Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: dresda on January 23, 2013, 03:35:57 PM
-
Anything other that Vital systems DSPMC that would work with mach3.
-
CS-Lab CSMIO, and Dynomotion KFlop are two higher end controllers that work with Mach.
-
Centipede too, from KSI Labs.
-
I guess I should add +-10v analogue
-
Galil, Kflop/Kanalog combo, CSMIO/IP-A are the three that I know of, other than DSPMC, that can supply +-10V to analogue amps.
The CSMIO uses full encoder feedback for lathe threading which means it can follow the spindle precisely even if the spindle is grossly underpowered and slows to almost a standstill, in fact it will even continue after a full stop of the spindle but in real terms that could never happen as a stalled spindle could never restart. It does however have issues, it will delay the pull-out at the end of the thread thus cutting an annular groove (if there is not already one there) For some threads this may be acceptable but for others not.
It is a Mach issue in the way the info is fed out to the plugin and it seems nothing can be done at this time, although I recently discovered a different version of Mach did things much better and the pull-out was almost instant. I have not found out what the changes have been as yet.
The Galil also had this exact same issue when trying to use full encoder feedback (ie axis to spindle sync ) and they reverted to the standard single Index feedback and that works well, by all reports, as long as your spindle is not grossly underpowered.
I do not know how the Kflop/Kanalog combo does things but I do know for rigid tapping with it you have to do extras in your code but single point threading I think is just standard, so again would presume as long as your spindle is adequate there will be no issues.
Now MPG, I do not know if multiple MPG's can be used on any of the above. The CSMIO uses an external module for MPG and it is the nicest motion I have seen on a controller but it can only use one MPG. It may be possible to connect MPGs via normal inputs but I have never tried and not likely to as I have no need for that.
Rufi had mentioned to you that Mach Rev4 will be needed for this with the DSPMC and I do know that things will be done very differently with it as it has been designed around the hardware interface instead of the parallel port interface, this will mean that anything the parallel port can do an external controller should be capable of and of course the things that the external controllers do , at the moment, better than the parallel port willl also continue.
Hood
-
All I can find about KFlop and lathe threading, is it uses the KFlop's coordinated motion functions and can handle spindle speed fluctuations (both speed up and slow down).
I can't find anything on MPGs and Mach3, but if you were to contact Dynomotion, I'm sure they'd give you a quick answer (I've yet to see a single problem go unasnwered on their yahoo list!)
-
With outside controllers the same issue always shows up. CAN the "controller" do the Gcode functions correctly. A lot of times there are conflicts as to the software commands and the hardware doing it correctly. IF there is a conflict THEN in comes the work araoung fixes to get it to work instead of redesigning the hardware or software to correctly do the job.
IT is an OLD story with CNC and PCs. THE best combos are when the same people that build the hardware also build the software to match. In this case though you have what you have. As to a turn key thing I don't think there is one yet.
IF I were to build a turn center it would be Kflop based as TOM is very handy with programming and HIS hardware. NOW does it have a perfect interface with MACH3 ?????
(;-) TP
-
All I can find about KFlop and lathe threading, is it uses the KFlop's coordinated motion functions and can handle spindle speed fluctuations (both speed up and slow down).
I can't find anything on MPGs and Mach3, but if you were to contact Dynomotion, I'm sure they'd give you a quick answer (I've yet to see a single problem go unasnwered on their yahoo list!)
KFlop can handle as many MPGs as you want - MPG functionality, as with virtually everything on KFlop other than coordinated motion, is defined *entirely* by user programming, so how many MPGs you have, and what they do, is entirely up to you.
Regards,
Ray L
-
KFlop can handle as many MPGs as you want - MPG functionality, as with virtually everything on KFlop other than coordinated motion, is defined *entirely* by user programming, so how many MPGs you have, and what they do, is entirely up to you.
Regards,
Ray L
So you have to be able to code to get it done?
Hood
-
KFlop can handle as many MPGs as you want - MPG functionality, as with virtually everything on KFlop other than coordinated motion, is defined *entirely* by user programming, so how many MPGs you have, and what they do, is entirely up to you.
Regards,
Ray L
So you have to be able to code to get it done?
Hood
Hood,
'Fraid so. KFlop's greatest strength, and its greatest weakness, is its almost infinite configurability through writing C code for the DSP. The KMotion libraries support the basic motion commands, G-code interpretation, etc. But most "peripheral" functions - homing, limits, probing, pendants, MPGs, spindle speed control, etc. all require programming. Most of it is quite simple, and there is a fair amount of sample code to start with, and outstanding support from Tom Kerekes, even for "newbies", but some of it can take some time. I probably have a couple days time in my pendant/MPG code. But, it does *exactly* what I want, and does it flawlessly.
Regards,
Ray L.
-
Ray, that is the thing that always put me off but I didnt realise that it was almost anything you wanted to connect that needed it, I thought it would just be more complex things.
Yes I have seen Tom being very good with support in the past, used to follow his Yahoo group a year or two back when I was looking at maybe getting one.
The thing however is when/if the numbers of people using them gets very large then one man could not possibly keep up the excellent support that he does at present. Likely a lot of the users would be willing to help out, just like the ones here but it does seem a lot more involved.
Hood
-
Ray are you saying that the MACH3 plugin for the Kflop does not work correctly?
(;-) TP
-
Ray are you saying that the MACH3 plugin for the Kflop does not work correctly?
(;-) TP
Terry,
No not at all. The plug-in works just fine, but it has most of the same limitations as KMotionCNC. You still have to do a fair amount of programming, unless your machine is very simple. You still have to write code for limits, homing, probing, pendants, etc. Now, the same code can be used for both Mach3 and KMotionCNC. In fact, I set mine up so I can use the same code for Mach3, KMotionCNC and my own custom controller app. Personally, if someone buys a KFlop, I don't know why they'd choose to use Mach3. KMotionCNC will do all the basic stuf, and it is absolutely 100% rock solid. You can even zoom, pan, and rotate the toolpath display to your hearts content, work on CAD/CAM or play AngryBirds WHILE the machine is running, unlike with Mach3. It doesn't have all the Mach3 bells and whistles, but presumably one goes to KFlop for stability more than anything else, no?
Regards,
Ray L.
-
I guess I will have to work around what I have, I'm just playing with it and I wouldn't want to put it out in the field.
Still have 2 USB RU LCD shuttle MPG"s from Russia, can't get the outer ring to change from jog to increase up to rapid, works with Mach3 no problem but not with Vital systems unit, gave Rufi the source code he said it should work.
Now testing my g76 threading using the wizard. 4" long .050 pitch, put in Rufi's magic M codes before and after G76, for the first 3" the feed rate shows .030"/rev and for the last 1" it shows .050"/rev, checked the thread and I get 26TPI? Now this is a demo version of mach3, Rufi said it didn't matter, hope it's just not my head spinning, take a break...