EC X17 - Installing guide

Transcription

1 EC X17 - Installing guide Features This 4 Axis CNC Stand-Alone stepper Controller ensures smooth and accurate fast motion Command and program loading is made from the EC Watch software via USB or Ethernet Designed specifically for work with Broken Tool Sensor and the external keyboard Can be used for: Milling, drilling, engraving, cutting laser engraving and plotter It works in G code (Mach3 version) but also in Excellon code for PCB drilling New features have been added to those already established in the G code and controllers Ensures the work with: Parameters, expressions, functions, subroutines and macros Four offset types: Temporary offset, G92 Offset, Work Offset and Tool Offset Tool radius compensation and length compensation Two path control modes: Exact stop mode and constant velocity mode Allows automatic tool change and connection to conveyor belts or other machines Supports the coolant, laser and spindle controls: ON, OFF, CW, CCW, PWM Home reference, Soft Limits and Overryde Limits configurable Over 100,000 program lines in two distinct memory locations: RAM and Flash A standard parallel port, two serial ports, a USB port and a 10/100Mbps Ethernet port Connecting the CNC is done on the parallel port of the Controller just like any PC The maximum frequency on the output of an axis is: 250KHz, adjusted pulse width Supports 32 input signals, 16 output signals and 8 motor signals

2 What the EC X17 can do EC X17 is designed for controlling CNCs that are connected to the controller on the parallel port and are equipped with steppers, like the Chinese CNC in the above image. The CNC connection is via a standard parallel cable, the use of input and output pins is configurable from software. Command and control but also program loading and configuration is made from a PC running EC Watch software, connection to it is done by USB or Ethernet. EC watch is freeware software and can be downloaded from Therefore, the PC is only needed to prepare and write the program in the EC Controller, after which, it can be disconnected and used for other purposes. The EC X17 Controller will run the program on its own, and when it needs a new command or will finish the program it will stop and signal acoustically and optically. EC X17 controller is designed specifically for work with various Broken Tool Sensor types, no additional G code or script required The EC Controller can transform your CNC into a machine that drills or cuts PCBs that work directly in Excellon or Gerber (with conversion) code. But also in a laser engraving or laser cutting machine. For these, the EC X17 provides the required commands for: Spindles, Coolant and Laser Generator The 32 input signals, 16 output signals and 8 motor signals provides hardware implementation for commands such as: Start, Stop, etc. Allowing you to install your CNC in a production chain Input, output signals and other parameters can be read / written by the functions provided by the EC system. In this way they are at the developer's disposal, which can add new features to the CNC

3 1 Install the EC Watch software The first step is to install the EC Watch software, it is a freeware and can be downloaded from: Works on Windows XP and later After downloading and unzipping it click on the SetupEC.msi file. EC watch software requires at least ".NET Framework 2.0". This is a redistributable package from microsoft that is preinstalled in newer operating systems than Windows XP. It is very unlikely that you have not already installed it. However, it can be downloaded for free from the microsoft website:

4 After successfully installing the first software run, it triggers an automatic macro installation procedure, follow the instructions. See the above image

5 2 Connecting and powering the Controller The EC X17 can connect to your PC via USB or Ethernet. The two types of connections do not work at the same time. Selecting one of them is made from the Default Connection form The Ethernet port is an RJ45 socket at 10/100Mbps. The Ethernet cable is just the same as connect a computer to a switch / hub's normal port. The power is supplied via the USB conector directly from the connected PC or from a 5V, 500mA DC power supply (USB phone charger) The parallel port complies with the IEEE 1284 standard for parallel interface, it is the gate for connection to the CNC 2.1 Connect via USB Connect the USB cable to your PC and the EC X17 Controller. The green LED on the Controller must blink, this shows us that the Controller is powered up and is waiting for an order. Note that when the EC X17 controller is first connected to the PC through the USB port, the USB driver will automatically install.

