Gecko 540 Spindle Speed Detection

I recently acquired a Grizzly G0602 CNC conversion lathe. I have been working on getting Linuxcnc to function properly. I have made success to the point where I can make some parts, but I really need to do some threading. There is a optical spindle speed sensor already mounted on the lathe. It lights up every time the window in the disc passes the sensor, so I know that is working.

I can't figure out how to read the spindle speed in Linuxcnc. I have done quite a bit of searching and reading, but I have more questions than answers!

I can't figure out if there is something that I need to set in Stepconf, or HAL.

If anyone can give me a push in the right direction, it would be greatly appreciated!

After reading that, I have more questions. It looks like Section 6.1 is what I am trying to accomplish. I found the Spindle Index option for the pin that is connected to the spindle sensor. Don't know how I didn't see that before!

Now I am not sure what to do with the HAL file. Do I write into the custom.hal file or use something else?

I appreciate the help!

So I went the custom.hal file route. I took the example hal file and I am trying to get it to work. The example states that there is an encoder outputting 100 pulses per index. on pin 10 and the spindle index is on pin 11.

I only have a spindle index and it is on pin 10. I tried editing the hal file to match my setup, but I keep getting errors. I tried the TWOPASS in the ini file and that had a bigger debug log than before!

Here is what my HAL file looks like.

# Include your customized HAL commands here
# This file will not be overwritten when you run stepconf again

# add the encoder to HAL and attach it to threads.
loadrt encoder num_chan=1
addf encoder.update-counters base-thread
addf encoder.capture-position servo-thread

# set the HAL encoder to 100 pulses per revolution.
setp encoder.3.position-scale 100

# set the HAL encoder to non-quadrature simple counting using A only.
setp encoder.3.counter-mode true

# connect the HAL encoder outputs to LinuxCNC.
net spindle-position encoder.3.position => spindle.0.revs
net spindle-velocity encoder.3.velocity => spindle.0.speed-in
net spindle-index-enable encoder.3.index-enable <=> spindle.N.index-enable

# connect the HAL encoder inputs to the real encoder.
#net spindle-phase-a encoder.3.phase-A <= parport.0.pin-10-in
#net spindle-phase-b encoder.3.phase-B
net spindle-index encoder.3.phase-Z <= parport.0.pin-10-in

I get an error at line 10. If I comment it out, the error is at line 13. If I comment that out, the error is at line 16, and so on, all the way to the last line.

What am I doing wrong? I don't understand this language well enough to figure it out.

I appreciate you working with me on this!

When I changed the HAL file like you suggested, I received an error saying that spindle-index was already linked to pin 10. I changed the HAL file created by stepconf to spindle pulse instead of spindle index and it loaded without errors.

I can't tell if that is a good thing or not... I thought there would be some type of readout showing spindle speed. When I check the HAL meter for the spindle-pulse signal it says FALSE. Even with the spindle on, there is no change there.

I double checked my spindle sensor and it is going high every time it hits the window, so I know that is working.

Sorry for taking so long to reply.

I looked at the thread you linked and I managed to get the Spindle Speed to display using stepconf.

Since it is outputting the spindle speed will I be able to turn threads?

Edit - I just saw an older reply in this post. Apparently I will need another pulse signal to get threading to work? Will that be true for feed/rev?