Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: natefoerg on September 18, 2010, 09:56:50 PM
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I have been trying to figure this out for hours.
I have been searching this forum, google and cnczone, and have found no answers.
I have a renshaw probe set up on my 3 axis bridgeport, i have it running through a SS breakout board, a Smooth stepper and in to mach 3. The probe is functional. I can get the diagnostics "digitize" led to light when i manually touch the probe.
first I tried the wizzard for digitize and the Z never drops (with G31) to touch the item im digitizing. Then I tried the digitizing plugin, but I get a strange error. much searching has led me to believe that the plugin cannot be used with current version of mach 3.
So, I went back to the wizzard thinking it was the settings I was entering into it. no such luck. more googleing led me to test if G31 was working in MDI. I tried it a dozen times in MDI and the machine and mach DRO does not move with the G31 command. i tried it for x, y and z, G31 does nothing. no machine movement, no dro changes etc...
All this leads me to believe that for some reason G31 does not work. I have searched for hours, checked my settings over and over, and I cant figure out how to get G31 to work.
I hope someone here can help. I sure could use it.
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Can you give me an example of the code you used in the MDI.
DId you set the feedrate??
(;-) TP
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I just used G31 X1 in did not set a feedrate.
Could you give me an example of code that you think would work in MDI?
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A straight G31 Z1 (or whatever) should give you DRO movement regardless of whether you even have a probe fitted so something is definitely not right. I just installed the latest lockdown and it works fine here. That said I'm using the PP driver and your using SS so hopefully someone who also uses the SS and latest lockdown will chime in. BUT I would have thought that you'd get DRO movement even if you didn't have ANY driver fitted so I'm a tad stumped on this one.
Ian
EDIT: Have you got your signal activation logic the right way round? If your probe is already active when you command a g31 then it will be ignored. If that is the case mind you should get a "Probe ignore, Activated at call for probe" message in the status line.
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OK try it again from the MDI and IF you get no movement OR DRO changes , look at the bottom of the screen at the STATUS line. It gives you system messages that may give us a clue.
G31 with zero feedrate will give you the same as you see
AS WELL as what Stirling says will also give you the same.
The status message should help
Just a thought, (;-) TP
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Well, I have tried it a bunch of times again, I believe that my probe is configured correctly as when I set it to the other setting, it gives me the error ""Probe ignore, Activated at call for probe"" I have it set so I DONT get that error.
I have tried the wizard again, and mach is running the wizzard, but the z never descends to probe. it only moves in y and x.
I went to MDI again, and I can imput G31 X2 F10 or G31 X22 or G31 Z-.1 and I get no movement at all. Its as if it just does not reckognize G31 command.
I can however enter G00 comands in MDI and they are executed.
I am not getting any errors while running the wizard or MDI imput. its just like Mach is just skipping over the G31 commands...
Stumped.
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is their a cheat? is their a way to hand write the Z down probing code then I can just write a program with xy locations that incrementally change and insert the Z down probing code into it?
I am getting the strong feeling that G31 is not an option.
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Is this a licensed version or the DEMO version???
DOES the dro show movement but the machine does not move?
SO there are NO messages at the status bar after you type in G31 X1 F10 ??
WHat version of mach3??
Are you using the standard screenset??
(;-) TP
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Everything is fully lisenced in my name.
DRO shows no movement.
No messages when G31 X1 F10 is entered.
Mach Version R3.042.040
I believe that I am using the stock standard screenset.
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Here is a word file that shows my settings. this was done last night.
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OK, I have never seen the G31 NOT run on the DROs except what is listed above but anything is possible.
Have you tried to reload MACH? Possible corrupt file? Ver .040 works ok here.
(;-) TP
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Ok, so I disconnected the probe.
went in to setup/imputs and changed the active high/low box and ran the wizard.
now G31 works!
What does this mean? was the probe mis wired? and not giving a fault?
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AH one of MACH's mysteries (;-) Try hooking it back up again. How many wires??? 2
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turns out that if the metal body of the probe does not touch the machine (ground of controler and machine are same) then the G31 down in Z actually works.
So, I need to find a way to wire this renshaw TP1S so that it is electrically isolated from the machine.
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The tp1 should be a 5 wire setup??? Term 4 and 5 should be the contact wires. There should also be a shield wire and 2 LED leads. THE 4/5 wires SHOULD be isolated from the case. Those are the ones you need to use. AND they are noramlly closed contacts.
Just a thought, (;-) TP
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well, after much trial and error, it turns out that if I mount the probe so that it is not grounded to the mill, it works just fine. possibly, 4 or 5 is not supposed to ground to the probes body, but does...
Anyway, I just have to make a nylon bushing and all is well.
Thanks SO SO MUCH for all your help!