Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => VB and the development of wizards => Topic started by: MavStone on March 28, 2015, 12:25:16 AM

Title: Need help modifying M6 to output to a relay to activate a tool change buzzer.
Post by: MavStone on March 28, 2015, 12:25:16 AM
I would like to have an alarm sound when a manual tool change is required.

Any help on how to go about this would be greatly appreciated.


Thx!!
Title:
Post by: Bodini on March 28, 2015, 09:21:56 AM
I do this and use Brains in Mach3.  Just have a Brain watch for the tool change LED and activate the output for your alarm when the tool change LED is active.  Seriously, its a 1 minute job.
Title: Re: Need help modifying M6 to output to a relay to activate a tool change buzzer.
Post by: MavStone on March 28, 2015, 10:21:37 AM
Bodini,

Good to hear there's a way to do it. However, I'm not familiar with dealing with Brains. Could you clue me in on how to do this?

A sample of a Brain will help me figure this out.

Thx
Title: Re: Need help modifying M6 to output to a relay to activate a tool change buzzer.
Post by: Bodini on March 28, 2015, 12:32:17 PM
There is a how-to video somewhere on this site about brains. Like lots of things Mach, they are a bit quirky to set up, but once you get the hang of it, it's not hard.

I don't have the time right now to do a 100% step by step to tell you how (sorry, I'd like to, I just can't.)  So the below might be a bit cryptic, depending on what you know (but is not so intentionally)

Attached is a very simple brain that does this:

-Watches for Tool Change light
(when tool change light is lit)
-starts a 5 second timer
-turns on output 6
-turns off output 6 after 5 seconds.
(restarts next time tool change light is lit)

Of course, this is assuming that your alarm is on output 6.  To use this brain, put it in your mach3 brain folder.  Go to mach pull down menus> operator > brain control > reload all brains (it should now show up).  Highlight it and click Enable (DO NOT MISS THIS STEP).

I put it on output 6 for safety sake, as i am assuming that nothing important is on output 6.  BE CAREFUL.  You can change it to whatever output you want by opening the brain with Brain Editor.  Click on the timer module of the brain and click the green upside down T button to reterminate the lobe and set it to what you like.

I know this all sounds mystifying, but it really is the easiest way to go short of a macropump.

-Nick
Title: Re: Need help modifying M6 to output to a relay to activate a tool change buzzer.
Post by: Bodini on March 28, 2015, 12:38:42 PM
Once you get your Brain set up, you can easily see it in action.  In the Brain Control window, click the brain you want to see and then click ViewBrain.  It will show up in a new window.  When the logic is active, it will turn green; when not active, it will be blue and read like when you set it up.  This is a great way to figure out problems, as you can see how much of the brain is working properly by what has turned green.  That is a great feature, IMO.

-Nick
Title: Re: Need help modifying M6 to output to a relay to activate a tool change buzzer.
Post by: MavStone on March 28, 2015, 05:57:26 PM
Thanks Nick,

I'll play around with Brains.

Once again... thanks for your time!

-Tom
Title: Re: Need help modifying M6 to output to a relay to activate a tool change buzzer.
Post by: stirling on March 31, 2015, 04:45:54 AM
bit late on this but your original approach of using M6 is by far the easiest way (and the correct way IMO) to do this.