Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: wil on December 06, 2009, 01:20:12 PM
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Hi guys.
Has anyone managed to get Mach3 to control a heating device ?
I`m trying to design and build a simple water heating system.
Tank 1 - the liquid is heated to 70 deg Celsius and held there for an adjustable time period, around 1-2 hours.
I`d like the 70 deg to be held within a 2 degree variation.
Tank 2 - the liquid is brought to the boil and then maintains a slow boil for around 1 hr.
I know how to use Mach to switch on relays which could turn on heater elements, or even use a stepper motor
to control an analogue rotary switch to set a specific temperature, but is there any way to get realtime sensor probes
to report back into Mach3 which in turn will switch on/off the heating elements.
thanks for any help.
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Im sure it is possible. Strange use for Mach3. I would recomend using a basic stamp from parallax. http://www.parallax.com/ (http://www.parallax.com/)
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Wil,
Seems like a rather inappropriate use of Mach3. Buy one of these: http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=81 I put one on the oven I use for thermo-forming Plexiglas, and powder-coating - just a basic Kitchen (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vance_Miller) oven with minor modifications. With an internal fan to "stir" the air, I get less than +/-2F variation over the entire volume of the oven.
Regards,
Ray L.
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I think the easiest way will be to use a modbus temperature controller
Regards
KTM
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I want to use Mach3 because I will be controlling stepper motors and other relays.
I was hoping to create a dedicated Mach screenset for the different functions, and basically want to
have one single software/control system running the whole process.
A G-code program will start/stop and hopefully interact with the sensors to adjust working parameters.
They are selling real neat little USB thermometers which can log the data. if I could somehow use a vb or a brain script
to read and report the contents of the log file
Hi Ray, that sparkfun product looks great and talking about forming Plexiglas, would it be possible to create a 180 degree u bend
using 3 inch clear polycarb tubing ?
@KTM thanks mate I will have a look a modbus cause if I remember right there is a modbus 3rd party add on.
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If you can bring the temp data in via modbus, why not? There is a guy using Mach to wind wire coils. I think I also seen at one time someone using it to cut wire int preset lenght. Find a way to get your temp data into Mach and your half way there.
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I want to use Mach3 because I will be controlling stepper motors and other relays.
I was hoping to create a dedicated Mach screenset for the different functions, and basically want to
have one single software/control system running the whole process.
A G-code program will start/stop and hopefully interact with the sensors to adjust working parameters.
They are selling real neat little USB thermometers which can log the data. if I could somehow use a vb or a brain script
to read and report the contents of the log file
Hi Ray, that sparkfun product looks great and talking about forming Plexiglas, would it be possible to create a 180 degree u bend
using 3 inch clear polycarb tubing ?
@KTM thanks mate I will have a look a modbus cause if I remember right there is a modbus 3rd party add on.
No reason you couldn't do a temp controller as a macropump. It doesn't require high-rate control. If doing a constant temperature, all you need is a single digital input that indicates when you're at, or above, your set temperature.
My Plexiglas forming experience is limited to vacuum forming 1/4" sheet. Never messed with tube, and hope I never have to. It's not easy stuff to work with. I will tell you temperature control is *critical*. There's a very fine line between too cool, which creates stress concentrations, and too hot, which results in lousy surface finish. There is a nice PDF on the Rohm-Haas site with all the gruesome details on how to handle Plexi. But don't expect it to be easy. Doing it well is very difficult.
Regards,
Ray L.
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I think do it with Arduino:)