Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => Mach4 General Discussion => Topic started by: beat on October 23, 2016, 04:38:13 PM
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Good Evening
i like enable my machine with a Watchdog Signal from Mach4
My hardware config. is:
- Mach 4 Home Software (Unlocked)
- Darwin Parallel Port Plugin
- Interface from Benezan Electronic it`s cold "interface advanced Pro" (mini Breakout board)
http://www.sorotec.de/shop/CNC-Steuerungstechnik/Interface---Platinen/Interface-Advanced-PRO.html
- 4 Leadshine DM556 Digigal Amps
first, why i would do that.
my old cnc machin has enabled the steering after startup winpcnc.
if i start mach 4 and press some butons in the software, the parallel port sent some uncontrolled signals to my interface and start form example my spindel or my second relais.
my idea was to do the same like my old controller (for safety). i would like send a signal in this moment if i enable the software by pressing the green button on the left bottom side on the screen.
what i`ve done:
in darwin, i configured charge pump 1 to pin 16 with a frequency of 10000Hz an enabled the Signal.
i`ve pressed the toggle button 2, 3, times and my led on the interface was going on and of. i was happy and was the meaning it schould working.
in the mach 4 sw i`ve configured the Machine enable to charge pump 1 and enabled the sw with the button on the left bottom side(enable/disable) but, no reaction on my interface!
i`ve tried a lot of other signals (Charce pump2/3/4 and others) and configs but it was not possible to start my interface (watchdog input) with the mach 4 software.
is sombody here who can help me?
how can i enable it?
Thank you for your help
Kind regards
beat
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Did you remove the jumper JP2 from your "interface advanced Pro" according to page 7 of the linked manual?
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Hi Swolf-SM
Yes, i did.
but, generally, do you know, is this possible?
or do you know how i can enable it by the enable Button? Config in Mach? How would you do that?
thank you for your help
beat
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Hi beat,
I don't know. Indeed, I use the same breakout board (BOB) but I have sitting the Ethernet Smooth Stepper (ESS) between the PC and the BOB. As far as I know the ESS generates the charge pump signal by itself.
After hardly trying to remember what I did a year ago I come to the result that I never have checked whether the Charge Pump LED at the BOB follows the Enable/Disable button at mach4.
I installed and tested the hardware using mach3. The BOB is located in a control cabinet and this is closed since then, even after the upgrade to mach4.
Hope this helps, Steve
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Hi Steve
Thank you for your Answer.
it was helpful.
but, if you start your Mach4 SW, how many times do you need press the enable button to start your machine? Just one time?
i have to press the enable button 3 times.
1st --> enable --> nothing happen
2nd --> Disable --> Interface Watchdog is on and Ready
3th --> enable --> i can Work
is this normal?
and:
could you tell me your Mach4 Output Settings?
Thank you :-)
kind regards
Beat
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Hi Beat,
I have to press the Enable button once.
2nd --> Disable --> Interface Watchdog is on and Ready
This looks strange: If the machine is disabled the watch dog led should be off, I think.
But I will check this on my mill at the weekend.
Regarding to the output settings: I will make some screenshots, also at the weekend.
Steve
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Hi Beat,
here is the behavior of the watch dog led at my mill:
The led is switched on (lit) as soon as mach4 has been loaded and the screen elements are being loaded. It stays on as long as mach4 is running and no e-stop condition occurs.
The led is off (unlit) when mach4 is not running or the e-stop button connected to the bob is pressed.
In the zip file some screenshots of my config are attached.
Hope this helps, Steve
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Hi Steve
Thank you for your Help end sending screenshots.
yesterday i`ve tried a lot on my computer, the computer works not as you wrote me.
after long tries it was no longer possible to configure my parallel port plugin.
i thint it`s a problem with my computer (maybe some hardware problem)
i`ve tried to load a new operating system and create a state from a new computer.
this was also a problem, most of my tries i had a bluescreen with a pci fault.
now i ordered a new computer, i hope on thursday it will be here and i can try again...
but i`ve an other question.
you told me you use the same bob but with an ess between the interface and the pc.
could you send me a link to this ess modul?
kind regards
beat
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Sure, I can. http://www.warp9td.com/ is the home page and on http://www.warp9td.com/index.php/distributors you can find a list of distributors.
