Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: rabphxaz on December 18, 2008, 10:05:56 PM
-
School goes on.....I have a home built all-leadscrew 3-axis 24" x 48" cnc router w/ Xylotex steppers and I just bought an optical breakout board through which I want to run limit switches. I have wired all the switches together using the NC (normally closed) pin, put 5 VDC through the switches, and hooked it to opening #15 on the board. I then went to the ports and pins input section and activated the x, y, and z plus and minuses, and entered pin #15 for all of them. When I turn everything on and trip a limit switch, nothing happens and none of the LEDs light up on the diagnostics page. Anyone know what I'm doing wrong?
Also, when I use VCarvePro to calculate a toolpath, it asks me what version of Mach 3 I want to use for the postprocessor, and it has 4 choices (Mach 3 Arcs, Mach 3 Line, etc.) How do I know which version I have?
Thanx again, Bob
-
It may be the case that your BOB requires the Input pin to be grounded through the switches, what make is it?. As for the PP afraid I cant help other than saying there are not different versions of Mach such as Mach Arc etc, I would imagine a quick email to Vectric would give the answer on which is most suited.
Hood
-
Reply to Hood
-
Hood -- I see you're online; I'm trying to attach a wiring diagram but am having trouble. Hang in there. My last email wasn't posted but an attachment was, so it might be confusing. I thought if I could post the wiring diagram and the email I sent to the guy who provided the BOB you might be able to help me with it. I'll try again. Thanks, Bob
-
wiring diagram to Hood
-
If the pdf is not the same as your BOB then is there any markings on yours?
Hood
-
Hi Hood,
The markings are the same unless noted in the email I sent to Arturo. Did you get that?
Bob
-
Ok just will read through and see what I make of it.
Hood
-
OK I think you are needing 2 power supplies, one from the PC and the other should be seperate to preserve the opto isolation. The PC one goes to the 5V and 0V at the top of the pic and your other power supply goes to the 5V and 0V at the bottom of the pic. You need to keep the jumper wire in to enable the board.
Hood
-
Oh just thought I better add, when I say 0V it is the connection that Arturo calles Ground (Gnd)
Hood
-
OK, I have done that. Maybe I should mention that I have to bob hooked up and i can run the 3 axes through it -- but i wanted to use the limit switches as kill switches, that is, i figured that since i have 6 limit switches at various locations around the machine, if something went wrong i could just manually trip a limit switch to stop the machine. But when I run the machine and trip one of the switches, nothing happens. i am now wondering if i haven't set up the pins/ports correctly.
bob
-
Hood, I'm going to try to take a picture of my bob as it is set up and the machine and send it to you. give me a few minutes.
-
Ok for the limits you should have them all wired in series, ie you take a 5v (next to one of the input connections (10, 11, 12, 13 or 15) put it into one side of the first switch, the second side of the switch goes to the first wire on the next switch and the second wire goes to the next switch etc, once you have all of your switches wired like that you then put the last spare wire into the Input you wish to use.
Hood
-
don't know why but the pics won't send, although when i tried to send them the second time, i got a message saying that i had already sent that file. I do have the limit switches wired in series and have put 5 vdc through them to the POWER part of the board that has 3 little screws, with the red wire in the 5vdc hole and the black wire in the ground hole.
-
No you take your power from the 5v that is beside the input pin and then the other end of the switch chain goes into the input pin you have chosen. If you look at the way the limit is wired in the pic you have attached you do exactly the same as that but instead of just one switch you would have a chain of switches.
Hood
-
Its a bit rough but you should get an idea of what they should be connected like from this.
Hood
-
this is driving me crazy. renamed the pics and tried to send again, but the screen just turns white. However, I made a mistake in my last post -- i have 5vdc going to each power input area, one from a wall wart type battery charger and one using the PC via a usb cable. one end of the the limit switch wires is inserted into a hole labeled 5v in the input bar and the other end is inserted into the hole right next to it, labeled 15, which i take to mean pin #15. is that correct?
-
our posts are passing each other in the ether, i think.
-
That sounds correct, will pm you with my email address so you can send the pic direct.
