Honestly don't know as this is the first one I've ever played with. but I suspect Mike is right and there are probably ones that don't have comms either. Hence the need for analog inputs.

Any modbus and or serial experts here?

OK,

Like all things you could spend forever refining and testing but we have drawn the line on the app tonight.

Mark has done the final testing, and if he can use it then anyone can

Ok Just an EXE in a Zip, you may need to download the vb 6 runtime libaries if you get errors when you try to start it up.

OK Basic screen

- Start and stop spindle. If start is pushed after initial power on and no default running frequency has been set then it will start it running at the value set on the minimum rpm on the configuration page, and if that isnt set then it will start it at 1000.

Increase and decrease speed by the step amount selected in the box below. And yes the freqs dont go exact due to a rounding error from hz to rpm . Will not go past the max and min on the configuration screen

To change direction click the direction you want to go and then stop and start the spindle.

Click the check box at the bottom of the screen to enable the monitoring which refreshes every .5 seconds.

Advanced, well if you want to manually enter hex values then do it here. Response with CRC is shown on the right.

Configuration page - setup you maximum and minimum spindle speed to be used while in this app only. Set the comm port setting to make it work. Just needs a serial connection to the VFD.

Comm delay may need to be changed if you are not talking properly. Increase the delay value if having troubles.

Hope someone other than Mark gets some use out of it and invitations to BBQ's

We do have a version to play songs on the Spindle as well maybe mark will post the vids, we thought smoke on teh water a fitting tune, water cooled etc LOL.

If you need anything else just reply or PM here.

Now i can start to put my CNC beast together

Wayne

Attached Files

spindle Talker.zip (18.8 KB, 314 views)

Hi guys congratulations

If one of you has a chance or sometime in the future if you could have a look at the VFD I have and see if it can be done http://www.sunfardrive.com/DownFileList.asp its the C300 VFD page 101 starts talking about RS485 com protocols etc.

It can do the 0-10v thingy from what I have read so I can go that rout if need be but would be good going straight to the serial port if I could.

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Wayne & Mark,
I have been following your VB app with interest, but at this stage it is a bit mumbo! Can you take me back a step or two ... does this app work off the PC serial port? How does this then connect to the spindle, given that everything else works through the parrallel port?

I did warn you that my knowledge is very basic and that is not VB! Having been a Mac user since 1984, I am even struggling to use a PC for my CNC machine and get really worried when the blue screen of death appears ... so far it hasn't happened whilst my CNC router is running.

This has been a great thread and I will keep coming back to it for reference when I get to the electrickery part of my installation.

Cheers,

Alan

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4 out of 3 people have trouble with fractions.

Hi Willy

This app that Wayne wrote is setup to talk to the Huanyang VFD with its protocol (which is not standard ModBus by the looks of it) If your VFD has the same message structure of 1 byte device address, 1 byte function code, 1byte data length character, 1 to 3 byte data field (specified by previous length designator, then a 2 byte CRC ... it should work. However only in advanced mode as all the codes to start and stop and set frequencies will undoubtably be different.

If I was you a I would get a serial port monitor software as I suggested earlier and use the excel spread sheet (link also posted earlier) to calculate your CRC then hand code the strings to see how it works.

This App is just a stepping stone as you still need to get this functionallity to work within Mach.

Don't want to be rude but I really can't read every model VFD on the market.... That would be a full time job and I kinda want to get my machine built one day. Hope you understand.


Alan:

Yes it talks out of the PC serial port. it just so happens that my laptop does not have any standard serial ports so I have a "virtual" one via the usb. No matter which way you go however up must convert the signals from standard rs232 levels to the industrial rs485 levels.... DO NOT CONNECT YOUR SERIAL PORT DIRECTLY TO THE VFD!. It will not work and may damage something. Read the manual on how to connect.
Wikapedia rs323 and rs485 to see the differences.

My usb to rs485 adapter cost around $30 off ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com/PC-USB-to-RS232-...3A1%7C294%3A30

Cheers

Mark

Na that's ok I only wanted you to have a look to see if you thought it was possible I was sure that I would have to work the codes out etc for myself but was thinking about it this morning when was out shopping with the wife that its going to take to much stuffing around what probably takes you a day would take me a month with this stuff .

I alos forgot that on the G540 I have three pins to use anyway to control a VFD and will go that route as soon as I can work how it works looks like the easiest way to do it for me no doubt many have done it that way so should be easy.

