Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: bratvold on November 01, 2007, 02:04:08 PM
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Anyone cuirrently using Mach 3 with a Galil controller? (and interested in giving me some feedback/reccomendations) I saw there was a plugin for their PCI and Eithernet version cards and would like to hear from someone who has been happy with the results. I picked up an antique DMC630 just to start tinkering but suspect I'll have to at least get a pci version if I get serious about putting it on a machine.
Thanks in advance. This site seems to be filled with a lot of bright tinkerer's. Greg.
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I could not be happier! I sold the Camsoft controller and am waiting for an updated Galil from Brian though I am milling parts to the 10th!
G02& G03 took a little time to get accurate./ combination of tuning at the Amp level(Galil) & Mach.
Very solid program Mach, Camsoft should beware!
David
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I'm looking for info on the Galil interface.
I have the Galil installed and working with the Galil servo tune package well.
The Mach3 can see all the limit switches but I don't see the axis encoders or the E-stop (abort) line.
What port and pin numbers do you use in the configuration/inputs page when using the Galil?
Thanks,
Tom
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There is nothing to configure for the main encoder signals. Mach reads them and pops them into the main DROs automatically. You do need to enable all the motor outputs (just check to enable them, leave the rest alone), and enable all your limits/home in the Input Signals tab. The 'Encoder Position' DRO displayed on the 'Settings Alt6' is displaying the auxiliary encoder registers from the Galil. However, the Galil 'Econo' series boards do not have auxiliary encoder inputs so these registers are used to convey the extended I/O inputs to the Mach-Galil plug-in. Do you have the extended I/O board?
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I'm using a DMC1750 full version.
I wired the encoders to the main encoder inputs not the aux encoder inputs. Do I need to also run them to the aux inputs for Mach to see them?
The limits are working correctly but I don't see the E-Stop (abort on the galil?)
How are the inputs and outputs mapped? Dose the pin # = the input # on the galil?
Thanks for the help...
Tom
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You won't 'see' the main encoders directly with Mach III. Mach's DROs will reflect the inferred position however. When you home the system both the Galil's Mach's position registers are zeroed (and synced). When processing a movement command Mach will ask the Galil to move a certain amount, which the Galil will do. So, still the Mach DRO and Galil position register are in sync. If the Galil cannot complete the move then an error signal will be sent to Mach and Mach will stop. In short, while Mach is not directly displaying the Galil position register (which would not be that great anyhow as it would just be encoder counts) it does know where the Galil is and displays that information in the DROs (nicely scaled to your units).
Are you jogging and not seeing the DROs change?
The built in Galil I/O is mapped to the standard Mach I/O (Input/Output 1-16). Just enable them in Ports and Pins.
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Thanks, that explains it. I was just manually moving the axis without drive enabled and I could watch the axis counters in the galil terminal program but not in Mach.
This is looking pretty easy...
Regards,
Tom
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My machine (Bridgeport Discovery 300 VMC) which only has limit swiches and no home switches -- the original controller doubled up this purpose. As part of my retrofit (7+ years algo) the Camsoft S/W required both limit and home, so I added the additonal switches. I now want to use Mach 3 (guess why!) -- When I setup Mach 3, can I go back to the way the machine was originally? Reason: the only switches I could mount, due to limited space, were those little micro switches with roller bearing ends -- they are not vibration and contaminate safe. I rather just get rid of them.
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I use those limit switches as well. They have been bathed in coolant and chips for years never have they failed. I've hit them pretty hard too. I use them with ramp stops on the ways so one switch works for both ways. that way I can use a seperate switch for home and limit just mount them over and under and they stay static the aluminum ramps mount to the table so I have no cable movement. I have not posted in awhile as I am backlogged with work. Have never been more consistent than I am now with Galil and Mach 3. For all my 2d one off I use alibre and Alibre cam as I can change the drawing at the control parametrically and the code updates. OneCNC when I am not on the shop floor.
Thanks Brian & Art. Good Work!!!!!! :)
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farreach, I built a little logic converter board for my BP 308 conversion that gives three separate outputs for two limit/home inputs. I am going to rework it a bit to add in some opto-isolators so I can run the switches at 24 volts and still provide 5V to the Galil. I'd be glad to share the schematics when I'm done.
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Just want to add my input here. I am also using a Galil 1700 board. I have unchecked both boxes under "motor options" in the Galil plugin. My DRO's now display the actual axis position as returned by the encoders. If I power down the axis and move the table, the DRO's display the actual movement of the unpowered table. Might be worth trying on Your system. Are any of You using a pendant for edge locating? If so which one. I was looking at Peter Homanns pendant, but am not sure about it working with Galil controllers. Any input?
Thanks,
Kenny
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Do any of you guys use probes or tool setters? I just bought a Galil 2160 control and amp-19540 for the mill I am setting up. I posted in the plugin thread but I think I may be the only person reading it.
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Thanks Jeff and Dmrrell,
Jeff I'd like to see the schematic when you are done with it.
