Machsupport Forum
Third party software and hardware support forums. => PoKeys => Topic started by: Bloy on March 12, 2013, 09:26:29 AM
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This thread is dedicated to interfacing and configuring CNC4PC's Pokeys 65U coreboard with the Yaskawa pendant and Mach3.
I have one of these Yaskawa panels and recently purchased the CNC4PC coreboard and will be learning how to most fully utilize the pendant's controls with the pokeys 65U.
The products can be seen here:
http://www.cnc4pc.com/Store/osc/product_info.php?cPath=40&products_id=361
http://www.cnc4pc.com/Store/osc/product_info.php?cPath=40&products_id=557
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Hey Bloy,
Ask Aurturo, but I built a plugin for the pokeys and that pendant a while back, (the old Pokeys plugin).
Scott
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Thanks Scott,
I'll inquire about that. Right now I'm just setting up Mach3 with a compact Dell optiplex vista machine my wife brought home from work....they upgrade now and then. Also I'm delayed due to the annual spring thaw....which (on a positive note) cleans the basement floor. ;)
Heh! How far can I get from this thread's subject? Well, I just got done chiseling deeper the sump well to get a lower removal and help keep the water table below the basement floor.
Soon I will focus on this project.
John
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Hello NeoTO,
I'm not quite sure what files I need to install from pokeys to get the Yaskawa up and running. I see that one instruction tells me to download the latest version of Mach3 while another indicates to use the 3.042.040 version. Could you shed some light on just what I should be installing as far as firmware, plugins, brains, XMLs, etc?
From what I understand, this hardware pokeys56U core motherboard to be installed in existing Yaskawa panels is not the same as the one preinstalled in the complete units, which may be the confusion I am experiencing as to the required files.
Also, you have mentioned a newer version of the Mach3 plugin that may be coming out at the end of this month.? Hows that going?
Please advise...
Thanks much!
John(Bloy)
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NeoTO.....forget about my last post....I worked through that stage with some success.
Here is a picture of the panel powered. Ain't she pretty?
As I get familiar with Pokeys, I will show and describe the details of installation.
My machine(router) doesn't have all the bells and whistles...yet, so I can't make use of all the functions. Hopefully a VFD and matching spindle will be able to be next removed from my wish list.
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With the new version of Pokeys, along with the integrated Mach3Plugin, a few things are different.
The Older XML file that is to be imported into the pokeysMach3 Plugin does not fully function and Pokeys warns so before continuing the import. In fact, placing some older brains causes functions to break.
One thing that I want to understand is how to get the LCD activated, which worked fine when I first insatlled the older versions.
I could go back, but I want to learn what is going on with the newer version as many things DO work without any XML import, such as the MPG.
When Mach3 is first started, with the matrix visible on the Yaskawa's LCD, a splash screen pops up on it for a second and disappears and the LCD screen goes blank, remaining so until I unplug the USB connection and reinsert. The LCD matrix comes back but all communication with Mach3 is lost until restarting mach3 and then things repeat themselves.
Here is a pic sequence of what happens within a second:
(http://memberfiles.freewebs.com/78/43/42124378/photos/undefined/LCD%20going%20blank.jpg)
Now I found this in the older Brains to be installed:
(http://memberfiles.freewebs.com/78/43/42124378/photos/Yaskawa-panel/Macropump.m1s%20-%20in%20Brains.jpg)
See the macropump named file? It is an m1s file. What is that doing in the Brains. I can only think maybe it needs to be placed elswhere, or the old XML called it from this location.
Here is the macropump.m1s viewed in wordpad:
(http://memberfiles.freewebs.com/78/43/42124378/photos/Yaskawa-panel/Macropump.m1s%20-%20Open.jpg)
The OEMDROs 800, 801, and 802 are those needed, i believe from Mach3.
So this macro (macropump.m1s) apparently has something to do with initiating LCD communications with Mach3 and the yaskawa panel.
....and why would it be called "macropump". Is it using the macropump signal from Mach3 to activate the LCD functions in the yaskawa?
Normally many talk of the macro pump signal (or lack of) as a way to prevent unwanted initiation of machine functions. Here I would say it is to activate the pendant's LCD.
