Australian Mechmate transforms to Acorn

[Racedirector]

Yup, definitely works better with new proxies. One thing I had to do was slow down Slow Jog, the X axis was almost hitting the hard stop.

Would be nice to be able to set the approach speed for homing instead of relying on the Slow Jog speed.

Next is working out how to control my Hitachi X200 VFD with 0-10V.......

Cheers

[Racedirector]

Very productive day.....

1. Wired in my Tormach probe including a manual Prob Detect switch
2. Wired in my movable Touch Plate
3. Wired in my fixed Chinese Touch Off tool
4. Set G28 for my tool change location
5. Set G30/2 for my fixed too touch off location
6. X and Y now home perfectly after reducing Slow Jog down to 100ipm

The movable touch plate and the probe both plug into my mini control box on my Y axis. The 2 way switch either selects touch off or probe and, as above, includes the setup for Probe Detect.

Very quickly running out of inputs, 2 left and one of those will be for my Z proxy sensor when it is installed.

Everything is going so much better after the first round of stuffups and Acorn killing.

Next is to download and install the appropriate macros to handle tool setting and the harder bit of getting my VFD all wired in correctly. Also need to attach my coolant pump to Acorn as well as my dust collector. The dust collector connection will have to wait until I have moved into my new house.

All in all very very happy with my decision to go with Acorn over LinuxCNC.

Cheers
Bruce

[martyscncgarage]

Great Bruce....
When are we going to see pictures of this machine?

[Racedirector]

Soon Marty, soon. When I have the machine doing what I want under Acorn then I will shoot a video.

One thing just came to me regarding the coolant pump. It runs on 240V, would it be better to use the Acorn relay to trip as bigger relay to turn it on and off or can the Acorn relays handle 240V?

Off to study my Hitachi X200 manual on how to control via PWM and get all the other info I need from it.....

Cheers

[martyscncgarage]

Yes on the relay ..

[Racedirector]

Thanks Marty, on the Acorn relay it is

Pretty much got all the parameter changes done on the VFD, just need to wire them all up and find out of it works

Back tomorrow....

Cheers

[martyscncgarage]

Thanks Marty, on the Acorn relay it is

Pretty much got all the parameter changes done on the VFD, just need to wire them all up and find out of it works

Back tomorrow....

Cheers

Sorry, to clarify, use ACORN's relay to drive a two pole relay. That is the proper way to do it. Don't break just one leg of line power, always break both legs. Assuming it's 240 single phase. (2 hot legs)

[Racedirector]

Ah, OK... thanks Marty.

Yes single phase 240V. Brown = hot, Blue = neutral, Green = Earth. I have a number of relays in the control box I can feed 24V to activate.

Don't want to blow up another Acorn board, my wallet already hurts

Cheers

[swissi]

Racedirector,

you haven't posted your latest Report file but from your descriptions it looks like you are using individual inputs for your proximity home switches.

You mentioned that you are running out of inputs so just wanted to make you aware that you can wire all home proximity switches to one input using "HomeAll". If you have NC-Type proximity home switches you wire them in series. If they are NO-type, wire them in parallel.

I'm waiting to see your pictures

-swissi

[Racedirector]

Decided to run my machine as is to test under Acorn control. Here's a quick video snippet of it happening:

[Don't know how to embed video so here's a link instead.....]

https://youtu.be/3DKkDJY7OFE
https://youtu.be/3DKkDJY7OFE

As the video text says I keep forgetting to buy my plugs and sockets to connect the 2 control boxes together to run the spindle

Cheers
Bruce