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Thread: PRS Alpha Spindle not responding to RPM requests

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Memphis TN
    Posts
    1,014

    Default PRS Alpha Spindle not responding to RPM requests

    I'm writing this post not asking for answers but to show what I did to solve the issue.

    I'm still on the original SB software I received with the machine: 3.6.38. It was working perfectly and I don't want to rock the boat. My computer started acting up a few weeks ago and the last time I started the computer, it took a lot of fiddling to get it to run. I've left it running since.

    Time for a new computer. I ordered a cheapo replacement from eBay. A custom configured Windows 7 64 bit Dell model with an SSD drive for a whopping $150 delivered. Nice computer, about half the physical size of my previous computer. I loaded the 3.6.38 software and everything looked good.

    I had zero issues with the USB interfaces, including the spindle. The problem I found was that I couldn't control the spindle RPM. It read 466 on the RPM window and when I tried to change it, the 466 kept returning. The VFD showed 14,000 which was the last RPM I had used to run a job.

    I tried all sorts of things to get past this problem and today, after giving up on the internet, I asked Shopbot support (on a Saturday) what's up. Ben gave me the final answer.

    I didn't know that clicking on the RPM in the RPM window would bring up a previously unseen text edit window for the spindle controller. Ben gave me that hint and also sent me a link to a video that covers pretty much everything one would want to know about spindle problems:

    https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lVJ...1iBJNVfWK/view

    I got about 3 minutes into the video and saw my issue. I have a V1000 VFD controller and that one wasn't selected in the RPM window. I changed that to the V1000, also changed the Htz scale from 100 to 60 and all is well again.

    Now I have my newish computer configured properly and the Shopbot is responding as expected. Hopefully, I'll have another seven years of trouble free operation.

    Thanks Ben!
    ShopBot Details:
    2013 PRS 96x60x12 (Centroid upgrade)
    4hp Spindle
    12" indexer
    Aspire
    Rhino
    Fusion 360
    Ferrari 360
    Prusa MK3S+
    Prusa XL multi-tool

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Cleveland TN
    Posts
    369

    Default

    Thanks for this Cory, good information if and when I change my control computer.

    Joe
    2005 PRT Alpha 48x96
    2013 Colombo 3hp spindle
    Indexer (converted lathe)
    Aspire 9.0

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