Thanks DM, good to know my micro-switch implementation (I use ramps too) willl hold out. The voice of experience is awsome!
--Scott
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At present, the Galil plugin doesn't support probing. I need it too and am trying to get it working. The Galil plug-in is still in its infancy and needs some work to implement features that the stepper guys currently enjoy. But, the Galil controller is my way of choice.
Kenny
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I have a similar quesiont about pendant interface.
The pendent I'm using is the one that came from Camsoft (http://www.cnccontrols.com/hhpendant.asp) -- hoping to use it with Mach 3.
It's rotary encoder is wired directly into the aux-encoder (4th axis I think) input on the Galil. I had to write a lot of script to get it to work properly with the old controller S/W.
When I get the pendant working with Mach 3 I'll post any VB script (or whatever extra code). During my conversion I'm re-documenting (lost the original) my wiring to the I/O lines and will post it if anyone is interested.
Anyway right now; The e-stop button is wired to the e-stop I/O line on the Galil (duh) and the buttons and lights are wired to various other I/O lines. As for the controller -- I paid *way* too much for it, especially when you look at the pendents on ebay right now, that I think they are pretty nice. Although with the pendant I have I was able to get away with no face panel at the user console, but am now thinking that's not such a good idea because you might not be near the pendant when you need it. Or if the thing gets tangled up somewhere you are out of luck until you reach a mouse or touch screen...
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Could probe and tool setting be handled by custom script in Mach 3? I'm too new to Mach 3 to know what's possible here.
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I was thinking of getting a hand held too but it doesn't make any sense for me to get one that hooks up to mach. It would be kind of silly to get a hand held that hooks up to my laptop but one that plugs straight into the galil control so I can do simple stuff without even bothering with mach--now that's intriguing. I don't know if you have a stand alone or not but QSI makes some terminals that work with the ethernet galil controllers and the qterm-g55 hand held looks affordable.
http://www.qsicorp.com/product/industrial/qterm-g55.php
If anyone is using one of these and has some feedback on it I'd be very interested to hear it.
I have a similar quesiont about pendant interface.
The pendent I'm using is the one that came from Camsoft (http://www.cnccontrols.com/hhpendant.asp) -- hoping to use it with Mach 3.
It's rotary encoder is wired directly into the aux-encoder (4th axis I think) input on the Galil. I had to write a lot of script to get it to work properly with the old controller S/W.
When I get the pendant working with Mach 3 I'll post any VB script (or whatever extra code). During my conversion I'm re-documenting (lost the original) my wiring to the I/O lines and will post it if anyone is interested.
Anyway right now; The e-stop button is wired to the e-stop I/O line on the Galil (duh) and the buttons and lights are wired to various other I/O lines. As for the controller -- I paid *way* too much for it, especially when you look at the pendents on ebay right now, that I think they are pretty nice. Although with the pendant I have I was able to get away with no face panel at the user console, but am now thinking that's not such a good idea because you might not be near the pendant when you need it. Or if the thing gets tangled up somewhere you are out of luck until you reach a mouse or touch screen...
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off topic -- Now thoses hand-held terminals are interesting! I've gathered some parts to (some day) make something like those, on the cheap -- now I don't believe I could finish my LCD pendant for less $$$. Well worth looking at IMHO.
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Does the Galil Plugin reset the PID values?
I tuned my servos using the WSDK, which stores the PID values on the card (I don't think it's an actual "burn") when it's done. If I exit the WSDK, and run in again, the PID values that are shown before I run any tests are the same as before. No change = "good". It's always been "set and forget" before this.
If I run Mach3 + Galil plugin, then exit, not even run a job, then run WSDK or DMCTerminal program to query the PID values... they are reset back to the system default. Changed PID values = "bad", "very bad".
It appears that Galil plugin is doing some kind of reset or master reset of the card? A regular reset shouldn't cause a problem because the values are supposed to be stored in flash memory.
--Scott
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The Galil plug-in does not change the pid values in teh Galil card. After tuning your system, or making nay other setting changes to the bard itself you must 'burn' issue a BN command to the card so the settings are saved in the eeprom. Any changes not burned are lost on a card reset (soft reset that mach does or power cycle.)
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Jeff is correct, It is also helpful to create a startup program using the label #AUTO as the first line. You can set various defaults and even run part of the program under another thread. Save using the "BP" command. That program will execute following the many resets caused by the plugin.
Kenny
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I would add that your I/O defaults should be set and burned into the Galil as well. This is the only way to ensure that they come out of a reset in the proper state. Do not dpened on Mach or a user program to set up the I/O.
I do have a user program running in #AUTO on mine. It reads the extended I/O and stashes teh results in the unused aux encoder inputs (as Econo series boards do not have a secondary communication channel to read the ex I/O automatically) and it monitors a couple of inputs (main contactor and brake) for the proper state and kills the servo enable if the wrong state is seen. This latter adds some HW supervision to Mach saying that it is OK to enable the servos.
You have to be really careful in this area of having user programs and Mach both fiddling with the I/O. It's best to keep it simple and not have them trying to set the same bits.