Machsupport Forum
Third party software and hardware support forums. => PoKeys => Topic started by: Tom550 on January 27, 2014, 02:30:53 AM
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Hi there,
My conversion of my Proxxon MF70 is nearly complete.
Now I'm looking at setting up an edge finder so I can zero my machine to the material I want to process.
I've been searching this site and others on how to do this with Pokeys, but can't find anything on this subject.
I did find a pin setting, "probe" , this is probably used in digitizing an object, but can I use this pinsetting for edge finding as well?
I also read that you need a VB script for Edge finding, but this is probably a question I need to ask in a different forum. New to VB scripts...
Any help and advise/examples on how to do this is very welcome.
Hope that someone can give me push in the right direction!
Thanks in advance!!
Greetz,
Tom
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Hello Tom:
A recent addition to Mach3 functionality is the "Probe-It Mach3 Wizard", produced by CraftyCNC.
see: www.craftycnc.com
The cost for license is very reasonable, and the functionality is the best I have seen. The author has devised a method for creating an automatic offset table, that will correct for the probe offset differences when probing at different angles to a plane, using a ring. He has videos on the site demo the machine probing around an object, and producing a true dxf file automatically.
The Wizard has all the typical probe setting functions, i.e., finding a corner, center of slot, etc.
The probe function is supported in the Pokeys drop-down menu when setting the pin I/O. The Pokeys will do every Mach3 function DRO there is.
John
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Hi John,
Thanks for the info, looks interesting!
Certainly going to take a closer look at this. I'm probably not going to do anything with 3D digitizing, but maybe in the future when I have fully come to grips with mach3 and its possibilities.
Many thanks!
Greetz Tom
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Hello Tom:
The probe function is used perhaps more often for 2D edge finding, and part/tooling placement. A probe is an "edge-finder" and not specifically for 3D work, although it can do that.
One of the problems with probing a part for dimensions, is the diameter of the probe tip not being in a 90 degree alignment to the surface relative to the motion of the probing motion. In the case of the Crafty-CNC wizard, the probing action determines the slope of the surface by comparing two points and then correcting the angle of the machine axis travel to be 90 degrees to the surface, and then using the look-up table to calculate the actual point of contact. Every probed point is compared with the previous point to constantly re-calculate the slope of the object surface. This is a quantum step forward in the method of probing when digitizing a shape.
Another method of "edge-finding" is to use a Laser probe, and watch for the beam of light when it illuminates the material edge.
This kind of edge finding is totally manual, and has no way of becoming automated.
Such an edge-finder is sold by http://www.littlemachineshop.com, but it is as costly as a probe, and only does one thing. It also, is not as accurate as using a probe.
My final point is to mention the Mach3 screen set, "2010 by Ger." This screen set has built-in tool setting routines, using the G31 Mach3 probe function and custom scripts written specifically for the task. This is a handy feature when you don't have fixed toolholders, and must change tools in the spindle collett. Although the screen set was developed for routers, it is very usable for milling, and is elegantly clean and simple. Look in the Mach Screens section of the forum. I use it on my mill, and appreciate it's simplicity, and visually clean look.
Regards,
John
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You could also look at this thread: http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,22888.10.html
I posted a VB script there for tool height setting. I also have a script for edge finding using an isolated-tip probe that interfaces to the offset screen (replacing the macros it normally uses); and one for hole centre finding; which I'd be happy to share. Why use Pokeys? Just need to use the probe input on your BoB.
John
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Why use Pokeys? Just need to use the probe input on your Board.
It was my understanding that the OP is using a Pokeys board for control and I/O.
John
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Hi Guys,
Been kind a busy last couple of days, Thanks for all the input you are giving me! Really appreciate it!.
It is as John (mr Precise44) stated in his last reply, I'm Using a Pokeys card as my BOB/pulsegenerator coupled to 3 Postep 25-32 driverboards.
The reason I chose this hardware is to keep cost down, since I'm new to CNC machining as well as the USB functionality with MACH3. Don't have a computer/laptop with a LPT port. Further more it seems like a good little bit of equipement, in everything I read about it. Secondly, I could use it as an input device for MS FSX (flight simulator.)
