Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => Mach4 General Discussion => Topic started by: jtalbot on April 15, 2019, 04:52:38 PM
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have WiXHC USB Motion card (controller) to control stepper motors, which input sources do I use for this configuration. configuration is power supply to Driver to controller using card output X Axis, Y Axis and Z Axis, Just can't find the right combination for the Input Signals and Output Signals.
Thanks JT
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Hi,
in order to use Mach4 with that controller you will need a Mach4 plugin made by XHC for their board.
To my knowledge they don't have one.
There is a thread on this board somewhere that a lot of people have tried XHC boards and failed.
I think you are more likely to have success with their Mach3 plugin.
Craig
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Hi,
https://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php?topic=36023.0 (https://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php?topic=36023.0)
Craig
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have WiXHC USB Motion card (controller) to control stepper motors, which input sources do I use for this configuration. configuration is power supply to Driver to controller using card output X Axis, Y Axis and Z Axis, Just can't find the right combination for the Input Signals and Output Signals.
Thanks JT
XHC has only one series of USB motion controller design for MACH4 called MKX-M4.
Mk3-M4: 3-axis; Mk4-M4: 4-axis: Mk6-M4:
If you do not have one of MKX-M4, YOU cannot use MACH4.
If you have MKX-M4, it comes with a CD with not only its plugin for MACH4 but also
std MACH4 config files profiles - that WORKS straightaway.
They even give a custom macro for AUTO TOOL ZERO since SOME programmers in USA use "GETVAR(1001)" that can cause problems with their motion controller.
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Hi reuelt,
are you aware that a number of people that have tried the XHC ***-M4 boards have all failed to get them to work?
They even give a custom macro for AUTO TOOL ZERO since SOME programmers in USA use "GETVAR(1001)" that can cause problems with their motion controller.
Are you aware that GETVAR(****) is a Visual Basic compliant statement?. Mach4 has absolutely nothing to do with Visual Basic.
The AutoZero macros supplied by NFS for Mach4 are all open source Lua macros.
The principle problem with XHC is that it wont (at the time of writing) support any of the editable GUI's like wx4.set or wx6.set
and is therefore restricted to the non-editable wxLua.set. Half of Mach4's strength is as a result of an editable GUI and XHC can't
support it. :o
The next problem is that all the inputs and outputs are screwed up. An output on Output#4 produces a signal on pin3
and not pin4??? :'( Worse....its intermittent. >:D
This situation has remained static for well over a year. It would appear that XHC either don't care or are incapable of correcting
their faulty firmware.
Craig
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"Are you aware that GETVAR(****) is a Visual Basic compliant statement?. Mach4 has absolutely nothing to do with Visual Basic.
The AutoZero macros supplied by NFS for Mach4 are all open source Lua macros."
FACT: LUA language ALSO has the GETVAR() function.
so does many other languages including C, java, python, autocad LISP etc..
I know LUA scripts because it ALSO came with (french) Harmony Assistant Notation software that I have had for over 10 years.
LUA is a Brazilian language !
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Hi,
FACT: LUA language ALSO has the GETVAR() function.
Not according to:
https://www.lua.org/manual/5.2/ (https://www.lua.org/manual/5.2/)
Craig
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Hi,
FACT: LUA language ALSO has the GETVAR() function.
Not according to:
https://www.lua.org/manual/5.2/ (https://www.lua.org/manual/5.2/)
Craig
SETVAR() and GETVAR() are definable functions that can be defined in LUA.
http://lua-users.org/wiki/SetVariablesAndTablesWithFunction
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Hi,
so you can create a function called setvar() or getvar(), but neither function is native to Lua, you have
to create the function.
I could create a function GoGetMeACupOfCoffee(), but just creating such a function doesn't really help me much.
It is no more native to Lua than getvar().
There are Lua functions which are useful, like math functions, string functions, and file functions, but by far and away the most
useful functions in Mach4 programming are not native to Lua but API's to Machs core or to Machs GUI.
Craig
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Hi,
so you can create a function called setvar() or getvar(), but neither function is native to Lua, you have
to create the function.
I could create a function GoGetMeACupOfCoffee(), but just creating such a function doesn't really help me much.
It is no more native to Lua than getvar().
There are Lua functions which are useful, like math functions, string functions, and file functions, but by far and away the most
useful functions in Mach4 programming are not native to Lua but API's to Machs core or to Machs GUI.
Craig
Agree with you.
