Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: Len-Tikular on July 10, 2019, 11:28:31 AM
-
Attemting to configure Mach3 with an Endurance 10Watt+ Laser, a friend tells me to Select 'Plugin Control' then
Mach’s Menu->Plugin Control ->Spindle,THC & Laser Config:
I'm told to place a check next to PWM and set base Freq to 1000Hz and make sure ‘XY PWM Output’ is blank.
However I have no access to this screen, because when I select ‘Plugin Control’ all I get is a Drop down box showing text for ‘Video Windo’
Do I need to add a Plugin ???
-
Hi,
the C11 is a parallel port breakout board. If you are using Machs parallel port then there is no plugin per se.
Craig
-
OK Craig, so now what. Is my system junked ??
Where do I go from here ?
-
Hi,
no I dont think so. All the settings are on Machs configuration pages, not a plugin.
You need to probe the C11 output with a multimeter to see if it is generating and output voltage.
How are you turning the PWM on? Are you using M10/M11's ?
Craig
-
Ok Craig, many thanks. Now I'm going to be really rude and also honest. I'm not sure about this 'port switching' thingy! I have been following a guide written by a friend in George in Ausie, a transcript is attached together with a guide that I thought he had written, in my foolishness I thought it was one and the same person, turns out not.
I have attached a PDF with some links and files, I really would like to clear things up and get this device working as it was very expensive.
To sum it up! I have Msach3 R3 043.063
Aspire 4.5
CNC4PC C11 parallel port break out board.
If at the end of the day I have to go to Warp9 ESS then so be it! for the moment I want to see if it run good with what I have.
George talks about external PWM addons I'll have a look at ESS and see if it is incorporated onto their board.
If you find time to read through George's messages I would be extremely grateful to you.
-
Hi,
cant open the link.
Tweakie is a past master at controlling a laser with Mach. To my knowledge Machs parallel port supports PWM for power
level modulation and M10/M11 for tightly synchronized on/off of the laser with axis movement.
The ESS does the same. The ESS Mach4 plugin also offers realtime laser rastering/vectoring. I'm not really sure exactly what that
means but it is apparently quite a coup that the ESS should have it.
Craig
-
Hi George,
Which motion controller (that does not support the M11/M10 command set) are you using with your C11 breakout board ?
Tweakie.
-
Not sure of the question Tweekie. All I have is the C11 board.
-
No ESS used on my system Tweekie,Craig. All I have is the C11 Board.
When I bought my lase it came with a 'Laser control box' which had switches as shown in the picture attached.
The first thing I'm asked to do is connect my Breakout board to my ESS (which I don't have)
Maybe you could look at the PDF attached,as you say I may have to purchase an ESS Smoothstepper from Warp9
-
Hi,
I think Tweakie will confirm that you can do this with Machs parallel port. To use the parallel port you MUST have a PC
with Windows 7 32 bit or earlier. Any later version of Windows or any 64 bit OS and the parallel port is a DEAD DUCK.
You have a very comprehensive set of instructions predicated on the use of an ESS......if you want to be able to use those instructions
the you'll need an ESS.
Craig
-
Hi George,
My apologies I thought you were using a motion controller.
You do not need to use a motion controller because your C11 board could be connected directly to the Parallel Port of a 32 bit PC running Win7 (or earlier) OS. (These older PC’s are becoming more difficult to find and keep running so a motion controller and newer PC is perhaps preferred)
Your laser can then be controlled by two Outputs from the C11 (e.g. pins 1 & 17 14) one for the M11Px / M10Px ON/OFF signal and the other for the PWM laser power setting. Your earlier attached .pdf shows how to make these connections and set-up Mach3 in detail.
Just to confuse the issue an alternative and the signal gating method I use for my laser connection is shown here;
https://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php?topic=12444.msg265104#msg265104
Hope this helps.
Tweakie.
-
had a quick look to the Manual:
https://www.cnc4pc.com/pub/media/productattachment/c/1/c11-r9_9_user_manual.pdf
pin17 is used for chargepump
pin14 is PWM
-
Many thanks TPS - I have made a correction.
