brake on 4th axis DX32 control

[Gncc50]

I have a 95 TorqueCut 22 with a factory installed 4th axis. It is working fine. I have just bought a new 4th axis module for my cad system. Do I need to have M codes in the post to turn the brake on and off for the rotary or is the machine hard wired to do this automaticaly??

Thanks,

[machintek]

Have you tried Jogging the 4th axis? I remember the brake turning off and on automatically.
You can watch that in the maintenance page.
But that was on a VMC-1000. In theory yours should be the same. I am just asking that you verify this through the maintenance page (F5).

George

[Gncc50]

I have jogged it several times. I hadn't thought about the maintenance page. I will try that tonight.

Thanks again. Pete

[NC Cams]

I have a V2XT that is factory wired for 4th axis. I"ve studied the daylights out of the wiring diagram as I'm probably going to have to adapt an aftermarket 4th axis to the machine as I'm not having luck finding a factory 4th axis.

The V2XT, like the T/C, uses DC servos. However, unlike the V2XT, the T/C does not use a tach feedback to the BMDC - it uses another method that involves a piggyback PWMINT card (in lieu of a tach feedback)that is mounted onto the BMDC board.

Anyway, in the V2XT, the 4th axis brake is engaged/disengaged via a separate control channel that is achieved via pin JP7-2A on the AUF card. Your machine wiring schematic should indicate which circuits actuate the 4th axis brake. I'd be surprised if your machine didn't do things in a similar fashion.

By the way, if anyone has the Torq/Cut schematic as a PDF, I'd really welcome a copy for the database I'm building on the BMDC system. I'm especially interested in getting a copy of the wiring schematic for the PWMINT card that us used on T/C's and some of the lathes (supposedly) and surface grinders.

[Gncc50]

I tried the maintenance page last night. I didn't see anything for a brake in there. What should I be looking for?

I just noticed from one of your other posts George that you can run a program from the maintenance page. I didn't realize you could do that. I'll look again.
I also found that the line going to the fourth axis goes directly to an external air feed, so either this one is set up wrong (which it could be) or there is an internal solenoid valve in the rotary table itself that actuates the brake when the motor is energized. I tried to find the wiring schematic for the mill but couldn't find it. I couldn't find any literature on the rotary either it is a Troyke DL series. (real organized huh)

It seems to work fine when I jog the rotary and when it homes. When I tried my program it seemed to be working smoothly. I think it's OK .... (famous last words). ??? I'll keep looking.

Thanks everyone for your response. I'm not too good at this sort of thing.

If I find the wiring diagrams I'll let you know.

Thanks again.
Pete

[NC Cams]

You really NEED to find/get hold of a/the wiring diagram as these are invaluable in troubleshooting ANYTHING on a CNC machine. It should also enable you to answer or figure out the answer to your question with the help of a simple VOM.

The DX-32 controller card is pretty much the same for V2XT's, VMC 800's, VMC1000's and even Expath lathes - some Extraks even used the same BMDC cards as VMC's only they weren't fully populated with the IC's needed to run the extra axis or features of a true VMC.

Pretty much the ONLY difference between any/all of the systems is the stuff external to the PC and how/what is connected to the AUF, AXSBOB and AUXBOB break out cards. Naturally, the software differs as well.

When you go from machine to machine, a lot of the external data channels are the same as they simply added or subtracted features by connecting/not conneecting them to the AUXBOB or AUF or AXSBOB cards as needed. Thus, although I'm speaking from V2XT and Extrak experience, the other VMC's have very common DNA and quite similar control logic and functions.

In the case of the V2XT, the 4th axis is true "plug and play" enabled when you plug the drive cable into the BMDC control/driver plug via connector J12 on the outside of the machine. When J12 is plugged in, an internal jumper in the plug "tells" the BMDC card that the 4th axis is installed. THus, the brake solenoid, servo motors, feedback and all the other 4th axis control goodies work automatically only when the axis is plugged in. Otherwise, it sits there doing nothing. All you have to do is make sure there is air supplied to the axis to truly engage the brake when the brake solenoid is engaged.

This circuitry for the 4th axis brake is shown on line 4 of the V2XT wiring diagran on the uppper right side of the page 1 of 2. I'd expect a similar notation to exist on the T/C drawing someplace as they pretty much use the same DC servo systems outside of the PWMINT variation that replace tach feedback on T/C's.

You really NEED to get hold of a wiring diagram. Any reader have one on PDF? i repeat my pleading for a PDF copy of the wiring diagram for the T/C wiring diagram as well as the PWMINT card that is used in this machine as well.

I need them to add to my database on the DX32 system(s) and with it could perhaps add more insight to our members plight.