Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: Jacko on July 11, 2006, 01:01:42 PM

Title: Configuring mach
Post by: Jacko on July 11, 2006, 01:01:42 PM
Hi
   Can any one help a new boy gets his home made 3 axis machine running?  I have had my box of drivers etc for a month now but still cant get the motors running.  The box supplier is somewhat slow to respond to my questions and not very helpful.  I have got a xml file from him - Can anyone give me some screen prints showing how to configure mach 3 ie which settings to put into the input / output dialogue  boxes etc just from the xml file?
Heres hoping
Jacko
Title: Re: Configuring mach
Post by: Brian Barker on July 11, 2006, 05:53:28 PM
What is the name of the XML ? Is it Mach3Mill.XML ? If it is not Mach3Mill.XML you will need to load a new profile... This can be done by pressing the Mach3 Icon and looking for something with the same name as the XML that they sent. This is just a start :)
Title: Re: Configuring mach
Post by: Jacko on July 11, 2006, 06:27:43 PM
Hi Brian,
Attached are the 2 files that i have managed to get out of them.  They use mach 2 but it made more sense to me to use mach 3 - however i have 2 & 3 on the machine but cant make out what pin numbers to enter in the input etc boxes.  I'm a toolmaker and not into electronics so finding it a bit hard going.  The unit was meant to be plug and play!!  When I have asked for an intsallation manual they tell me "they haven't finished writing it yet!!"
Thanks for the interest.  The UK seems miles behind the USA - as usual.
Regards Jacko
Title: Re: Configuring mach
Post by: Brian Barker on July 11, 2006, 07:04:22 PM
I have looked at the XML and it is junk... There are no settings for the pins :( as soon as I have a bit of free time I will see about setting up with an XML :)
Title: Re: Configuring mach
Post by: Brian Barker on July 11, 2006, 07:10:50 PM
Try this :)
Title: Re: Configuring mach
Post by: Jacko on July 12, 2006, 06:16:37 AM
Good morning Brian and thanks for this modified? file - but what exactly do I do with it?  Do i go into the mach directory and delete the existing xml file and replace it with this one?  Is this a sort of data file that holds all the pin settings? Please excuse my ignorance.
Jacko
Title: Re: Configuring mach
Post by: Hood on July 12, 2006, 01:22:08 PM
Put it in the Mach3 directory, if there is already a xml called BF.xml it will ask if you want to overwrite it. Also when you start Mach make sure it is the Mach icon you click and not the Mach3Mill one. When you click the Mach3 Icon you will get a small window which will ask you to choose your profile, choose the BF one and you should be set.
Hood
Title: Re: Configuring mach
Post by: Jacko on July 12, 2006, 02:26:16 PM
Good evening Hood?,
                     Well explained - I can understand that bit - will give it a try in the morning.  Will that then set my pins in the input dialogues boxes etc? As stated,  I have no documentation from the box supplier.
Thanks for your help
Jacko
Title: Re: Configuring mach
Post by: Hood on July 12, 2006, 02:41:04 PM
Yes it should do. Brian has made a new profile in Mach and set it up as per the diagram above and that is the xml he has posted. The xml basically has all the settings, pins, states etc for everything you do in that profile, when you change a setting it gets changed and saved in the xml. Once you have the mill, router or whatever set up to your liking it is wise to copy the xml to a seperate location as a backup just in case you have any problems later. It will save a lot of time as all you will need to do is paste it back into the mach3 folder and all your settings will be back.
Hood
Title: Re: Configuring mach
Post by: Hood on July 12, 2006, 02:44:06 PM
BTW Jacko, where you from in the UK? I am in Carnoustie, Scotland.