Thanks for the time to reply.

Sean

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Hi Sean,
Greolt hooked up a DC-06 (Homann Designs) to get the VFD linked to Mach3. I will be doing the same when I do the Modio console.
Not taking anything away from what these fellahs have done but the DC-06 is an easy path for linking through Mach3 and the parallel port or smoothstepper to get your spindle running and to control spindle speed.
I wish I had the skills to do what Mark and Wayne have done as they have effectively transferred the panel control of the VFD to the PC.

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Obott, Nobott, Jabott, Rodot, RPM, Morphy, Lebot, BigG, Tubot, Jobott, X2 Hybrid, X3 conversion.

Hi Sean

I've had a quick look at your manual and it appears to be proper modbus protocol so should be a snap to integrate into Mach. Mach does all the CRC calcs for you so alls you need to do is address the relevant bits and send the proper data as specified. There is a test feature within Mach to output data directly in the serial modbus section.

I think either route is an equally good way of controlling your spindle, which way is easier depends on who is doing it. In my case I'm running out of parallel port pins and don't want to tie up any more for the spindle. Cost wise its comparable too as either a analog board like those made by Peter or a rs485 adapter in our way needs to be purchased.
Think serial method wins hands down when it comes to noise immuniity but the analog way is easier to implement.. Advanced features like current load display and actual RPM read back from the VFD get more complicated when done with an analog board but certainly doable.
Horses for courses.

Cheers

Mark

I have my 2k spindle and VFD running OK finally.
Later I would like to control with Mach. In the meantime it is a PIA to change the spindle speed with buttons on the VFD.
I would like to use a 10K trim pot to wind the speed up and down but do not understand the 4 pins indicated in the drawing. Question. which 3 pins from the Pot connect to which pins on the VFD. I understand the pins on the Pot but don't want to take chances with the VFD.Thanks in advance
WJF

Yes Aussie made in Brisbane
wjf

G'day people, wish I'd found this forum before I started my first CNC!

May not be the best way to introduce myself, but thought I may be able to help re the 10v analogue signal.
I've been playing with a small embedded controller from an Oz outfit called SplatCO

http://www.splatco.com/cc16p1.htm

It is pre built and tested, an industrial OEM module.
For those without electronic assembly/design skills, it seems like an easy out.
Uses it's own RISC commands.

FWIW, I've been through writing PIC assembler etc, then "progressed" to picaxe basic.
A godsend if you don't need high speed.

Anyway, enough rambling from me.
Just thought that the splat might solve some 10V analogue probs re the VFD.

bloody marvellous site here

Best rgds,
Lin

Welcome aboard Lin
We are not that old and still trying to get enough information on here to make the forum interesting.

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Cheers, Rod

Obott, Nobott, Jabott, Rodot, RPM, Morphy, Lebot, BigG, Tubot, Jobott, X2 Hybrid, X3 conversion.

Rod, the forum is more than "interesting", it's bloody fascinating!

I thought I was the only CNC victim in WA, let alone the southern suburbs.

My apologies if I chose an inappropriate way to launch myself on this forum.
Enthusiasm overruled courtesy. (and a late night with a whisky or 5).

Mea culpa

Regards to all;
Lin

I have been at it for over four years now and there are at heaps of CNC builders around Perth - some with both a gantry router and converted mill or lathe. There is a group that meets every month at the Macburger in Vic Park that might interest you.

If you haven't visited the CNCZone forum then I suggest you have a look there. If you thought this was interesting then it will totally blow your mind over there - plasma, laser and spindles in all sorts of machines.

A fair number of us here have migrated from there becasue there was no local support until they very kindly started this forum. As I said we are trying to add uselful local knowledge here for Australian builders.users.

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Cheers, Rod

Obott, Nobott, Jabott, Rodot, RPM, Morphy, Lebot, BigG, Tubot, Jobott, X2 Hybrid, X3 conversion.

Hi Lin

I purchased a Splat Controller (lcd device mm??) which i was going to use for my water tank Control system...Used a second hand plc instead....

Also have done lots of pic asm coding but recently came across a site which has a pic compiler which allows you to program in Ladder Logic and im using this for my latest project ....Moisture Monitoring for my vegie garden...heres a link if interested......
http://cq.cx/ladder.pl
HTH
Frank

P.S. Aplogises for hi jacking the thread........