Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => Mach4 General Discussion => Topic started by: Mauri on May 22, 2018, 11:03:07 PM
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Hi,
I have tried to setup MPG Pendant VistaCNC P1A-S on Mach4.
I updated my P1A-S Pendant with their posted Mach4 Firmware.
I have the following issue.
The Pendant shows E-Stop and I cannot do anything, nor get rid of it.
Are their any settings that I need to install in Mach4 Configuration for this MPG Pendant?
I am running ESS V220 with Mach4 V3804.
I have E-stop setup for the controller in Mach4 Configuration.
Regards,
Mauri
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Hi Mauri,
I have used VistaCNCs P1A with Mach4 without undue difficulty, it was a bit troublesome
to get it set up as I recall but has been good since.
I have heard that the P1A-S is more troublesome, the LCD display?
If you could get it to work but minus the LCD display would that be adequate?
Craig
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Craig,
A number of people say they have Pendant P1A-S working with Mach4 on various Forums.
I have checked all the settings and they show as follows.
My Version is Pendant P1A-S
Under Plugins it says P1A-S pendant - VistaCNC 2.0
Under Mach4 Config MPG Settings it says P2SPendant/MPG1
Under Register Diagnostics it says P2S Pendant
Before Starting Mach4 the Sceen shows VistaCNC Mach4
After Mach 4 Lanuch it shows the double green E-STOP and no matter where you click it it will not go away.
It also prevents the Enable on Mach4 with this MPG.
I had the same issue with an MPG connected to the ESS, by itself it works fine, BUT Mach4 will not run MDI or G-Code, hoever if I remove the Screen Load Script that contains CNC4PC code then Mach4 works fine, but not the MPG.
And with Mach3 V66 no longer working on the new PC only V62 it has not been a good day.
So I am getting a bit hot under the collar.
Can you check your settings please.
Regards,
Mauri.
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Hi Mauri,
I know the feeling....tough to do sometimes but walk away and have a go another day.
It also prevents the Enable on Mach4 with this MPG.
My pendant works the same way, with the pendant in Estop I cannot in any way shape or form
cause Mach4 to enable short of either removing the Estop condition from the pendant or removing
it.
One thing that I have noticed, and gave me a little grief when I first set it up is that if the pendant is NOT PLUGGED
in to the USB socket PRIOR TO POWER UP of the PC it wont work if I plug in in thereafter. Now that its working it
never is disconnected and so the 'fault/condition/situation' has never recurred.
If I recall correctly when I caused this fault by plugging in the pendant after power up and firing up Mach it caused
Mach to go cranky as well. It has been some time so my recollection may be a bit vague.
I had to enable the pendant plugin in Machs plugin page, but thats it. There is no settings page or anything.
I did have to configure an MPG in Machs MPG setup page, I presume the pendant MPG subs itself in...
I believe I got one of the first of VistaCNCs Mach4 plugins, its about 18 months old. How things have changed
since I don't know.
I have never heard of anyone getting a pendant with an LCD screen to work yet, I don't mean to say that they don't
but just that I haven't heard anyone say 'yeah I got it to work' whereas I've heard a few say 'I cant get my LCD equipped
pendant to work'.
When I get home I'll see if I can find any more info. My development PC melted down over Xmas, the only copy of the plugin
is now on my machine...and I'm not going out there tonight, cold as a witches tit here!
Craig
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Hi Mauri,
snuck out to the shed to have a look, the firmware I have is P1A, V1.00 7/7/2016 and as I say it works, notwithstanding the confusion I suffered at the beginning.
If you have no luck with the P1A-S firmware then try the P1A firmware...it might work...you'd lose the LCD but the rest of it would still be handy.
Craig
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I've got a P2S and it works, LCD and all, so that's ONE!!!