So it is also probably true that getvar() in Mach3 were functions created by some Mach3 programmers. Why are some blaming China for not supporting gervar() and setvar() in their plugins?
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Hi,
getvar() and setvar() are native functions in Cypress Enable which is in turn a subset of Visual Basic, the
scripting language of Mach3.
Why it is that XHC has chosen not to have their controller support the standard Mach3 scripts is a mystery. Indeed
many of the Chinese manufacturers produce boards that do not support Mach3 scripts. You may have noted that they tend
to modify Mach3 to work with their board and then sell it as a pirate copy.
Now XHC have released a board and a plugin claimed suitable for Mach4. However the plugin is that buggy that most users
have ditched the board.
NFS have offered technical assistance to XHC to improve their plugin. It is in NFS's interest to see as many manufacturers
make and support Mach4 products and yet XHC have not taken advantage of it.
If you have a project to write a plugin for a piece of hardware and need technical assistance about the inner workings
of Mach4 then you can ask NFS. If they are agreeable, then you sign a Non Disclosure Agreement, ie agree not to cheat
NFS out of their software, and thereafter you have access to the information required.
There are at least two hobbyists who have done just exactly that. They have written plugins for two models of XHC pendants
for which XHC has declined to provide a Mach4 plugin. Those plugins are freely given to the Mach4 user community.
Interestingly and no doubt disappointingly to the two individuals concerned with little or no support from XHC.
It is clear then that NFS will happily support an individual or company to produce Mach4 compatible hardware and
plugins which makes XHC's refusal to take up that assistance all the more perplexing.
The upshot is however that at this time XHC boards are unsuitable for Mach4 and anyone who buys one for Mach4 is
going to be mightily disappointed.
Craig
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Hi,
getvar() and setvar() are native functions in Cypress Enable which is in turn a subset of Visual Basic, the
scripting language of Mach3.
Craig
True
But that was before August 22nd, 2010.
The manual
https://manualzz.com/doc/11156171/mach3-v3.x-macro-programmers-reference
Dated August 22nd, 2010
list getver(####) and Setver(####) among the list of
"Legacy Scripting Functions" - to be avoided.
Now Art Fenerty retired in 2008 so the NEW OWNERS of NFS are trying to get macro programmers to use the new functions THEY DEFINE and avoid those legacy functions originally defined by Art.
It is wrong to blame over $1billion people for instructions GIVEN by NFS.
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Hi reuelt,
defend XHC as you please.....the proof of the pudding is in the eating and multiple users have found XHC distasteful.
If you are so keen why don't you buy one?
Craig
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Hi reuelt,
defend XHC as you please.....the proof of the pudding is in the eating and multiple users have found XHC distasteful.
If you are so keen why don't you buy one?
Craig
I will buy an XHC 6-axis pendant WHEN they have one that supports MACH4 NOT now.
i chose MACH3 years ago because MACH4 & External Motion controllers etc were not matured yet.
I want to upgrade to MACH4 so I now avoid anything that is only made for MACH3.
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Hi,
I will buy an XHC 6-axis pendant WHEN they have one that supports MACH4 NOT now.
Then you might be waiting a long time, the latest missive from one of the guys who wrote a plugin for one model of
XHC pendant that XHC is not interested in Mach4 plugins.
This comes from your previous post:
It is wrong to blame over $1billion people
Where among any of my posts have I blamed the entire Chinese race? I have not. I do lambast those people, however
many there are and of whatever nationality, of XHC because they are selling rubbish and refuse to put right their
customers complaints.
Anyone who tries to pull that stunt will be lambasted by me, be they white, red, black, brown or green!
Craig
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FYI:
XHC MOTION CARD DRIVER
Release Notes:
this driver is only for mach4 software.
please copy ncusbpod.m4pw and ncusbpod.sig to mach4\plugins directory.
v4.0 2014.4.26
release this first version for mach4.
v4.1 2017.3.15
fixed the probe function to estop
v5.10 2017.4.24
this driver is only support xhc mkx-v card for mach4 hobby.
-- WOW SO Mach3 "XHC MKX-V" owners can actually use MACH4 HOBBY with this driver????
v5.10.1 2017.8.23
fixed the probe bug
-- fixed HYSTERICAL warning against XHC by Peter Knell - who could not do "auto tool probing".
optimize the usb commnunication.
v5.10.3 2017.12.26
solve always "device error triggered" problem
v5.10.4 2018.1.22
solve always "device error triggered" problem