Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: PerEklof on July 04, 2012, 05:37:03 AM
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Hi!
I will try to post this again, my first post seems to have crasched when I uploaded some pictures to it.
I recently bought the C3 - Index Pulse Card which I will use for spindle speed control into Mach3.
But how do I get the signal into the PC and Mach3? Can I just open the parallelport-cable cover and solder the wire to a free input pin and set the right pin into Mach3 settings?
I have a Optimum CNC controller III, http://www.optimum-machines.com/products/cnc-pc-controls-complete-and-adapter-kit/6/cnc-controller-iii-and-vi/index.html, and it does not have any inputpins / connectors to it.
This is what the controllercard looks like inside, it also have the cards for each axis and the main power supply. Is there any chance that I can solder the signal from the C3 somewhere into the controller?
Regards
Per
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You could do that but are you sure there are no inputs internally? What are the CN1/2 ETC?
I tried to download the manual from their site but just got an error.
Hood
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The CN1, CN2 and CN3 is where I connect the cards for each axis.
I have the manual and the only useful info I get for the parallel port is this:
PinNo
2 - Direction X-axis
3 - Cycle X
4 - Direction Y-axis
5 - Cycle Y
6 - Direction Z-axis
7 - Cycle Z
8 to 24 - Free, Not assigned.
25 - DC, earthing
Regards
Per
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Pins 10 TO 13 & 15 are inputs to Mach. So anyone of those pins can be used for feeding the signal back to the PP provided they are not in use.
RICH
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Just to be sure...
So you mean that I can open the cover for the parallelport cable, solder the cable from the C3 to pin 15 for example, and use pin 15 in the settings in Mach3?
If the pin 15 is not in use of course.
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Yes, the signal from the c3 board is being sent form c3/pin 15 to the cable pin 15 on one end of the cable and then the other end of the cable is attching to pin 15 on the PP.
Makes sure pin15 is pin15 at each end of the cable.....straight thru cable.
Suggest that you first check that there is a voltage change coming form c3 / pin15 before you do any soldering.
ie; no signal out of the C3 would mean no signal to the PP
RICH
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I will try this very soon.
Thank you for all your help :)...
Regards
Per
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Hi!
I have installed my C3 and it works well. I get good RPM readings from the spindle into Mach3.
But when I try to cut threads it will not move at all when I get to the G76 line. I have tried alot of different settings; differnet values on Index Debounce, different setting on the Spindle setup under Ports and Pins etc...
When I am at the diagnosticspage the Index is working but the Wait for trigger and Threading is not marked.
I have read the settingssection in the Mach3_Threading manual.
There are two jumpers on the C3 board; Active low or Active high output signal and TTL or Open collector output signal. What is this? Is there any settings there that might chance my results.
Any other suggestions?? This is really freaking my out :(...
Regards
Per
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Do you have a licence?
Attach your xml and I will look through your config to see if there is a problem with it.
Hood
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Yes I have a licence. I read that threading was avalible in demomode.
Here is the xml, thank you for your help.
//Per
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Mach does not thread in Demo mode, you however have a licence so that is not the issue.
On to your controller,does it just connect to the parallel port or do you use a plugin?
Hood
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My controller connects directly to the parallelport.
The C3 board is directly connected to pin 15 on my PC.
Per
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Ok then in that case you should not see spindle readings as you do not have the spindle relays enabled.
If you are seeing spindle readings then I am not sure why, because as far as I know you need spindle relays enabled, even if you are not using them to control the spindle.
Hood
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Hmm, I enabled spindle readings but there was no differnce I am afraid :(.
Can I do something wrong with the G76 code? I am using the wizard in Mach.
When the code enters the G76 line the Z-axis moves about 1 mm in , then it stops...
The jumpers on the C3 board, could they make a differnce?
Per
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Do you see the Index LED on diagnostics page if you rotate the spindle round manually to the sensor?
Are you commanding a spindle speed and also a spindle command (M3 or M4) from your code.
As far as the jumpers are concerned, afraid I have no idea, I have never used anything other than a standard opto or an encoder index pulse, and have never used any of the CNC4PC cards.
Hood
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Yes the Index LED is turned on and turns off when the spindle reaches the hole on the mounted disc on the spindle.
I start the code with M3 S440.