However, there SEEMS to be a conflict with VistaCNC Mach4 pendant and the Mach4 keyboard plugin. I cannot edit keyboard shortcuts unless I start Mach4 without the VistaCNC pendant plugin. Once I got the keyboard shortcut keys the way I liked, I added the pendant plugin back and everything works fine. If the pendant plugin is active, trying to edit the keyboard shortcut keys works for THAT SESSION, but the settings don't get saved on exit and the next time you start Mach4 your keyboard shortcut keys are gone. This has been discussed here. Lee Neuman at VistaCNC has been informed but seems reluctant to fix it!! I see the FW for Mach4 are all still v1.00. So, PERHAPS, if you have any other keyboard related plugins or anything, you might glance in that direction.
That said, no clue about the EStop. The Vista pendants don't have settings in Mach4 like they did in Mach3. These are very nicely made pendants, but we've lost control of them in Mach4. Someone needs to badger Lee and get him off center. I've tried, and I'm done asking!!
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Craig,
Here is a YouTube link that shows one fully working with Mach4.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKjd9qHRuVk
It looks like a P2-S.
Regards,
Mauri.
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Oops, cross posted, see one post above!
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Thosj,
Thanks for the post.
It just me luck, that I have 2 VistaCNC MPG's one P5 that will not allow the FW to be installed and the other P1A-S will not work with Mach4.
If Lee cannot provide an answer for me, it looks like another costly purchase.
He should remove drivers that do not work or show how they need to be setup with a YouTube explaination so all can see how each works with Mach4.
Regards,
Mauri.
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Hi Mauri
I have a Vista CNC P1A-S which I use with Mach4 every time I use my mill - It works great, I used the firmware, plugin and instructions on the Vista CNC site.
There must be some other conflict else where in your system. I have a Hycon motion controller and a Pokeys 55 for my input panel - It works with all these plugins. I have read elsewhere about you starting to use an Ethernet Smooth Stepper maybe the problem lays there. I would start a brand new profile and get one thing going at a time and see at what point your problems start.
Steve
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Hi,
but I use an ESS and the P1A works fine. Additionally the pendant interacts with Machs core via its plugin
not with the motion controller plugin.
Certainly any movement comes from Machs core via the motion controller plugin to the controller but I was of the opinion
that the pendant never interacts with the controller.
Craig
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Wallerawang,
That is good news.
I have installed the Firmware in line with the instructions and it said it was successful.
I have tried the P1A-S Pendant on 3 setups.
1) Mill HiCON Controller with Mach4 V3481 - No Luck
2) Router ESS V220/V219V/216 with Mach4 V3481 and V3804 - No Luck
3) ESS V216 with Mach4 V3481/v3804 on our old controller with just a motor attached - No Luck.
Same E-STOP display at the start of Mach4 on both the Mill and Router 1), 2) and 3).
All these function with Mach4 but not with the VistaCNC Pendant.
There must be some conflict with E-Stop, but I tried turning then all off in Mach4 but still no luck.
Is it possible for you to send your mach4 configuration?
Regards,
Mauri.
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Mauri
As the E-Stop is either on or off have you tried running the pendant with the E Stop pushed in - opposite to normal operation?
Steve
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Wallerawang,
That was the first thing I tried.
It has to something to do with the E-Stop, but I just do not know what as there is no Plug-in configuration with the P1A-S Pendant and no other settings required to make it run.
So I am stumped.
Any other thoughts.
Regards,
Mauri.
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Mauri
Something quick to try - Start your system as you normally would and get it to the point of of it being stuck on the "E Stop".
Without powering down your computer or closing Mach 4, power down the ESS for a few seconds and power it back up. As Mach reestablishes contact with the ESS the "E Stop" may go away. This worked for me a while ago.
Steve
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I have tried the P1A-S Pendant on 3 setups.
1) Mill HiCON Controller with Mach4 V3481 - No Luck
2) Router ESS V220/V219V/216 with Mach4 V3481 and V3804 - No Luck
3) ESS V216 with Mach4 V3481/v3804 on our old controller with just a motor attached - No Luck.
Same E-STOP display at the start of Mach4 on both the Mill and Router 1), 2) and 3).
All these function with Mach4 but not with the VistaCNC Pendant.
