Labvolt Conversion

[skibbe]

I'm converting a Labvolt CNC 5400 machine to Masso control. The Labvolt is a Sherline CNC Mill with proprietary Labvolt controls.

I am ripping out the Labvolt mother board and installing the Masson controller, and attempting to use the stepper motor "chopper" drives that are already wired into the machine.

I have traced wiring and know that the inputs to the chopper drives are Step/Dir/+/-.

What I can't find is an example of hooking these driver inputs to the Masso. Anyone able to guess what I should connect those to on the Masso to provide the proper signal to the chopper drives?

 

[masso-support]

once you know where to wire the step and dir signals on your drives, please also check what voltage signal they need, then you can wire the signals as per this example: https://www.masso.com.au/masso-documentation/?section=leadshine-mx4660

 

[skibbe]

Ok, they are 5 v.

So from Driver to Masso:

Step --> S+

Dir --> D+

Nothing -->S-

Nothing -->D-

Then, I also need to run +5v to the (+) on driver and ground the (-) on driver? So +/- don't actually connect to Masso.

 

[masso-support]

the connections are ok, for the last point you mentioned about +5v, you only need to connect the (-) of the drive to the (-) of MASSO power supply.

 

[skibbe]

Even though the Masso is powered by a separate 12V supply, I should tie the grounds from both the 5V and 12V (masso) together?

 

[masso-support]

whats the 5v power supply used for?

 

[skibbe]

Quote from MASSO Support on November 7, 2019, 10:30 pm

whats the 5v power supply used for?

The stepper driver seems to need 5V. It's inputs are Step, Direction, +5vdc, Gnd

 

[masso-support]

Hi @skibbe

It is unusual for a stepper drive to require a separate power supply to power it. It would normally derive it's power from the motor power supply.

Do you have a part number and manual or a connection circuit for the stepper drive you are using?

Cheers

Peter

 

[skibbe]

Part of the issue is I don t have diagrams for these chopper drives.

Would a photo help?

 

[masso-support]

Hi @skibbe

Sorry to say that a photo doesn't really help at all. You know it's not modern when you can see the components without a microscope.

I cant really say how the 5 volt supply should be connected as I haven't come across any drive that required a separate power supply.

Before you connect the drives to Masso please, please make sure that the drives are not outputting any voltage on the step and direction inputs back towards Masso or you will end up damaging the Masso drive outputs.

Hopefully someone else has seen these drives before.

Cheers

Peter

 

[breezy]

@masso-support, @skibbe

Peter,

Googled 048-700115 Chopper Driver and found this link from August 2015.

It seems the driver board requires a standalone 5v PS for the electronics and has a separate PS for the stepper motors.

So if the 5v is still connected to the board leave it alone and the only connections to MASSO should be S+ & D+ and -ve commons.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Arie.

 

[skibbe]

Thanks everyone for your efforts to help out. I'm really hoping to get this running without changing out stepper motors and drives if possible.

There are only 4 inputs and 4 outputs from the chopper drive.

The four outputs remain connected to the stepper motors, so I don't think anything needs to happen there. These motors work with the original front panel controls.

The four inputs are what I disconnected from the original control board. They are D,C,+,-.

I still think D and C are Direction and Step. And 5V showed before disconnecting the original control board.

I'm not sure where else the motor power would be coming from if not from the + and - inputs?

Cleaner image of board attached in case someone knows what I'm missing. Can't be too many possibilities with 4 wires, right?

 

[skibbe]

The above wiring scheme worked. I have motion!