Machsupport Forum

Third party software and hardware support forums. => PoKeys => Topic started by: Snipes44 on September 13, 2012, 11:19:01 PM

Title: New Pokeys plugin MPG setup help.
Post by: Snipes44 on September 13, 2012, 11:19:01 PM
Hello, I'm in the process of doing a retrofit on an old Hurco KMB1 mill. I'm having trouble getting any response in mach3 with my MPG. Below are pictures of the various config screens that are related.

I'm using the latest versions of Mach3 (R3.043.062) and Pokeys firmware (3.0.36). Using the pokeys configuration software and looking at raw encoder data I can see the position and the rate change when I rotate the MPG. But when I try and calibrate it in Mach3 it doesn't show any changes. I'm sure I must be missing a step some were. Just haven't found a step by step how-to for the new plugin. In image 3 you can see the the DRO has been set on something. That was just me trying to get it working and I have tried it with "none" selected with the same result.

With the old plugin I had just gotten the MPG work and the life got in the way and the project was on hold for a couple months. Since I was not at a point of having a usable machine with I left off I reload all software and drives with the latest versions.

Thanks for the help in advance.
    -Wes
Title: Re: New Pokeys plugin MPG setup help.
Post by: Snipes44 on September 13, 2012, 11:19:58 PM
Can only post 4 images per post
Title: Re: New Pokeys plugin MPG setup help.
Post by: NeoTO on September 14, 2012, 02:45:22 AM
Hi, Wes

I won't have the access to my machine by Monday to give you exact settings, but will try to guide you by heart.
0. Check that you have the latest version of the plugin. I would suggest downloading and installing Beta software 3.0.39 from poscope.com. It contains the plugin in the setup.
1. Don't use PoKeys software for anything else than diagnostics. You should use Mach3 plugin to configure all functions (when Mach3 plugin loads, all plugin settings are transferred to the device!).
2. Enable MPGs you want to use in Mach3 ports and pins configuration (as you have done already)
3. Setup encoder inputs in plugin mapping settings (as you have done already)
4. Setup encoders in Encoders tab as mapped to DRO MPG1, MPG2, ...
5. Enable PoKeys to handle MPG jogging (there should be a check box at the bottom of the 'Encoders' settings page
Title: Re: New Pokeys plugin MPG setup help.
Post by: Snipes44 on September 14, 2012, 03:26:39 PM
Thanks NeoTO,

I well try that at home. I must have just missed the .39 software version. I will get that installed.

I know I was missing steps 4 and 5.

Not using the pokeys software for setup makes since now. I was wondering why my pins were changing in that software after I had changed stuff in the plugin config in mach.

Thanks again.

Title: Re: New Pokeys plugin MPG setup help.
Post by: Snipes44 on September 14, 2012, 10:56:32 PM
Ok got the new software, plugin and firmware installed (.39). Still not working.

Step 4  - In the attach image (sorry about the image quality) do I have the correct DRO selected? It says "DRO 101: MPG 1 Count DRO"

Step 5 - I don't see a checkbox that says anything like "Enable PoKeys to handle MPG jogging" on the encoder page, or on any of the other pages of the pokeys plugin config. I have checked to make sure that I have latest plugin installed,it has a created/modified date of 9/11/12.

Thanks
    -Wes
Title: Re: New Pokeys plugin MPG setup help.
Post by: NeoTO on September 17, 2012, 01:55:57 AM
Hi, Wes

I'm worry for implying to check 'Enable PoKeys to handle MPG jogging' option. It is only available to PoKeys with Pulse engine enabled (PoKeys as motion controller).

Yes, the DRO 101 is correct. Do you have MPG jog selected in Mach3 jogging panel?
Title: Re: New Pokeys plugin MPG setup help.
Post by: Snipes44 on September 18, 2012, 09:38:29 PM
Sorry about the delay. Been dealing with a bad servo motor. Finally have that all taken care of. Time to get back on getting this MPG working.

No wonder I couldn't find that check box. I'm not using pokeys as the pulse engine for my machine, I'm using a kflop for that. Pokeys is just handling my buttons and lights on my control panel.

"Mach3 Jogging Panel" I assume you are talking about the fly-out panel when you hit the 'Tab' key. Yes I have tried every mode on the panel, no response. I do have the axis and step size work via rotary knobs and the indicator lights do change.

What I'm finding odd is that the pokeys raw encoder data viewer shows that the encoder is connect and work. Yet I must be missing one setting in Mach3 since it is not seen there. If I try and calibrate MPG#1 in Mach there is no response on any of the calibration windows. I have even tried #2 and #3 MPG.

Any other ideas?
Title: Re: New Pokeys plugin MPG setup help.
Post by: NeoTO on September 19, 2012, 05:16:43 AM
Can you try and run Mach3 only with PoKeys device (without kflop) for test? I am not sure whether kflop does overwrite MPG registers or not.
Title: Re: New Pokeys plugin MPG setup help.
Post by: Snipes44 on October 18, 2012, 12:55:25 AM
OK back on this problem. Been super busy with vacation, EDM training at work and life.

I tried using the MPG with the Dynomotion (kflop) plugin disable and the parallel port driver selected. It works, I can calibrate the MPG and the DROs change when I spin the mpg. Which is great, at least I know now what the issue seems to be.

Just not sure where to go from here. I need the kflop to run my drives. Not sure if this is a Pokeys conflict to fix or kflop.

I could run the MPG off my kflop board, it has a couple spare encoder inputs. Would rather use the pokeys so I don't have to run another wire from my panel to my main electronics box.

Any ideas?

Thanks
   -Wes
Title: Re: New Pokeys plugin MPG setup help.
Post by: NeoTO on October 18, 2012, 07:51:28 AM
Well, the PoKeys only overrides the Mach's MPG counters if you configure it to do so (select and map a encoder to MPG).
Apparently, kflop does it constantly and overrides the values that are sent by PoKeys plugin. As I see it from the aspect of the PoKeys plugin, PoKeys can't do it if someone else is overriding it.
Title: Re: New Pokeys plugin MPG setup help.
Post by: Snipes44 on November 10, 2012, 05:51:58 PM
Just an update on this.

Kflop wants to have control of all motion signals. The MPG has to be connected to the kflop for this work. You will all so need to connect the axis and step increments to kflop via switches. It looks like there maybe a work around for the switches but would require some VB script or a brain.

Any it just turned in to more of a hassle then I wanted deal with. I have since pulled my kflop/analog and i'm in the process of switching to a PMDX-126,PMDX-107 and ESS. Cost wise its about the same.

Now there is nothing wrong with the kflop/kanalog, it just doesn't work well with a pokeys as far as motion signals are concerned. In fact the kflop/kanalog I would says is more powerful then a smoothstepper/pmdx solution. Down side is it is not plug-in play.

Hopefully this helps someone down the line when they are shopping for there machine.