I believe right at this inflection point I'd start to suspect the pendant itself. Email Lee Neuman, support@vistacnc.com, and see what he says. Three completely different systems and the pendant doesn't work, I'd guess it ain't a configuration issue!!
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thosj,
You are right on the money.
I now have a brick.
I am positive that the P1A-S has a serious problem after the Firmware upgrade downloaded from your VistaCNC web site for Mach4.
It not only does not work with Mach4 after having tested multiple machines, but now that I tried to restore it back to a Mach3 firmware it not does the same thing with Mach3.
What I have found out is that after loading the Mach3 firmware successfully and putting on a Mach3 its DLL in the Plugin and with the Plugin Ticked and Mach3 restarted the following happens.
Mach3 has ZERO inputs and outputs in Config.
P1A-S plugged into PC.
Mach3 Started.
Same problem occurs E-Stop on display.
Checked the Inputs in Mach3 and the Pendant has injected a TIC on E-Stop.
I have sent the message to Lee.
Regards,
Mauri.
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Hi,
The reason that my P1A-S turned into a Brick is that there are different versions of this model.
My P1A-S is version 3.
All the Mach3 and Mach4 Firmware are for version 5.
I am being sent Firmware for Mach3/4, so I can then be able to use it again and in a week or two I may have a Mach4 working solution.
So it all depends as to when the Pendant was purchased.
In the meantime, do not install Mach3 or Mach4 firmware unless you are sure which Pendant version you have.
Regards,
Mauri.
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"in a week or two"...…..how are you being sent the firmware, Pony Express :D Just guessing here, Lee needs to WRITE new firmware for you!
Lee/VistaCNC really needs to get hold of this. No mention on their web site about "versions!"
Tom
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Hi,
I wonder if Lee is aware that to my knowledge his pendants are the ONLY pendants on the market that have a Mach4 plugin written by the manufacturer of the pendant.
If the plugin/pendant combination is reliable, ie somewhat better than it is now, then a good sales opportunity exists.
Craig
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Craig,
If your PIA-S display is not working with Mach4, does it work with Mach3?
Revert the Firmware back to Mach3 and if and only if Mach3 cannot also display correctly then following the instuctions below.
I had an issue that mine stopped displaying correctly my cable must have came slightly loose.
VistaCNC support instructed my on how to fix it by removing the cable and provided the following instructions.
One thing you can do is to check if the ribbon flat cable connecting the LCD module to the main board is loosen.
Remove the back 6 screws and gently open the back, take care as it has wires attached.
I attached a picture and a youtube move that show how to remove and insert the flat cable. Insert the LCD module side first. On both LCD and board end, the tin side of the cable is face down.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9PwK9eGrCY
That was my issue, I hope it is yours as well.
Regards,
Mauri.
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Hi Mauri,
my pendant is the P1A, ie it does not have the LCD display and it works fine and has done so for 18 months.
Over that time I have seen several reports from users who have a pendant with an LCD display and they have all had problems.
My suggestion is load the firmware for the non-LCD display version to see if it then works, clearly the display would not work but
maybe the rest of it would.
To date no-one has been prepared to try it....'I'll have it ALL working or NONE of it and carry on whinging thankyou very much'
Craig
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Craig,
Lee from VistaCNC made a Frimware that suits my version of P1A-S V3 Pendant and it fully works and has a fully functional LCD display and settings.
Very Happy.
Regards,
Mauri.
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Hi Mauri,
kool.
I think Lee is the only manufacturer who has an OEM Mach4 plugin. Kudos to VistaCNC.
I note there are a couple of users who have written plugins for XHC pendants and having some success. It seems strange that the manufacturer is not participating
in the plugin development, although if I read between the lines the manufacturer has supported at least one of the people involved in writing said plugin.
Our very own Daz-the-Gaz has spent a lot of time on the Xbox 360 plugin and is working well.
That makes three styles of pendants/remotes.
My belief is that the rate of uptake of Mach4 is increasing and so we might expect the momentum to have Mach4 ready controllers/pendants and other accessories to grow apace.
Craig