Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: VDK on December 26, 2019, 01:16:08 AM

Title: Mach3 Under Windows XP :--> Limit Switches not working
Post by: VDK on December 26, 2019, 01:16:08 AM
Hi Experts,

I am new to DIY CNC and need help on below:

Current Achievements:

1. have started with 1-axis slide to learn and prove the basic working concept.
2. Using parallel port controller through Mach3 in Windows XP, lead shine DM542 drive and 10kgf motor.
3. Able to control the X axis through pulse and direction for my stepper motor, is working fine.

Challenges:

1. Not able to control the limit switches, tried both NC and NO options, connected directly to the controller board.
2. Can limit switches be connected directly or need to use 5V supply with limiting resisters to make it work.
3. Some pictures attached for reference.

Please support me with open-heart.
Title: Re: Mach3 Under Windows XP :--> Limit Switches not working
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on December 26, 2019, 01:32:13 AM
You need the 12 to 24 Volt power connected to your breakout board before the limit switches will work.

Tweakie.
Title: Re: Mach3 Under Windows XP :--> Limit Switches not working
Post by: VDK on December 26, 2019, 01:54:32 AM
You need the 12 to 24 Volt power connected to your breakout board before the limit switches will work.

Tweakie.

Thanks Tweakie !!!

I will try and confirm back.

Have 1 more query, please clear my confusion:

As per my knowledge, only 5V signal input should be provided to parallel port.
Will the controller board convert 12/24V to 5V output before sending it out.

Is there any way to check it out without connecting actually to parallel port?
Title: Re: Mach3 Under Windows XP :--> Limit Switches not working
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on December 26, 2019, 02:25:04 AM
The 12/24V (connected to the 12/24V Power terminals) powers the opto-isolators the only voltage passed back to the Parallel Port is 5V.

Tweakie.
Title: Re: Mach3 Under Windows XP :--> Limit Switches not working
Post by: VDK on December 26, 2019, 11:20:09 PM
Thanks again Tweakie !!!!

Experimented per your suggestion, I checked on EStop, it is working fine.
Will be implementing X++, X-- limit switches also.

Now have got more confidence to build further developments.

Also, suggest some USB control boards which have been tested and proven.
Title: Re: Mach3 Under Windows XP :--> Limit Switches not working
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on December 27, 2019, 01:27:44 AM
Quote
Also, suggest some USB control boards which have been tested and proven.

Best to choose Ethernet (rather than USB) and a controller that supports Mach4 as well as Mach3. The actual make and model will depend on your machine and exactly what you want to be able to do with it.

(I currently have 5 different motion controllers and they each excel at a particular task).

Tweakie.
Title: Re: Mach3 Under Windows XP :--> Limit Switches not working
Post by: VDK on December 27, 2019, 04:03:50 AM
Please share me the details and technical data to look through and study.

I am planning to build CNC router with laser for cutting of aluminium foil foams and CR/GI sheets upto 2mm thickness.
Kindly suggest appropriately.

For laser, I would like to use Fiber laser only being OPEX effective.

I will move step by step, first priority is router table (3-axis) and then laser integration to it.
Title: Re: Mach3 Under Windows XP :--> Limit Switches not working
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on December 27, 2019, 05:32:08 AM
I am not able to provide details or comparisons between any motion controllers (that would be a job for the experts) but from the tales of woe, here on the forum, it would be best to avoid any of the cheap Chinese stuff and stick with EU or USA manufactured products.
For laser use there are some special Gcode commands which, for speed of operation, are linked to axis movement (M11Px, M10Px for Mach3 and M62Px, M63Px for Mach4) and only a motion controller that fully supports these commands should be selected.

Hope this helps,

Tweakie.
Title: Re: Mach3 Under Windows XP :--> Limit Switches not working
Post by: VDK on December 27, 2019, 06:14:12 AM
Noted !!!!

I was just thinking if some makes/models can be suggested on basis of experience. This will make my life better and will be helpful. I can do the comparison stuff myself.
Title: Re: Mach3 Under Windows XP :--> Limit Switches not working
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on December 27, 2019, 08:18:28 AM
Well...

As far as I am aware the Warp9 ESS is the only motion controller that supports both Mach3 and Mach4 with the M11Px/M10Px/M62Px/M63Px commands as well as a laser raster engraving facility for Mach4. You would have to decide if it meets your needs both now and for the future.

I do have and use a Warp9 ESS but I am currently testing a CNC Drive UC400ETH at the moment.

Tweakie.
Title: Re: Mach3 Under Windows XP :--> Limit Switches not working
Post by: VDK on December 29, 2019, 09:28:04 AM
I studied some part of Warp9 ESS on the website. I felt confused when found 3nos of DB26 ports are available on ESS board, is it possible to use them separately for controlling 3 different machines. If yes, how it is managed from software/Mach side??

Please enlighten further !!!!
Title: Re: Mach3 Under Windows XP :--> Limit Switches not working
Post by: joeaverage on December 29, 2019, 12:49:35 PM
Hi,

Quote
I felt confused when found 3nos of DB26 ports are available on ESS board, is it possible to use them separately for controlling 3 different machines

In general no. There is one only motion controller thread with the FPGA, the brains of the board. The three ports mean however
you can have up to 51 inputs/outputs to that one machine and/or accessories like pendants and control panels.

Mach3 can only have one instance running at a time.

Mach4 was always intended to be able to have multiple instances. At this time while that capacity is there it is not
developed. There is a version (Mach4Expert) that can have multiple instances, up to six, and thus a machine or machines
could have up to 36 coordinated axes and 36 out-of-band axes. Six streams of Gcode run simultaneously with special
synchronization macros to communicate between threads. Pretty damned clever!

Craig
Title: Re: Mach3 Under Windows XP :--> Limit Switches not working
Post by: VDK on December 29, 2019, 07:36:13 PM
Thanks Craig for elaboration. Actually I think SLD/WD is not given on website to have visualization.

Please share some other Ethernet based motion controllers for further study.
Title: Re: Mach3 Under Windows XP :--> Limit Switches not working
Post by: joeaverage on December 29, 2019, 07:54:38 PM
Hi,
my interest is in Mach4 given that all development ceased on Mach3 six years ago.

The standout controller for Mach4 is the Ethernet SmoothStepper ($180USD) having the most complete realtime support features
of ALL Mach4 controllers EXCEPTING closed loop analogue support, if that is required the the Hicon Integra by Vital Systems
is the pick of the bunch. With the analogue activations it is $1200USD. You pay a real premium for analogue servo support.

Craig