I'd like to learn what is going on here. This Yaskawa is a great device to get to know Pokeys and how it communicates with Mach3.
Other than that, the pendant with the newer Pokeys has basic functions with a few leds either not working or misplaced. I'd like to sort things out and get the pendant as fully functional as possible. I'm in a dense fog here... :o
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Normally many talk of the macro pump signal (or lack of) as a way to prevent unwanted initiation of machine functions. Here I would say it is to activate the pendant's LCD.
Hi John,
You may be referring to the Charge Pump instead of the Macro Pump.
:) Russ
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Normally many talk of the macro pump signal (or lack of) as a way to prevent unwanted initiation of machine functions. Here I would say it is to activate the pendant's LCD.
Hi John,
You may be referring to the Charge Pump instead of the Macro Pump.
:) Russ
By golly, you're right, Russ!... Now to read on in pokeys and see if a macropump in this case is not needed. Obviously, something is needed to be set/mapped/configured to initialize the LCD....and keep it initialized.
I'm goin' to get this sooner or later....probably later. ;)
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Hey John,
The Macropump runs constantly in the background. It executes whatever you put in it. Runs about 10 times per second.
Your macro looks like it copiess the axis DRO's to the pendant.
Looks like it also allows MDI entries also.
You can eithe copy and paste your data into the existing pump, or, if the one in your profile is empty, just replace the whole .m1s file.
It has to go in the proper macro folder too.
C/Mach3/macros/ Profile you are using /macros
Might help ... might not.
Cheers,
Russ
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Russ,
That helps. I tested just now the MDI and it already functions. I'll investigate the macro folders see where/if there is something relating to the Mach3 plugin and the Yaskawa.
Right now all macros that might pertain to the Yaskawa are in one folder.... the name "ROUTER", which is the profile name of this machine.
I don't see anything newer other than the one I changed to refcombination the axes when homing, since I installed the latest version of mach3 and made a new profile for teating.
Thanks,
John
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I'm getting in a bit deeper than I probably should at this point.
Best wait for help from more experienced folks.
I would take a look, but don't change anything.
There should be a "Macropump.m1s" file there already, empty or not.
Would be interesting to see what is in it, if anything.
Regards,
Russ
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Russ,
No sign of a macro named macropump.m1s in any macro folders in this version- 3.043.067. I'll try a few things...got lots of profiles and Versions on call.
John.
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Russ,
What I meant before, several posts back, when I said the MDI button on the pendant works, was that the MDI screen on the mach screen popped up and alowed input.
What the MDI button on the pendant does not do(and never did) is bring up a curser on the LCD for inputting, but it might be able to.
I'll just muddle around in the pokeys plugin configurator and familiarize myself with all the settings and what they do.
I DID manage to switch the directions that the pendant MPG traveled when turned... it was reversed. But that is really basic...
calling Scott Shafer!
John
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He's the man.
Good luck.
That is a pretty pendant, I hope it works out well for you.
I'll keep watching your progress on this cool project.
Bye for now John,
Russ
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Thanks, Russ
I need all the luck I can muster. I always wanted to get more in-depth with using all the mach codes(properly) and this pendant with Pokeys is a good vehicle to learn the ins and outs(pun intended). :D
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Hey Russ and Bloy,
Just an FYI, I no longer fool with the pokeys, since I left that project and Matt took it over.
I now do my own thing with PIC32's, Psoc, Arduino and Rasberry.
I can help you on the old plugin stuff, but for the new stuff, your gonna have to go with Matt.
Scott
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Hiya Scott!
Looking at your "old" work with pokeys(and this pendant) I am again amazed by you!
John
P.S. Okay then... ;) calling Matt!
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Here's something that I noticed in the newest Pokeys software..
when setting the rows and columns in the LCD settings under peripherals, the column setting keeps returning to two(2) after setting it and closing. I want to have 20 columns, as before, but it won't stick.
Included is a pic of the setting configuration after setting the columns to 20 and closing. Upon re-opening it the screen save is of what it has reverted back to....2 columns..... the Mach3Plugin configures correctly.
I'm wondering if this is causing the problem of the LCD not working after starting up Mach3 as mentioned and depicted several posts back.