6 After the USB driver installation has completed successfully, click the Open default connection button on the toolbar. See the image below If the connection succeeded, the name of the Controller is displayed in the toolbar. 2.2 Repair the USB connection In the unlikely event that the connection fails, check again all the steps described so far. Check whether the USB connection is selected in the Default connection form. To open it, click on the Communication menu, then click Default connection setup item. See the image below. If the communication still does not open, then the installation of the USB driver must be checked. To do this, follow the path: Start-> Control Panel->System->Hardware->Device Manager->USB Human Interface->Properties. See the image below

7 If the USB driver is not installed correctly, you can find it in the list of: Universal Serial Bus Controllers declared unknown. Uninstall the driver then disconnect the USB cable from the PC. Eventually reboot your PC. Reconnect the EC X17 controller to the PC via the USB cable forcing it to reinstall the driver. After the installation has completed successfully, click the Open default conection button on the toolbar. 2.3 Connect via Ethernet Connect the USB cable to the EC X17 controller and the power supply, then power it on. The green LED on the Controller must blink, this shows us that the Controller is powered up and is waiting for an order. Connect the Ethernet cable to the controller and the PC. The green LED in the Ethernet connector must light up. Of course, the PC Ethernet (Local Area Conection) must be enabled. See chapter: 3 Enable Ethernet. See also the picture below

8 Ensure that the settings in the Default Connection window are the same as those in the image below Also make sure your PC's IP matches the settings above. See chapter: 4 Setting the IP address of your PC Click the Open default connection button on the toolbar. If the connection succeeded, the name of the Controller is displayed in the toolbar. 2.4 Repair the Ethernet connection In the unlikely event that the connection fails, check again all the steps described so far. If these conditions are met, the cause of non-connection may be the Ethernet settings in the controller. The Ethernet settings in the Controller must be the same as those in the Default Conection window, otherwise the connection will fail. The default Ethernet settings in a new Controller are those you see in the above image. For more information about changing the Ethernet settings in a controller see Settings->Ports and Pins chapter in EC Watch Help

9 3 Enable Ethernet To Enable/Disable Ethernet or to change its IP address in Windows, you'll need to open the Network Connections window. 3.1 Open Network Connections Press the windows and R keys, type ncpa.cpl into the Run form, and then press OK button. See the picture below 3.2 Enable Local Area Conection In Network Connections window, mouse right on Local Area Conection and click on the Enable item

10 4 Setting the IP address of your PC The computer's Ethernet port needs to be configured with a static IP address. To change IP address in Windows, you'll need to open the Network Connections window. See chapter 3.1 Open Network Connections 4.1 Set a Static IP adress in Windows 7, 8 or 10 In Network Connections window, mouse right on Local Area Conection and click on the Properties item. Local Area Connection Status form will open. On it Press Properties button and Local Area Connection Properties form will open Select item Internet Protocal Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) then press Properties button, Internet Protocal Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) form will open

11 Select radio button Use the following IP address then type the X IP address. Where X can be any numer in range: 1-255, with a single exception: 11. Because 11 is the default IP address for the EC X 17 Controllers. Press the OK button to save changes. 4.2 Set Static IP in Windows XP To change the computer's IP address in Windows, you'll need to open the Network Connections window. Press the windows and R keys, type ncpa.cpl into the Run form, and then press OK button. In Network Connections (See chapter 3.1 Open Network Connections) window, mouse right on Local Area Conection and click on the Properties item. Local Area Conection Properties form will open. Select item Internet Protocal (TCP/IP) then press Properties button

12 Select radio button Use the following IP address then type the X IP address. Where X can be any numer in range: 1-255, with a single exception: 11. Because 11 is the default IP address for the EC X 17 Controllers. Press the OK button to save changes. For more information on changing the IP, see the link:

13 5 Check your PC's IP address Hit Windows+R, type cmd.exe into the Run box, and then press OK button. The console window will open, type ipconfig then press Enter key. See the following pictures

