routercnc_MK3

[mitchejc]

Your box is looking VERY tidy and I've been watching this part of your build with a keen eye for ideas since I'm +- at the same stage with mine. Well done!

Can't advise you on the suitability of the SSR but I also got a 25A one (not the same make/model as yours) and I was unaware that it would still pass current when off so I exchanged it as faulty only to find out the new one does exactly the same. On mine its enough to light a 220V pilot light dimly an if I recall correctly I measured it at around 12V or 14V when in off position. For what its worth the guy at the shop told me to put a BIG heat sink on it if I plan to run 25amps thru it.

[routercnc]

Thanks for that Mitchejc,

For info here is where I got to using the SSR (small white square in the middle of the top DIN rail for those who don't use them):






But since these pictures were taken I've removed the SSR because as mentioned above I don't think it works well with the transformer. If it had worked then I didn't plan on using a heat sink because the 25A rating was just to help it survive the unrush current (which is momentarily 100s or 1000s of amps), but then it should settle to a couple of amps (?) for normal running. But if you've got a heat sink then I guess there is no harm in using it anyway.

New plan is to do what I should have done in the first place which is to run 24V DC control instead of 12V (as industry do) which means I can use a 24V DC contactor to switch the transformer and SMPS. The e-stop can then (through the relay) cut power to the drives in an emergency.
The proximity switches are happy on 24V and if I ever upgrade to something like the CS labs unit this also uses 24V. Just waiting for all the new bits to arrive from China.

At the moment I've laid the earth terminal blocks out to act as end stops/cover plates for the main grey terminals because in case you didn't know one end of each JXB4 terminal blocks is open so the last one in the row is 'exposed'. I've got some cover plates on order and when they arrive I can then cluster the earth terminals in the middle to make it as close to a star layout as possible.

Also when the new relays arrive I plan to re-do the diode layout and run it through a terminal block instead of hanging out the back piggy backed onto an cable.

[routercnc]

Got one of the drivers wired up for power and hooked the linear supply direct to the mains feed (just to check operation)
The driver green led came on and got 72V across the power terminals. Then switched off to see how long it would take to drain the caps. It was dropping just under 0.5V per second so took a couple of minutes to drop to a low level (obviously will be quicker with all three drivers). But strangely it stopped at just under 4V and stayed there. I waited but it did not go any further. In the end I held a 10K resistor across the cap terminal to drain it right down. Why did the voltage stop? Must be something in the drivers that stops drawing current at 4V?
This means there will always be a bit of energy stored in the supply long after it has been turned off. This bothers me a bit so I may add a bleed resistor permanently. Anyone else checked if their power supply drops to zero?

[Clive S]

You will find in reality in use that with the motors connected it will drop in seconds. I personally don't use a bleed resistor. ..Clive

edit A 10K will do nothing to drain it down even from 70V it will only draw about 7mA

[JAZZCNC]

Your bothering over nothing. Get it built and working stop freting over shit that doesn't matter. 4v won't even tickle.!!

[routercnc]

Hi Clive, Jazz,

OK thanks for the info I've stopped worrying now . . .

[routercnc]

Whilst waiting for the various bits to arrive I've turned my attention to the wiring I'll need for the proximity switches. I've kept this job until last as I knew there were going to be problems.

The prox switches are SN04-N. Brown wire (10-30V) , blue wire (0V), black wire (signal NPN NC).

I rigged one up on the bench (at 12V for now), with a 700ohm resistor between brown and black, then checked the voltage between black and blue. Got 12V or 0V when a metal plate was present or not.


All good, but my BOB is 5V inputs only. So I've thought about the options:

1. Upgrade to 24V logic BOB ! Maybe when funds permit but not now

2. Use a pair of resistors as voltage dividers
I think can work out the ratios OK (top one ~4.5 times the bottom one, giving ~5V tap out in centre?)
But what actual values to use to control the current into the BOB?
What is the acceptable current into the BOB - I've seen a USB board quoted at 7mA . . .
How do I calculate the current my resistor selection will allow into the BOB?
I've got a feeling I need to know the resistor value inside the board . . .

Here is a diagram I created showing one option (adapted from a great post by Irving long time ago):


Here is another option:


But I have a feeling I need to do / know this:



3. Use an opto-coupler module

I bought this out of curiosity (£1.32 all in) - just got to wait for it to arrive in a couple of weeks:



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3911024978...ht_5545wt_1109

I asked the supplier about max input voltage and max output voltage but after several days no reply. In the advert they suggest an ideal use is using 3V systems to control 24V systems but I want to go the other way around.
They sell sauce bottles, phones and underwear so I guess they don't make them themselves and probably have no idea!!

Any thoughts on the above options and questions?

Thanks