Machsupport Forum
Third party software and hardware support forums. => PoKeys => Topic started by: drillmaster on July 03, 2016, 04:52:17 PM
-
Hi there,
I have a problem to get the motors of my CNC running with Mach3 and PoKeys57CNC.
Here are some informations:
* I am using PoKeys57CNC with four PoStep60-256.
* The PoStep60-256 are connected Motor1/Motor2/Motor3 to the PoSteps
* I have connected the PoKeys and the PoSteps with the PoExtBus. I can modify the PoStep-Settings via PoKeys57CNC
* My PC is running Windows10 32 Bit.
* When I connect a PoStep to the PC with an USB-Cable it is possible to get the connected motor running.
* I have installed the PoKeys Mach3 Plugin.
* I can configure PoKeys57CNC with the Pokeys Software OR the plugin without problems.
What I did:
fist I activated the motors in Ports&Pins
(http://www.bilder-upload.eu/show.php?file=e5b65d-1467578398.jpg)
http://www.bilder-upload.eu/show.php?file=e5b65d-1467578398.jpg (http://www.bilder-upload.eu/show.php?file=e5b65d-1467578398.jpg)
(Additional info: it doesn't matter if I enter some Dir/Step Pins in the accordings fields, it doesn't work in any case)
In motor tuning I entered some first data as a beginning of tuning:
(http://www.bilder-upload.eu/show.php?file=ca3c0f-1467578604.jpg)
http://www.bilder-upload.eu/show.php?file=ca3c0f-1467578604.jpg (http://www.bilder-upload.eu/show.php?file=ca3c0f-1467578604.jpg)
In the Pokeys plugin first I inverted the emergency stop input because this is a test setup without an emergency button installed
(http://www.bilder-upload.eu/show.php?file=3f614d-1467578750.jpg)
http://www.bilder-upload.eu/show.php?file=3f614d-1467578750.jpg (http://www.bilder-upload.eu/show.php?file=3f614d-1467578750.jpg)
I recognize a difference to the PoBlog article which describes the Mach3-PoKeys-Connection: I cannot choose a pulse engine configuration, even when I only enable two motors in Ports&Pins.
According to the blog article I should now be able to see the Dir/Step pin configuration in "PoKeys mapping". But I don't!! I only get four "External PH IO" pins set:
(http://www.bilder-upload.eu/show.php?file=4a30d5-1467579148.jpg)
http://www.bilder-upload.eu/show.php?file=4a30d5-1467579148.jpg (http://www.bilder-upload.eu/show.php?file=4a30d5-1467579148.jpg)
So I am really frustrated at this point because the PoBlog-Article does not really work für PoKeys57CNC... Maybe someone have some hints for me.
Best regards,
Holger
-
BTW: how can I insert images? I have put the link in the IMG-Tags but the pictures are not shown...
-
what I found I stuffed up for a start by trying to set stuff first. what I ended up doing was resetting the pokeys and mach3.
then I powered everything up with everything connected then loaded up the pokeys software it run the update of the firmware then i went into the pokeys setting set it to 3ch with extended IO did the limits and homes steps per and that stuff.
then when I loaded up Mach3 I opened up the pokeys settings and set everything it was all there I just had to map it correctly.
you don't set anything on the pokeys dialog page at all when you first set it up you let it do it it self, I know this sounds wrong but it worked onces everything was self set up I was able to change what needed changed and yes they need to do some more instructions for setting up the 57cnc
-
1. No pins and ports should be setup in Mach3 Port&Pins dialog
2. The PoKeys57CNC must be used with 'External 4ch with IO' option. We fixed that to avoid confusion.
3. With default settings, PoKeys57CNC should run after a Mach3 restart. No need to change anything in Mach3.
Make sure that you update to the latest firmware and use the latest Mach3 and PoKeys plugin for Mach3.
-
you still need to put this on paper NeoTO, I know you boys are flat out with all the good stuff you boys do it would help everyone else to M4 and Auggie is more stable then like everyone else you can drop M3
-
what I found I stuffed up for a start by trying to set stuff first. what I ended up doing was resetting the pokeys and mach3.
What did you do to reset Mach3 & Pokeys? What config-file must be deleted?
-
reinstall M3 and uninstalled the pokeys software of the top of my head can't rember it was xmas time when I did it.
just connect everything up power up then install the software don't set anything in M3 just don't start M3 to you have movement in the pokeys pulse engine, let it do the work for you it's a crazy arise controller and it set's it self, I still don't know what pin does what but it work very well.
the only pin I had to set was the pwm pin.
once I realized what to do it was 5 mins from set up to running code, I hope all other controller makers do the same thing it make's life very easy just having to wire up and install software
-
1. No pins and ports should be setup in Mach3 Port&Pins dialog
2. The PoKeys57CNC must be used with 'External 4ch with IO' option. We fixed that to avoid confusion.
3. With default settings, PoKeys57CNC should run after a Mach3 restart. No need to change anything in Mach3.
Make sure that you update to the latest firmware and use the latest Mach3 and PoKeys plugin for Mach3.
Hi NeoTO,
the complete system is up to date.
