Port 1 Pin 14 on the 126 board. All good.

3. Entered a M4 command and checked voltage from the ESS Port 1 Pin 14 to J6 Pin 14. Had 4.8vdc from the ESS to Port 1 Pin 14 ribbon cable connector. Measured 0vdc at J6 Pin 14 terminal with M3 command. This is good!

4. Removed the 107 board from the ESS, checked to ribbon cable connectors and headers.

5. No matter what I've done Pin 14 LED or DS4 LED does not turn on.

6. Changed 107 dip switches 3 and 4 from off to on. No change.

My next test is to determine if the REV signal is getting from the 107 board to the VFD.
 
Sorry - It's been a while since I used Mach3 and I forgot there isn't a dedicated pin status LED for the spindle. Most of the other outputs have a PIN LED, but it appears that I may have given you bunk info based on my dodgy memory of Mach3. I'm using UCCNC and it has a dedicated LED for every port & pin.

Not that it matters - you've proven that Mach3 and the ESS are doing their thing appropriately.

Another thing to test, after you've checked the 107 output (assuming it's outputting properly), is the VFD itself. It usually sucks changing parameters back and forth, but you might try seeing if you can get it to reverse direction using the local VFD panel - just to confirm the VFD isn't acting up.
 
spumco said:
Sorry - It's been a while since I used Mach3 and I forgot there isn't a dedicated pin status LED for the spindle. Most of the other outputs have a PIN LED, but it appears that I may have given you bunk info based on my dodgy memory of Mach3. I'm using UCCNC and it has a dedicated LED for every port & pin.

Not that it matters - you've proven that Mach3 and the ESS are doing their thing appropriately.

Another thing to test, after you've checked the 107 output (assuming it's outputting properly), is the VFD itself. It usually sucks changing parameters back and forth, but you might try seeing if you can get it to reverse direction using the local VFD panel - just to confirm the VFD isn't acting up.
Click to expand...

I did some further testing this morning, and to your suggestion about 107 outputs. Here's what I came up with (some data may have changed from what I previously reported).

1. In M3 mode (P1P16 LED on). Measured .22vdc at Pin 14, 1.22vdc at Pin 16, .11vdc at Pin 1, and 0vdc at Pin 17. In M4 mode (P1Pin16 LED on). Measured .23vdc at Pin 14, 1.22vdc at Pin16, .11vdc at Pin 1, and 0vdc at Pin 17.

2. In M3 mode measuring between 107 board and Agnd terminal. Measured 0 vdc at REV, measured 23.6vdc at FWD, measured 23.7vdc at COM, and measured 2.9vdc across Aout and Agnd. In M4 mode measured 0vdc at REV, 24.0vdc at FWD, 24.1vdc at COM, and .29 across Aout and Agnd.

3. Checked voltage at the VFD terminals. In M3 mode measured P24 at 23.6vdc, PLC at 0vdc, L at 0vdc, 1 at 23.6 vdc, 2 at 0vdc, and O at 0vdc. In M4 mode measured 23.8vdc at P25, 0vdc at PLC, 0vdc at L, 23.7 at 1, 0vdc at 2, and 2.9vdc at O.

What I see is the REV signal is not getting to the 107 board.

As I'm sitting here writing this I realized I can reverse the FWD and REV leads at the VFD and if the spindle runs in reverse then that tells me it's not the VFD. I sure wish the PMDX guys would respond with there input. I'm sure they would zero in on the problem so we don't have to continue down this testing path, and I can get my mill running.

Again, thanks for your help.
 
I swapped the FWD and REV signal wires from the 107 board to the VFD. Keyed in a M3 command and the spindle turned CCW. Same with a M4 command. The VFD configuration is good. It's now either the 126 or 107 boards, or both.
 
While you're waiting for PMDX to get on the ball, you could try unplugging the 107 board from the 126. Then see if you get the LED and/or 5VDC at P1-P14 when you toggle M3/M4.
 
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