But another thing is wierd. I turned off my spindle when the G76 code was running and when S true value was about 230 the G76 cycle started... Can the speed be to high?
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Change the active state of the index in Ports and Pins and see if that helps. The index LED should be out until it is activated.
Hood
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When using the Wizard one should click the "Calc number of passes" button and that will confirm and show that your velocity and accel
are adequate for the spindle rpm you input.
RICH
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Hi!
I changed the active state for the index LED and it worked, finally :)...
I tried to make a 1mm thread but it did not turned out perfect. When I measured the thread it seems like it is 0.9 mm.
This is the code from the wizard.
G0 G40 G18 G80 G50 G90
G00 G53 X0 Z0
T202M6
G00 X37
G00 Z2
G00 X36
M03 S440
M08
G76 X35 Z-12 Q1 P1 J0.006 L45 H0.4 I29 C1 B0.0001 T0
M9
M5
M30
When I press the "Calc number of passes button" it tells me that:
Axis will move 440 UPM and will Accel in 0.5378Units". I am not sure what that means? Does this seems right at all?
Per
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Are you using a recent version of Mach?
Regarding the info, it is telling you that your axis will move at 440 Units per Min (so mm or Inch depending on your native units) and that it will accelerate to that velocity in 0.5378mm or inch.
Hood
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I installed the Mach3 R3.043.062 Development version yesterday. Maybe it is better with the Lockdown version?
I will do some more testing with the threads tomorrow.
Ok, thank you for the info, I was not sure about the 440 value.
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I am not sure if it would make any difference as it is the driver that controls the threading and I dont think there have been any driver update. Worth a try though I suppose.
One other thing, I notice you have an Index Debounce of 10, have you tried lower?
Hood
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Ok, I will try the lockdown version tomorrow.
No I have not tried that, I am not sure what the Index Debounce is / does?
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Index debouce filters the index pulse input, it means Mach will not act on a signal unless it is seen for the specified amount of time, in your case 400uS. When I was using an opto I found that if I used any more than Zero the index pulse and RPM would be a bit erratic. What you will need there will vary depending on hardware used but no harm in trying lower.
Hood
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Thank you for that info :). I will try this tomorrow... I will post some results here.
Thank you for all your help here the last couple of days, I really appreciate if.
Per
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Hi!
I have tried alot of differnt threads now and they are getting better and better :). I tried lower Index Debounce numbers and I think that was a good thing for my equipment.
But if a do a long thread, 50mm with 1.5mm pitch, the first 20-30 mm will be perfect but the rest can be a bit off. The pitch seems a be increasing towards the end om the thread...
Any good suggestions for this?
Per
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Per,
The cut pitch can only be as accurate as the the axis feeding it and Mach setup. If the Z axis has a gain in it's pitch it will be reflected in the cut.
If the motor rpm increases during the threading then same can occur.The pitch can seem to be increasing if the cut depth is not constant.
If you do a scribe test and then measure you can minimise / eliminate some of the actual cutting and other affects of the machine.
The threading cycle was tested based on fig 4.4.5 in the Threading on the Lathe write up. If all is working correctly you would have difficulty
measuring a change in lead for a 50mm / 2" thread length from a software point of view.
Have fun threading,
RICH
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Hi!
I have tried alot of differnt threads now and they are getting better and better :). I tried lower Index Debounce numbers and I think that was a good thing for my equipment.
GBut if a do a long thread, 50mm with 1.5mm pitch, the first 20-30 mm will be perfect but the rest can be a bit off. The pitch seems a be increasing towards the end om the thread...
Any good suggestions for this?
Per
I have been having this exact issue. The thread is perfect for the first 20mm and then it deteriorates. Did you ever fix this problem??
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spencyg
Cant remember if I asked you the version of Mach you are using?
Hood
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I just recently downloaded the released version. I think it is the latest release.
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Should be fine although I have found some faults in the lockdown and Dev versions with regards to wear offsets in Turn. Doubt if it would affect threading though there may be others faults.
Think you have the ESS so really the Mach version shouldnbt have too much bearing on things as only the trajectory planning for threading is done in Mach and the ESS itself does the threading.
Hood
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I've got a thread started over at warp9 to see whether greg has any ideas. In the mean time I guess I need to break out the scope