Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: k80user on March 17, 2013, 09:02:00 PM

Title: E-Stop latching??
Post by: k80user on March 17, 2013, 09:02:00 PM

I am trying to bring up a new CNC router and am using the PMDX-126 BOB, PMDX-134 motherboard w/G203V drivers, the USB SmoothStepper, and the PMDX-107 spindle controller.  Several E-stop switches are wired in series to the PMDX-134 and the function seems to work normally when Mach3 is not running (meaning the led on the BOB reflects the condition of any of the E-Stop switches), but when Mach3 is running, hitting E-stop causes Mach3 to shut everything down appropriately, but hitting the Reset button on the Mach3 screen doesn't clear the E-stop condition.  In fact, the led on the BOB stays lite regardless of whether or not you clear the switch (or hit the reset button on Mach3).  What is keeping it active??  Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

Title: Re: E-Stop latching??
Post by: Hood on March 18, 2013, 03:57:07 AM

Attach your xml and I will see if I can find the issue.
Hood

Title: Re: E-Stop latching?? - XML
Post by: k80user on March 18, 2013, 04:00:08 PM

Here you go.  Based on your comment, I ran the same setup with the pro forma Mach3Mill XML profile and estop appears not to latch, so it would appear that there is something in here causing the problem, but I can't seem to find it!

Title: Re: E-Stop latching??
Post by: Hood on March 18, 2013, 05:02:27 PM

Seems to be working fine here with your xml, I hit the E-Stop and and Mach goes into reset, I release the E-Stop switch so its contacts are closed and I can then reset no problem.
What version of Mach are you using?, Can you disable the chargepump and see if that makes a difference.
Hood

Title: Re: E-Stop latching??
Post by: k80user on March 18, 2013, 05:15:54 PM

Indeed!  I disabled the charge pump and the E-stop works as expected.  What gives??

I am running v 67...

Title: Re: E-Stop latching??
Post by: Hood on March 18, 2013, 05:27:35 PM

Ok just tested with 067 and its nothing to do with that as its fine here.
It is likely either the G540 or the PMDX that is the problem with the way its handling the chargepump.
I never used the chargepump as its intended purpose is to stop motor movement during windows startup when using the parallel port. As the SS will not output any commands until Mach is started then there is no real need for the chargepump.
Hood

Title: Re: E-Stop latching??
Post by: k80user on March 18, 2013, 06:11:41 PM

I was headed in that direction....just disable the charge pump.

thanks for your help!

Title: Re: E-Stop latching??
Post by: Jeff_Birt on March 19, 2013, 08:29:03 AM

The G540 requires that the charge pump be on even during Estop. There is a setting in the general config page to select this behavior. Gecko provides a profile with everything already configured for the G540, it makes a good starting point so you don't get bit on the butt with problems like this.

Title: Re: E-Stop latching??
Post by: Hood on March 19, 2013, 10:48:27 AM

He already had that set Jeff so must be something with the way the PMDX is handling things.
Hood

Title: Re: E-Stop latching??
Post by: Jeff_Birt on March 19, 2013, 11:05:08 AM

Why use a BOB with a G540? The G540 has a BOB built in! Sounds like over complicating the situation to me :)

Title: Re: E-Stop latching??
Post by: Hood on March 19, 2013, 11:39:24 AM

Probably because he is not using a G540, that was my typo, its G203's he has.

Hood

Title: Re: E-Stop latching??
Post by: k80user on March 25, 2013, 02:59:47 AM

So the definitive answer was that Mach has a configuration switch that turns on/off the charge pump during an e-stop.  The PMDX-126 uses absence, then presence of the charge pump waveform to infer the reset condition.  So I guess this is a newbie error...once I changed the configuration to "no charge pump during e-stop" it works as one would expect!

Thanks to all that helped...Steve in particular!

Joe