Machsupport Forum
Third party software and hardware support forums. => HiCON Motion Controller => Topic started by: jengineer1 on January 17, 2020, 12:32:22 PM
-
I have not be able to get this system to work since I bought it. This is a link to the first time I reported the problem. I have upgraded windows since then and the type of error has changed. https://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php?topic=41710.0
Problem:
At the start of a program the THC sequence begins...the torch moves down, the probe is active, the torch moves up. and then the sequence is aborted.
This happens "almost" every time. Sometimes it will fire the torch and immediately shut off the torch and abort.
Other relevant details.
-The probe signal alone seems to work fine. If I activate it, both Mach 4 and the controller board light up.
-Even if I turn off the THC on the panel it runs the probe sequence but continues to push into the plate requiring e-stop to quit.
- I had to create a different profile in Mach 4 to test everything else. It runs the gcode and cuts the plate without a problem setting the height manually.
-Attached are screen shots of computer specs, the last sample G-code etc.
Things I have tried.
-Restarting everything
-GCode with only "M03" inside it
- Double checked the wiring.
-
Hello jengineer1
Do you have the THC150?
Does the torch move all the way to your set value of Probe limit = -3.9945?
Check for confirmation in mach4 and HiCON plugin for probe LED on.
Thanks
-
Below is a picture of the unit I purchased.
The probe light comes on every time. Here is the sequence.
1. I start g-code
2. probe/torch moves down to plate.
3. touches plate and light comes on... both on the hicon and in Mach 4.
4. torch moves up to exact 1" off the plate ...This doesn't seem to match any settings I have.
5. Everything stops.
6. History shows error message.
I did this three times in a row to confirm. I have attached the history. It was the same all three times except one time Mach 4 said it lost contact with the controller which was new error.
If I touch a screw driver between the torch probe and the plate the probe light comes on with no problems on the controller and in mach 4.
Additional observation
4b. There seems to be a very slight pause (perhaps at the .06" height I have set for torch height)... but it keeps moving after that and stops at 1" every time. There are no physical reasons it can't go up past that point.
-
You can email us at support@vitalsystem.com with your available times for remote support and we will be glad to help you out. We will be using TeamViewer for the remote connection. We are in the EST timezone.
You could try by updating your firmware and plugin in the meantime. latest firmware is 4.14 available at http://www.vitalsystem.com/portal/motion/hicon/hicon_integra/downloads/
-
The attached file contains the Integra Firmware, Arc Pro Screen and HiCON plugin. Please use these versions for your setup.
Thank you
-
I could not reach email support. The message bounced back... it looks like a forwarding error of some kind.
Here is what it said.
"mkhan@vitalsystem.com
(ultimately generated from support@vitalsystem.com)
This email account's owner has suspended delivery for the account."
I am available all day today and tomorrow. I don't want to post my email address here, but if you fix this error or give me a new email address I would love to get this resolved today... or tomorrow.
-
Please use the files attached in the previous reply it should fix your problems.
Thank you for bringing the email bounce back issue to our attention we will investigate the problem.
-
I have installed the files and new profile you sent and now the machine can't move the z axis. History and pictures of my setup are attached.
I had to redo all the settings for axis mapping, step count and inputs and outputs. I took pictures of the wires so you could see everything was connected correctly I believe. If I use a different profile with the same settings for axis mapping etc the z-axis moves correctly. I have checked that everything is "enabled" as it should be.
Only the integra profile can't move the z axis with jogging or with the probe move.
When the probe sequence starts it just says "Torch enable error. Switch motor control error"
When I try to jog the z axis nothing happens. The z position still reads zero and nothing moves. There are no warning lights or errors on the drive which moves the z axis either.
-
Thank you for sharing the attachment it takes out a lot of guessing work.
You seem to have the 4.04 firmware on your Integra. The version attached is 4.07. You can use the VSIDeviceManager to load the 4.07 firmware on your Integra.
Also check if you have the motor4 enabled in HiCON plugin config. You can jog it from within the plugin and then confirm by jogging using mach.