14 6 Configuration Once the connection between the PC and the Controller is achieved, it is time to adapt the Controller to your CNC using the Settings. The Settings must be written to the Controller before initiating any CNC axis movement. However, a new controller has already written the Settings for a Chinese CNC as in the above images. Below we will detail the minimal settings and operations required to configure a Controller to move your CNC, other settings can still be set to default 6.1 Ports and Pins To start, click on the menu: Settings> Ports & Pins. For these settings, you need the specifications of the CNC manufacturer Port Setup To start, click on Port Setup tab. The form that will open must be similar to the one below and is the default port settings. Please make sure your settings are the same

15 6.1.2 Motor Outputs Each axis has two signals: Step and Direction. If the axis is used then the two signals must be activated, they also need an assigned pin. Drivers typically use active low input signals. In this case Active Low must be checked. The form below show the default setting for the motor outputs Input Signals Each input signal used must be activated and assigned a pin. Ensure that the Emergency Stop signal is configured in accordance with the CNC manufacturer's indications. If the CNC is equipped with limiters on the axes ends then activate the Limit Override signal. Assign it to the appropriate pin in port 1. There are several ways that these limit switches are evaluated and converted into a single signal, for example by connecting them in series. If the CNC is equipped with home limiters on one or more axes, then activate the signal on the corresponding axes, eg. for the X axis the signal: X Home. The home reference process is configured in Settings>Home/Limits. The form below show the default setting for the input signals

16 6.1.4 Output Signals Especially output signals provide control for the following equipment: Spindle, Mist, Flood and/or Laser. Before going further with these settings make sure that your CNC is properly equipped to control them. In this table all you can do is activate the signals and assign them a pin. However, how they work is set in Spindle Setup tab. Of course these signals may also have another use 6.2 Motor Tunning To start, click the Settings menu> Motor Tunning Speed and Acceleration Maximum speed and Maximum acceleration per axle. These values are based on the constructive features of the CNC and must follow the manufacturer's instructions Speed and Acceleration Maximum speed and Maximum acceleration per axle. Initially use the values provided by the manufacturer. However, the values are not critical and by successive modifications / verifications the optimum values can be reached. Too high speeds and accelerations lead to step loss resulting in loss of repeatability. A CNC equipped with powerful engines and low weight will can move faster without losing steps than one with small motors and heavy weight Steps per MM The number of steps required to make the move equal to a MM this is a constructive feature of the CNC and must be found in its documentation. The incorrect values lead to a higher or lower displacement seeming as a scale factor has been applied The Minimum Speed The minimum speed is the speed at which any movement ends

17 6.3 Logic To start, click on the menu: Settings> Logic Default Seek Rate Seek Rate (G0) is the maximum speed that can be achieved by the CNC it can not exceed the maximum speed written in the Motor Tunning Default Feed Rate It is the maximum feed rate (G1) it can not exceed the Seek Rate 6.4 Write Settings to Controller To start, click on the menu: Settings> Read/Write to Controller. Then press the Write button. Of course, we assume the link to the controller is open It is advisable to check the writing by pressing the Verify Write button

18 7 Check axis movement To begin with, ensure that the Controller is connected to the CNC via the parallel cable. Also make sure that the CNC axes can move safely in both directions. Click the Manual tab in the EC Watch software. In the open window, click the Y+ button and notice the effect on the Y axis of the CNC. See the image below You need to check the movement on each axis before and back. If one of the axes is inverted, then you have to go back to chapter: Motor Outputs and reverse the status of the DirActivLow. Of course you will also need to write (6.4 Write Settings to Controller) the change in the Controller After the movements on each of the axes are correct, you can try to beat the maximum speed and acceleration. For this you can send the text code to the controller. In the Send G / M code to the Controller text box print the code then press Enter key.

19 8 Completing the installation It is advisable to finalize the configuration of the Controller before running a program 8.1 Finalizing Configuration So far, we've dealt with the minimum required settings to get your CNC moving. To complete the configuration, refer to the Configuration chapter of the EC Watch Help 8.2 Send the Macros to the Controller Click the Macro menu. In the Macro form, click the Macros Write button. See Macro chapter in EC Watch Help For more information, see the EC Watch Help. Can be downloaded here: