boss 5 retro/spindle wiring

[loose1]

So I'm retroing my boss 5 with mach 3, pmdx board, gecko 203v, and the stock steppers, for now. My question is how to wire the spindle. I have some diagrams from The Home Shop Machinist artical, but I can't figure out what wires go to what terminal on the magnetic contactors for the spindle motor. I don't need mach to control the spindle. I just want to use the orignial on, start switch. I can do automotive wiring but when it comes to the commerial stuff I'm lost. Thanks for your help!!
Matt

[HawkJET]

Originally Posted by loose1 I have some diagrams from The Home Shop Machinist article.... ... I don't need mach to control the spindle.

Matt, I'm in a similar boat with my Boss3. The spindle on/off switch has a safety interlock that makes it cumbersome and overly complicated for what I want. I also have a manual milling machine with the standard forward/reverse switch - which is what I like. So I just bought a replacement switch for a manual mill on eBay and wired it in instead (bypassing all the interlock mess).

My understanding (from the HSM article) is that the whole point of the interlock is to avoid being able to switch from forward to reverse (or vice versa) before the motor is stopped. I do this frequently on my manual machine when I tap holes, so I'm not too worried about the interlock. I may go back at another time and figure it all out.

[loose1]

Anybody have any other suggestion. Hawkjet that is a good option, but I would like to use the orignial switch. I am finishing this retro the 4TH of july week, and could use some guidance.
Thanks Matt

[TarHeelTom]

I've got to cross this same bridge in the near future also.

You don't say which pmdx board you're using.

Have you got a pin with relay available on the bob to use to control the switch?

Are you planning on having spindle on-off enabled by G code, or are you just planning on turning the spindle on and off with the original switch?

Are you feeding the spindle motor three phase, or are you using a VFD?

Do you have the Bp blueprints which include that spindle switch modification?

Tom

[keebler303]

I am using the Hillbilly setup on my BOSS 5. The spindle is setup so that it won't turn on until mach3 gives it the signal to turn on, then it waits for you to start it. Then mach can stop the spindle and mach recognizes if you stop the spindle so it will halt the program if the spindle stops. I honestly don't remember how its all hooked up but Darek will probably be able to help you out. His username on the zone is Hillbilly. It is nice to have the spindle connected to mach because it will turn itself off when the program completes so it is not running idle until I get back to it.

Matt

[HawkJET]

Originally Posted by loose1 My question is how to wire the spindle. I have some diagrams from The Home Shop Machinist artical, but I can't figure out what wires go to what terminal on the magnetic contactors for the spindle motor.

Matt,

Can you say more about where you are stuck?
Is all your wiring already removed?
My original wiring is still intact (sans the wires to the motor), would it help to know what that looks like?
The wiring diagram in HSM seems to show it all, are you having trouble understanding the diagram?

If you have some specific questions, I think I can help.