Curious PM3520a behavior

Re: Curious PM3520a behavior

Jack Savona

Best suggestion I could give is to call Powermatic. Better than "Could be....".

Re: Curious PM3520a behavior *LINK*

Dave Paine

I do not have a Powermatic lathe which is likely using a Delta VFD, but just recently helped install an Hitachi VFD on a metal lathe.

The VFD has a lot of parameters which can be programmed. One will be the maximum frequency, which you mentioned was displaying as 128 Hz. Another will be the default frequency upon power-up which may have been 0 Hz at the factory, but now seems to be 128 Hz.

It may be worth trying to find the manual for the VFD. In the link below is a manual for an "S" series Delta VFD used on some 3520B lathes.

Take a look at your manual for the VFD part number. Looking for something like VFD015S21U which is the Delta code for the VFD.

Section 5 describes the parameters.

If this is beyond your knowledge or comfort level, it may be worth reviewing before you call Powermatic.

If you decide to do a reset to Factory Default, I would make a note of the present settings. A lot of keystrokes on the input pad to work through the functions to find all the settings.


http://www.deltaww.com/filecenter/Products/download/06/060101/Manual/DELTA_IA-MDS_VFD-S_UM_EN_20080829.pdf

Re: Curious PM3520a behavior

Hal Taylor

Thanks guys. I failed to mention I had replaced the VFD 3-4 yrs. ago with a Delta similar to what was the original. I'm reasonably confident it is the controller again, but was wondering if anyone else had had this problem. Hopefully, all I'll need to do is check the readout after plugging up and resetting.

Re: Curious PM3520a behavior

Bill Turpin in WNC mountains

Is there any chance of moisture getting in the speed potentiometer? These are the "volume control" used for speed control. They are simple, cheap, mechanical devices that can be fairly sensitive. There is a wiper that's rubs some material, probably mica sheet, as it is turned resistance on one side increases and decreases on the other. They are not friends with water, spilled coffee, salt, grease, dirt, sawdust, and all the other things lurking in a woodworking shop. They are sealed BUT not water-proof! The ohms of the pot replacement must match the old one. Generally these are the most common 5, 50, 150KΩ. If you change a pot, label the wires FIRST, take a digital photograph.

i'm curious...

Brian Roberts

and wondering where you are from Hal.

I noticed you refer to "plugging up" your lathe.

In my neck of the woods we "plug it in".

Plugging up is what happens to the ......ummm.......toilet.

Re: i'm curious...

Hal Taylor

Could be the problem all along, Brian. Maybe I should try "plugging in" instead... Or maybe when I plug it up is when the problem occurs...

Re: i'm curious...

john lucas

Around here we "catch the light" which means would you turn the light on. Of course it's also called a hose pipe, not a garden hose. My wife's favorite saying when she sees something she like is " is that not beautiful".

The regional language ......

Brian Roberts

differences are fascinating!

Re: Curious PM3520a behavior

Braden

If you have programmed one of these before then you probably already know this. As a troubleshooting step you could change the parameter in the settings that selects the speed reference source. It would be set right now to a voltage reference returned by the low voltage circuit incorporating your potentiometer. If you set it to the frequency reference on the control panel and the behavior continues, then you can rule out a dirty potentiometer as the root cause.

Re: Curious PM3520a behavior

Bill Hunt

Do you have the remote switch? I had the same thing happen last week. called PM they told me to disconnect the remote. everything worked fine and no more problems.

I didn't use the remote much anymore any how.

Re: Curious PM3520a behavior

Hal Taylor

Interesting. I do have a remote switch, but have not had this problem for years after installing it. Did PM explain why the remote could cause the problem?

Re: Curious PM3520a behavior

Bill Hunt

Hal, I had a problem a couple of times with dust getting in the remote switch and after blowing it out had no more problems until last week. I didn't think to chech it at the time. I just called PM.

I hope you find the problem.

Re: Curious PM3520a behavior

john lucas

Hal I doubt the remote switch could cause the problems you are experiencing. Usually the problems with the remote are the lathe simply won't start. However disconnecting it would only take a few seconds and would eliminate that as the source of the problem.

Re: Curious PM3520a behavior

Peter Hyde

The PM remote is definitely NOT dust proof. I put mine inside a Ziplock bag. Plenty of room for the rocker switch to work and usually just needs a blow out with the airline once every couple of years.