E-STOP Action

[kolias]

I have started my 1st CNC Router machine and joging the motors now to make adjustments and establish the Home positions. I press the E-Stop but nothing happens

What happens when you press the E-Stop?

Does it cut the DC power to the drivers, stop the g-code execution, cuts the AC power or what?

My electronics include 3 individual drivers, a breakout board and the PSU. The E-Stop is connected to the breakout board

Thank you

[HuFlungDung]

Yes, Estop should kill power to the drives and to the spindle, but the controller should remain running , but it should provide you with some kind of warning that it has detected an Estop condition.

[ger21]

Are you pressing an actual button, or the button on the screen? Did you build this or buy it? Is the Estop configured correctly in the Ports and Pins page?

If it's just connected to the breakout board, all it'll probably do is put Mach3 into E-Stop mode. It won't physically cut power to anything.

[kolias]

Originally Posted by ger21 Are you pressing an actual button, or the button on the screen? Did you build this or buy it? Is the Estop configured correctly in the Ports and Pins page? If it's just connected to the breakout board, all it'll probably do is put Mach3 into E-Stop mode. It won't physically cut power to anything.

Yes this is a NC E-Stop switch mounted in the control box which houses all the electronics.

I build this CNC Machine

Yes it is configured correctly on mach3 and when I press the button mach3 says that an E-Stop has been activated but the power on the 3 drives stays ON.

I also have have wired this E-Stop as per manufacturer instructions. I guess I will have to go back and find out what is going on now that I know what the E-Stop should do.

Thank you

[ger21]

If it's just wired to the breakout board, it's not going to turn anything off. If you want to kill power to the drives, you typically want to have it turn off a relay which supplies AC to the power supply. You don't want to kill the DC to the drives, as it could damage them.

If you built the machine, then it's up to you to decide what you want the E-Stop to do.

[kolias]

Originally Posted by ger21 If it's just wired to the breakout board, it's not going to turn anything off. If you want to kill power to the drives, you typically want to have it turn off a relay which supplies AC to the power supply. You don't want to kill the DC to the drives, as it could damage them. If you built the machine, then it's up to you to decide what you want the E-Stop to do.

The mach3 manual says "Each EStop button should stop all activity in the machine as quickly as is safely possible"

So I guess the wiring of my EStop is done correctly because it tells mach3 that an EStop has been activated. But then I'm missing the wiring to stop all activity in the machine.

If killing the DC power to the drives will damage them or the motors then how do I stop the machine in an emergency?

Can someone tell me how to do that?

Thank you

[ger21]

The Mach manual is telling you what it should do, but it's up to you to implement those things. You need a button with multiple sets of contacts. One will tell Mach that you want to stop. And another to kill power.

[Karl_T]

The Estop system should be hard wired. Get a four pole relay and label it MCR for master control relay. A Reset pushbutton on your operator panel should close this relay and the Estop button open it. You wire it so its self latching - once the reset button is closed power from an NO contact goes through the Ectop button and back to the coil. Sorry, don't have software to draw a print to this post.

Now use the contacts on the other side of this relay in front of your start contactors for any device you want to kill on Estop. If you didn't put relay contacts in front of things like your drive power you'll need to install these also.

Karl

[kolias]

Originally Posted by Karl_T The Estop system should be hard wired. Get a four pole relay and label it MCR for master control relay. A Reset pushbutton on your operator panel should close this relay and the Estop button open it. You wire it so its self latching - once the reset button is closed power from an NO contact goes through the Ectop button and back to the coil. Sorry, don't have software to draw a print to this post. Now use the contacts on the other side of this relay in front of your start contactors for any device you want to kill on Estop. If you didn't put relay contacts in front of things like your drive power you'll need to install these also. Karl

That is very descriptive what you wrote Karl, Thank you,

Do you have any specs for the relay? Like Type, Amps, Volts or anything? I never bought one before.

My motors draw 3.0A each times 3 motors we have 9.0A total for the motors. The three drivers don’t know how much they draw neither the breakout board but it should not be a lot. The power supply is adjustable 20-32VDC, 13A. There is also a small fan for the heat sink rated 24-40VDC, no Amps shown.

The router will be controlled manually for now. Perhaps later I can have it ON/OFF from mach3, if I can.

And I don’t have any coolant or anything else of course.

[Karl_T]

Looks like 24 volt DC relays would work well.
Order from McMaster Carr
7266K52
Spade-Terminal Relay Dpdt, 10 Amps, 8-Pin, 24 VDC Input Voltage
In stock at $14.00 Each

You'll need the base too. I didn't look them up. Get one for MCR, one for the drive motors, one for the spindle IF it draws under 10 amps (probably does). You're good to go.

Karl

[Al_The_Man]

I know the average hobbiest does not need to conform to code, but here is a little insight as to what is usually covered.
http://www.hs-compliance.com/uploade...NCY%20STOP.pdf
Although a UK article, it generally applies to N.A. also.
In many cases on commercial CNC machines, the E-stop relay does not control power units directly, e.g. in the case of 3 phase motors and high current devices, it is usually common to cut the Control Power that supplies the contactor coils etc.
A contact is usually reserved in order to advise the controller a E-stop has occurred.
Another typically would turn off the servo drive enables.
It is often said the E-stop is the hardest button to find!
Al.

[kolias]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Man I know the average hobbiest does not need to conform to code, but here is a little insight as to what is usually covered. http://www.hs-compliance.com/uploade...NCY%20STOP.pdf Although a UK article, it generally applies to N.A. also. In many cases on commercial CNC machines, the E-stop relay does not control power units directly, e.g. in the case of 3 phase motors and high current devices, it is usually common to cut the Control Power that supplies the contactor coils etc. A contact is usually reserved in order to advise the controller a E-stop has occurred. Another typically would turn off the servo drive enables. It is often said the E-stop is the hardest button to find! Al.

Thank you Al, the PDF was very informative

E-Stop hardest button to find ? LOL

Thanks again
Nicolas