We tested the setup and in our tests we got normal behavior.
-
I updated the firmware as suggested. I went ahead and rebooted the computer, and controller after all that was complete.
The z-axis still wouldn't. When I tried to move it with the plugin screen it said the motor was not enabled in mach 4. Finally I disabled it everywhere and re-enabled it everywhere and that worked.
Now.
New sequence.
1. Torch moves to start position.
2. probe move up (position direction) until it reaches home zero.
3. stops and give aborted message.
I tried changing the machine home location to different heights to confirm that was the stopping location. It is. The THC max is set to 5.0". So I set the torch about .25" above the plate and made that work zero... it moved to 5.14" to reach the home position and stopped.
Previously it moved down first, so I guess it is moving in the wrong direction for some reason. The axis orientation is correct is that z+ is up and z- is down when jogging the machine.
-
Looks like a configuration issue - Axis 3 is disabled. Double check in both Mach Control and HiCON Plugin Config that your z-axis is mapped correctly.
Are you able to jog in both mach and HiCON plugin? In the HiCON plugin before jogging you need to press the enable button before running test motion for that particular motor.
If that doesn't work please share screenshots of your HiCON Plugin and HiCON status window. Run the THC sequence once and share screen shots of the black debug screen.
-
The jogging works fine now. Sorry about the confusing message below.. please check the second part of the reply.
This is what is happening now.
Jogging works as it should, but probing still doesn't work.
This is the sequence that happens now.
1. hit cycle start
2. Torch moves to start position.
3. probe move up (position direction) until it reaches home zero.
4. stops and give aborted message.
I tried changing the machine home location to different heights to confirm that was the stopping location. It is. The THC max is set to 5.0". So I set the torch about .25" above the plate and made that work zero... it moved to 5.14" to reach the home position and stopped.
Previously it moved down first, so I guess it is moving in the wrong direction for some reason. The axis orientation is correct is that z+ is up and z- is down when jogging the machine
-
I would still need the screen shot of the black debug window - run the sequence once and please share.
-
I jogged the machine a little between each one. I also used the logger.
The files are attached.
-
Please share your THC settings and the gcode you are running. From the debug menu it is not able to find probe signal (Digitize input) Make sure it is mapped and lights up in the HiCON status window.
Send an email to support@vitalsystem.com with available times for today and tomorrow. We can take a look at your setup with Team Viewer (Make sure Team Viewer is installed on your PC )
Until then you can refer this document if you haven't already.
Thank You
-
As stated before in earlier post...
1. I tested the probe signal it works when I manually jog to the plate. the light comes on in both mach 4 and on the hicon controller.
It will never find the digitize signal because it is moving the wrong direction. I will email support soon with my settings but here is a screen shot of the mach 4 window with settings showing.
It doesn't work with any gcode. I even went to MDI and entered "M03" as the code. Same problem. However, I have attached the code.
-
Try this go to the Offsets tab in Mach and find fixture table - make sure all the values are 0 for z-axis.
More info on this here http://www.vitalsystem.com/portal/support.php ArcPro Plasma section scroll to the bottom of the page.
After doing the above make sure when you jog z-axis down the z values are increasing in the negative direction. If not then go to the control config and motors there is a reverse check box that can be used.
-
I checked the setting for the z axis. They are correct. when I move down towards the plate the numbers count in the negative direction (-1, -1.1 etc) as they should.
I checked the fixture offsets. G54 had an offset. I changed it to zero and restarted everything.
1. open Mach 4
2. checked that all fixture offset was still zero.
2. jog head away from start position.
3. turn on THC- (green light on)
4. start cycle
5. torch moves to start position
6. torch moves UP to home zero.
7. sequence aborted.
Testing a theory... I homed the machine 1" from the plate.... checked fixture offset Then tried again.
1. closed and open Mach 4
2. checked that all fixture offset was still zero.
2. jog head away from start position and "ABOVE" home position.
3. turn on THC- (green light on)
4. start cycle
5. torch moves to start position
6. torch moves DOWN to home zero (1" above the plate).
7. sequence aborted.
logs are attached.