How do I enable the Spindle Load Meter on ALLIN1DC?

[rustfinger]

I guess I should ask if there IS a spindle load meter to show?

Can it be displayed on screen?

I have done some digging in the manuals and found there is a place to connect the load signal from the spindle inverter to the ADC connection on the ALLIN1DC. I have connected the load meter outputs from the inverter to these inputs on the ALLIN1DC.

I have also found TB296 on the website and attempted to follow the instructions with no success. By setting the parameters as in the TB, I was able to turn off the Axis load meters, not good, and disable the machine, also not good, because it was looking for an encoder on the spindle (which does not exist) but that was all. I set the parameters back to where they were and it is back to normal, but still no load meter.

There is also a lot of PLC code, in TB296 that references Inputs and Variable definitions that do not exist in my PLC code, it looks like it could be from earlier versions or a different board like the OAK. It seems to me that adding the PLC code will only create errors and/or cause issues with other lines in the code. I figured I should ask before doing this.

So I'm wondering is it possible to enable/install/or create a Spindle load meter on the screen? It seems like I must be doing something, or possibly many things..., wrong here.

Any suggestions?

Thanks for your help!

[eng199]

Your best bet is to follow the tech bulletin.
Is your CNC11 version v3.14 or newer as specified in the TB?
Did you skip adding the PLC code the TB described?
Your PLC may not already have everything defined, that is why the TB describes what to add.
As always, no one knows what is really going on without a report attached.

It is possible to make the load meter work. However, if the system is not already set up, it will not be effortless.

[rustfinger]

Ok,

I forgot to attach the report, here it is.

Does anyone have a photo of what the load meter looks like?

Thanks!

[rustfinger]

one more question,
Do I need an encoder on the spindle in order to use the load meter function?

[tblough]

You do not need a spindle encoder for a load meter.

[tblough]

And here's how the load meter looks:
https://youtu.be/vzQsIa45lYU

[rustfinger]

Thanks for the video, that is what I am looking for.

I should have a chance to make the changes in TB296 sometime next week.

I still am curious about Parameter 313 and 137, if there is no spindle encoder, do these both need to change to what is in the TB?

Thanks!

[cncsnw]

You do not need a spindle encoder to use the load meter.

If you do not have a spindle encoder, then you should set the encoder input for the spindle axis to zero.

For example, if you choose axis #6 as the spindle axis, then you should set Parameter 35 = 6 and Parameter 313 = 0. If you choose axis #5 to be the spindle axis instead, then you should set Parameter 35 = 5, and Parameter 312 = 0.

The PLC program you are currently using does not have any support for the load meter. Assuming you need the other non-standard features in that program (apparently support for multiple spindles, but the modification comments are unclear) then you will need to edit in changes similar to the examples in TB296. If you don't need the other custom features, you might be better off looking for a current PLC program that does include the spindle load meter.

[rustfinger]

Thanks for the input on setting the parameters. Any help is appreciated.

I would like to activate the spindle load meter. I do not need any support for other features right now. I did modify the code, as you saw in the report, to use 3 spindles.

However, they are not quite 3 independent spindles. They share the speed control signal and operate on pneumatic driven slides to move up and down as needed. I used a relay board to route the 0-10V speed signal to the active spindle's inverter.

At this point, I only need to monitor the load from one spindle and see the load display on the screen.

If I modify the parameters and add the code from TB296 will the meter display on the screen? Would I need to edit the code in the TB to only add the code referring to the spindle and not include the code referring to X,Y,Z or leave it as is?

Would I need to find an updated, or different version of PLC as you mention, if so where would I look for the alternate code?

If you don't need the other custom features, you might be better off looking for a current PLC program that does include the spindle load meter.

I was hoping you could clarify your comments so I can understand it a little better. I'm not all that familiar with how the PLC system is set up to interface with the source code we are feeding it.

Thanks again for your help!

[tblough]

If you already have load meters on your axis displays, then that code is already in the PLC program. You need to only add the missing portions of the code from the TSB. Even if you are not using axis load meters and do not have the code already in the PLC program, it will not hurt to add it. Then if you decide later you want axis meters, you'll only have to change parameter 57 and not have to modify the PLC code again.