Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: bajadave on March 25, 2011, 08:20:06 PM
-
My question is it possible to add a touch pad for the height of my Z.. Right now I have a home switch at the top of my Z but changing bits and trying to rezero to the top of my work is not working and I'm getting a little inconsistancy when I change bits..
Thanks Dave
-
Have never done it myself but lots are using it. Do a search for Auto Tool Zero and that should bring up a few subjecrs. The probe input is used for this normally.
Hood
-
Look here.
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/cnc_wood_router_project_log/36099-another_aussie_auto_tool_zero.html
-
Thanks Hood and Ger21
Great topic but just a little over my head as I am truly a newbie.. Not sure of all the terminology like DRO and screen#4 etc etc. I kinda need a blow by blow explanation if that makes any sense...
-
Dave,
Art has an excellent tutorial video on Screen4. Go to the top of this screen, (or http://www.machsupport.com/ if you aren’t viewing on line), select Support > Tutorial Videos > Artsoft Video Tutorial and then Screen4 which is at the very bottom of the left hand column.
For DRO listing, go to the above mentioned screen, select Support > Mach Wiki then scroll down to the table of contents and the DRO listing is in section 9.
This should get you going for a while <grin>.
Al
-
Thanks I'll try to follow it but it really seems way over my head, I was hoping I could turn on a pin and use the auto zero toll button with min programing...I don't think i'm able to create a whole new screen when the default mach screen is more then enough for me.....
-
The screen that I sell has the auto zero integrated into it. If you have a working probe circuit, that's all you need.
If you go to the Screen download section here, the Big Tex version of Mach Blue has it as well.
-
Thanks Ger21, It looks real nice, I'm just learning MAch and Vectric, If I spend another Dollar on this machine I'm afraid I would be shot... But your program looks real nice.. I'm hoping that someone steps up and gives me directions on how to go about doing this... Hood has been very helpful to me thus far with many of my other questions.... There seems to be alot of people here that are very helpful... Have a great day!!!! And thnaks for the offer...
Dave
-
Dave,
Don't know if it's any help to you but this is how I did it. http://www.cooperman.talktalk.net/files/17.htm
Tweakie.
-
Tweakie Thank You.. Looks easy to do and I'll try it out today... I have pin #6 set for the probe and I believe I should use that instead of your pin #15.... I'll let you know how it works out for me.. And again thank you very much.. This Forum and the people in it are very helpful.... Oh yeah, I like the Laser idea too...
-
You have to use an Input pin for the probe, and #6 is an output pin.
Unless you have a breakout board that allows you to use pins 2-9 as inputs.
-
Ger here is the spec sheet i got with my machine. I have a db9 connector on the outside of the control box for limit and home switches... the spec shows that the probe is connected to pin 6... how its wired on the inside i have no idea without opening it up... So would I use underr input signals enable probe and port1 pin 6 active low? When I do this as soon as i click the auto tool zero button i get an error saying that its already grounded. If i uncheck the active low. and hit the auto tool zero and /I ground the plate it doesnt stop.... Now when i put pin 15 under the pin number, it doesn't stop either....
-
You need to find out which parallel port pin that pin is connected to. You might want to try using the Automated Setup of Inputs on the Input pin tab.
-
It's bit of a long winded procedure but if you configure Probe as 'active low' and temporarily connect your pin 6 to ground then whichever input pin number you enter for your probe makes the 'Digitize' LED illuminate (diagnostics page) will be the LPT pin number you should use.
Tweakie.
-
Thanks Guys, I opened my control box and found that from the db9 connector which the probe is labeled for in the above pdf file is connected to pin 16 on the parallel port pin which i believe is not an input pin... X++ X- Y++ and Y- are configed to pin 15... Can I still connect the auto tool zero to pin 15 as well?
Thanks...
Btw the diagnostic page shows no lite LED when I touch the plate to ground. (I'm thinking cause MAch doesn't see it as an input because of the way its wired to pin 16) I think I'm learning!!!!
-
Pin 16 is an output pin so you will not see th plate working.
Do you not have any other spare inputs?
Hood
-
Enclosed is the Elec spec... Any suggestion is greatly appreciated
-
Entry deleted (Load of rubbish I just posted, sorry)
Tweakie.
-
Don't Bail on me now Tweakie.. I'm thinking that I will have to make my Z Home switch a limit switch which will free up an input pin.. Then I can use the open input for the auto zero button... I wonder why Mach only gives you 5 inputs and so many outputs.... I'm just a few input short.......
-
I think what you have suggested is the only way. (without fitting another PCI parallel port to get more inputs).
The probe cannot share a limit / home switch connection it has to have its own input but a home and limit switch can be configured as the same thing.
Tweakie.
-
I wonder why Mach only gives you 5 inputs and so many outputs
Afraid its the parallel port and not Mach thats the problem. With a second port (as long as its an enahanced one) you can set pins 2-9 as inputs but on the first port you cant or you wouldnt have any outputs for motors ;)
Hood
-
Thanks guys for all the help. I found a parallel/serial port card in my wonderful box of odds and ends... I'm going to install it later today and see if I can config mach to see it... Then I can have the inputs that I need.... Thanks
Dave
-
ok I have the auto tool zero working.... it comes down and touches the plate and retracts up 1".... Its not suppose to come down and touch then retract a few hundreds then slowly come back down at a slower jog... I seen a video of one doing that....
-
You will likely have to alter the macro to the value you wish, usually there is a retract height in the macro.
Hood
-
Some Macro's do a second touch, at a much lower speed to correct for the motor overrun of the first touch - perhaps this is what you are observing.
Tweakie.
-
It's working great, Its nice to have the bottom of the V Groove bits meet up with the flat bottoms... Thanks for all your input....
-
Glad to hear you got it sorted.
Tweakie.