My Reviews - P100 communications card step/dir to /- 10v

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Home » CNC Machine Electronics » Servo Systems

Skyko Technologies P100 communications card step/dir to /- 10v

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Description:

Today I set about getting a Pixie to convert step/direction commands from Mach3 to my Copley 503 servo amp
I managed to talk Rick into letting me buy 1 Pixie for testing with my drive and servo; (CNC Zone user name KTP is Rick)
So with a bunch of loose wire a small soldering iron; a 30vdc power supply; my 866 with Mach3 installed and a copy of Pixiecom to setup drive/motor and of course the Pixie; plus a Copley 503 Brushless drive amp; and the servo “MCG 1B23006” 110oz/in 330oz/in peak with 1000 line encoder
First off; I'm not a servo controlled expert; yes I can build machines with stepper controls well enough (well enough to get me into trouble now and then) but this would be my first attempt at a full on servo system

I hacked into the computers wiring for the 12vdc -12vdc and the 5vdc for the Pixie
Blue from the computer is -12vdc if your wondering; yellow is 12vdc and the red 5vdc; I also ran a ground from the black to the Pixie (cut off a floppy plug)
Next I needed the step/direction wires from the LPT port; as my pin config for Mach3 is pins 2-3 for Z axis; and the Gantry step setting is quite a high number so I used Z axis pins; I used pin 24 for the ground
After looking over the downloadable PDF file for hooking the Pixie up to Brushless motors; which was very descriptive and helpful; I then started hooking wires from Pixie to Copley and Copley to motor; then motor to Pixie
Finally I had every wire accounted for (well I though so)

I then powered it all up; the Pixie came up right away; I hit the button and presto; it loaded all the right stuff into Pixiecom on my desktop; serial number; current settings etc
Way to go I thought; this will be easy

I then tried sending commands to the Copley; nothing; hummm
After spending about 1 hour trying to not look like a fool and have to contact Rick with a big “HELP ME”
I finally decided help was needed
A phone call or 2 later plus a couple of emails tracked the problem to the PDF for the Copley; not very well written; the pins 4 - 5 should be grounded which Rick spotted (thank heavens he knows what he’s doing; as I did not)
I did have to play with the motor U-V-W wires and changed 2 of the halls around; even though the Copley test showed no problems (Copley seem to have a problem with their setup sheet; note; they are not always right) finally the motor ran; stopped and in the stiffness test held position really well
I then used the Impulse test and Run test to generate a graph I emailed it to Rick; in another email from Rick he suggested a couple of changes; which produced the settings in the screen shot seen here

So to sum up; am I happy with a Pixie to Copley servo system; a big “YES”
Will I be buying more Pixies; “ANOTHER YES”

I plan to convert all my machines to servo based systems and move away from open loop steppers

Contact info
http://www.skyko.com/
For the Pixie com board
Also check out the Pixie running a P5 Sanyo servo
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17227

I'd like to add; Rick is a very nice guy; knows his beans and is very helpfull both by email and phone

edit; note Blue is not always -12vdc i just found a PS with light brown as -12vdc

Keywords:

Pixie step-direction is easy to set-up

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