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Since your existing setup used a parallel port breakout board, you could also
consider a simple device like this:
http://www.pmdx.com/PMDX-411
Or if you are in Europe, as I suspect, you could buy this from the EU:
https://www.poscope.com/product/pokeys57cncd25/
Steve Stallings
www.PMDX.com
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Hi Steve
if i have a parallel port on my computer then i can connect my interface directly to the computer. i bought the parallel plugin for mach 4 so i think it should working... or i`m wrong?
you use the ess just for the connection to Ethernet or?
Have a good day.
beat
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Hi Steve
if i have a parallel port on my computer then i can connect my interface directly to the computer. i bought the parallel plugin for mach 4 so i think it should working... or i`m wrong?
you use the ess just for the connection to Ethernet or?
Have a good day.
beat
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Beat
The parallel port on a modern PC is not the same as was in the days of yore the uart is not there anymore so AFAIK its more a emulated device now , yes it was the gold standard in the past when M3 was conceived but alas those days are gone , you would need a old pentimentum PC to be sure
Now for today's PC if you use a ( let's say a ESS ) then it will run on any PC with a Ethernet port and most importantly give you complete electrical isolation between the CNC and your PC
They will run on W10 64 bit no trouble at all before you ask Mach 3 /4 are both happy on a 64 bit platform it's only the PP legacy device that need the 32 bit platform
So why not get modern and get a motion controller ( please not the Far East ones as some do not have all the function implemented e.g. G31 is not they do not report the variables correctly and cause havoc )
Warp9 are ok as are the ones from others from the USA
Please note I am a user of a ESS and not connected with the firm
I have recently ripped out the Far East card that was in my mill and mach3 and gone with mach4 ESS and a c25 problem was no wiring dia no labels and all wires the same colour ??? Along with 9 proximity limits and 4 axis it was fun ,but worth it the mill is smother quicker ( with the same motor setting )
From the above it took a week to sort it out and to remove the mill manufactures bodges to get the PWM working and to stop the spindle going full pelt before m4 took hold of things ( it was dangerous if you turned on the mill before the PC was up )
Have fun but it's your choice what to do I can only give my opinion
Stuart
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good evening Stuart
thank you for your inputs, i know exactly what you mean.
i think i buy the ESS the next Days, but bevor i will have one last try with my new computer.
my last beginner cnc machin was a tron + it was a self made machine where i`ve learned a lot.
the controller was also conectet to my parallel port and the machine was working more or less well.
but i like the thoughts to control the machine over the Ethernet port. i think it`s definitly more serious
just a question from the money.
i wish you a good day
kind regards
beat
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Good Evening
Today i received my new Computer.
the Computer is a Windows 7 64bit machine.
First i`ve started my installation from Mach4, everything was fine and Mach4 was running without a problem.
then ::) i want to install my parallel port plugin and ou no, it was not possible because of a visual c++ runtime problem.
i found out, the legacy parallel port is running only with windows 32bit.
ist this true or can i download everywhere a plugin for windows 7 64bit?
if not, which plugin i need for the above described Smooth Stepper Ethernet?
thank you all for your help, i`m confident that the machine works soon.
kind regards
beat
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AFAIK there is no 64bit parallel plugin as the ports are 32bit thus most new computers dont normaly have one., the ESS will work fine and the driver can be found at http://warp9td.com/index.php/sw#PluginEssMachFour
DazTheGas
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In the process of fighting viruses, Microsoft has built all 64 bit versions
of Windows, and also all versions of Windows 8 and later, with security
that does not allow direct access to the parallel port. This makes
it impossible for Mach4 or other applications that generate real time
signals to be able to use the parallel port properly.
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Hi guys
Thank you for your help.
Now i have my smoot stepper and everything is working fine. Very nice is, the smooth stepper has 3 parallel ports now i'm searching for a handwheel which is working with mach 4. I have opened a new tread for this topic. Maybe sombody can halp me again 8)
Kind regards
And thank you for all ;)
Beat