Machsupport Forum
Third party software and hardware support forums. => HiCON Motion Controller => Topic started by: peabrain on April 11, 2018, 10:58:48 AM
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Cannot get MPG to work on the Hicon, in the Hicon status screen shows the correct input led when selections are made on the mpg and the encoder count indicates when the mpg wheel is moved but nothing happens in Mach, and no motor movement.
Is there some programming of outputs required in Mach? I have selected MPG 1 in the Mach configuration and made the MPG selections in the Hicon plugin as per the manual .
Can anyone provide info on how they setup their MPG. Thanks
The Hicon documentation is very vague for the MPG
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r u using the latest plugin and firmware?
the Integra manual has detailed setup page for the MPG connected to the 15pin plug.
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This all I see in the manual for setting up the MPG (not much to go on)......
Manual Pulse Generation (MPG)
MPG Source Type
This section defines MPG (Manual Pulse Generation) Quadrature encoder source. Both Differential and
Single Ended Encoder types are supported. One differential encoder can be hooked up to J11 while
single-ended encoders can be wired to J6, J8 (encoder usage), or J10. These encoders are defined as
Hard Encoder. An Undefined Encoder option causes HiCON to ignore MPG Source values.
MPG Source Index
If Hard Encoder is selected in MPG Source Type, MPG Index denotes the hardware encoder channel.
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here is the manual
http://www.vitalsystem.com/portal/motion/hicon/HiCON_Mach4_Software_Integration.pdf (http://www.vitalsystem.com/portal/motion/hicon/HiCON_Mach4_Software_Integration.pdf)
page 19 has MPG setup instruction.
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That will not work I am using Mach3
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Sooo....how come when using the Hicon with Mach3, Vital System Support suddenly goes silent ....................... and does not reply to emails regarding Hicon Mach3 issues either!!
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For mach3 you have to use something called a Brain. we used it some years ago but since mach4 came out we stoped using it.
Attached is the mpg button selector brain that I was able to dig from the archives. Sorry I have no way to verify if it still works.
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The brain did not make any difference.
There must be some inputs that have to be selected in Mach ports and pins configuration.
The MPG section of the Hicon plugin side appears to be working according to the Hicon status screen as the correct input LEDs for Port 14 light up properly when selections are made on the MPG but no response from Mach
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had a quick look to the brain, i hope you have enabled it via Operator -> Brain Control
the brain need's the Inputs to be mapped to OEMLED's
for select x-Axis it is OEMLED(1351)
for select y-Axis it is OEMLED(1352)
for select z-Axis it is OEMLED(1353)
for select a-Axis it is OEMLED(1354)
according to the hicon Manual you have to use
port 14 pin 3 for x
port 14 pin 4 for y
port 14 pin 5 for z
port 14 pin 6 for a
MPG mode enabled ?
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yes I enabled the brain via operator Brain Control and MPG mode is enabled
it is actually Hicon J10 for the mpg connection but same port and pin numbers
now I am confused as there are only 4 inputs on the mach3 ports pins screen
where do the 3 remaining OEMLEDs of the brain get mapped to in mach3? (Select Jog Incr OEMLED 1348, 1349, 1350)
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In Mach3 you can use the HiCON Status window to find out where the I/O maps to from the MPG. Just move the selector knobs and watch which LED's in the status window are active and then use those to pins in the Brain plugin.
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Ok got the MPG mapping figured out in Mach the MPG sorta works now but the MPG is in a active state at all times with the last axis selected
there must be another brain for the MPG enable/disable and e-stop.
with my old parallel port setup it required 3 separate brains to make the MPG work properly
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sorry I don't see any other mach3 brain file in the archives.
have you tried adding enable/disable logic in the existing brain. may be possible.
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peabrain
You are correct in needing another brain for enable and disable, the brain that Vital Systems supplied is just for axis selection and jog increments only, I am surprised they are not able to get you up and running as they are still selling the Mach 3 license, and still have the Mach 3 file download. My guess is they never got the MPG to work properly in Mach 3 before jumping onto the Mach 4 program hoping everyone would be switching over.
