Updated to gSender 1.6.2. Now whatever job I run the spindle starts up, the VFD shuts off the controller. I went back to 1.6.1, still the same result.
EVERY time I take one step forward, I fall backwards with this thing.
Over a month of tinkering. Nothing accomplished. +$4k in the corner of my garage, like a 5x5 paperweight. Really starting to regret this investment. I could have made 20 cutting boards the regular way by now.
@4thbboy Sorry for your troubles. What exactly do you mean by the “VFD shuts off the controller”?
Do you get errors?
No errors on the VFD. I run the IDC surfacing file, the PWNcnc spindle moves to the start position, speeds up to 12000, then the SLB shuts off. The spindle stays on. I get a pop up on my laptop that says comm has been lost, start over at line 9. I hit the red stop button on the VFD and the power to the SLB comes back. I havent touched the settings on the VFD since the initial set up. I ran the surfacing file last week and everything ran file. The spindle needed some tramming so I did that. Everything moves fine. Only when I run a file, it shuts down.
Also, according to the setup info, I’ve gone by the below parameters, BUT, for the last setting, my VFD p4.1.01 only goes up to 3, not 4. I left it at zero. I tried 3 but that seems to double the gsender spindle speeds.
PwnCNC VFD Settings
Then adjust your VFD Parameters. To navigate the system, hit the mode button (p0.0.00 should be blinking) using the up and down arrows, and double right arrow, and enter then mode to exit)
Auto Control
P0.0.03 = 2
P0.0.04 = 9
P4.1.00 = 04
p4.1.01 = 4
I just tried to run the IDC squaring file. Same situation but this one says to reconnect and start at line 22. I’ve run the file three times in the past and it worked fine.
@4thbboy gSender has a file check option that you can enable to see what happens. It essentially runs the file but doesn’t move the spindle. You can see the “progress” in the visualizer. Might be worthwhile looking into that. If I recall, you can run the file check by typing $C in the console. Type it again to disable it.
I guess you can control the spindle manually from gSender (“Spindle” tab at the bottom right).
@4thbboy Also, you didn’t say which machine you have. I’m assuming Altmill. If so, are you connecting the computer to the SLB via USB or Ethernet? Switch to Ethernet if you can. It’s much more reliable (both the physical connection and the communications protocol). Also be mindful of static electricity. Make sure your dust collection system is properly grounded.
I can’t help you with the spindle/VFD since it’s not from Sienci and I’m not familiar with the unit you have.
No dice with the $C. looks like another weekend with no work accomplished. I need a break before I do some real damage. I ran the IDC break in file just to see if I could get a job to run without the spindle turning on causing the SLB to shut down. Sent it to home, zeroed everything, Started the job and the spindle just dive bombed into the spoil board and exploded my $160 dust boot.
I’m running an Altmill 4x4, PWNcnc 80mm w/c 240v spindle. Dust collection is grounded. Connected via USB.
I can run other simple jobs. Its just when the spindle gets up to speed the VFD shuts down the SLB and I’m not experienced enough to know how to troubleshoot the code.
I really do appreciate the help you’re giving me! I’m just so frustrated
@4thbboy Based on what you have said, what I would do to troubleshoot is lower the spindle speed for the toolpath in use. You’d do that in whatever CAM software you use. If it works at low speeds, then the issue might be a configuration problem (e.g. spindle speed delay). It goes without saying, I’d do all tests as air carves without a bit in the spindle.
What did $c do? If I remember, $C enables file check. Typing it again disables it. So you’d enable file check and then run your job.
check the time that the gsender softer is set to allow the spindle to get to speed. not sure the location but that could be the problem as it was for me originally.
Sorry guys!! I had to step away from the machine for a sanity check, then I got caught up with my son’s baseball playoffs.
The issue was all my fault. I’m the ass, not the Altmill.
Once I got back to work on it, I started from the basics. I went to the VFD and switched it to manual. I noticed that when I sped up the spindle manually the SLB shut off at +5000rpm. I thought, well that’s when the water pump should come on with the PwnCNC recommended IoT power strip. What a coincidence! Apparently the SLB got plugged into the ‘normally on’ plug when I was moving things around, rearranging the wood, underneath the bench. Didnt even know that was a thing. My laptop had been in that outlet from the beginning, so I never noticed a power blip on the laptop. I’ve used other ‘turn on’ power strips before. Never had one that shut off applied power.
Live and learn!!!
So, yeah, after that got swapped, I was able to level my spoil board, add a grid, pvc dogholes and flatten two cutting boards in about 45 mins.
All is good in the world again. Bits and dust boot are in the mail. lol
Thanks for the help, guys!
@4thbboy It’s good to hear that you resolved your issue. Thanks much for reporting the solution. I’m close the topic.