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DavidR8's shop shenanigans
- Thread starter David
- Start date
Well frack.
I bought a new VFD for the CNC router as the one I had was giving me fits.
Went to install it today. Powered up fine, was able to program it for RS485 control but as soon as I tried starting the spindle it blew the breaker in the enclosure.
Now the vfd is completely dead.
Fack.
I bought a new VFD for the CNC router as the one I had was giving me fits.
Went to install it today. Powered up fine, was able to program it for RS485 control but as soon as I tried starting the spindle it blew the breaker in the enclosure.
Now the vfd is completely dead.
Fack.
The problem is of my own making.
I needed to verify the connections at the spindle so I pulled the connector apart. Noticed that one wire had come unsoldered. So I resoldered it. Problem was that there was a solder bridge between that pin and the one next to it which happened to be the ground.
So when I started the spindle it was a dead short between one leg and ground.
Live and learn I suppose.
$200 lesson.
I needed to verify the connections at the spindle so I pulled the connector apart. Noticed that one wire had come unsoldered. So I resoldered it. Problem was that there was a solder bridge between that pin and the one next to it which happened to be the ground.
So when I started the spindle it was a dead short between one leg and ground.
Live and learn I suppose.
$200 lesson.
Last edited:
Dan Dubeau
Ultra Member
Time travel is indeed possible. Anybody that says otherwise has never tried to build or fix anything, as you can very easily finish a day farther behind then where you started sometimes. I feel your pain.....
At least you figured out what happened. Pull the electronics apart and see what smoked. Might be a simple FET that is toasted.
Yeah I’ll pull it apart and see what I can make out.
I ordered a new VFD and installed it today. Did a triple-check of the VFD to spindle power wiring to ensure there were no cross-connects or shorts to ground 
Got the RS485 adapter connected, VFD programmed for external control and started the UCCNC software. The RS485 plugin started and I connected to the VFD. Happy days!
Crossed my fingers and started the spindle. And wouldn't you know it..
It worked
RS485 is a much better control option than the 0-10v analog business which I could never get working properly on the YL VFD.
Just need to sort out why it won't go over 12,000 rpm.
Got the RS485 adapter connected, VFD programmed for external control and started the UCCNC software. The RS485 plugin started and I connected to the VFD. Happy days!
Crossed my fingers and started the spindle. And wouldn't you know it..
It worked
RS485 is a much better control option than the 0-10v analog business which I could never get working properly on the YL VFD.
Just need to sort out why it won't go over 12,000 rpm.
Yes!
Sorted out the rpm issue. The VFD was set for a four-pole spindle. Switched it to two-pole and presto, 24,000 rpm.
And with the RS485 I now get actual RPM on the UCCNC screen. Very cool.
Sure wish I hadn't faffed around with the YL VFD for three years.
Sorted out the rpm issue. The VFD was set for a four-pole spindle. Switched it to two-pole and presto, 24,000 rpm.
And with the RS485 I now get actual RPM on the UCCNC screen. Very cool.
Sure wish I hadn't faffed around with the YL VFD for three years.
It's so nice to use our tools to repair or upgrade these sorts of things.
It is. Fun little project. Still getting used to the lathe. Set up a dial indicator for the cross slide as a quickie DRO. Worked like a charm.
I had 5 PC boards made for the ELS to PIC32 expansion board. I chose DHL. Last night I got the notice to pay the $5 or so tax and the $18 administrative fee.
It's listed as leaving Vancouver earlier today.
Shipping was about right for this type of delivery. And $13.60 US for a 4 layer board isn't bad either. Hope I haven't made any mistakes on it.
To be fair I received four LCD displays on Friday ordered 09APR25 so about 20 days from AliExpress. OTOH, I'm still waiting for 2mm drill bits ordered 26FEB25 and "arrived at local airport" on 18MAR25. It's now time yet again to claim non-delivery. Seems very hard to get 2mm drill bits from AliExpress. This is the second time.
@jcdammeyer It was a test post to make sure our email service was still working
