Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: sittinduck on July 29, 2013, 01:27:58 PM

Title: Save DROs to text file
Post by: sittinduck on July 29, 2013, 01:27:58 PM

What's the best way to save DROs to a text file, in case of Mach3 freeze up.  Macro pump, every 60 seconds?  I need a way to get back the DROs if the machine crashes.

Sometimes when I task switch to Windows Explorer and try to do something, it causes the Mach3 to freeze the entire computer and this requires a reboot.  This still happens even though I've disabled all non-essential Windows services and start-up programs.

Title: Re: Save DROs to text file
Post by: budman68 on July 29, 2013, 02:24:26 PM

Quote

Sometimes when I task switch to Windows Explorer and try to do something, it causes the Mach3 to freeze the entire computer and this requires a reboot.  This still happens even though I've disabled all non-essential Windows services and start-up programs.

Well, yes, as you're not suppose to be doing anything on your PC while Mach is running  ;)

Dave

Title: Re: Save DROs to text file
Post by: sittinduck on July 30, 2013, 08:24:59 AM

Whenever Mach3 freezes the computer, it's not running a machining operation, it is idle.  I suppose you could argue it needs to keep the stepper motors energized and locked in position... so it's never really idle.  However, I need to use Windows Explorer to copy the Gcode files from the network to the Mach3 computer.

I will try saving the DROs to a text file every 60 seconds using the macro pump.

Title: Re: Save DROs to text file
Post by: Hood on July 30, 2013, 08:29:38 AM

Is it a wireless network?
Hood

Title: Re: Save DROs to text file
Post by: sittinduck on July 30, 2013, 08:35:27 AM

The Mach3 computer uses Ethernet wire connection.  However, it is connected to a wireless bridge to access the network file server.

Title: Re: Save DROs to text file
Post by: Hood on July 30, 2013, 08:48:17 AM

Ok that should be fine, it is just some people have had issues with wireless network adapters on their machines.
I have all my machines connected via network and have never had an issue with them, they are all wired but anyway not sure what your problem is.

Hood

Title: Re: Save DROs to text file
Post by: ger21 on July 30, 2013, 09:16:03 AM

I've had my PC crash when copying files as well.
To avoid this, I share my g-code folder on the machine control PC and send the files there from my other PC's. This way I never have to copy files on the control PC, and have zero problems.

Title: Re: Save DROs to text file
Post by: budman68 on July 30, 2013, 09:19:51 AM

Interesting tip, there, Gerry.

I'm also one of those "chickens" that won't use wireless anything as I've just heard too many horror stories about things going awry, lol!

Thanks,
Dave

Title: Re: Save DROs to text file
Post by: ger21 on July 30, 2013, 09:35:02 AM

I don't use wireless, I ran a wired connection to my garage.

Title: Re: Save DROs to text file
Post by: budman68 on July 30, 2013, 09:39:15 AM

Ah, understood, thanks for clearing that up.

Dave

Title: Re: Save DROs to text file
Post by: stirling on July 30, 2013, 10:16:12 AM

sittinduck - I reckon you'd be better off sorting the freezing issue rather than saving the DROs. When you restore them it may not do what you might think it will. For example - you don't say whether you're using the parallel port but if you are you get all sorts of random signals from it when you boot so that would cause your axes to move. You could of course turn off your drivers but that causes other issues especially if you're microstepping.

Ian

Title: Re: Save DROs to text file
Post by: sittinduck on July 31, 2013, 08:49:17 AM

I use the PC parallel port.  Is there a breakout board for this?  Maybe it will fix the Mach3 freeze issue.