Spindle Step/Dir

Hi all,

Converting a XYZ mill from Mach to LinuxCNC (everything works on Mach). BigJohnT kindly converted the stepconf file so I've moved onto the spindle now.

The spindle is controlled via a B1-VSC board from cncdoctor.co.uk which converts a step input to a 0-10V output to drive the servo amp.
Their docs it says to use the "Step/Dir" option in the Motor Control section.

The forum post at
www.linuxcnc.org/index.php/english/forum...-spindle-help-needed
provided some information but I'm getting file read errors now.

Attached the HAL and INI files.

Has anyone a working XYZ config with a step/dir controlled spindle they could share?

Thanks,
John.

Hi

What you need is a velocity stepgen

loadrt stepgen step_type=0,0,0,0,0 ctrl_type=p,p,p,p,v

Then set it up

####################################################################
#
# This section enables the Spindle2 board to produce
# 0-10v scaled upon steps from axis4 and direction of
# rotation from Dir signal
####################################################################

# Use a scale module for offset and scaling of the stepgen
# Offset and scale are determined by first calculating and testing
#
setp scale.0.in 0
setp scale.0.gain 0.44 # gives true at 1000
setp scale.0.offset 0.0
addf scale.0 servo-thread
#
# Initialise the stepgen for the spindle
#
setp stepgen.4.position-scale 1
setp stepgen.4.maxvel 2400
setp stepgen.4.steplen 1
setp stepgen.4.stepspace 0
setp stepgen.4.dirhold 20000
setp stepgen.4.dirsetup 20000
setp stepgen.4.maxaccel 200

net spindle-enable <= motion.spindle-on => stepgen.4.enable
net spindle-cmd motion.spindle-speed-out => scale.0.in
net spindle-freq <= scale.0.out => stepgen.4.velocity-cmd
net spindle-out <= stepgen.4.step => parport.0.pin-09-out
net spindle-cw <= stepgen.4.dir => parport.0.pin-08-out

then set up the spindle encoder (if you have one)

##########################################################################

# This produces an absolutely accurate RPM reading

setp encoder.0.position-scale 1
setp encoder.0.counter-mode 1
net spindle-position encoder.0.position-interpolated => motion.spindle-revs
net spindle-velocity encoder.0.velocity => motion.spindle-speed-in
net spindle-index-enable encoder.0.index-enable <=> motion.spindle-index-enable
net spindle-index parport.0.pin-15-in => encoder.0.phase-Z encoder.0.phase-A


ini file needs to relect there are 5 axes even though 3 is not used and 4 is a velocity stepgen

[TRAJ]
AXES = 5
COORDINATES = X Y Z

I will attach the files for a small mill which uses this, but that is the bones of it
(as a bonus the code for a MPG pendant is there too)

regards

Thanks ArcEye, will try that and report back.

It's been nearly a year but managed to get back to the mill.

XYZ now 100% and have added ArcEye's config to the hal but the servo spindle isn't turning at all now (previous config based on a stepper switched it on at a fixed speed).

Can anyone see anything wrong in the attached config?

Old parameters from StepConf still in the file but commented out.

Thanks,
John.

Number answer to your question suggests that such a configuration is not possible.

Thanks Andy. Will do that - going to swap out PC first as have a slightly better one with parallel port idle at present.