Attempting to use the 0-10 VDC output signal to control my 48V spindle PWM controller. I have calibrated the 0-10 output to “10 VDC exactly" but I still get ~1.06 - 1.15 VDC at 0% drive command, matter a fact I get .98 VDC when power is off, .95 VDC when power is off and USB unplugged and .85 if power off, USB plugged in and 24 VDC psu unplugged. Is this normal, if so is there a way to work around so my spindle isn’t turning on when it’s not supposed to? Also, is the X32 PWM 0-3.3VDC output an actual PWM signal or just variable voltage? I thought PWM signal voltage stayed practically the same from 0-100% drive command.
Multimeters sample and show an average. Use an oscilloscope to view the pulse train properly. 0% speed is still "enabled" What if you send an M5
The results I posted were after an M5 had been sent. I can completely disconnect the power supply from the X32, disconnect from OB control through the software but leaving the USB cable plugged in and still get .75 - .85 volts coming from the 0-10 output.
In this config, BlackBox is off-off right (both power sources removed) - so that voltage must be backfeeding from the Spindle PSU? Or faulty Multimeter? How are you measuring, with the Spindle PSU connected? Without any power, no power can be output (it does not have a onboard power source of any kind)
Spindle disconnected, PSU disconnected, USB cable connected to computer but disconnected from control software. I get pretty much the same results if I disconnect the USB cable and reconnect the PSU, still leaving the X32 powered down (no lights, including the blue fan light are on in this scenario). Hopefully the attached pics will help…
Thanks yes, thats clearer to understand If you now connect to CONTROL and send an M5, does it drop down?
Not sure if this helps but when calibrating the 0-10V output, I noticed that it was possible to get up to ~15V at 100% drive command. Should it be able to get that high? Is the adjustment pot possibly bad or the incorrect part by chance?
Adjustment has a range of around 8-15v yes, overkill, but flexible for nonstandard uses. The bottom end may float a little - as VFDs (the intended use case for that signal) has a configurable Min Freq parameter - that basically stops spindles from going below recommended RPM (7200RPM for air cooled, of 24krpm max - 7200/24000 = 0.3 * 10V = 3V. Basically a VFD would ignore 0-3.0v and only spin up the spindle if it exceed 3v) Does your spindle controller have some sort of Enable input (preferable a switch, could be a FWD/STOP/REV switch) then you could wire that through RELAY1
It does, I was actually going to use the “tool” enable output to trigger a n mosfet in place of the spindle controller On/Off switch, if possible.
Don't forget the resistor between MCU pin and base/gate. Onboard relay1 is already an Enable too so might save you extra wiring
I just looked at the X32 documentation again and am not sure which resistor you are referring to. Will you elaborate on this?
Not in our docs. You had a mosfet in your Diagram that was missing its resistor. Could cause damage the the BlackBox's microcontroller. MOSFET Gate Resistor Thus my suggestion to rather use the relay, no need to engineer a mosfet driver section etc, already an isolated dry contact ready to use.
Ah gotcha, yeah that was a drawing I just threw together as a quick reference. Thanks for looking out!
Is there any documentation on the "Dual configurable onboard Relays for Plasmas, Spindles, etc” (ie; what is configurable about them, how do I go about configuring them, voltage/current specs, etc.)?
Relay 1 is by default Spindle Enable and Relay2 is by default Direction. M3/4 switches Relay1 on, M5 switches it off M3 puts Relay2 in one state, M4 in the other (double throw relay) DC switching up to 2A max. Consider them as dry contact signalling (plasma trigger, VFD, that sort of thing) not for switching loads Configurable by custom grblHAL pinmaps, can be used for other uses like Mist or Flood etc
will I have an issue switching 48V (.0375a) contacts on a relay? Would I benefit in any way pulling down to 12V or so?
