Machsupport Forum

Third party software and hardware support forums. => NC Pod => Topic started by: rcrabb on January 15, 2007, 09:25:12 PM

Title: Missing steps in jog follow mode
Post by: rcrabb on January 15, 2007, 09:25:12 PM
I was running with the pod tonight. Everything was going great untill I put mach in jog follow mode. I was running a 3d four axis file. I put Mach in jog follow mode and started missing steps. Took it out of follow mode and everything was ok. I did this test several times. Every time with same results. Maybe you guys know of the bug, I'm just reporting what I find.
Title: Re: Missing steps in jog follow mode
Post by: kookaburra on January 16, 2007, 01:11:58 AM
Ryan,

Thanks for letting us know, I will report the issue as it is not one I have come across before.

Dave
Title: Re: Missing steps in jog follow mode
Post by: rcrabb on January 16, 2007, 11:54:52 PM
Today I upgraded Mach3 and the NCpod plug-in. For the servo time I use .00084. I have been testing the pod as hard as I can. It seems the missing steps are not just related to jog follow mode but with any extra work the graphics on the screen do. If I rotate the graphic of the toolpath I get missing steps or if I move around screens allot.

Now I also find the FRO not working correctly. I move the slider and nothing changes. Sometimes it works.

Sometimes while running at 200ipm I do a feedhold when I restart the feedrate is much lower than 200ipm, maybe 50ipm. If I feedhold again and restart the feedrate goes back to 200ipm.

200ipm on my machine is near the limit of my steppers. I like to test at this speed because Ill get missing steps very easy if the pod doesn't keep the motion perfect. I do all these same tests using the printer port so I'm sure the information is pod related and not lack of torque, noise or any other strange variable. With that said, I found another thing. While running the roadrunner I would do a feedhold and restart, maybe 20 times. After the 20 feedholds I measured my axis and found I had lost position about 1/4 inch. I believe it was missing steps because I could here the missed steps everytime I did a feedhold.

Last thing for today. Everytime I start the pod I have to load the firmware. I get the slow blinking amber led. I load the firmware and the led stays steady. Is this the same for everyone?

My wife thinks its strange that I am happier when things don't work perfect.  ???
Title: Re: Missing steps in jog follow mode
Post by: Chaoticone on January 17, 2007, 12:00:51 AM
Men. ;D
Title: Re: Missing steps in jog follow mode
Post by: kookaburra on January 17, 2007, 12:15:46 AM
Ryan,

You mean you are a hobby CNCist and you have a wife?  ???

Be Sure you have not accidently knock out your SD Card as this happened to me once and although the SD Card was in the housing, it was not all the way home  :o . Other than that mine works all the time every time.

I am running a servo system and the machines movements a 100% accurate so the Pod ad Mach3 are not actually losing the steps, rather I think your motors are skipping steps, this could be due to the fact that at the moment Mach3 and the Pod are not running stepper motors as well as Art would like to see them run  :'( . I know Art is working on that side of things.

Dave
Title: Re: Missing steps in jog follow mode
Post by: rcrabb on January 17, 2007, 12:53:30 AM
I don't believe the pod and mach3 are loosing steps between each other. It seems like there is a short comunication gap and the pod makes a quick move to catch up. This "quick move" is more than my motors can take.
Title: Re: Missing steps in jog follow mode
Post by: rcrabb on January 17, 2007, 09:16:46 AM
Was anyone else able to recreate the problem I'm having with missing steps while rotating the toolpath or putting it in jog follow? If it will help I can make a short video.
Title: Re: Missing steps in jog follow mode
Post by: kookaburra on January 17, 2007, 02:25:53 PM
Ryan,

I am not reporting any missed steps at all with my system. I am running my machine (servo) at 18,000mm/min ( 708 inches/min ) and I am getting accurate results. I think in your case it is not so much the Pod and Mach losing steps, but more the fact that the Pod (at the moment) is not driving stepper motors as well as the Parallel port does, causing your motors to skip steps, this however, will be something that I know they will address and sort out.

Dave
Title: Re: Missing steps in jog follow mode
Post by: Brian Barker on January 17, 2007, 04:40:12 PM
At this point I will not do any more testing till there is updated firmware and software... I have the results from the scope and I can tell you that after they get this last little bit fixed we are as good as gold ;) There is very little phase jitter in the pulse stream when it is working right...
Title: Re: Missing steps in jog follow mode
Post by: kookaburra on January 17, 2007, 04:59:27 PM
Brian,

Thanks for the info. I know the development lads are working on it right now. Hopefully there will be an update very soon.

Dave
Title: Re: Missing steps in jog follow mode
Post by: Chaoticone on January 17, 2007, 05:05:53 PM
Everyone seems to be working very hard to get it all running smooth. You guys are doing good. Glad to see this dedicated board and its participants.......................I just had to say something. ;D



Brett
Title: Re: Missing steps in jog follow mode
Post by: kookaburra on January 17, 2007, 05:12:37 PM
Everyone seems to be working very hard to get it all running smooth. You guys are doing good. Glad to see this dedicated board and its participants.......................I just had to say something. ;D



Brett

Speak Oh Wise One. Keep it coming, we love the praises and it helps keep the motivation going.

