Motion Control and Motor Drives

[cforem5]

Hi,

I am using a NI NEMA23 stepper motor, P70530 power drive, NI quadrature encoder, and a compact RIO chassis.

My motor is working just fine but I am having trouble with the limit switches and the encoder. The limit switches are wired for normally closed operation and are wired to the 37 pin block that came with the P7000 to NI9512 connectivity bundle. I've tried multiple settings (sourcing, sinking, active on, active off) using the NI Softmotion module in LabVIEW and tried switching the limit switch leads but I still cannot get them to work properly. It seems like no combination works properly. They are either non-reactive when pressed or both active when not pressed. I'm wondering if there is a typical setup in the software for limit switches wired to the 37pin block?

For the encoder, I have it connected to the 37 pin block included in the P7000 to NI9512 connectivity bundle but the NI9512 module is not receiving encoder pulses. I've tried narrowing down the problem through different active/inactive settings in LabVIEW but I can't get a response. I'm wondering if the problem sounds like it is coming from my wiring or from the settings in the software or a combination? Also, does my motor wiring effect the encoder at all? For example, if I switch the A and Abar leads on the motor, do I need to switch them on the encoder?

Any advice and/or help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

[Joseph-S]

Hi cforem5,

Thanks for posting to the forums! The 9512 has some helpful indicator lights that will help shed some light into the problem. When the limit switches are pressed, what do you see on the third LED from the left? You can also diagnose the encoder connection in the same way by observing the second LED. I'm sure you might have browsed through the manual here: http://www.ni.com/pdf/manuals/374555d.pdf. The explanation of the LED indicator lights and their associated meanings is on page 20. If you can let me know what the LEDs are indicating, we'll be able to work from there. 

Another document that might be helpful to you is the Getting Started Guide for the 951x module in LabVIEW: http://www.ni.com/pdf/manuals/372874d.pdf. If you haven't seen this already, I think it would be greatly beneficial for you to look through it.

[cforem5]

Yeah I've looked through both of those already. Turns out my wiring was backwards but now it is working properly. Probably happens a lot, sorry. 

Thanks for your help