[Grbl_Esp32 Issue#140] invert spindle enable pin

#1 – terjeio 于 2019-05-05

Did you try speed control with the supplied potmeter? The controller requires 0-10V DC input for speed control, IIRC PWM did not work for me. I added a level shifter followed by a low-pass filter to get it working.

#2 – jschoch 于 2019-05-05

the pot works. the SV is for the 0-10v signal. the manual says it should work in the PG input with 5v. I had a setup working with this spindle before but I may have used a relay to enable the spindle which is what i’ll do short term.

i am still perplexed why i don’t get any change on either spindledir or spindleenable pins with VARIABLESPINDLE, INVERTSPINDLE, and USESPINDLEDIRASENABLEPIN, SPINDLEENABLEOFFWITHZEROSPEED all enabled.

#3 – jschoch 于 2019-05-05

I was able to invert the PWM signal with a 2n2222 using this circuit: https://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=249116.0

this works enough to pull the enable pin on the spindle controller low and if the controller is reset it should not hickup and go low.

still now clear why the other options don’t work but this is enough for me to do some more testing.

#4 – jschoch 于 2019-05-07

quick update: I was able to get this working. I had quickly scanned for the SPINDLEENABELPIN definition but it was wrapped in a config block. it does not appear the pin is inabled by default. I enabled both SPINDLEENABLEPIN and SPINDLEDIRPIN in config.h and commented out ENABLESDCARD. I was not sure which pin would respond to M3/m5. it turns out that the SPINDLEENABLEPIN was correctly inverted and responding to the M3/m5 commands. I have not yet tested power up behavior and it may blip on the spindle on startup (this is what an arduino would do).

So, net net is you need all of VARIABLESPINDLE, INVERTSPINDLE, and USESPINDLEDIRASENABLEPIN, SPINDLEENABLEOFFWITHZEROSPEED enabled and you also need to map at least SPINDLEENABLEPIN (v2.1 board i used GPIONUM18).

Hope this helps someone. PWM still not working for this crappy brushless controller

#5 – terjeio 于 2019-05-07

Crappy or not I got it working in my mini lathe… I had to add closed loop RPM control (PID) as the motor I am using did not live up to the hype. Here is the schematic for the level-shifter I made:

!pwm

IIRC a transistor (for signal inversion) is needed to drive the opto-coupler to get it working correctly with the ESP32 – I am using a MSP432 where I can invert the PWM output via a setting.

May I ask what motor you are using?

#6 – jschoch 于 2019-05-07

The motor/spindle is labeled the same as the controller and came with the controller. It has two small deep groove ball bearings and a fairly wobbly ER16 collet mounted to the shaft. There is significant axial play which makes it not suitable for much other than PCB milling which is what it is dedicated to now and until it dies. I get about 7krpm @27v out of it with the paired controller.

I’d love to find a battle tested high rpm small spindle that uses angular contact bearings. The wegstr spindle looks great but is pretty expensive. The wolf engineering spindle is not available to purchase anymore from my searching. I looked into the Sable-2015 but it uses regular ball bearings.