Hood
Title: Re: Configuring mach
Post by: Jacko on July 12, 2006, 03:32:54 PM
Great - I feel I have something positive to try out.    I'm in Amersham,  Bucks but have just returned from a tour of Scotland - have been up many times.
Thanks again but almost certainly be asking for more help!!!
Jacko
Title: Re: Configuring mach
Post by: Hood on July 12, 2006, 03:41:12 PM
No problem, I am fairly new to all things CNC and I know how daunting it can be. Fortunately there are loads of helpful people here and on the Yahoo group so you wont be stuck.
Hood
Title: Re: Configuring mach
Post by: Brian Barker on July 12, 2006, 07:36:01 PM
Thank you Hood for helping! I was off working on potato machine today :( There is no way to get mail when you are working down at the factory...
Title: Re: Configuring mach
Post by: Hood on July 13, 2006, 02:06:27 AM
No problem Brian.
Hood
Title: Re: Configuring mach
Post by: creativeconversion on July 13, 2006, 04:03:25 AM
Jacko, just backing up what Hood said about the help you will get from Brian to give you some confidence. I was totally new to all things re cnc about 2 months ago and with a few e mails to Brian or Art I am up and running.
Being an Aussie I can,t help but wish you luck for the coming Ashes series, your gunna need it (and by the way for all our American friends out there, the Ashes series is the game of Cricket played between England and Australia)
Barry ;D
Title: Re: Configuring mach
Post by: Jacko on July 13, 2006, 04:50:06 AM
I think you Aussies should start getting used to the idea that you are going to get a good whapping!!
However I have downloaded the BFxml file and loaded it in the mach directory.  I then start mach and select the BFxml profile. It tells me its there in the bottom right hand side of the screen.  But when I look in the config  inputs dialogue boxes etc there is just a lot of red crosses and no numbers in the boxes for ports and pins just zeros.
Ho Hum
Jacko
Title: Re: Configuring mach
Post by: Jacko on July 13, 2006, 01:13:38 PM
Hi Brian,
            You said the xml I have been supplied is Junk.  Do you think after a month I should be thinking about sending my box of tricks back for a refund and looking for a new supplier?  Could you recomend one if you do ie some company that know what they are doing and provide proper support?  Or is there any one out there near to Bucks UK that would come and sort it all out for a fee of course and a few beers. I did receive the attached today after much badgering.  How would I transcibe this info into mach 3?
Dont you get fed up with people like me?
Jacko
Title: Re: Configuring mach
Post by: Hood on July 13, 2006, 01:29:05 PM
Go to config menu then ports and pin then motor outputs. Just enable each axis you are using, eg X, Y, Z and enter the  numbers that are shown in the screenshot you posted. Heres a screenshot of what you should do.
(http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/hoodsmachiningpages/MotorPins.jpg)
BTW just ignore the A axis for the moment.
Title: Re: Configuring mach
Post by: Hood on July 13, 2006, 01:35:27 PM
Also have a look at your port address and make sure its the same as in device manager. Another good idea would be to have a look at the setup video on the Mach support site, it will help you understand how things get set up.
Hood
Title: Re: Configuring mach
Post by: Hood on July 13, 2006, 01:44:33 PM
You may also need to enable pin 17 on the Output signal page as below.
Hood
(http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/hoodsmachiningpages/Enable1.jpg)
Title: Re: Configuring mach
Post by: Brian Barker on July 13, 2006, 01:54:15 PM
Hood thank you again :) You are doing a great job with this one!

The Box may be good but the XML was no good :( Now that you have the screen shot of the Mach2 settings I think we can get you up an running. Try the stuff that Hood has shown you and you should see the motors turning !

Could you please post the place that you got the box from? I would like to see what they have for docs.

Thank you
Brian

PS. I never get sick of helping people because in the end 99.9% are VERY happy!
Title: Re: Configuring mach
Post by: Jacko on July 13, 2006, 03:05:37 PM
Thanks so much for the support you guys - I really appreciate it.  I will try this first thing in the morning cos ive got a hot date with a pint of beer ( or 2 ) down the pub right now.  Kit bought from http://www.marchantdice.com/  I wrote the cheque on 10 th of april !!!
Many thanks jacko
Title: Re: Configuring mach
Post by: Jacko on July 13, 2006, 03:39:41 PM
Oh,  I just had to try it.  I get the odd buzz & clunk from the motors but no rotation.  I have released them from the balls screws.  I get no warning lights showing in diagnostics unless I manually trip a switch.  Down the pub then !!!
Jacko
Title: Re: Configuring mach
Post by: Hood on July 13, 2006, 04:30:19 PM
You probably have to mess with the motor tuning page to set velocity and acceleration to suit your drives/motors. you will also need to enter a figure for your steps per unit.
Hood
Title: Re: Configuring mach
Post by: Jacko on July 14, 2006, 08:23:06 AM
Would some one be kind enough to join up the dots to show me how to wire up my  micro switches please.
Many thanks
Jacko
Title: Re: Configuring mach
Post by: Hood on July 14, 2006, 11:30:35 AM
Do you have a part number for these switches? also how many switches are you using, ie one for each axis or two for each. Also do you have any info on the breakout board, the diagram you posted in the first few posts is not really that clear to me, eg I dont know what its meaning by X End.
Hood
Title: Re: Configuring mach
Post by: Jacko on July 15, 2006, 03:34:22 AM
Good morning Hood - where did you get that name?  Are you watching the Golf from Loch Lomond?
In the normal state the switch has a connection between C and NC.  When the roller is depressed the connection is made between C and NO.  The switches are handled by 9 pin connection which plugs directly into the interface board. I have the documentation for the 9 pin socket.
PIN 1 limit X.
PIN 2 limit Y
PIN 3 limit Z
PIN 4 limit C
PIN 5 emergency switch
PIN 6 5V supply
PIN 7 Ground
PIN 8 Ground
PIN 9 Ground
I was  contacted by the boxes engineer last night for the first time so hopefully might now make some progress.
regards
jacko

