Vetting Clearpath S14972 Schematic

[Richards]

Ray,
I use an actual PLC, the CLICK C0-10DRE-D from Automation Direct. Automation Direct has models starting at $69. I use an ethernet model for ease of programming. I also have the C0-11DRE-D and the Productivity 1000 P1-540. Each of those PLCs has a power supply from Automation Direct and various I/O modules. (I still build a lot of process control computers for people in the photo industry. Those extra PLCs are test units for those other customers.)

It is my understanding that the 5V relay board that Centroid sells works perfectly to allow the signals to be "ANDed" to create a proper fault signal to the Acorn board. Since I don't have that 5V relay board and since I have a PLC, I use the PLC to condition the signals from the motors.

It's hard to justify spending about $250 for the CLICK PLC, its power supply and its additional I/O modules just to fix the multiple ClearPath motor problem when Centroid's relay board handles that problem at a fraction of the cost; however, I use the PLC for several other signal conditioning functions so that interfacing to/from the Acorn board works with the sensors and motors that I have on my test bench. Normally I design a custom board whenever signals do not match; but, that takes about a month to get the finished PCB boards back from China. The 1st version of an I/O board rarely works perfectly. Usually I make a 2nd or even a 3rd design before I'm satisfied. A PLC eliminates all of that hassle. I only have to condition external signals to work with 24VDC. In most cases, that means adding a 2.2K 1/2W resistor in series to the signal at a cost of 5 cents per resistor.

A single external PLC can be used with many Acorn boards at the same time. If you had a mill, a lathe and a router, a single PLC could condition signals to all of those machines and still have capacity to run dozens of other machines at the same time. But that's probably a subject for another time.

If you decide to decide to investigate a CLICK PLC, send me a private email, and I'll send you the logic diagrams that I use.

Here's a photo of the front side of my test bench. The PLC is in the top left-hand corner.

[Centroid_Tech2]

" The Clearpath servo needs to be enabled prior to the HL circuit closing. That being the case, my Acorn requires a command for movement prior to enabling the servo. Once enabled the relays to close, not fast enough however to stop the fault that follows movement and an open DriveOk circuit."




I just reread this. Did you select Clearpath in the Acorn Wizard? When you do this it sets parameter 991, which is the drive fault timer, to 2000 milliseconds. This gives CNC12 a delay before faulting out.

[Richards]

Centroid_Tech2,

I think that your quote attribution should be to CigarClimatology. He quoted me, but your quote contains only his statement.

I can't answer your question to Ray, but I have parameter 991 set to 1 as instructed by DMM in their "DYN4 Acorn setup draft rev1.pdf", step 3. Because I have both DMM and ClearPath motors on my testbench, I set 991 for the DMM motor. Should that be changed when using both DMM and ClearPath motors on the same machine?

Because I am using both ClearPath servos and a DMM servo, I cannot use default Wizard settings without doing something to condition some of the signals.

[CigarClimatology]

" The Clearpath servo needs to be enabled prior to the HL circuit closing. That being the case, my Acorn requires a command for movement prior to enabling the servo. Once enabled the relays to close, not fast enough however to stop the fault that follows movement and an open DriveOk circuit."




I just reread this. Did you select Clearpath in the Acorn Wizard? When you do this it sets parameter 991, which is the drive fault timer, to 2000 milliseconds. This gives CNC12 a delay before faulting out.

Thanks for revisiting this! I figured this was a timing issue, but simply am not fluid enough with Acorn, nor comfortable enough to simply start changing parameters. Frankly, I don't know how to do it. I had to go deep before even thinking of coming full circle and saying that this process (the Centroid supplied schematic) was not vetted! I am not inclined to cry wolf. I will test and test and test assuming first 'pilot error,' or my fault. I have tested this with 3 sets of relays, including the one that comes with Acorn. Yes, I used snubbed relays...

