Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: D-M on February 23, 2013, 12:00:13 AM

Title: off line function
Post by: D-M on February 23, 2013, 12:00:13 AM
Something odd happened I lost my spindle motor a few weeks back got it back together today and fired it up. Now my off line function will not take my steppers off line as before.
Any help would be appreciated
Dave 
Title: Re: off line function
Post by: Hood on February 24, 2013, 06:23:18 PM
Cant remember what offline actually does when using the parallel port but I recall its different from when using the SmoothStepper, which is what I have on most machines.
I presume you are using the parallel port? If so what did offline do? in other words did the DROs in Mach still move when you were offline and jogged or did they just stay the same?
Hood
Title: Re: off line function
Post by: D-M on February 24, 2013, 06:32:29 PM
Thanks Hood for getting back to me.
Before the issue with the spindle motor if I activated the off line button the DRO's would move but not the machine it would turn power off to the motors. I am using a parallel port.
Thanks Dave
Title: Re: off line function
Post by: Hood on February 24, 2013, 06:50:51 PM
Ok so if you turned it back online after jogging did the DROs jump back to what they were? Thats what happens with the Smoothstepper but think maybe the parallel port doesnt do that.
 Have you done anything else since you last used offline? such as updated Mach? Chnaged any config?
What version of Mach are you using?
Hood
Title: Re: off line function
Post by: D-M on February 24, 2013, 07:16:24 PM
Hood
Yes came back on line DRO's were ware I had left them(I never turned off Mach I always leave that computer run) No updates to Mach no config changes. Using Mach 3
Dave
Title: Re: off line function
Post by: Hood on February 25, 2013, 01:49:01 AM
Ok just to clarify, if you put offline and then jogged the DROs would change but motors would not move. If you then put Mach Online the DROs would return to their original location, ie where they were before you jogged when offline?
Hood
Title: Re: off line function
Post by: D-M on February 25, 2013, 08:40:55 AM
Hood
If I take it off line the Dro's move the motors don't.  Back on line the DRO's DO NOT return to the the starting point but stay were they ended up in the jog off line move  I think I had mis read in your previous response
Dave
Title: Re: off line function
Post by: Hood on February 25, 2013, 09:14:38 AM
Ok thats the way I was thinking it would work with the parallel port, the Smoothstepper returns the DROs to their previous position.
Anyway that  is a bit more tricky for me to test as it will mean I need to use a computer with the parallel port and use a scope to check the outputs. If you can attach your xml I will check using it.
Hood
Title: Re: off line function
Post by: D-M on February 25, 2013, 10:17:32 PM
Hood
Hope this is the correct file if not I will need a little help here also
Thanks Dave
Title: Re: off line function
Post by: Hood on February 26, 2013, 03:28:46 AM
Thats actually the backup xml folder but that should give me the second most recent one you used. It looks like you are using a profile called dyna1 as there are more backups of it. If you look in the main Mach3 folder you should find a xml file called dyna1, if you copy that to your desktop and rename or zip and attach then I will test tonight when I get home.
Hood
Title: Re: off line function
Post by: D-M on February 26, 2013, 09:51:09 PM
Thanks again Hood
Keep in mind this is a hobby for me and your time is important also so no worry's as to when you can take a look. I found the correct file (really the wife found it what would we do without the wives) and thanks again.
Dave
Title: Re: off line function
Post by: Hood on February 27, 2013, 02:11:42 PM
Ok I have just rigged up a cable to the parallel port and hooked an oscilloscope to Pin 2 which is your X axis Step pin. I jogged the axis and got the pulses showing on the scope, pressed the Offline button and again jogged and nothing so it seems to be working fine here with your xml. I tried a few different versions of Mach and all were fine.
What version are you using and I will again test, you will see that if you go to About menu then choose About Mach.........

Hood
Title: Re: off line function
Post by: D-M on March 01, 2013, 01:55:26 PM
Hi Hood
Sorry for the delay blew my back out here is the version
R3.43.053
Dave
Title: Re: off line function
Post by: Hood on March 08, 2013, 01:18:01 PM
Sorry for the long time in getting back, not sure whats going on with your offline as I tried with 053 and again it worked fine.
Maybe reinstalling Mach may help as it may be some corruption of the screenset or Mach itself.
Hood
Title: Re: off line function
Post by: D-M on March 08, 2013, 01:22:12 PM
no worries hood that is what I was thinking but sorta scared I will loose my settings what file do I save to re install
 on set up
Dave
Title: Re: off line function
Post by: Hood on March 08, 2013, 01:25:50 PM
The normal files are your xml, any brains, any plugins etc and your licence file. Easy way is to copy the whole Mach folder to another location on your drive, that way it will be there in case something goes wrong and you can drag the files back from it if needed.
To reinstall Mach you just need to install it over the top of itself and it is very unlikely you will lose anything but if you have copied the folder then you have no worries :)
Hood
Title: Re: off line function
Post by: D-M on March 08, 2013, 01:32:38 PM
Thanks Hood I will give that a try and let you know
I am thinking it will work as last weekend I was doing a drill mop for a wife project and the machine was not following the program at all
Dave
Title: Re: off line function
Post by: Hood on March 08, 2013, 01:34:43 PM
fingers crossed :)