Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: jimthefish on January 13, 2013, 11:50:43 AM

Title: Changing computers
Post by: jimthefish on January 13, 2013, 11:50:43 AM
Ok I have asked this question before, but this time it with a different twist. My Dell 2400 computer has finally given up. So I've bought a second-hand Dell 2400 off Ebay (rather than go down the 64bit-32bit problem), same model but a better upgrade. To reinstall Mach and all my setting on the new computer do I re-download Mach3 off the web, use the loader to create a mill application, then inset my Licence and Xml file which I have backed up on a memory stick before the computer failure. Can someone give me a step by set guide to make sure I get the Xml and licence in the correct place, over to you Hood my man. Will my machine work with these new setup or do I have to do anymore alteration. Jim
Title: Re: Changing computers
Post by: Hood on January 13, 2013, 11:56:02 AM
Download and install Mach as you said. You dont need to choose to make a profile as you already have the xml. Once Mach is installed and the computer has rebooted then just copy your licence and xml to the folder you have just installed Mach to, suggest you let Mach install to the default C:\Mach3
The correct xml will have the name of the profile you are using currently, to see what that is, open Mach and look lower right at the profile name then look for a file in the Mach3 folder with that name and a xml file extension.
The Licence file will also be in your Mach3 folder and it is called Mach1Lic.dat.

Hood
Title: Re: Changing computers
Post by: jimthefish on January 13, 2013, 12:49:01 PM
Cheers Hood. Will do tomorrow, snow permitting. Jim
Title: Re: Changing computers
Post by: gadget47 on January 13, 2013, 08:47:27 PM
I too recently changed computers, but my problem is different- I lost my xbox control of mach3. now when i click on configure xbox plugin i get an error message" artcode 9991" and mach3 crashes.- worked fine on last computer- until computer died. Still using same version mach3 too. (.40) any help welcome- i really liked using the xbox control :(
Title: Re: Changing computers
Post by: Hood on January 14, 2013, 03:01:46 AM
tried deleting the plugin and rei-downloading it?
Hood
Title: Re: Changing computers
Post by: gadget47 on January 14, 2013, 08:07:49 AM
yes, this was the first thing i tried.
Title: Re: Changing computers
Post by: Hood on January 14, 2013, 02:27:49 PM
Try changing the plugin folders name to OldPlugins then create a new plugins folder with only the shuttle plugin and see if that works.
Hood
Title: Re: Changing computers
Post by: gadget47 on January 15, 2013, 08:39:33 PM
 :) Thanks Hood,
         I did as you suggested and the shuttle pro plugin came up, so.... I added the xbox360 plugin to the folder, removed the shuttle pro plugin, and restarted mach3. It found the controller and then I re-configured the setup. Now it all works again- and I'm putting the 15 lb sledgehammer back in the garage. My cnc world is once again in harmony ;)
Title: Re: Changing computers
Post by: Hood on January 16, 2013, 02:58:02 AM
Glad it helped :)
Hood
Title: Re: Changing computers
Post by: jimthefish on January 20, 2013, 07:11:45 AM
Hi Hood doing something wrong, cant get the xml file in. Because my secondhand computer hasn't go an internet connection I had to do the following.
Downloaded the Mach3 software in the house on my home computer , then burnt it onto a disk and put my licence and xml files onto the disk (not min the mach folder but as seperate files. I then went down the workshop and loaded the new Mach software onto the workshop computer
I then loaded the licence and the Xml files into the computer.
When I run mach3 I think its got the licence because in the bottom corner of the screen it no longer says demo, however when I look at the config menu it does not seem to  have loaded any of the ports and pins tick boxes, etc.
Any suggestions, I have paper records of the config stetting so could load them all in by hand.
The only bit of the set up I might have got wrong is when one of the the first screen of the set up asks me if I want to create a port driver I left the tick box ticked (although it said it was not needed for external motion drivers) what does that mean. Sorry to be a pain but you know I'm a mechanical  engineer not a computer whizz kid, I put oil in or give it a belt with a hammer if things dont work mechanically, but I'm lost on computers. Jim
Title: Re: Changing computers
Post by: Hood on January 20, 2013, 08:53:32 AM
Did your profile have the same name as the one you are starting? in other words you may be starting Mach3Mill profile but your xml was named something different?
Hood
Title: Re: Changing computers
Post by: jimthefish on January 20, 2013, 09:08:44 AM
Hi Hood, I think I did, I'm sitting here watching the footie and playing on the computer. As I've said before I do my program compling in the warm. I've just looked at the config on this computer and they seem Ok (this computer does not control my CNC. I think I might have made an error in what I called the profile. The snow is belting down in Brum so will have a look when it stops. Can you confirm that I did not make a mistake in leaving the parallel port driver box ticked when installing Mach3. Jim
Title: Re: Changing computers
Post by: Hood on January 20, 2013, 09:10:40 AM
If you are using an external controller then you do not need the port driver.
Hood
Title: Re: Changing computers
Post by: jimthefish on January 21, 2013, 04:28:39 AM
Ok Hood found the problem. for some unknown reason (me) my xml had nothing in it, however I did have a paper record of my settings so put them back in by hand. It all works and I have remade a new xml file and stuck it on a backup disk. Thanks for your help mate. Are you ready for the snow its on its way up. Jim
Title: Re: Changing computers
Post by: Hood on January 21, 2013, 07:06:24 AM
Snow is not a huge deal up this way, dont get huge amounts here right on the coast but a few miles inland it  is a normal winter happening.


