Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: theshed on October 02, 2011, 11:36:44 AM
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Hi I have just bought a Texas Microcircuits serial port speed control board (apparently developed by SoundLogic) I have loaded the plugin and using the XML suggested.....nothing narda zip ... an M3 command does nothing at all... Any ideas folks??
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If you are using the parallel port driver you will need to enable the spindle relay option. You dont actually need relays hooked up, just Mach requires you have that setting enabled. You can set up fictitious output numbers for the relays. You will find that setting from Config menu then Ports and Pins then Spindle Setup.
Hood
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Are the LED's on the PCB operating correctly ?? (do they come on and show CW rotation etc when spindle is turned on/off within Mach - M3 / M5).
Also it is important that you are using the licensed version of Mach and not the Demo version.
Tweakie.
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Hi
Thanks for the replies...but..yes the relays are enabled and No LEDs at all
Could anybody send me a tested XML there are some odd settings in the one I downloaded from Texas microcircuits site (might be right what would I know!)
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Sorry - within Mach 3 leds do come on just fine
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Perhaps crossed purposes here :)
Do the leds on the Texas Micro board operate correctly ??
Tweakie.
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Sorry - being stupid . No the LEDS on the board stay off. On the computer screen in diagnostics the output LED flashes.
No sign of life on the board at all
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Attach your xml and maybe someone can see a prob.
Hood
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I presume you have checked that you have 115V or 240V power going to Texas board and that the fuse F1 is intact (test with multimeter).
Tweakie.
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yes fuse and power are ok
I will get back to you with the XML that texas MC provide
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Need the xml you are using as it may be different from the one they provide as standard.
Hood
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I just read the instructions.
Texas don’t actually tell you how to set up Mach they just let you download an xml but then say that it will not be configured for your own machine so you should make a note of your original settings (ports and pins, motor tuning etc) then re-enter all your data into the new xml.
Would be much easier if they just described the setting up details but as they say in their instructions this would be too difficult for them to do and take too much time.
They also say they have a small program that will combine two xml’s and make life much easier but this is not yet available.
Very strange organisation this Texas Microcircuits. ???
Tweakie.
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You have got it in one....Nice board though if I can get the damm thing working. I downloaded their XML - nothing. I then altered mine - nothing :(
The instructions do leave you a bit clueless - I managed to wire up the mains ok.....
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Just some basic when dealing with COMport communications(very dependable by theway)
1 the Computer MUST be setup fro the comport to talk the same protocol as the device OR vise versa. You have to set the Baud rate, parity and Stop bits the SAME on both devices.
I see where the device is POORLY defined for setup in the manual. They could have just GAVE you a list of settings to change in the config side(;-( rather than an UNKNOWN xml.
So you set up windows correctly for the COmport
Then install plugin for MACH3
Then ACTIVATE the plugin for MACH3(then restart)
THEN config the plugin for MACH3.
Make SURE all the comport settings match.
NOW you must config the rest of the items of the control in the MACH3 config.
Get all that fixed and I would guess it will run ok.
Just a thought, (;-) TP
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I am not sure I tried restarting after activating the plugin - I will give that a go
I think I got the baud rate right - that is in the general properties of Mach3 right?
Windows says that my com port is working I will have another look see
I am glad its not just me with that manual!
I have sent an e-mail asking the vendor for help - if he gets back to me I will post the answer so others can find it
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Hi this is the XML I am trying to use - I have made no changes that I know of since downloading
I have checked the Baud rate in Device Manager on Com1 all settings the same as the manual recommends
Restarted
checked the fuse
Nothing changed - no LEDs on board....
Getting a bit ???
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Thats the xml from the site so it should be correct but maybe yours is different?
Probably just have to hope they get back to you.
Hood
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Thanks Hood. Its a bit hard to work out which settings in that XML are necessary to make the board work and which ones are optional. Worse still that XML is for a mill and I want to use it on a lathe.....Never mind patience patience
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You may be better following the Texas instructions.
1) Write down all your settings (that currently work) in 'Ports and Pins' and 'Motor Tuning'.
2) Load the new xml supplied by Texas
3) Change all the settings in Ports and Pins and Motor Tuning to those you wrote down.
4) Then see if it works.
5) If it doesn't work then post your (now modified) xml for Hood to look at.
Hope this helps.
Tweakie.
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I have made progress....sort of! I downloaded a serial monitor program that lets me see the data sent and received. Mach3 is happily sending data to the serial port just as it should so the plugin and xml are off the suspect list. Unfortunately that leaves the board! ......Or the port settings?? The Baud rate is ok.
Still no response from the vendor.
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Zealous made a great XML comparitor you could compare 2 xmls side by side to see the differences.
On the serial port you have Baud rate, Parity and Stopbit to make sure it is correct. On mach side you have to setup the spindle control so it works WITH the plugin.
Just a thought,(;-) TP
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Many thanks - I am working my way through the port settings unfortunately other than the Baud rate I do not know what the hardware settings are.
When you say set up the spindle control with the plugin, other than the XML what are you referring to
Many thanks all - this forum is a lifeline!
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normal;ly with a plugin once you turn it on(config plugins) you then can configure the plugin SAME page, right hand side, yellow box, click on it. It may open a plugin config page.
(;-) TP
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And the answer was.......... The COM port on my motherboard was not giving any output in real life despite the software thinking it was working. I added a PCI card and it worked first time.
Modifying the XML turned out to be very easy indeed. Just a couple of changes to the motors and outputs - The manual perhaps could be improved.
The board is a very nice way of controlling the VDF - Randy Ray from Texas Microcircuits popped up on my e-mail and offered good support so highly recommended.
I have just read the thread on constant surface feed - is it still the case that G96 will not work with G95?
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CSS still doesnt work and likely wont until Rev Turn comes out. That will be after Rev4 Mill and no one knows when that will be ;)
Hood
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At the rate I do things a decade is neither here nor there! Does G96 work with feed set as mm/min?
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I an not sure how it works in G94, dont use it.
Hood