Machsupport Forum

Third party software and hardware support forums. => SmoothStepper USB => Topic started by: Bill_O on November 08, 2012, 10:56:41 AM

Title: probe input not working
Post by: Bill_O on November 08, 2012, 10:56:41 AM

i just installed an ess and now my probe is not working
it does not go though the ess it is using a plc
major help please

Title: Re: probe input not working
Post by: Jeff_Birt on November 08, 2012, 12:03:01 PM

The probe input must go through the motion controller. It will not work correctly being fed through a slow I/O device like a PLC. Even though it sounds like you got away with it with the parallel port driver it was not the way to do things.

For a probe to work the motion controller i.e. SmoothStepper, parallel port driver moves an axis whilst looking for the probe input to change states. The motion controller has to know immediately when the probe is hit. Going from PLC to Mach to motion device introduces a LOT of delay, and a variable delay at that (you never know how long it will take for the signal to be seen.)

Just wire up your probe to one of the ESS inputs and it will work fine.

Title: Re: probe input not working
Post by: Bill_O on November 12, 2012, 02:40:04 PM

Jeff,

thanks for the input on why it would not work.
unfortunatly i can not change where inputs are wired up on this machine.
I understand why it did not work now.
I have 2 probes on this machine. One to find the table surface and one to set the tools on.
I just changed the programing of the one for the tool setter to match the programing for the table surface probe.
Works fine now. Accurate to .001 inches

Thanks for the help.
Bill