 Hood
Title: Re: Changing computers
Post by: angel tech on January 21, 2013, 07:26:54 AM
make sure you put the xml in when mach is off.
Title: Re: Changing computers
Post by: jimthefish on January 22, 2013, 05:58:34 AM
Ok everything running fine except the spindle. It runs OK but when I press the M5 or spindle stop it continues to run at about 30 RPM, even when I close down Mach 3 on the computer it still creeps. If I turn off the machine at the mains when I switch it back on it still creeps. I have put a debounce figure of 2000 in but it still wont stop. When I shut down the computer and the machine together then start them back on its stationary but as soon as I introduce a spindle speed and try and stop it the spindle creeps. I must have a small voltage down the line. This didn't happen on my old computer so any suggestions. Jim
Title: Re: Changing computers
Post by: angel tech on January 22, 2013, 06:24:13 AM
that sounds like you're only using the speed control to run the spindle. There should be an enable to start the spindle as well.
Title: Re: Changing computers
Post by: jimthefish on January 22, 2013, 06:36:54 AM
Not sure what you mean Hood. everything works OK when I dial in M3S1000 off it goes, if I then MDI M5 or press F5 the spindle stops then starts to creep at about 30RPM, If I try and stop it by hand there is enought power to prevent me from stopping it. I had this before in 2010 but sheilded the wires from my spindle drive card on my BOB to the Lynx 80 motor controller unit which seemed to solve the problem. I haven't done anything to the machine and connections just replaced the computer with a more modern one. Jim
Title: Re: Changing computers
Post by: jimthefish on January 22, 2013, 06:39:47 AM
Sorry Angel Tec thought it was Hood who had replied. Jim
Title: Re: Changing computers
Post by: Hood on January 22, 2013, 07:14:35 AM
Sounds like you have not set the spindle relays correctly.
Hood
Title: Re: Changing computers
Post by: angel tech on January 22, 2013, 08:52:08 AM
as Hood has said, there should be a relay that enables the spindle and then the 0-10v signal controls the speed. It seems that you don't have the relay that enables/disables the spindle when the M3/M5 is called.
Title: Re: Changing computers
Post by: jimthefish on January 22, 2013, 09:01:28 AM
Is that in the Mach set up as I haven't changed anything on the machine or the wiring going in, I just changed computers. When I look at the diagnostics page all seems correct, there is a green light on the forth pin along on the interface diagram but I'm sure I had that on the old setup.  Last time I had this was on the initial set up of my machine in 2009, I had an interference voltage on the 10v supply that controls the spindle speed. I shielded the wires and redirected them which seems to have solved the problem, but its back. Any other suggestions and where are the relay switches? Jim
Title: Re: Changing computers
Post by: Hood on January 22, 2013, 09:15:33 AM
Its in Mach, config menu, ports and pins, spindle setup page. Spindle relays are by default disabled. Also however it sounds like you may have the active state of the utput you are using for the relays set wrong.
Hood
Title: Re: Changing computers
Post by: jimthefish on January 23, 2013, 06:47:56 AM
OK I can live with the creep of the spindle but if anyone has any ideas of what causes it please let me know.
Here's the facts
I have not changed any of the machines wiring from the BOB.
spindle on works fine (M3)
dial in spindle speeds works fine (S1000)
spindle stop works fine the spindle actually stops but  then about half a second later it start rotating at about 30RPM
Not changed any of the ports and pins from my old set up

I have observed the following
If I turn of the computer off before the machine the spindle stops creeping
If I turn off the machine from the mains and leave the computer on obviously the spindle stops, but when I restart the machine the spindle creeps again.
Occasionally the spindle will actually stop but after a 20 seconds the machine starts to buzz and the spindle starts creeping
The spindle occasionally works perfectly for 10mins then the buzzing starts and the spindle creeps.
I always seem to have a green light on pin 4 but not sure if this was on on the old computer.

