Galil DMC-2100 as Z axis only

[moreyb]

I have a DMC-2100, which is a single axis controller, that I would like to use to implement a plasma table THC.  Before I waste too much time on this project, I wanted to be sure that I can use the Parallel port to control the x and y axes, and the Galil to control the z axis.  Has anybody done something similar before?

Thanks,
Ben

[kcrouch]

Sorry,
You can't use the parallel port driver and the Galil plugin together. You CAN use the Galil in standalone mode with a program running on it and use the analog input to control the height and also use one of the inputs wired to a Mach output to enable THC. That would be my recommendation for your situation.
Kenny

[moreyb]

Thanks.  I was hoping to use the Galil's ability to run a standalone program, along with its analog inputs to control torch height while cutting.  I was also hoping to be able to use Mach 3 control for jogging the z axis, along with setting z standoff height for the selected material, and z elevated traverse.  I don't see a really practical way of using this controller if I lose the ability to control z height from within Mach 3.

[kcrouch]

Why not try using the Galil auxiliary encoder as a step/direction input which would get its input from the parallel port and have the running program to do some offsetting based on an analog input? You would need to make use of the auxiliary encoder input and gear the x axis to it.
Regards,
Kenny