Centroid Community CNC Support Forum

As far as I can tell, the GS3 drives only use the encoder for speed regulation. I did not see anything in the encoder tech sheet or the GS3 manual on automation direct's website that referred to orientation.

Tom,
I was thinking the same thing. That board may already be in there since spindle speed and rigid tapping works. Will have to open it up to verify.

Spindle speed and rigid tapping have nothing to do with the VFD and or the VFD encoder card.

As Tom just pointed out, the encoder does not need to be wired to the GS3 drive in order for the GS3 drive to control speed. The GS3 does that based just on the 0-10V analog signal from the PLC, and its own V/f or open-loop-vector control algorithm.

The spindle encoder does not need to be wired to the GS3 drive in order to do rigid tapping.

The spindle encoder does need to be wired to the Centroid control in order to do rigid tapping.

Sooo, the spindle encoder is doing nothing for me?

Spindle encoder is plugged into the Centroid encoder port 6.
I can see if moving in the PID menu. Second N down with the asterisk shown in the photo.
Anything else look out of place?

Your SPINDLE encoder connected to the control is working fine for rigid tapping and displaying actual spindle speed. We were previously talking about adding a MOTOR encoder connected to your VFD to control spindle orientation. Two separate things.

The spindle encoder is allowing you to do rigid tapping. Without it you would only be able to tap with a tension/compression holder.

The spindle encoder would also allow you to see actual spindle RPM in the status window (instead of commanded RPM), if you set Parameter 78 = 1.

To get back to the problem at hand, though: you might well want to experiment with an air cylinder on the spindle "brake" handle.

Be aware, though that on the Atrump B6FC head, that is probably a spindle lock (pushing a pin into one of a series of holes), and not a friction brake. You would therefore want to be sure that the spindle is turning quite slowly when you power the solenoid. Since you have the spindle encoder installed, you could use that to verify low speed, either in a CNC macro or in the PLC program.

OK, I get it or think I do and will move on to the next dumb question.
I realize that this has been like pulling teeth to some of you. Me too.
Bear with me a bit longer.

Marc, this A trump has 2 holes 180 apart. I think the resistor deal is likely the smoother path on this.

So far I have not seen a drive from any of the companies that specifically tout spindle orientation in their spec sheet.
I have to make a decision on which way to turn.
1st choice
Live with the reduced HP I have;
.. I can add the braking resistor and board Automation recommended.
. The only unclear point is whether the Automation board allows control of spindle orientation via it's rpm feature.
. Perhaps can do spindle orientation with the rpm feature and the rest is PLC work or some other coding?
. Yes, I don't understand yet what is supposed to do what.
. Clear it up for me please on how this orientation is accomplished.