Millport VMC1660 Centroid Upgrade (Leadshine EL7)

[cncsnw]

This is a bit of a stab in the dark, without asking for a lot more details about your machine and control, but...

If you want to experiment, try inverting the tool-counter input, and then telling the PLC not to throw away the first count after reversal.

[KreiderMachine]

Our tool counter mechanism is like this, in case that sheds any light.

I'll try that suggestion and report back. In the mean time, feel free to ask any questions that might crack this open.

[KreiderMachine]

It looks like your stab in the dark hit an organ. The carousel behaves properly now.
I ran the same truth table and it worked as hoped each time.
Thank You!!

[KreiderMachine]

When trying to operate the machine this morning, my boss was having issues with CNC12 crashing when he attempted to use the "Search" menu under "Run Job Options"

The program was one he made post-upgrade in CNC12. The crash is pretty repeatable, and he was able to recreate it with me watching. He entered into cam mode, graphed, but when he tries to 'search,' CNC12 immediately exits.

I have attached the report file. There don't seem to be any associated errors. Just the software crash.

-H

[cncsnw]

That is a known bug in CNC12 v5.22.

According to the release notes, it was fixed in v5.24.
https://www.centroidcnc.com/centroid_di ... _notes.pdf

[KreiderMachine]

Ok, I skimmed the installation 'readme' file and mistakenly concluded that 5.3 would install cleanly on top of 5.22, and that the instructions about taking screenshots of PLC configuration in the wizard didn't apply to Hickory... so I just installed it, and now I seem to have lost a weeks worth of setup work.

Is there a way to import my previous configuration from the backup file that was made during installation (and where do I find it?) or do I just have to start over?

-H

[KreiderMachine]

I have successfully reverted to 5.22, and now that I understand how the backup is handled, am I correct in assuming that I can just copy over the plc files from the old installation, or do I need to recompile before that would work?

[centroid467]

I'd make sure that the Wizard is set to not overwrite your PLC changes before copying over the PLC files.

I don't know if recompilation is necessary going from 5.22 to 5.30. If it is, shouldn't take too long to fix.

[KreiderMachine]

Will work more with the version upgrade tomorrow. In the mean time,

We have a few issues regarding the way the spindle speed is displayed:

First, there is a mismatch between the programmed speeds, and what the spindle actually does. I can display both values as the program runs (photo). How do I reconcile this?

Secondly, the scale of the spindle speed displayed at top right seems to be set for 6000rpm, but due to us having our VFD set up in "vector mode," it maxes out at 3600rpm. So, our 0-100% range is only displayed as 0-60% on the scale.

Thirdly, we would like to switch the sign of the displayed spindle speed to be positive for clockwise spin (looking down on cutter from above.). Currently, it shows negative.

I haven't tried to set it up for rigid tapping yet, but need to, and will need to at least get the programmed/actual speed mismatch resolved before I try.

[cncsnw]

To make the actual spindle speed equal the commanded speed, go to the F1/Setup -> F3/Config -> F1/Control screen and enter, next to "Max spindle (high range)", the spindle RPM you will get when the PLC sends a full-scale (+10V) speed command to the drive.

To make the encoder-based "actual" speed and direction on the screen match the actual speed and direction of the spindle, set Machine Parameter 34 to the number of encoder counts -- positive or negative -- that come in from the spindle encoder in one forward (M3) turn of the spindle.

If your machine has multiple spindle gear/belt ranges, you first set both of the above values for the highest-speed range. Then you set Parameter 65 (and 66 and 67, if there are three or four ranges) to indicate how fast the spindle goes in each lower-speed range, compared to high range at the same motor speed.

I am not sure what you mean by "scale of the spindle speed displayed at top right". Maybe you are talking about the load meter bar in the status window, below the spindle speed override percentage? If your load meter is displaying speed, then you need to change a parameter in your VFD so that it sends out load (current) instead of speed (frequency) on its analog monitor output.