Title: Re: Configuring mach
Post by: Hood on July 15, 2006, 04:11:26 AM
I have been called Hood by everyone for a long time, just dont understand why, my real name is Robin, you think that may have something to do with it?  ;)
 Hope you get it all sorted now you are in contact with them. BTW have you got the motors turning yet?
 Dont care much for Golf, being from Carnoustie it was expected that I play golf when a youngster, was actually reasonable at it, winning a few school competitions but I thought it a waste of time as I was more interested in using the golf course for hunting with my Buzzard and Ferrets :)
Hood
 
Title: Re: Configuring mach
Post by: Hood on July 15, 2006, 04:16:25 AM
OH BTW I think you want to connect the common to ground and then either NC or NO to the pin for that axis. NC would be best I think as if a wire breaks you will get a limit fault. If you did it the other way you would not get a limit error if a wire broke and you could potentially crash before you realise that the limit is faulty.
Hood
Title: Re: Configuring mach
Post by: Jacko on July 15, 2006, 12:57:46 PM
Hi Hood.
 I have been mucking about today - no rotation but in certain conditions all 3 motors make a constant faint whirring noise.  Is that normal even when I am not trying to run a MDI program?  The engineer that e mailed me on friday told me we would have it running this weekend but I havent heard from him yet!  There aren't many buzzards down these parts but we are almost over run with Kites which are a joy to watch.  We also have a family of polecats in a field opposite.  Are ferrets
the domesticated variety of a polecat?
Thanks for the help
Jacko
Title: Re: Configuring mach
Post by: Hood on July 15, 2006, 01:08:20 PM
Yes ferrets are more or less domesticated polecats although they are sometimes not that domesticated LOL Not many kites here, loads of Buzzards, Sparrowhawks, a few Goshawks and quite a few pairs of peregrines, they are amazing birds to see.
 Sometimes motors can give off a whine or whistle when doing nothing, I think it may depend on the drives. I know mine whistled constantly with the  drives I had at first but they dont with the geckos. Have you tried messing with the accel and velocity on the motor tuning pages?
Hood
Title: Re: Configuring mach
Post by: Jacko on July 16, 2006, 10:58:32 AM
I cant believe it - I can jog the motors - nothing else yet.    The problem is it jogs only one way.  If I jog minus the motors jog minus and if I jog plus the motors jog the same way = minus.  Any ideas?
Title: Re: Configuring mach
Post by: Hood on July 16, 2006, 11:04:51 AM
Not gonna be much help here, getting too technical for me I think ;) Possibly it could be your Direction signal is not getting through so it continues to Jog in the one direction. Dont know i thats possible or not but might be worth checking out that your wires are correct for it.
 Hood
Title: Re: Configuring mach
Post by: Brian Barker on July 16, 2006, 11:47:25 AM
The direction pin is not set right :( Did the engineer get back to you?
Title: Re: Configuring mach
Post by: Jacko on July 16, 2006, 12:25:08 PM
Hi Brian, Yes the engineer e mailed me friday night - the first direct communication I have had.  Did you contact them and put a rocket up them for me?  If so it has worked and I am very gratefull. He has sent me some screen prints of dialogue boxes which I have tried out today mainly to no avail but has promised to contact me on monday with his latest xml file and more support. To see the motors actually turn in jog mode though, albeit with uncontrolled direction has, together with the engineers promise to sort it, has cheered  me up . This forum is a brilliant idea and it is fascinating to be helped by people all round the world. Well done.
Thanks very much to you and hood for your interest and suggestions.  will keep you posted.
Jacko
Title: Re: Configuring mach
Post by: Jacko on July 17, 2006, 01:43:41 PM
I have just got to tell someone - it works !!!!!!  I'm dont know what has made the difference after a lot of mucking about today but what a blast to see it follow a text wizard.  Thanks  for all your support but i'm sure - as Arnie would say - I'll be back !.
Jacko
Title: Re: Configuring mach
Post by: Hood on July 17, 2006, 03:51:37 PM
:-)
Title: Re: Configuring mach
Post by: Brian Barker on July 17, 2006, 07:11:25 PM
Good work!  8)