Machsupport Forum
Third party software and hardware support forums. => Galil => Topic started by: marc1b on April 25, 2014, 12:17:05 PM
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I had everything working nicely with the demo, so I purchased the license. After adding the license now I get a time out error on the controller. Any ideas?
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Are you using the latest SmartTerm plugin from the website? (galil-st). Just adding a license should not cause anything to change other than remove the limitations of Mach. It changes nothing as far as Galil plugin and the controller are concerned.
Steve
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Yep, everything was fresh. It makes no sense to me. I removed the license files and still no joy.
I had Camsoft installed on this machine and I know it didn't play well with Galil drivers.
Now that I am moving to Mach I am about to do a virgin install of windows and start over. Just in case.
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Re-installed everything, so far so good :), I'll put the license file in again Monday. Running demo for now.
Except for 1 small thing. I have 5 tpi ball screw, 2:1 reduction on motor. Steppers micro stepped to 1000 steps per rev = 10,000 steps per inch.
If I do a G01 X -.005 and then G01 X 0 the display shows X -.0001
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Since you are using steppers (on a Galil?), check the box in the plugin that says "Use reference pos instead of actual pos".
Steve
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Thanks, I'll be back at it Monday AM.
Steppers, yes long story. The machine had steppers when I did the original retrofit back in 2003 and I didn't know any better. CNC was completely new to me.
Even though I will say I do get reasonable performance out of them I see servos in my future.
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Now I broke something. I was still having trouble with the Smarterm drivers. So I uninstalled Smarterm and the Smarterm plug in and installed the Gallil Tools along with the 4.6 standard version plug in.
The motors work but the display doesn't. Tried the motor options in the plug in - no joy.
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If you are using a PCI card, I would try going back to the smart term drivers. Also, since there are no encoders, you really do have to use the reference positions.
What kind of problems with the SmartTerm drivers? What firmware does your Galil have? It is possible it needs updating. And it could have a special firmware on it from Cam Soft (just throwing that possibility out there as I have no idea if they used a special one or not).
Also, what model Galil do you have?
Steve
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Steve, I started all over and think I ultimately found I had something fubar in the profile I was using. The problem I was having was a time out when I went to configure the Galil plug in.
So now I am back to the Smarterm and updated the firmware just in case. It's a DMC-1850
I could have saved myself a lot of trouble if I had not kept re-using the same profile!
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There is something else going on. I cannot pin down what it is that causes the error. It appears to be completely random. Re-booting does not seem to make a difference.
There is only a problem if I try to configure the Galil plug in. Aside from getting my steppers dialed in the motion is fine.
I am going to re-seat all the boards in the PC, just in case and the cables conecting the board to the ICM-1900's in the machine, it has been years since I did that.
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You may not know this, but you cannot access a PCI card from two different applications. Run either Mach or Smart Term. Not both at the same time. Maybe that is causing it. Also, if configuring the plugin is doing it, the code may not be PCI friendly. It has been a LONG time since I ran a bus based controller. If that is the case, try to get the config done to the point where you can run it without having to drop into the plugin configuration. Once it is done, you will probably just run and run and run...
Steve
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I see, kind of like "it hurts when I walk this way" then don't walk that way! lol
I did find a setting for the board in the comunication paramaters for "stall thread". It seems to have made a differance.
Now I am stuck on getting my relays to work. Should I start a new thread?
I have my ports & pins set up per the plug-in instructions, and the outputs set in the spindle setup to = the galil outputs = my relays for fwd, rev and coolant.
The correct outputs are hot in the diagnostic screen but the actual relays are not getting hit. I do have 2 ICM-1900 as this is a 5 axis card. Am I correct that outputs 1-8 are on the first board and 9-16 are on the second?
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No reason for a new thread. I'll see this one. :)
You may have to invert the signal. it all depends on the polarity of INCOM on the ICM. INCOM == GND vs. INCOM == +V. Try that and see if that gets you results.
Steve
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Oh wait... Outputs not Inputs!!! Hmm... What kind of ICM? Opto or not? There is an application note on Galil's site that explains the output wiring. It is different based on the OPTO option.
Steve
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And you are correct about the output numbers. 1-8 on 1st ICM, 9-16 on the other.
Steve
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Ain't it fun? I can implement a Mach/Galil combo in my sleep now but I DO REMEMBER the first time. All I can tell you is that it will all make sense AFTER you get it done the first time. Until then... patience. The patience of a Saint!!!
Steve
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Bingo :) - turns out I do have the opto, but in taking the cover off the ICM I realized I have all those outputs on the secondary one. So I swapped the pins for 1-8 and 9-16. Now I have coolant and spindle. I have a few more challenges and I think I am ready to make chips.
1) This machine was originally a varispeed. We took off the sheaves and put on a HTD belt & VFD. I have a micro switch on the hi/lo gear lever that I used in my old setup (camsoft) to change the drive direction automatically as needed. So that is a Brain thing, yes?
2) Then I need to figure the best way to set the spindle speed in the vfd. I see a lot of discussions so I will do some more reading. I do have modbus on the drive but that is another thing I would have to learn from scratch.
3) Then I need something that will turn on the way lube only when running a program
4) Last (at least for now) I need to add a button on the screen to hit one of the outputs for an air cylinder that is on the spindle brake. And make sure it releases when the spindle goes live.