Pulse engine is doing fine for my learning purposes. Allready have my axis setup and running. Even made a couple of brackets to to mount my CB 4 pin connectors to. Digital inputs however is begining to be a bit of a pain in the behind.
Some how I can't get the limit switches on the X-axis setup correctly(no input output signal in the pokeys plugin screen. During every fase of connecting and setting everthing up hardware wise, I got good read outs o the diagnostics page of MACH3
All the limit switches are wired and as recommended bij Polabs set up pull up resistors in the circuit. Soldered a 15 pin D-SUB connector (female) to all the wires in the circuit. Every switch has 2 separate wires allocated. Measured everthing though and got a good connection. Even had 3 pins left so reserved 2 wires for the probe option.
I downloaded MACHBLUE screen with the MACHBLUE edge finder addon, Got on to this after a google search leading to an Aussie guys post.
Wired the hole thing up, to be able to implement the probe function. Did not want to have to take everything apart again.
The LEDS in MACH3 diagnostics screen even worked ok, got a green led on closed circuit, even in the pokeys plugin configuration it came out alright.
With the Machblue screen addon it should be possible to use the probe function, didn't work hoewever. Looking at the script in the vB script editor. I noticed it was written for Inches not mm.
Like my machine is setup for. Just now I read another post in a different forum here, that this script is no longer compabile with the latest version of Mach3.
Problem still remains with the probe function not working propperly anymore. yesterday I got it to work, the led indication on the diagnostics screen that is..
I by the way the probe circuit is wired NO and does not have a pull up or pull down logic circuit(wouldn't know how to do the latter.
John H thanks for the input and I will take a look at the VB script you posted.
Any ideas on matters above?
Greetz,
Tom
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Hi, Tom
You should configure the limit switches in the 'Pulse engine' tab - do you have the latest PoKeys software and firmware 3.1.6 installed?
For testing, click on 'Open status' on the 'PoKeys IO status' tab in plugin configuration. Do the appropriate inputs light up when limit switches are activated?
For NO contacts, it is advised to use additional pull-up resistor to either 3.3V or 5V. Again, check 'IO status' first if probe signal is detected, then check Mach3 signals for probing.
Regards,
matevž
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Hi Matevz,
I updated to version 3.15 yesterday when I opened PoKeys program, thought that was the latest version, but I'll run the update again when I finish typing this.
I haven't configured the switches yet, because I still get a bad signal on my X-axis switches. but I am aware that the pulse engine tab is where to do that.
the x-axis limit switches are not giving the right signal.
The Y and Z axis are working fine.
When I measure the wires of all the axis at the Pokeys pin and ground with my Multi meter (pokeys not powered), I get good signals for every limit switch (beep when NC, no beep when NO).
The same goes for the probe pin.
When I power my pokeys up with the USB, The Y and Z-axis and Probe give me 3.3V when NO and drops when NC. Which is how it is supposed to, Right?
On both + and - X limit wires there is no change. In the Pokeys I/O status tab I get a green square on the + (with switch NC) and a blank square for - (with switch NC), when I push either switch, there is no change.
All the other switches are blank squares with switch NC. and green with switches NO. (which is how it is supposed to be, right?)
The problem with the x-axis switches, seems to me like there is a short somewhere, but like I said I, I measured all the wires and they where good.
I wil update to firmware 3.1.6. and than check everything again.
One last question, Is it ok to deviate from the standard limit switch pins assingnment to say for instance pin 22 to 28? That would make wiring everything up a bit more practical.
Hope you can shed some light on my problem
Greetz,
Tom
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Hi, Tom
Since the updated version of the PoKeys plugin for Mach3, there is a possibility to fully customize your limit switch wiring (with manual as the guideline). Try other pins if it solves the problem. Do you have anything other mapped to the non-responding pins? How are they configured in PoKeys application (try clearing all settings there and checking the pin states again).
Regards,
Matevž
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Hi Matevz,
When I get home from work today, I am going to do a complete reinstallation of Mach3 and the pokeys plug-in and start over from there.
