Machsupport Forum
Third party software and hardware support forums. => Modbus => Topic started by: RadiantHeat on August 31, 2010, 09:59:48 AM
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I just ordered an Arduino Mega. When I saw the amount of public open source code, and hobby/robotics accessories available I had to try.
I found some MODBUS software, and the MACH3 can 'open' the board.
I am not a good programmer at all, but I want to try to get them talking.
My plan is to try every combination of setting and jumpers on the board,and in MACH3 until I get some response.
If anyone has any better ideas or resources I am very interested
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I've had a bit of a play with this http://sites.google.com/site/jpmzometa/arduino-mbrt (http://sites.google.com/site/jpmzometa/arduino-mbrt) - seems to do what it says on the tin.
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Yes! I have that program and I now have it working. The adruino is fantastic. So is the software. I am working on adding more modbus functions,. I have analog in working now, have constructed a wizard, will post it when done. One small puzzle? I have to click OUTPUT in the brain editor mod bus setup dialog.
to read the analog and post it to a DRO.
I also have a pokeys, and it's interesting to compare them. The PWM is much better on the Pokeys as it is 16 bit not 8 bit. I am also looking for encoder and mpg sub routines. For the adruino. Having lots of fun for $60.
I wonder if someday I can use the adruino to take the place of a smooth stepper ? Of course I cannot write the code, just wondering.
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One small puzzle? I have to click OUTPUT in the brain editor mod bus setup dialog.
to read the analog and post it to a DRO.
Can't help you there - never used brians :)
I wonder if someday I can use the adruino to take the place of a smooth stepper ? Of course I cannot write the code, just wondering.
Hmmmmm - doubt it. Remember the serial connection to the Arduino is actually just RS232 over USB (if that's the correct way of putting it) so I don't think you would get the speed apart from anything else - but I'm not sure.
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Is it the serial connection or crystal that matters when it comes to clock speed? What speed does Mach3 require?
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My thinking was that both need to be at least considered for a generalized solution. Consider the activity on the serial line as commanded moves get smaller.
Ian
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I would like to use an Arduino Mega 2560 to control the stepper motors, homing switches and extruder/laser output via mach 3 without rewiring to a parallel port. Understanding that it would take a different firmware load on the Arduino to change it from a gcode interpreter to a hardware controller (similar to the smoothstepper).
Has anyone done this?
Why? I have two 3D printers and I am building a laser cutter with Arduino Mega 2560 controller.