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Turns out that glitch above where the LCD column setting doesn't stick was not my inability to get the LCD working.
I now have the pendant LCD displaying all three axes position and feedrate. ...and a fourth axis on row 4 for dispalying 0's as it is not active at this time in Mach3. :)
Now on to customizing the pendant's buttons as I learn more... could be a while though.
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Okay, now that I have examined this Yaskawa "panel" pendant now and then over this week, I have learned a bit about it(a little bit).
The latest Mach3 plugin that Pokeys supplies along with their software basically takes care of most functions of the panel, and just three brains handle a few assignments for coordination of the buttons with LEDs, and feedrate override.
I like it!
One anomaly noticed was that the three multiplier buttons that select the jog step increment distance were reversed. That is, pressing the x1 button actually selected the x100 increment...related to the first three positions within the general configuration of Mach3. The x10 button was correct. These three buttons can actually be set to any increment multiplication using the Mach3 configuration. But to stay with the physical buttons on the panel I needed to do something about that error on the yaskawa panel.
(http://memberfiles.freewebs.com/78/43/42124378/photos/undefined/IMG_0957.JPG)
So after some digging, I discovered the three codes in Pokeys that relate to the increment positions of Mach3's configuration....buttons 191,192, and 193.
I reversed the assignments for 191 and 193. This got the buttons to select the correct multiplication factor and preserved the Mach3 configuration.
Remember, I'm green at this and want to learn about the Pokeys relationship with Mach3. It seems very powerfull.
(http://memberfiles.freewebs.com/78/43/42124378/photos/undefined/Jog%20incrementpositions191,192,193.jpg)
But now another problem popped up. the LEDs that were associated with the specific button pressed were now opposite... that is, pressing the "handle x1" button lit the "handle x100" button.
So I didn't know what codes refered to the LEDs...what do I do?
Well, I looked into the brains, as previously I knew that the LEDs did not work at all if the brains were not enabled.
Here the LED numbers specific to the panel's increment buttons were discovered...1504, 1505, and 1506.
So I decided to try modifying the brains and switched the 1504 and 1506.
(http://memberfiles.freewebs.com/78/43/42124378/photos/undefined/Modified%20Brain_3.jpg)
That did the trick. The LEDs now followed the button selections and displayed the correct multiplication factor.
Now, After learning the LED code numbers, I was able to find them in the Pokeys Mach3 configuration Plugin and thought I could exchange the 1504 and 1506 in there. the matrixes of the Keyboard and LEDs align in the same row and column locations. But for now, I have left the brain modification as the working setup.
(http://memberfiles.freewebs.com/78/43/42124378/photos/undefined/increment%20LEDs%201504,%201506.jpg)
This has been a giant leap for me in learning about "mapping?". But I am still at a loss as to how the LED code numbers were derived. Looking in the LED code lists makes me think that they were just chosen off-the-cuff and as long as they were directed properly, things should work.
Time for more customizing, as my basic working knowledge has improved slightly and might enable me to alter other configurations to my liking.
I am much interested in getting the MDI button on the yaskawa panel to actually set up the LCD(at least the fourth row) to show a curser and allow code input.
This would make going back to the keyboard to input unnecessary. As it is now, The MDI button on the panel simply opens the MDI screen on the Mach3 screen.
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Here's a video demonstrating the Yaskawa panel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6s5oP2ihMuQ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6s5oP2ihMuQ)
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I lost my edit abilities in the last post attempting to embed the video so I will repost here with the information from Hood on how to do so.
http://www.youtube.com/v/6s5oP2ihMuQ?version=3&hl=en_US
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Bloy,
Have you got your Yaskawa pendant to work with MACH4. The latest update from Polabs for the Pokeys in the pendant still does not fix many issues. Curious if you have ventured into MACH4 yet?
Russ
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Hi Russ,
Mach4 is still ahead for me. For my purposes, Mach3 does all that is required. A lot of events not related to CNC have affected me over the last decade, but I still inquire often.
Thanks,
John Meissner (Bloy)
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Bloy,
I hope you get better it has been great watching your videos and talking to you online over the years.
Take care of yourself John
Russ