Electric hook up

[9 1/2]

Originally Posted by HimyKabibble >snip<, proper configuration of the start-stop ramps in the VFD,>snip< Regards, Ray L.

Ray, thanks for the tip!! I'm consulting my config docs right now. What you did makes sense, funny I didn't consider that myself.

Good stuf.

Owen

[HimyKabibble]

Originally Posted by 9 1/2 Ray, thanks for the tip!! I'm consulting my config docs right now. What you did makes sense, funny I didn't consider that myself. Good stuf. Owen

Owen,

No prob. If you can't sort it out, let me know, and I'll dig out exactly what I did to get it going. The basic idea is to just keep it powered until the motor slows down. Mine only faulted whe it was shut off above about 4K RPM.

Regards,
Ray L.

[mc-motorsports]

Originally Posted by HimyKabibble Owen, I had that problem with mine as well, when I ran 8200 RPM. However, proper configuration of the start-stop ramps in the VFD, and the CW/CCW commands and dwells in Mach3, solved the problem. You need to program the dwell in Mach 3 so it leaves the VFD CW/CCW inputs active for several seconds after running the analog RPM voltage down. I get no faults since configuring everything properly. Regards, Ray L.

This is the kind of stuff I'm worried about. Maybe I should just use the bridgeport switch to turn it on and off? I never run in reverse on that machine and I can count the number of times I've used low gear. In almost 5 years, I had one job on a brigeprort that i felt the need to power tap holes on the fixture/set-up. Every other hole is tapped as a secondary opp. Plus, I guess power tapping will go out the window with the VFD? Guess I would need to knock the dust off my tapping head, if I can find it

But it would be nice if MACH3 would have control over the spindle speed and on/off. Could slow the speed for plunging with an enmill and truley run "lights out" instead of eventually having to come back and shut the machine off, or atleast the spindle...

[mc-motorsports]

And is it possible to just use the normal spindle switch to turn the VFD on and off, even if it's only 1 direction? I honestly can't remember how the HIGH/LOW or On/Off factory switch works, I would have to pull it apart and look, I was just wondering if you guys knew off the top of your head. I know its purley a mechanical contact, but I'm not sure if I would be able to wire the VFD ON and direction low voltage wiring throught the BP switch. It's a variable speed head, even at 120hz, I could just divided the speed by 2 and adjust at the machine.
Just a thought.

[HimyKabibble]

Originally Posted by mc-motorsports And is it possible to just use the normal spindle switch to turn the VFD on and off, even if it's only 1 direction? I honestly can't remember how the HIGH/LOW or On/Off factory switch works, I would have to pull it apart and look, I was just wondering if you guys knew off the top of your head. I know its purley a mechanical contact, but I'm not sure if I would be able to wire the VFD ON and direction low voltage wiring throught the BP switch. It's a variable speed head, even at 120hz, I could just divided the speed by 2 and adjust at the machine. Just a thought.

Most VFDs have a VERY simple control interface. The TECO needs two switches - one for ON/OFF, one for Direction - and an analog voltage, 0-10V, to control speed. The speed can be manually controlled through the front panel if you don't want to control it by computer. If you only need one direction, then a single relay for the on/off switch will turn the spindle on and off. It doesn't get any simpler.

If you have a two-speed motor, you just have to be sure to never touch the speed switch when the VFD is actually driving the motor.

Regards,
Ray L.

[Al_The_Man]

Generally with VFD's you get what you pay for, the more features, the more money.
One feature you could use is multi-speed feature, three contact closure inputs gives you 8 presetable speeds. If you want to control from Mach instead of PWM to analogue.
Another upper end feature is automatic tuning to your particular motor characteristics for better control.
Al.

[HimyKabibble]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Man Generally with VFD's you get what you pay for, the more features, the more money. One feature you could use is multi-speed feature, three contact closure inputs gives you 8 presetable speeds. If you want to control from Mach instead of PWM to analogue. Another upper end feature is automatic tuning to your particular motor characteristics for better control. Al.

Al,

Of course, with *any* VFD you can create that same functionality with nothing but relays and resistors to set the VFD control voltage.

Regards,
Ray L.

[Al_The_Man]

Although it might get tricky to produce 8 speeds from three contacts.
Al.

[HimyKabibble]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Man Although it might get tricky to produce 8 speeds from three contacts. Al.

Nah. Multi-pole relays, or a few logic gates, transistors or diodes. It's done all the time. Also no reason to be limited to 3 outputs, since M3 and M4 in Mach are handled by macros. You could easily program a few lines of macro do handle almost any kind of interface you could come up with.

Regards,
Ray L.

[TOTALLYRC]

The Hitachi sj200, 3hp that I am using works real well and has multi speed steps that can be programed in.

In regards to the stop and start faults, all you have to do is set the accel and decel times in the drive and I have not had a fault since. If you need it to stop really fast or you have a lot of spindle mass, you will then need to get braking resistors. Mine will start in 1 sec and stop in under 3 if I remember correctly without resistors on my btc-1.

You can also program in the amount of overload up to 150% of normal to help with the starting problems.

In response to the manual is designed to be read by engineers, I agree, and the $120 pc programing cable from Hitachi is a joke.

I would love to program it from PC, but $120 for convience is just not going to happen, unless someone knows the pin out since it is just a serial connection, but it has a db9 on one end and a rj-45 on the other.
The software is a free download from hitachi.

[joshuaz2]

to answer your question yes you can use the stock bridgeport switch to control the vfd. it is very simple. i didn't want to mess with my switch and i use my vfd for my mill and lathe so i just made a switch box from a regular remodel box with a normal light switch and a 25K ohm linear pot for $2.50 from radioshack. i have velcro on the lathe, mill and box and just move the box to the tool i'm using. for reverse i use the switch on the tool, just make sue you never reverse or turn off when the vfd is running. about 20% chance smoke will come out.