So this seems to be a fairly common power supply for the Chinese air cooled spindles. Right now it’s hooked up to a manual speed control. Does anyone know what pins to connect to if I want to use software to control it? The TinyG has Spin, Sdir and PWM outputs but I have no clue what to match them to on the spindle controller.
Thanks!
Speculation here since I’ve never seen those, but since you currently show a speed dial potentiometer connected to “10V Speed”, I’m going to assume that’s correct for what I’m writing next: You can’t simply wire PWM directly in. You’d have to find a circuit that converts PWM to whichever rating your potentiometer is, and replace it.
I looked around for a similar circuit for a spindle controller I had and eventually gave up. I ended up just using a digital potentiometer chip and did it another way. If anyone knows of a circuit to do this with passive components, I’d love to see it myself.
Makes sense. I guess the next question is I wonder if that 0|5 or 0|10 can be used to trigger the spindle on and off from software. I’ll have to play around with that a bit.
And yes, that pot is the current speed control to answer that question.
I think the label was meant to read “0-5” and “0-10” (as in, 0v to 5v output… the hyphen is sideways). So in other words:
Terminal screws 1-3 = 5V variable pot
Screw 4 = 0v-5v OUTPUT (not input!)
Screw 5 = GND
Screw 6 = 0v-10v OUTPUT (!)
Screws 7-9 = 10V variable pot.
To verify, just put a voltmeter across screws 5+6 with your 10V pot, and see if it varies as you dial it.
If you only want to have control over spindle on/off, then I’d put a relay in-line with the 0-10V output, and have that trip by the TinyG’s spindle (Spin?) output.
For PWM, your signal goes in term 4, gnd in term 5.
What’s the model number of the power unit - LD-S-500?
@Mike_Thornbury unfortunately there is no model number that I can read. I’ll take a picture of the label on the other side tonight when I get back home but other than some voltage ranges, the only other letters identifiable are PWM
you show me a couple of good pics of both components, as well as the wattage of the spindle, I can probably work it out enough to locate a wiring diagram.
Did you not get any docs with it?
nope. I’m actually second owner anyway but from what I understand, it came pretty much with the hardware and no supporting documents. I’ll get you some pics tonight.
The spindle is supposedly 600W.
Thanks for the help.
@Mike_Thornbury I didn’t make it into the shop tonight, but I’m working from home tomorrow and should be able to duck out there and snap a few pictures.
No worries. Pics top and bottom would help, along with any identifying marks on the spindle.
@Mike_Thornbury I can’t figure out how to tag you on my other post, but I posted a bunch of pictures of the controller. Hopefully those help.
I saw your other pics, I will look in the am and get back to you.
You should change that cap, though. It’s going to cause you trouble.
From my initial look you have two similar circuits -one 5v one, one 10v one. You should be able to hook your pot up the same way to the 5v terms as you have to the 10v ones and control the speed. You might want to try that while I’m digging.
Depending on your motion controller will be how you hook your PWM into your dc controller. What motion controller are you using?
TinyG
Oh bollocks - something happened and my long post went away… so, to cut it short.
‘0-5V’ or 0-10V is where your PWM signal goes in, GND is where your TinyG ground goes in.
And replace that cap!
I’ll have to double check once I get the TinyG hooked up and live, but had someone tell me that it’s PWM and trigger were only 3.3v which might be an issue. I can step up the voltage for the trigger, but not sure how to do that with a variable input and keep it linear. My EE classes were a LONG time ago.
I just need to spend some time with my volt meter and a breakout board.
They are 3.3v, but you are confusing your supply voltage with the signal. It’s a signal, you can put it in the 0-10v or the 0-5v, it doesn’t matter to the signal. Those numbers are indicating the output level to the spindle, not the input level of the signal.
It’s a badly labelled device.
If you look at the bulk of the small spindles on aliexpress, you will see that they are effectively half of your DC speed controller. Yours is a dual-voltage unit 5V and 10V
You are currently using the 10V side.
I would be surprised if that spindle is 650W @10V
Any luck, Carl?
Haven’t been able to get back into the shop. Too cold and too icy to go out there this week. I can’t wait for spring.
No worries. It’s too hot here, I had to quit this afternoon because my shop doesn’t have AC 
