Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: Davek0974 on January 28, 2014, 02:28:18 PM

Title: Plasma torch settings via spindle....
Post by: Davek0974 on January 28, 2014, 02:28:18 PM
Could someone let me know which settings need to be set in mach to enable me to control my plasma torch via the spindle relay on my BOB?

I'm generating g-code in sheet-cam but am not at the stage where I can test anything yet as I'm still building the table.


Thanks

Dave
Title: Re: Plasma torch settings via spindle....
Post by: Hood on January 29, 2014, 06:05:31 AM
You simply set up the spindle relays from Ports and Pins, Spindle Setup page. You then would go to outputs page and assign the port and pin number you are using to the output you assigned in the relays.
When you did a M3 the relay should switch on, a M5 it should switch off.
Hood
Title: Re: Plasma torch settings via spindle....
Post by: Davek0974 on January 29, 2014, 06:22:56 AM
Great, that's where I have it now, should be able to start testing today hopefully :)

Its a bit vague, but is it permitted to power up a BOB without the motor drivers connected?

I want to test the E-stop, torch control and limits before wiring the motor drives and motors.


Dave
Title: Re: Plasma torch settings via spindle....
Post by: Hood on January 29, 2014, 07:14:11 AM
The BOB can be powered no problem without a drive connected but do not disconnect or connect the power from a drive when the power is live.
Hood
Title: Re: Plasma torch settings via spindle....
Post by: Davek0974 on January 29, 2014, 07:39:33 AM
Great

Thanks for that
Title: Re: Plasma torch settings via spindle....
Post by: Davek0974 on January 29, 2014, 08:00:17 AM
As expected, I'm not getting any torch control signal on the BOB relay.

The diagnostic screen shows no change on the pin grid when flicking the spindle motor signal on/off so it looks like mach 3 is not outputting any spindle/torch command.

Can someone run through exactly which settings to set so i get a spindle/torch "on" signal on pin 9 output please???


Thanks
Title: Re: Plasma torch settings via spindle....
Post by: Hood on January 29, 2014, 08:07:12 AM
Ok here are a couple of screenshots.
I have set them to Output 1 but you may wish to use a different output.
I have set OutPut1 to port 1 and pin 17 but yours will be whatever port and pin the relay is connected to.
Also note OutPut 1 is enabled (green tick)
When you command M3 from MDI or code OutPut1 should switch on, when you command M5 it should switch off.
Hood
Title: Re: Plasma torch settings via spindle....
Post by: Davek0974 on January 29, 2014, 08:19:59 AM
Thanks, that's what i have but no joy.

M3 makes the Output1 flash in diagnostics but i'm getting no relay activity on the BOB, the manual states Pin9 is spindle control and i have mach set to port 1 pin 9 for O/p 1

Any other tips??

Dave
Title: Re: Plasma torch settings via spindle....
Post by: Hood on January 29, 2014, 08:27:08 AM
If the outpu LED is flashing that means Mach is outputting correctly so either there is a problem with your port or cable or you have the wrong port/pin set.
Easy to check if your port is outputting with a volt meter connected to pin 9 and one of the ground pins on your port. You may have to set the active state of the E-Stop to the opposite for the test as you will have the cable unplugged and to actvate the output Mach needs to be out of reset.
Hood
Title: Re: Plasma torch settings via spindle....
Post by: Davek0974 on January 29, 2014, 08:38:40 AM
Pin 1 goes high with reset enabled and low when reset is red.

Pin 9 does nothing regardless of spindle setting.

Will look for another cable, this one came with the BOB.
Title: Re: Plasma torch settings via spindle....
Post by: Hood on January 29, 2014, 08:49:08 AM
Check direct at the port.
Hood
Title: Re: Plasma torch settings via spindle....
Post by: Davek0974 on January 29, 2014, 09:10:51 AM
On the socket, comparing to pin25 as ground i have the following signals with mach running and reset ok but no outputs.....

1=High
2=High
3=Low
4=Low
5=Low
6=High
7=Low
8=High
9=Low
10=High
11=High
12=Low
13=High
14=High
15=High
16=High
17=Low

Make any sense?

Thanks for helping BTW.
Title: Re: Plasma torch settings via spindle....
Post by: Hood on January 29, 2014, 09:23:23 AM
You would need to operate an output to see whether it is working or not, so for pin 9 MDI M3 and the state should change, M5 and it should revert to original state.
Hood
Title: Re: Plasma torch settings via spindle....
Post by: Davek0974 on January 29, 2014, 09:29:32 AM
Small update, if i shut down mach 3 then go into device manager and disable/re-enable the LPT port, the relay energises as all output pins 1-9 were reading high.

As soon as i load mach3 and press reset, the relay drops out and cannot be re-energised.

At least the port, lead and relay are proven working.

But what goes on when mach does a reset????
Title: Re: Plasma torch settings via spindle....
Post by: Davek0974 on January 29, 2014, 10:20:28 AM
If i reboot the PC, when it comes back up, the spindle relay energises, as soon as mach3 is loaded, it drops out and I cannot get it to re-energise again.

Seems mach3 is not doing something right??
Title: Re: Plasma torch settings via spindle....
Post by: Davek0974 on January 29, 2014, 10:56:36 AM
Just tried a fresh install on another PC, different make but exactly the same behaviour.
Title: Re: Plasma torch settings via spindle....
Post by: Hood on January 29, 2014, 11:07:51 AM
Change the active state of the output.
If that doesnt work attach your xml and I will take a look.
Hood
Title: Re: Plasma torch settings via spindle....
Post by: Davek0974 on January 29, 2014, 12:58:36 PM
If by that you mean active high/low then yes I have tried.

The machine is at work so I will have to upload the file tomorrow.

Dave
Title: Re: Plasma torch settings via spindle....
Post by: Davek0974 on January 30, 2014, 03:16:18 AM
FIXED!

There was a little post i found on a google search.

There is a tick box - "Max CL Mode Enabled", this was checked, unchecking solved the issue :)


Happy days, thanks for the help.
Title: Re: Plasma torch settings via spindle....
Post by: Hood on January 30, 2014, 06:59:21 AM
Yes that would do it ;D
Max modes are for specific machines and they preset the I/O to dedicated pins which you can not change, even by setting pin numbers in Ports and Pins.
Hood
Title: Re: Plasma torch settings via spindle....
Post by: Davek0974 on January 30, 2014, 01:13:41 PM
The beast lives :)

wired it all all together today, just temporary lash-up for testing without the torch.

after a little debugging and tweaking motor steps and speeds, it is now running very nicely as a pen plotter :)

better than expected, very fast and accurate so far but will be testing for lost steps tomorrow if I get a chance.

are there any figures to aim for I.e.acceleration G's or mm/sec etc, never having run a CNC anything, it's hard to know what to aim for.