X4 standard, spindle direction

[vi_tas]

Hi all,
We've finally got our x4 machine in its enclosure and testing it out with mach3, after taking delivery of it the other month.

We've found that the spindle runs CCW (looking down), when we run it 'Forward' from the front panel. 'Reverse' runs CW.
Under Mach3 we see the same behaviour for forward. I haven't worked out how to run it backwards from the PC yet.

I'm not a machinist, and I'm just familiarising myself with Mach3, and machine co-ords vs job co-ords and so on.

Can anyone help me with a setting in Mach3 to reverse the spindle direction for all jobs?

Our options are otherwise to:
+ modify all job files to correct the direction.
+ spend a day dismantling our enclosure, lifting the mill and spinning it, to give us access to the rear electronics and modifying the motor wire connections (We're assuming this is a 3-wire brushless DC motor from the schematic in the manual), and then putting it all back together.

Another question is about the limit switches on the table, is there also a setting in Mach3 to prevent the table being driven past these, or do we need to set up software limits or something else in the e-stop circuit?

Thanks for your help.

[neilw20]

To reverse the BLDC you need to given there are three phases U,V and W, and hall sensor signals A,B and C you need to swap the wires U and V, and the hall sensor wires A and B.

This is assuming A and B are the sensors for the U and V phases.

Start spindle at the slowest speed in manual and see if it runs.
If not restore to original and try a new combination.

With a BLDC you must swap the motor wires and the hall sensor wires that belong to the swapped phases.

If you get it wrong the spindle wont spin and will get stuck when turned on.

It is best to read the Motorola notes on the MC33033/ MC33035 family to get an understanding of the operation.

You need to set soft limits. Works fine once set up correctly.
Follow Mach3 manual.

The E-stop is just that. For emergencies. Don't rely on it for the limits.
The machine has no safety relay, so the E-S operation is somewhat poor.

[PEU]

in mach 3
if you issue:
M3 s1000 it should turn clockwise at 1000 rpm
M4 s1000 ccw @ 1000rpm

if its inversed, go to ports and pins, and change the setting for direction for the spindle



(dont change the port pins, just check de DirLowActive column)


Pablo

[vi_tas]

Fantastic feedback there neilw. Great to know the make and model of the spindle motor in this mill, and thanks for the tip about the hall effect sensor too.

We'll put this on the TODO list though. For now I've changed the ActiveLow setting for the spindle (and the x-axis) direction pins under Mach3, and will put a label on the front panel.

Yes, we are a little disappointed in the E-stop behaviour of this mill, the power supplies on the drivers take a while to discharge and it all takes a while to come to a stop, but it is functional. We've added a stop button on the outside of the enclosure, and were intending to put one on the door seals too, but rethinking that one right now since we may not be able to resume a job if we trip it, eg. for a tool change.

**
And thanks for the Mach3 tip there too Pablo, I did work out these settings in the end. I should have spent another 5 minutes looking over the M and G code tables too.

Cheers.

[pld0vr]

i had the same issue with the x6, just change the direction in mach3 as per mentioned previously in this thread, and it will work fine.