What I did yesterday:
1. Uninstall M3 and Pokeys software and reinstall it.
2. Setup all motors in PoStep via USB. The motors are running, when I start them with the PoStep software.
3. with the Pokeys tool I enable the pulse engine.
4. I invert the emergency input polarity because in my test scenario I don't use an emergency switch.
5. I set the Pulse generator options to "external", 4 channels (because of 4 motors), Extended IO
6. after this setup I lock the settings and save the configuration
(http://)
In the fresh installed M3 I followed the PoScope tutorial for setup M3: http://blog.poscope.com/mach3-tutorial-first-steps/ and http://blog.poscope.com/mach3-setup-tutorial-first-movements/
7 . before I did this I had to activate the four motors in Ports&Pins because wihout this it is not possible to setup the motor tuning (that information is missing in the tutorial)
8. I put the kernel speed to 100kHz. I had to do this because otherwise it is not possible to set the motors to higher speed in motor tuning
-
that's it drillmaster now when you go into the pokeys config in M3 it should all be there
-
It still does not work...
I would like to mention three things:
1. there is a red LED switched on permanently. I think this is a signal that the PoKeys is working. Unfortunately there is no explanation in the user manual.
2. the third LED is flashing. I do not know what this means because of missing manual information...
3. After setup the pulse engine in the PoKeys software (and saved it), I switch to M3 and setup PoKeys with the plugin and go back to the PoKeys software it seems that Pokeys have forgotten my former setting. The pulse engine is disabled...
You can see this behaviour here: https://youtu.be/AZIXlvm12y0 (https://youtu.be/AZIXlvm12y0)
-
that looks correct it does that every time you go in and out of the pulse engine it's locked and you have to untick lock settings every time. I will have a look tomorrow.
NeoTO hopefully will see this soon
-
Note that this is not official PoLabs support forum. We have a ticketing system for support, available via our homepage.
Anyway, did you follow the instructions in the 'PoKeys Pulse engine v2 and Mach3 plugin manual (6.3.2016).pdf' (https://www.poscope.com/index.php?route=product/product/download&download_id=83&product_id=87) ?
Only kbd48CNC keyboard is configured in PoKeys application, nothing else. PoKeys application may be used for testing, but not for configuration. We have no reference to using PoKeys application in the Mach3 plugin manual.
That said, all configuration of the PoKeys device in Mach3 is done via extensive PoKeys Mach3 plugin settings. You don't need to check or change anything using PoKeys application (don't forget to close it before starting Mach3!).
-
Anyway, did you follow the instructions in the 'PoKeys Pulse engine v2 and Mach3 plugin manual (6.3.2016).pdf' (https://www.poscope.com/index.php?route=product/product/download&download_id=83&product_id=87) ?
Yes, I did.
Only kbd48CNC keyboard is configured in PoKeys application, nothing else. PoKeys application may be used for testing, but not for configuration. We have no reference to using PoKeys application in the Mach3 plugin manual.
That's right. The only thing you do is confusing your customers with a choice "start PoKeys application" at the end of the Mach3 plugin installation package.
At this point I would like to make a wish: please make a new documentation for your top-of-the-line-product PoKeys57CNC. Your customers have to grab single informations from different documents and no one really fits to the Pokeys57CNC. From my point of view this is definitely not user friendly.
Anyway. I have the solution. It is the combination of Windows10 (32Bit), Mach3 and the PoKeys plugin. In this combination you can follow any step of the manuals, but after restarting M3 the dialog box does not appear where you can choose between parallel port or PoKeys. It seems, that Mach3 does not recognize that there is another motion control hardware, even if the plugin is activated and configured.
With Windows7 32 Bit anything works fine without a problem.
Best regards,
Holger
-
Hi, Holger
We are preparing the instructional page on how to setup the PoKeys57CNC from unboxing to moving motors, but we are focusing on Mach4 first. We will be updating the manuals on Mach3 also soon.
The Windows 10 is a bit special and we are looking for the best way to install PoKeys on Windows 10. To aid developers around the world, we are still using .NET 3.5, which does not come pre-installed on Windows 10. Even worse, Microsoft does not provide an installation file for it, instead, it must be installed as a Windows component in the Add/Remove programs dialog. As said, we are looking for a best way to solve this and will provide clear and simple instructions on how to proceed.
-
that will be why it did not work I added .net 3.5 for another program to work, drillmaster everything you did was correct you just had a missing dependency
-
The .NET 3.5 is needed during the setup to register the communication library for PoKeys device that Mach3 uses. After installing .NET 3.5, you should re-run the setup to install it properly.
-
drillmaster ended up doing it correctly with having everything connected powering up running pokeys testing in the pules engine then firing up Mach3 bring up pokeys config and what was connected was there, just .NET 3.5 was missing.
it's easy to set up but not many boards are plug and play like the 57cnc so when people go to connect it up they are getting confused as they don't know to just connect it up and power it up and run the programs.
-
We at least updated the product homepage with links to related blog posts.
All information should now be available directly at https://www.poscope.com/PoKeys57CNC.
-
I think M4 is close to being good.
but if someone has this problems and has a search they will find this and know what to do
-
I think M4 is close to being good.
I agree... but 200$ is much money for a replacement. I don't know if its really worth it because of a still well working M3.
-
if it work's fine don't change