Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Encoder help?

Thanks for the info. I got a gas spring and did as you recommended. Seems to work good... however I am still in the construction phase and do not yet have my drivers. I just hardwired the brake in, and then moved the servo with a fused power jumper up and down from a 24 volt power supply (didn't want to through it on the 48 volt until I have my drives installed). I mostly wanted to see if it would hold the Z axis and be able to move under power. Like I said, seems to work pretty good.

The biggest problem I ran into is the built in limit switches on the Techno Isel Z Axis. The gas spring only moves 4" (which is more then good for my application), the limit switches are outside of that movement. I can adjust the mounting bracket for on side or the other, making one limit switch OK, but the other one is to far out of the range of travel. So, I bought a couple of small limit switches from Radio Shack, and will mount and wire them instead of the factory ones. This shouldn't be a problem, should it?

I have another question that maybe some one can help me with. Again, take into consideration the fact that I am extremely new to CNC (this is my first one), do I have to have a home switch on each axis, because I've completely disassemble the CNC body on each axis and haven't found anything that even remotely resembles a switch.

In case it helps, I am primarily going to use my machine as a router for woodworking. I am using Gecko drives, Mach3, and a brake-out board from CampbellDesigns.com.

Thanks

Eric


From: danmauch
Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2011 9:04 AM
To: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Encoder help?



The simplest method is to buy a gas spring from Mc Master carr. I drilled and tapped a hole in the right side of the slide base at the bottom. Using one of those ball joints i screwed that in and connected the air spring. On the top end I made a bracket that raised above the housing and again used a ball fitting to attach the air spring to the upper bracket.
As I recall I used a 35lb air spring. If you want to go this way I try to get you the exact part number I used.
It was so long ago I can't remember how I did it electronically. The air spring is by far the simplest and easiest solution. It completely counterbalances the weight of the router and slide yet you can raise or lower the Z axis using light figer torque to either raise or lower the slide.

Interesting that I just finished shipping my 13 retrofit and am now working on my 14th but these are stepper systems.

dmauch@...
stepper and servo motors.
kits, assembled, custom cnc to 8 axis using gecko drives
cases, power supplies

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "Eric" <thayn.eric@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Dan,
>
> Thanks for the info. I think I have all of the encoder issues solved. Here's another question, if you don't mind. How did you solve the Z axis brake problem. When I turn the brake off, the Z axis falls. I think that I need to have the brake off only when the axis is moving, but I am not sure how to do that.
>
> Any help would be gratefully appreciated.
>
> Eric
>
>
> From: danmauch
> Sent: Monday, February 21, 2011 8:49 AM
> To: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Encoder help?
>
>
>
> I have rerofitted several techno control units. Both stepper and servo. I'm currently doing a stepper system. The first problem is that the RM15 draws 70MA as shown on the spec sheet. The G320X can can only handle 50MA so you risk burning something out on the G320X is you use it directly. However, you can you an external regulatted 5VDC power supply to run the rm15 encoders.
> Simply insulate the wire end coming from 10,11 and 12.a nd not connect them anywhere
> Connect the external power supply 5v DC + to the encoder 5V+ terminal and the 5 v PS grond to both the enc- terminal on the G320 and the encoder ground terminal.
> Dan Mauch
> www.camtronics-cnc.com
> stepper and servo motors
> enclosre for Gecko products
> kit, assembled and cutom systems.
>
> --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "te_bma" <thayn.eric@> wrote:
> >
> > Hello everyone,
> >
> > I am extremely new to the CNC world. I have obtained a Techno Isel Davinci 3-Axis CNC router from a local High School auction. Upon taking it all home, reading through the documentation and inspecting everything, the main control board has been fried somehow. The servo motors and everything else looks very good, with little usage.
> > I have been learning and reading tons of data on the whole thing and have come to the conclusion that my best bet is to rebuild the controls.
> >
> > I have decided to use Gecko G320X drives and the power supply from the original system. Due to my occupation, most all of this stuff makes perfect scenes. for the most part. My biggest issue is regarding the encoders.
> >
> > I have a basic understanding of the encoders, the basics of how they
> > work, and what they are used for, but my question is regarding wiring and a few functions of the encoders.
> > After carefully disassembling the servo and covers to get part numbers, it looks like I have Renco Encoders, P/N 77822-033, D/C 9845. After looking online (a lot), I think that they are RM15's. Looking at the Techno Isel's manuals that came with the unit, the following pin-out was used in their configuration:
> >
> > 1 & 15 are jumped together as the E-stop loop.
> > 2, is the yellow wire on the encoder and is used as the A encoder channel.
> > 3, is the blue wire and is used as the B encoder channel.
> > 4, is the brown wire and is used as the "I" Index encoder channel.
> > 5, is the red wire and is used as the 5v+.
> > 6, is tied to a limit switch.
> > 7, 8, 9, are not used
> > 10, is the encoders white wire and is used as the "not" A (or A with a line over it).
> > 11, is the green wire and is used as the "not" B.
> > 12, is the orange wire and is used and the "not" I.
> > 13, is black and is used as the encoder ground.
> > 14, is tied to the other side of the limit switch.
> >
> > Can someone please help me understand what 10, 11, and 12 are used for and also what is the Index used for. I THINK that it is used for/as the home position, but I am not sure. Reading the documentation for the Gecko drive, I don't see a place to terminate them. Do they need to be used?
> >
> > I am also using a Breakout combo board from sound logic, which is
> > supposed to be a good fit with Mach 3 and the Gecko drives.
> > The breakout board doesn't say anything about the Index function either.
> >
> > Also, are these encoders going to work for my project? I think I am going to have to have an external power supply too.
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > Eric
> >
>
>
>
>
>
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>





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