Thanks

Dave
Title: Re: Missing steps in jog follow mode
Post by: rcrabb on January 17, 2007, 09:26:18 PM
So Dave,

Your telling me that if your running a file and you rotate the toolpath window everything is ok?  :-\

Also I have made sure my CF card is inserted properly and I still have to load the firmware everytime. ???
Title: Re: Missing steps in jog follow mode
Post by: kookaburra on January 17, 2007, 09:44:06 PM
Ryan,

I will have another look at it but I have not moticed any issues there, give me a while though as my machine is flat out cutting control boxes at the moment.

I have no idea what is happening with having to load the firware each time I will directly contact the developer regarding this and hopefully come back with a fix for it. Again give me some time.

Regards

Dave
Title: Re: Missing steps in jog follow mode
Post by: rcrabb on January 17, 2007, 09:56:32 PM
Dave,
I hope I don't seem impatient. Take your time. I can get the program to completely stop running just by rotating the toolpath window at any speed. Also do you know if the FRO is supposed to work?
Title: Re: Missing steps in jog follow mode
Post by: kookaburra on January 17, 2007, 09:59:04 PM
Ryan,

Yep, I have been using the Fro and the Sro all day, no problems there, I will alert Art to this topic to get his thoughts.

Regards

Dave
Title: Re: Missing steps in jog follow mode
Post by: rcrabb on January 17, 2007, 10:03:29 PM
I ask alot of question because I may have a problem related to my PC setup.
Title: Re: Missing steps in jog follow mode
Post by: rcrabb on January 17, 2007, 10:11:47 PM
I'm going to try running with my laptop. Just as a test.
Title: Re: Missing steps in jog follow mode
Post by: ART on January 17, 2007, 10:13:42 PM
Hi:

  The toolpath, normally locked form rotating, isnt locked in external device mode. Though I will probably relock it soon for the pod. If you rotate the screen, it will eat all cPU time and the pod will lose. Jog Follow , may , or may not affect a user depending on the speed of their graphics..

  Ill test FRO again, was working last I checked..

Art
Title: Re: Missing steps in jog follow mode
Post by: kookaburra on January 17, 2007, 10:26:53 PM
Ryan,

Ask as many questions as you want, after all, this part of the mach forum is dedicated to the beta testing of the POD, the more questions the better the help for everyone, the more problems we are alerted to and the sooner we are alerted, the sooner the pod will be released as a comercial product.

Thank you for your input to date.

Regards

Dave
Title: Re: Missing steps in jog follow mode
Post by: ART on January 17, 2007, 10:30:37 PM
Hi:

 Just checked FRO here and all seems well. I dont seem to ahve a problem with Jog Follow either, but rotating the display is nasty.. It was always a rule in MAch2 that you not rotate while cutting.. Ill probably lock it out again very shortly.. As to Jog Follow, it may just be that a user will have to know not to do it if his video card cant keep up on that particular file..

Thanks
Art
Title: Re: Missing steps in jog follow mode
Post by: rcrabb on January 17, 2007, 10:58:27 PM
I just tested with my laptop and things were better. I have absolutely no reason to rotate the toolpath while running. I would prefer it locked so I can't have any accidents while running. You can also cause problems if you rapidly move from screen to screen.

Yes the FRO does work for me. I must have really had my processor bogged down. I went through the optimization file again and now the FRO is working :)

Thank you Art for your reply.
Title: Re: Missing steps in jog follow mode
Post by: kookaburra on January 17, 2007, 11:03:58 PM
Ryan,

Thanks for letting us know, it all helps.

Regards

Dave
Title: Re: Missing steps in jog follow mode
Post by: ART on January 17, 2007, 11:04:32 PM
Thank you for the tests. :)

Art
Title: Re: Missing steps in jog follow mode
Post by: Chaoticone on January 18, 2007, 05:55:34 AM
Good job Ryan. You are helping to build a wealth of knowledge. :)

Brett
Title: Re: Missing steps in jog follow mode
Post by: kookaburra on January 18, 2007, 02:42:47 PM
Ryan,

I must appologize, I missed the part of "rotating the graphics" in Jog Follow Mode I only tested it the other day in standard view. Thanks for pointing it out to me again. I purchased a brand new PC for my Pod Machine as I am also beta testing the next version of a Cad/Cam system and needed a powerful PC, so my video card is the fastest I could get at the time. I tried it in Jog Follow mode and had no problems at all with any tool path, simple or complex. I tried rotating the graphics on a 50mm x 50mm simple square tool path and still no problems. I then tried running a complex tool path and rotating the graphics and "YES" I see what you mean. This problem is not so much with the Pod, it is more about the amount of number crunching that needs to be done to re-draw the graphics to the screen and is interfering with the information being sent down to the Pod (or parallel port + other devices). For now, I think it is a good idea for Art to lock the graphics rotation for the Pod Plugin as he has already done for the Parallel Port.

I spoke to Art yesterday regarding this issue and he is considering his options. From my point of view, Art has given everyone this function and a great function it is, but it is hard for him to have something like this that suits every PC.

It is excellent that you found this Ryan, as it is very early in the Pods Development and we can alert everyone to this issue. Thank you. Glad to hear that your FRO is working.

Best Regards

Dave