Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: jasminder on August 03, 2011, 01:11:37 PM
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hello friends,
i just added external switches to my lathe (mach3) including an estop. Everything just works fine. When i push the estop button, the mach enters into reset mode but when i twist or unlatch it, the mach still remains in estop mode and i have to click the reset button on mach3 screen using my mouse to get to the normal mode.
Where is the problem? I have wired estop as active high and my switch is NO.
hope someone has an idea out there.
regards,
jasminder singh
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That is the normal operation for Mach3. I'm not sure but you may be able to write a brain to reset Mach3 after releasing the Estop but I'm not sure on that.
TJ
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That is the way ALL machines should be. Auto restart is a dangerous thing in motion control . You do have the Estop button shutting off all power to the machine right? as well as notifing MACH to go into estop.
(;-) TP
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That is the way ALL machines should be. Auto restart is a dangerous thing in motion control . You do have the Estop button shutting off all power to the machine right? as well as notifing MACH to go into estop.
(;-) TP
But i don't think it should be like that. Mach3 will be in estop untill i do not twist the estop switch. After twisting it, mach should come out in normal running mode. Is there a way to do it? Will a macropump do it?
if yes then can anyone help me finding out the "RESET" code or statement?
regards,
jasminder singh
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ok here is what i have---
if not isactive(input1) then 'estop active high input to my bob
dooembutton(1021) "oem button code for reset
endif
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Hi Jas,
I understand what you are trying to achieve but safety must always take priority and as Terry has already said this is a dangerous way to go.
Far greater minds than ours have decided this is the way it will be and for good reason and what you are attempting could perhaps be considered as the equivalent to defeating a safety switch or machine interlock.
We must all pay strict attention to safety if we are to "live to machine another day" ;)
Tweakie.
(I think I must have been a safety officer in a previous life) ;D
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One issue I see with this if Mach tries to put itself into Reset will the macropump allow it, for example hit a limit, now Mach will be a lot faster than the macropump so it will go into reset but the macropump may constantly be trying to press the Reset Button and Mach constantly putting itself into Reset, this may cause issues.
Hood
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Actually thinking about it a bit more, the reset button is a toggle so would it not constantly be getting switched on and off with the macropump?
Hood
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Actually thinking about it a bit more, the reset button is a toggle so would it not constantly be getting switched on and off with the macropump?
Hood
Indeed it would - just tried it. Mach he go chrazy.
Reminds me of a retired carpenter I met once who only had two fingers left. That must have been some nasty accident I said. Oh - I didn't do them all at the same time he said...
Ian
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;D ;D
Tweakie.
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OH there is an easy way to do it BUT(;-) not a safe way.
(;-) TP
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I can see where this may be a bit of a PITA if using a mouse, (personally dont like them on a machine) and although I have a trackball it would still be a PITA to have to move over to reset. I use touch screens so its not an issue for me but if it was then I think the way I would do things is fit a momentary switch on the panel to do the reset, as long as you have one spare input it would be easy to do.
Hood
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Surley it's only a PITA if you're doing it often and then I have to ask - why are you hitting the e-stop often? Surely if you have to hit e-stop you should be more worried about getting some new pants rather than having to reset Mach. ;D
Ian
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Nah, I am lazy and once or twice in a day having to press with a mouse would be once or twice too much ;D My E-Stops control the contactors to the servos, amongst other things, so when I am not using the lathe its in E-Stop as people are always in and out of my narrow workshop so its only safe to do that.
Hood
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yeah, i tried it too.
Mach just stay in reset mode beacause the chargepump will reset it 10 times a second.
As for the fingers. I have been working with lathes and mills since 5 years. I was 18 when i got into machines and now i am 23 and luckily i still have all of my fingers.
Well, i will forget about this reset button from now as all of you are saying that it is dangerous. But do the commercial machines also lack this feature. I mean do they need to click something to get out of the estop mode after unlatching that mushroom?
jasminder singh
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To be honest I am not so sure it is dangerous, IF the machine is set up so that the E-Stop button controlled everything hardware and things such as limits also controlled the hardware such as contactors.
On my Bridgeport for example the limits, E-Stop etc are all in the E-Stop string so if I hit a limit then I need to press an override button to get off them. If I hit the E-Stop then I need to untwist the button to be able to reset. Not really sure how commercial controls are set up so cant really comment on that but I would hazard a guess most dont set up Mach the way my E-Stop string is so I can see where it could be dangerous.
Maybe I am not seeing the problems Terry et al are seeing though even if the machine is set the way I have mine but I definitely agree its not such a good idea with normal setups.
Hood
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All commercial controllers have a 2 step process to RESTART the machine from estop. It is a required safety feature IF you want to build machines AND keep your retirement funds from the lawyers hands.
Same with startmotion on hand pendants. All motion starts SHOULD require a 2 button push to move. One is the safety the other is the function. AND requires a seperation distance so you cannot use 2 fingers on the same hand as easy access(;-).
You are young yet, you really DON't want to see what can happen with machines in motion and fragile human body parts.
The fingers/hand/arm/life you save MAY be your own. (;-) TP
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Hand held pendants used with Mach are not something I like I am afraid. I can see how they would be useful for large area machines such as big routers but I am betting there are very few that have real E-Stops on them.
Hood
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Pendants are VERY handy for setups. It would be tough to do plasma without one after you used one for a while(;-) Same with routers. Heck even for blind goats and their Bridgeports.
BUT safety first. AND they can be the cause for a runaway. Been there done that one as well. Machine hit the limits/stops wide open.
What scares me the most are the Wireless game controllers, But that is just me, (;-) TP
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I made one for my Bridgeport and used it a couple of times and it then got put on the shelf, not for me I am afraid :) I had the E-Stop hard wired from the pendant into the E-Stop string on my machine as well as the software signal to Mach, wouldnt have it any other way, I like to know when I whack the E-Stop it will stop and not rely on software to make it do so.
Totally agree regards wireless.
Hood
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Terry - what's the thing with you and goats at the moment - should we be concerned? ;D
Ian
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(;-) Actually I just bought my oldest granddaughter a new baby show goat. Seeing how I sport a white goatee style beard she started calling me her "Old Goat" so I guess that word is stuck in my brain for a while. Don't worry it will pass(;-)
(;-) TP
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Going off topic and reverting to the fingers issue;
I have friends in the woodworking industry who have missing parts of fingers. It is perhaps surprising but they were not lost through lack of experience (one had 40 years in the trade) they were lost through complacency and familiarity with the machines they used and they will all say that they have no one to blame except themselves.
Take care Guys - It is not luck that keeps fingers it is vigilance.
Tweakie.
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As my Granddad told me LONG ago. Bad habits are not your friend(most do save time). They will follow behind you all your life and when you least suspect jump out from behind you and bite you in the ARS.
(;-) TP
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I have a feed hold button, a cycle start button breaker and a spindle power cut off on my lathe's door. So things are very much safe as long as i think. It has some big steppers on it so if i unfortunately get hit by one of my axis sometime, i am sure there will be some broken bones. but i have seen guys of my age spending months on bed after breaking their ribs on skates on AXN. LOL!
Ok, thanks for everyone's comments and help. Giving up that estop issue, i would like to know about the limitations of modbus or serial communication with mach3.
I am going to start a new thread. please share your knowledge