Check out the VistaCNC pendants, they are plug and play and work well, just another option.
cv580
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are you using a vista cnc mpg with a hicon cv580? I had a look at their website looks like it may be the answer if Vital System Support cannot come up with a solution
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can you give us some Information, what and how you connected the MPG ?
then we can have a look to get the right brain done.
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it is a 6 axis MPG with resolution of 100counts per revolution,
ratio selection X1, X10, X100
DB-15 connection connected to J10 on the Hicon
wiring of the MPG DB-15 connection as per attached pinout of the DB-15 connection
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peabrain
No I am not using a VistaCNC MPG with the HiCON as I am no longer using the HiCON as Mach4 did not suit my needs.
All started with the computer I was using with the parallel port died, did a lot of searching around for a ethernet control for the new computer that did not have a parallel port and setteled on the HiCON, tried to run Mach3 with the HiCON but had homing issues then switched to Mach4 and spent almost 6 frustrating weeks trying to work the kinks out of Mach4 to suit my needs then I gave up and went to the UC300ETH and UCCNC software with the 2017 Screen that already has the Tool Change Auto Zero macro implemented and working and I use a VistaCNC P4-S MPG with this setup, the UC300ETH works with Mach3 also so I am able to flip back and forth from Mach3 to UCCNC at will on the same computer. UCCNC will run Mach3 G-Code files without any issues where as Mach4 would have some random issues with the G-Code files that run perectly in Mach3 plus I was never able to get a Tool Change Auto Zero macro to work in Mach4, so they are both shelved for the time being.
Nothing wrong with the HiCON or Mach4 it just did not meet my needs and run my machine the way I want it to run.
I found the support from Vital Systems to be top notch, I am surprised that they are not of more help to you with your MPG issue!
cv580
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You need to put the MPG_Buttons_Selector.brn in the Brains folder inside Mach3 directory. Try using the included HiCON.xml plugin from the zip file as well. It's working fine with our MPG model MPG06ED from our online store which plugs directly into DB15 port on the Integra.
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ok this brain works properly with the enable/disable but it is only for 4 axis, my machine has 5 axis, the Hicon J10 DB-15 connection is capable of 6 axis
how do I add B axis to the brain?
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got the brain figured out with B axis in it
then discovered the J10 on the Hicon only has 7 digital inputs, need 8 inputs for 5 axis
to get another digital input went to Mach ports and pins, inputs (port 12 pin 0) tried to enable a digital input on J7 (pin 10) but does not show on Hicon status screen, not sure why,
anyone have any ideas
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The HiCON Integra has 16 digital inputs and 8 digital outputs onboard. We also offer the ability to extend the I/O by purchasing the 7535P/N breakout boards. You won't be able to use the I/O at the J7 header because they require the breakout board to work as PNP/NPN digital I/O.
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The FPGA firmware version 7E7C or less will not allow you to control more than 4 axes with an MPG.
Here are the pin assignments at J10 port and how the MPG we sell is wired to the port for FPGA firmware greater than 7E7C:
Pin# Function
1 5V, up to 200mA
2 Encoder A+
3 Encoder B+
4
5 Estop
6 X1 Inc (P14, 4)
7 X10 Inc (P14, 2)
8 X100 Inc (P14, 0)
9 A Axis (P14, 6)
10 B Axis (P14, 7)
11 COM/GND
12
13 Z Axis (P14, 5)
14 Y Axis (P14, 3)
15 X Axis (P14, 1)
We have not tested the latest FPGA with v3.26 firmware using Mach3. We recommend using the firmware and FPGA available on our site that was built and tested for Mach3, but if you would like to try using the 7E7E FPGA code with 3.26 firmware and Mach3 you can definitely try it out.
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what is the OEMLED# for Pin 10 B Axis (P14, 7) ?
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The B Axis is not configured in the brain file we sent you in previous post. It should be configured at OEMLED 1355.
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going to the 7E7E FPGA and putting the B axis onto pin 10 (P14, 7) works well with jogging and have not run into any issues running G Code files either