I have
Shielded all the wires to the motor drive board
Tried every combination on the spindle relay set up

As I mentioned I will live with it but suspect I'm getting a small voltage on the 0-10v signal to the spindle drive card from the BOB spindle drive slot in card. Whats got me whacked is this has only happened when I replace my aging broken Dell 2400 with a newer Dell Otiplex duel core computer. Any suggestions welcome. Jim
Title: Re: Changing computers
Post by: angel tech on January 23, 2013, 06:49:53 AM
i'm not sure if you've allready said, what machine is it.
Title: Re: Changing computers
Post by: Hood on January 23, 2013, 07:25:21 AM
also attach your xml.
Hood
Title: Re: Changing computers
Post by: angel tech on January 23, 2013, 08:00:57 AM
one test would be to raise the lower limit on your spindle pulley setting to 200 (if your max is up to 5000), this should make the spindle run steadily if the drive is enabled. So what you'll see then is the spindle running all the time, you then have to figure out why the enable is not disabling the spindle drive (assuming you have one...i hope so).
Title: Re: Changing computers
Post by: jimthefish on January 23, 2013, 08:05:58 AM
Its a Denford Triac mill with a Lynx8o spindle drive board. I repaced all the electronics except for the spindle drive board which was fitted to the machine in 1988, so due for an upgrade as it looks as if its seen better days.  Got and electronics engineer mate coming later in the week as I have just noticed a slight burn mark on the terminal that receives the 0-10v signal. and got a 2.2v signal on it when the spindle is creeping. That's the limit of my electronics knowledge. Will send xml as soon as he's had a look. Jim
Title: Re: Changing computers
Post by: angel tech on January 23, 2013, 08:09:28 AM
ok so it's the older open triac with the electronics originally underneath the base. There would have been a contacter/relay to enable the spindle drive as well as the 0-10v input (should have an isolated supply or have it's own isolater onboard) I'll do a search on the lynx driver and see if i can find the enable inputs.
Title: Re: Changing computers
Post by: jimthefish on January 23, 2013, 10:40:31 AM
OK Hood and Angel-Tec, explain this! I bought my secondhand computer off the internet, not that I'm tight but didn't want the hassle of 64 bit (well I am a bit tight when it comes to money). The computer came with loads of programs on it and it had obviously been linked to other computers in an office or school.
I was confused because this creep problem only started when I connected the new computer to my machine. I accidental left the power to my machine on from the last time I was messing with it, so it was still on when I pressed the on button to start the computer. As I pressed the button the spindle started even before I had called Mach3.
That got me thinking is there a signal going down the printer port? As I mentioned there were loads of programs on the hard drive so decided to dump them all as the computer was only going to run Mach3. I dumped AVG software, Kodak printer and photo suite, loads of little files like spybot whatever that is, plus countless interface files. Well touch wood been using the CNC milling for the past hour and the creeping spindle has gone. Could it have been one of the software programs I have deleted that was sending a signal down the parallel printer port connection? That 2.2v signal has disappeared and the spindle has started maintain a constant speed I requested (got a digital rev counter to check the spindle speed). Don't want to speak to soon but I may have solved it, keep you posted. If I have I'm going to write to those guys controlling the Mars Lunar Landing Vehicle and see if they want any help drilling those holes in the Mars landscape.
Hood and Angel-Tec would welcome your thoughts as to if this could have been the problem or was it the fact that I waved a sledge hammer at the spindle earlier in the day. Jim
Title: Re: Changing computers
Post by: angel tech on January 23, 2013, 11:04:46 AM
Yes the parallel port's outputs are switched on when windows starts, breakout boards stop this by having a charge pump.

I ALWAYS DELETE THE PARTITION AND REFORMAT THE HARD DRIVE AND ONLY INSTALL WINDOWS XP AND MACH3 ON THE COMPUTER, but be carefull not to delete the small partition on the drive as it's needed on dell machines to boot the drive.

It's quite possible that another program had access to the parallel port and was affecting it.

If you raise the low limit of the spindle pulley to 100 you will see if the enable is working.

Title: Re: Changing computers
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on January 23, 2013, 11:11:49 AM
Jim,

I vaguely remember something that came up years ago where a PC, that had been previously used with a printer (connected to the parallel port) still had a document waiting in the print queue.

Windows, bless it’s little heart, chose every quiet moment to try and communicate with the now non-existent printer thus causing problems with the logic state of some of the parallel port output pins.

Just maybe, perhaps ?

Tweakie.
Title: Re: Changing computers
Post by: angel tech on January 23, 2013, 11:15:30 AM
the parallel port has been used for controlling machines for donkeys years, mach3 is not the first add on to use it. So yes funny things can happen, and tweakie i can see that happening.