Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: comet on June 21, 2007, 07:04:04 AM

Title: hunting for something?
Post by: comet on June 21, 2007, 07:04:04 AM
Guys,dont know if you can help.
computer:
  2.8 pentium galio motherboard NEC Powermate
512 ram
ITE PCI par.port card. (motherboard only gives out 3.5v)

happens on all versions of mach3.

When I first start up the computer and go into mach,it seems to be looking
for something because the vfd controller relays keep clicking about once every 3-4 seconds.
if the spindle motors running you can hear it blipping,but not stopping.
I run my suds system from a solid state relay and that goes on simultaniosly.
  This goes on for about 20-30 seconds and then stops.
This only happens the first time you open up mach.
it dosent do it again untill you restart the computer.
  There is no effect on the servo,s.
It dosent really cause problems its just annoying!

   Cheers
Title: Re: hunting for something?
Post by: Chaoticone on June 21, 2007, 10:07:08 AM
Are you using a charge pump?

Brett
Title: Re: hunting for something?
Post by: comet on June 21, 2007, 10:15:38 AM
Bret,
   no
Tony
Title: Re: hunting for something?
Post by: Chaoticone on June 21, 2007, 10:51:01 AM
This is what a charge pump was made for. When your PC is booted, it sends all kinds of random signals to your parallel ports. A charge pump is an enable switch that waits until it sees that Mach is in control before enableing the outputs. Another way to do it it is to have an enable switch. You could fire up Mach, wait about 30 seconds and then enable your outputs.

I hope this helps.

Brett 
Title: Re: hunting for something?
Post by: comet on June 21, 2007, 11:08:05 AM
Bret,
  I dont think a charge pump would help in this situation as Mach is in control while its doing it.
you can jog about and all sorts.
  Its annoying because if you forget the suds pump comes on, and makes a mess,so
you turn the tap off, and then panic when you go to machine your first part,and there's no suds!
  Ive done a few mach3 conversions now and its the first time Ive had this one.
I tried task manager but couldnt see any thing blipping with the problem pulse. although
csrss.exe blipped when you toggle the pump off.
Tony

Title: Re: hunting for something?
Post by: Chaoticone on June 21, 2007, 11:55:52 AM
Have you ran a driver test?

Brett
Title: Re: hunting for something?
Post by: comet on June 21, 2007, 12:19:09 PM
Bret,
  the driver test is good,the machine runs reallywell apart from this start up
glitch.
  I remember years ago having something similar,when a HP scanner software kept on looking for the scanner every minute.
and used to momentarly lock the computer.
Thought it might be something along those lines?
    Tony
Title: Re: hunting for something?
Post by: comet on June 21, 2007, 12:20:19 PM
Bret,
   what about the debounce setting?
Title: Re: hunting for something?
Post by: Chaoticone on June 21, 2007, 12:47:26 PM
Your debounce setting may help if you are picking up noise. You could set it to 2000 and see if it helps. Have you been through the file optimazation? That may be worth a try but I would do it as a last resort.

Brett
Title: Re: hunting for something?
Post by: comet on June 21, 2007, 01:00:31 PM
Bret,
 ill try the debounce.
Trouble with file optimisation is that I really dont quite understand what I'm
doing.Before now Ive had to reload a complete system after following the optimisation
suggestions,as I could no longer load software do defrags and all sorts!
So I fight a bit shy of that one.
Title: Re: hunting for something?
Post by: comet on June 22, 2007, 12:43:02 PM
Well the debounce made no differance,I guess thats because its an outgoing signal.
I did notice that the problem dosent happen untill you press
the reset button, so I would think that its something that mach3 is doing?