I did the update to version 3.1.6 and it looks like everything is ok in the I/O mapping tab of the plug-in, but on the mach diagnostic screen all the led's of the limit switches and probe are flashing except for the X+ limit switch. I'll post a picture of my controlbox and the wiring, so you can see how I set up everything hardware wise. Maybe you can see something wrong there.
Thanks again for your input!
Greetz,
Tom
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Hi Matevz,
well reïnstalled everything, at first same problem appeared with the limit and probe switches.
In the plugin I/O tab all good signals again, but on the Mach diagnostics screen 2 switches not registering and all the rest are blinking.
So I started deleting all the input pin settings on the plugin mapping tab/deselecting everything in the pulse engine tab. Completely clearing the Pokeys mapping tab of all pin inputs.
Then resetting the pin values in the Pulse engine tab. So far so good. All looking well, even the limit switches are operating correctly.
But then I looked at the diagnostic screen again, and this showed blinking leds again. But like I said the limit switches are working.
However the probe input still has a problem. When I invert the pin in the pulse engine tab, I seems more stable, but not stable enough to work for the probeing function.
I made some foto's of my control box and the wiring, I'll send a text file of the check config option in the operator tab. I'll send you an e-mail with all the foto's and videos I made of the diagnostics screen.
Hope this is another step closer to find the solution to the problem.
I'm sending you an e-mail to the address I got of your internet site.
Greetz,
Tom
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Hi, Tom
From the pictures you sent, I can't really see whether you have ground (-) of power supply output, stepper drivers and PoKeys connected together. If ground is not properly connected, things won't work and even damage to the device may occur.
Moreover, do you have any other plugins installed (the screen by itself doesn't look original)?
Regards, Matevz
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Good morning!
The screen set is the machblue screenset, downloaded it from the artsoft website.
All the indications you see in the video are the same in the standard screen set. I will make a drawing of the wiring schematic and post it or mail it to you later today. However, it seens to me there is a difference beteren the way pokeys plug-in sees the inputs and communicates these to the mach software. As you can see in the video, the plug-in's I/O mapping tab shows good inputs and than the mach diagnostic screen shows something different.
I'll try to get the schematic over to you as soon as possible!
Greetz,
Tom
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By the way despite the blinking led's in the diagnostic screen the limit switches are operating the way they should. It's the probe input that is not functioning correctly.
Greetz,
Tom
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Hi, Tom
Do you have anything configured for limits and probing input in the Port & Pins configuration of Mach3? There should be no configuration there. Namely, if PoKeys diagnostic screen shows solid IO states, then there must be something overwriting the Mach3 ones...
The video you sent is blurry and it is difficult to see anything. Were you actuating the probe input during the video or did you left it untouched? Did you try any other pin?
Regards,
Matevž
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Hi Matevz,
Yes I was opening and closing the circuit on the probe in the video.
I have not made any changes in the mach ports&pins tab. Configured everything through pokeys plug-in. Like you suggested I cleared all the pin settings via Pokeys application and after a clean installation of Mach3 set everything up again in the pokeys plug-in. I did notie however after clearing the pins settings through Pokeys app, that some pin settings were showing up as red(pin input sensed?) and others remind black( no input). I checked If the inverse box was checked for those pins. But that was not the case for all of the pins. I setup everything in Mach again, the probe function looked ok, so I downloaded the addon by craftycnc as mentioned by mrprecise in his first comment in this post and ran a test. The probe function is working now. However the limit switches don't work as they should. In the plug-in I/O state tab pins 24 through 29 don't show as connected, eventhough I selected these in the pulse engine tab. Pins 33 through to 38 do show up as connected and are green. Pin 33 still in use as probe, so thats ok. Tonight I'm going to rewire the limit switches to other pins, to try to isolated If the problem is there.
Did you take a look at the sketch I sent you? Did you see anything I need to change in the way I wired everything?
Greetz,
Tom
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Hi, Tom
To keep the conversation clean, I will be answering to your email directly (it is hard to discuss on the same matter on two channels at the same time).
Regards,
Matevž