Tweakie.
-
OK Chaps, I've bit the bullet and bought myself a Warp9TD ESS Smooth stepper..
I'm determined to get this Endurance Laser working as best as I can.
For the moment I'm sticking with my 32Bit PC running Windows XP and MAch3 with Aspire4.5 to generate my artwork. I have already created a new Post processor for Aspire, Tweekie you might be able to help me here as I know you run Aspire.
Standby for more questions when it arrive :-) for now thanks to all.
Regards
George
-
Hi,
I think you have made a wise choice. Its not that the parallel port does not work but rather that an ESS is just
that much 'smoother'. Additionally when you decide to upgrade to Mach4, and I guess you will eventually to take advantage
of the increased functionality, then you just download the ESS Mach4 plugin and away you go.
The ESS is an external motion controller and will therefore relieve the PC of time critical tasks, of course all external motion
controllers do that. The upshot is that your PC, if adequate for a parallel port, is now even more than adequate for operation
with the ESS.
You might be advised to get a second breakout board, the C10 ($23.00) is a simple and economic bi-directional board.
If you exploit the bi-directional option of the second (of three) ports of the ESS then the second port pins 2-9 will be treated
as inputs. Thus the second board will give you and extra 13 inputs and 4 outputs.
You can use all those extra inputs for individual home an limit switches for instance. For many years people have combined
home and limit functions in order to reduce the number of input pins required. With an ESS and a second breakout board you don't
face that same restriction. Take advantage of it.
Craig
-
Thank you Craig, But I understand the 'Plugin' is also available for MAch3 ?
The C10 is indeed a good second option.
-
Hi,
But I understand the 'Plugin' is also available for MAch3 ?
Yes, that is correct. The ESS can be used with either Mach3 OR Mach4. When the ESS was developed there was no
Mach4 so the Mach3 plugin is fully developed.
In recent years Warp9 have concentrated on Mach4. Its Mach4 plugin is even more complete that the Mach3 plugin which
preceeded it. It has Laser Rastering/Vectoring, spindle PID (with Ki and Kd terms that the Mach3 PID lack), and
most recently a very comprehensive THC feature, exceeding the THC function of Mach3.
The guess is that Warp9 consider Mach3 as a 'sunset' product and are not inclined to invest in extensive Mach3 plugin
development. To whit.....we have seen a succession of 20 plus releases of the Mach4 plugin whereas in the same time frame
two or three Mach3 plugin updates.
Craig
-
Well I'll have to save my pennies from now on in, I will upgrade to MACH4 Hobby Web site says $200 is that the best deal around in UK ?
-
Hi,
MACH4 Hobby Web site says $200 is that the best deal around in UK ?
Yes, its the same price all over the world.
Craig
-
Hi,
you can download it and run in demo mode. If you have no motion control plugin installed, ie Sim(ulator)
is the ONLY motion plugin, Mach4 will run without interruption and with ALL the functionality of the licenced
version.
If however you have a motion control plugin in your plugins folder then Mach4Hobby will run for six minutes uninterrupted
and with full functionality before requiring to be reset. It behaves identically to the licenced version, if fact it IS
the licenced version, the licence file prevents the need to reset.
Craig
-
Thanks again Craig, I'll set that up today! I have 2 PC's one in my workshop and one in the home, can I download the demo twice ?
-
Hi,
yes, as many times as you like.
Craig
-
Sooper duper, my ESS Smooth stepper (Warp9) has arrived, now to figure how to hook it up and configure it.
-
Hi Craig, can you help me with a hookup sketch for ESS Smooth Stepper + C11 and C10
According to your advice I have decided to add the extra bi-di breakout board as well as upgrade to Mach4 hobby with License. I'now run out of pocket money!
Thanks
George
-
Hi,
you should probably start a new thread on the Mach4 Discussion board. Any replies to your questions now concern Mach4 alone.
Craig
-
All done now Craig. Thanks