CNC12 and RS-485...

[geneb]

My current ShopBot configuration uses a USB-RS-485 adapter to talk to my Yaskawa VFD. Is it possible to configure CNC12 to use that interface instead of trying to figure out if the VFD will take a 0..10V signal off the Acorn?

Tnx.

g.

[carboncymbal]

I don’t believe RS-485 is available on centroid products. I think almost all VFDs have an option to take a 0-10v input, probably 10 minutes of wiring (0-10 v and probably a spindle enable output via relay) and changing a few parameters on the drive would get you running.

You may be able to get some type of adapter to convert 0-10v to your RS-485 signal. That path seems more expensive, more error prone, and more work to me.

[geneb]

CNC12 wouldn't need to know anything about RS-485 - it would just need the serial port parameters and a port # to use. Oh well.
Tnx.

g.

[cncsnw]

You could try some experiments with M120 and M223, to write text to a serial port that you have configured.

If that works, then you could write your own M3, M4 and M5 macros to send appropriate commands to the spindle drive.

You will, of course, have to devise some separate way to ensure that the spindle gets turned off if the program cycle is canceled before it gets to the M5 code.

Back in the CNC7 and CNC10 days, there was a feature that sent spindle on/off and speed commands out a PC serial port, formatted specifically for Baldor drives. Look up Parameter 31 in an old CNC7 or CNC10 operator's manual. As far as I know, though, that feature is not supported in CNC11 or CNC12.

[geneb]

AFAIK, the spindle on/off is currently controlled by a relay in the SB control box. It looks like the docs show rotation direction is controlled with relays...which is sub-optimal. I will absolutely investigate with those two M codes and report back. Thanks for that. Unfortunately, it may be a couple of weeks - I'm still in the final stages of commissioning a PrintNC CNC machine..

g.

[geneb]

Looking at the M code docs for the Acorn made me think of something else - does CNC12 do plug-ins?

tnx.

g.

[suntravel]

AFAIK, the spindle on/off is currently controlled by a relay in the SB control box. It looks like the docs show rotation direction is controlled with relays...which is sub-optimal. I will absolutely investigate with those two M codes and report back. Thanks for that. Unfortunately, it may be a couple of weeks - I'm still in the final stages of commissioning a PrintNC CNC machine..

g.

For what task should it be a problem to control spindle direction with relays, especially on a PrintNC Router ?

I do rigid tapping up to 3000 rpm with the default relays

For faster switching you can replace the relays with SSR if needed.

Uwe

[geneb]

Uwe, I'm using a Flexi-HAL controller running grblHAL for my PrintNC machine. My questions are regarding my upcoming ShopBot upgrade using a driver kit I bought from Gary Campbell. I'm after as little re-configuration as possible, and getting CNC12 to talk to a serial port is part of that. If there's a plug-in interface available, I'd be happy to write one to support the feature. Software engineering is my day job and has been for over 30 years.

tnx.

g.

[Sword]

Gene, I'm guessing your Yaskawa VFD is either a V7-4X or a V1000. Just reconfigure the few VFD parameters needed to use the 0-10v analog signal provided on the Acorn board and you'll be good to go. No fuss no muss!

[geneb]

Yep, it's a V7-4X. I'm looking through the manual now.

g.