Reset on a Gecko 320

[dgfriend]

Hi, new to Centroid. I am in the process of rebuilding a K2CNC router that originally had a proprietary parallel interface control board and of course used Mach3 for the software. Tried using LinuxCNC for a while, and it worked, but it seems that anything other than basic motion is difficult to accomplish. Too old to learn Linux, as well as all the hacks, necessary to keep the machine running. The K2CNC machine itself is very solidly built, using DC servo motors with Gecko 320 drives, but the rest of electronics and software had to go. Seemed like I spent more time fiddling, and less time making chips. Stumbled onto Centroid and liked what I saw. It appears to be a very robust system, with the flexibility that some users need. My Acorn has been bench tested and rewiring has commenced.

This brings me to the question at hand. The Gecko 320's are 5v and the Acorn is 24 v. I watched Gary Campbell's very informative video, about gender and voltage change, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kN-EzRbRa_k&t=2s , but still have one question.

Gary's method will solve the problem of Acorn getting a fault signal, but how does one reset that fault on a 320?
Gecko has suggested a circuit in their manual, http://www.geckodrive.com/support/motor ... rev-7.html ,which was originally installed, but this function needs to be now needs to be implemented on the Acorn.

I lied, second question, will this optoisolater do the job of the relays? http://www.icstation.com/4bit-optocoupl ... -8034.html I like it because I don't have to deal with Molex connectors, and it has lot's of "purty" lights.

Any suggestions.
Sorry for all the links, but I haven't figured out how to embed.
May I add, what a great discussion board. Lots of people here that want to see me succeed in my conversion.
Dale Friend

[andyolney]

I am also trying to figure out how to get the G320 to report to the acorn that a fault has occurred.

I have a momentary contact switch to turn on the drives. I think they have a latching circuit and when the drives fault the latch is released and the output seems to be about .5 volts. A relay board I tried needed a real 0 voltage to operate.

Thanks for reminding be about the circuit at Geckodrive, I might play with that.

Another possibility is the info at this page, http://www.arsa.aree.com/gecko/gercr2/index.html, which details a a solution from years ago. I actually have the board but can't or have not fit it into my current drive enclosure. I bet an arduino would be easy to do in this day and age.

Let me know if you find an easy out here.

Andy

[lvanduyn]

Check the following CNC4PC C17 master control board. This board is designed to take
care of the 320 res lines. I used one for years on my mach3 setup and am in the
process of converting over to Acorn and this board will be part of it.

http://s3.cnccookbook.com/CCCNC4PCSmoothstepper.html

[bubster451]

Best of luck on your conversion, I am trying to do the same thing. My Acorn arrives Monday. I just got an email from a vendor trying to sell me something else. Here is his quote:

The motors are already on the cnc machine, with g320 gecko's, amt103-v encoders on top.

If you are suppling the stepper motors are you also suppling the motor cables to the location of the electrical enclosure.

You indicate that there are encoders on your motors. The lower priced control system we offer does not use encoder feedback. That is why we typically use closed look servo motor & drive. With with closed loop servo systems the servo drive uses the encoder feedback but the control does not.

On our professional level CNC controls the loop is closed in our DSP motion control board. The professional level control hardware does not output the step and direction signals needed for stepper motor & drives. A servo system is required.

So i take it the acorn will work ? Please help!

[Centroid_Liviu]

This is an old thread from March 2018.

Are you talking to someone at Centroid? All I can see is your order confirmation.

As long as your drives accept step and direction they should be compatible with the Acorn. The Acorn does not care what motors you use (they can be stepper, DC or AC), the drive accepting a stepper + direction signal is what is important.

[martyscncgarage]

Use the DB25 to connect the G320x. There are inputs on the DB25. You can assign one for Drive ok. I do not recall how the drive fault works. Would have to read up on it.
There are some Acorn schematics that are specific to Geck drives. Those should help.

Marty

[bubster451]

Since I am not able to get help with k2cnc gecko320 conversion, i bought steppers and 860h leadshine. I got a 48v power supply. Can I use it with my acorn, or do i need to replace it with 24v?

[martyscncgarage]

Since I am not able to get help with k2cnc gecko320 conversion, i bought steppers and 860h leadshine. I got a 48v power supply. Can I use it with my acorn, or do i need to replace it with 24v?

Should have been no reason why you couldn't use the Gecko G320x.
I would have left them on because the DC brush servos we're already tuned.
You could have used the DB25 which by the way was designed to support old Mach3 systems to a certain extent, just like the parallel port.

Marty

[Richards]

Spend a few hours watching Marty's videos. He explains planning and building CNC controls simply and effectively.

One thing to understand: The Acorn board uses 24VDC. Motors may use other voltages. (I use steppers at 35VDC to 48VDC depending on the stepper, servos at 75VDC and 120VAC to 240VAC, depending on the manufacturer and the speed required.) In all cases, the non-24VDC power requirements are related to the outputs of the stepper/servo drive used. The non-24VDC power is connected only to the stepper/servo drives output sections. Again, depending on the stepper/servo drive that I choose to use, I connect the step/direction/enable signals on the stepper/servo drive input sections to either the DB25 connector (5VDC) or the Acorn's H2 and H3 headers.