I do think this is a timing issue. My Idec relays indicated closed, and within a second the system faults. The other relay 'banks,' including Acorn's, did not even indicate closure. If this needs "more time prior to fault" I can try that. It is also why I posted a separate thread about enabling the servos manually first, then moving them. However, if the servos go from enabled to off, over and over as a matter of Acorns PLC programming while the 'machine operates,' this solution won't work. I have not gotten that far yet. I am not comfortable enough to know if my 'solutions' won't cause further issues down the road. That is a problem with debugging without understanding the 'global' system. I don't really have the time to understand the global control system.

The 2 second delay is too fast for 'my' system. Perhaps 3 seconds will make it work just fine. I can see the servos initiate, they then fault anyway! Shorting the 'fault circuit' they work. Yet I still have my spindle run, fault issue. That is the next one to tackle.

Thanks again for all that have helped. AND, accept my apologies if it looks like I cried wolf.

[CigarClimatology]

Ray,
I use an actual PLC, the CLICK C0-10DRE-D from Automation Direct. Automation Direct has models starting at $69. I use an ethernet model for ease of programming. I also have the C0-11DRE-D and the Productivity 1000 P1-540. Each of those PLCs has a power supply from Automation Direct and various I/O modules. (I still build a lot of process control computers for people in the photo industry. Those extra PLCs are test units for those other customers.)

It is my understanding that the 5V relay board that Centroid sells works perfectly to allow the signals to be "ANDed" to create a proper fault signal to the Acorn board. Since I don't have that 5V relay board and since I have a PLC, I use the PLC to condition the signals from the motors.

It's hard to justify spending about $250 for the CLICK PLC, its power supply and its additional I/O modules just to fix the multiple ClearPath motor problem when Centroid's relay board handles that problem at a fraction of the cost; however, I use the PLC for several other signal conditioning functions so that interfacing to/from the Acorn board works with the sensors and motors that I have on my test bench. Normally I design a custom board whenever signals do not match; but, that takes about a month to get the finished PCB boards back from China. The 1st version of an I/O board rarely works perfectly. Usually I make a 2nd or even a 3rd design before I'm satisfied. A PLC eliminates all of that hassle. I only have to condition external signals to work with 24VDC. In most cases, that means adding a 2.2K 1/2W resistor in series to the signal at a cost of 5 cents per resistor.

A single external PLC can be used with many Acorn boards at the same time. If you had a mill, a lathe and a router, a single PLC could condition signals to all of those machines and still have capacity to run dozens of other machines at the same time. But that's probably a subject for another time.

If you decide to decide to investigate a CLICK PLC, send me a private email, and I'll send you the logic diagrams that I use.

Here's a photo of the front side of my test bench. The PLC is in the top left-hand corner.
test_bench.jpg

Big thanks Mike. I need some time to digest your reply. I owe you an email.

[Richards]

Ray,
How have you configured the HLFB signal in the ClearPath Setup software? I've set the HLFB signal to "Servo On", that way anytime the servo's Enable signal is active, the HLFB signal is also active. The other settings, "ASG-Position", "In Range", "Speed Output", and "Torque Output" will cause the HLFB signal to change states repeatedly during a move, causing the Acorn to fault.

[martyscncgarage]

Those of you with Acorn and using Clearpath motors.
Take a look at CNC4PC's offerings for Acorn:

https://cnc4pc.com/c86-connector-board- ... oller.html
https://cnc4pc.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=c34cp

The idea is to use an ethernet patch cable between the two to make the motors go.

One thing I inquired about, is the HLFB+ signal seems to be unused in their Clearpath connector.
Just an FYI
Marty

[CigarClimatology]

Ray,
How have you configured the HLFB signal in the ClearPath Setup software? I've set the HLFB signal to "Servo On", that way anytime the servo's Enable signal is active, the HLFB signal is also active. The other settings, "ASG-Position", "In Range", "Speed Output", and "Torque Output" will cause the HLFB signal to change states repeatedly during a move, causing the Acorn to fault.

Mine are configured to 'assert' on enable.

[CigarClimatology]

I actually had this somewhat neat on my mockup board before all the problems! Now I am wiring 'overland.' So much for planning!