Hood
-
thanks, they went out just a minute ago
-
OK looks like you have two wires (red and black) going into each of the connections at 15 and the 5V beside it. That is not correct as far as I can see although I do not know what is at the other end of them.
If these wires (red black ) are the two wires on a switch then heres what you do, connect the red of one switch to the 5V then the black of that switch goes to the red of the next switch and the black of that second switch goes into 15
Hood
-
the two wires that you see are actually one wire -- the shielded cable i used had the 2 red and black in it, and i soldered them together at every connection point.
-
those are the limit switch wires - just think of each red/black combo as one wire.
-
the green wire that's next to them is the ground wire that i soldered to the ground prong of the 3-prong wall plug, and that is plugged into the house wiring. the other two wires in the plug are not connected to anything.
-
ok so you have one wire going from the 5v to the first wire on the first switch, then the second wire from the first switch going to the first wire on the next switch and so on until all switches are connected and the the wire that is left goes to pin 15?
If that is what you have then it is correct.
You should really be connecting the ground to you control cabinets chasis but looks like you are just set up on the bench at the moment so that would do.
Hood
-
yes, i have the switches connected that way, and i have checked them for continuity. both that wire and the ground are continuous, and i can trip any limit switch to break continuity. so it may be that i have the bob wired correctly -- do you think that the mistake might be in the ports/pins section in mach3? i'm going to bring that up so i can refresh my memory on what i have done there, and report back.
-
ok attach your xml, you will need to copy it from the Mach3 folder to your desktop and then rename it, call it rabphxaz.xml and then attach it to your reply and I will have a look.
Hood
-
ok, i went to ports/pins, input signals, and i have enabled x++, x--, y++, y--, and z++, z--, all to port #1, pin #15. down further i see that Estop is enabled, but no ports or pins are chosen. in the Output Signals tab, i have output #1, port #1 enabled.
-
ships pasing in the night again. i don't know what an xml is.
-
OK that sounds correct for your limits but dont think you need the output unless you have something connected to it.
Anyway the xml is the file that holds all of your settings and you will find it in the Mach3 folder. There will be several there, one for mill, one for turn etc. If you are using the standard Mill profile then the one you want to attach is Mach3Mill.xml. To save you renaming it just email it to me.
Hood
-
ok, i'll go get it.
-
sent to your email address
-
OK your xml looks fine and the way you describe the wiring sounds fine so looks like your breakout is not passing the signal. If you unplug the parallel port cable from the BOB do the Limits light on the diagnostics page? If they do then I think your BOB is faulty.
Hood
-
i'll try that, but it may take a while -- the old lady just got home and she needs attention. thanks for the effort, again.
bob
-
ok, you must obey the master ;D
Hood
-
There is an LED on the BOB for each input and output. Does the LED change state when you activate the limits? If it does, then you know the switches are working, and the optos on the BOB are working. If you're not seeing the "LEDs" in Mach change state, then the problem is the PP drivers on the BOB, or the PP itself. If the LEDs on the BOB do not change state when you activate the limits, then either the switches are not working, or are incorrectly wired, or the optos on the BOB are likely blown. You can order replacement opto chips from CNC4PC, or try swapping two of the opto chips on your board, to see if that gets the limits going. The opto chips are the LTV847s at positions IC5, IC6, and the chip between IC6 and the PP connector (which does not seem to have an IC designator....). I would guess IC6 is probably the one that is used for all the input signals.
Regards,
Ray L.
-
Hood and Ray,
OK, I'm back and I think everything is good. I jogged over to a limit switch and the machine stopped, the reset button started blinking, and the error message said " limit switch tripped". Now, how do I jog off the switch? Do I short the 2 wires coming from the switches?
Thanks again, Bob
-
Several ways, you can have Auto Limit Override chosen on the Stetings page and it will allow you to reset then jog again (just watch you go the correct way ;) ) The first jog will be at a reduced rate but if you release and jog again it will be at your normal jog speed. The other way is to go to the settings page each time you hit a limit and choose to override them, that will let you reset and jog off but you will have to do the same again next time you hit a limit.
Now you have the limits working you should set them up as home switches also (just enable the home for same port pin) Then when you home it will move to the switch, hit it then reverse until it closes, you can reverse the homing direction from Config menu then Homing and limits. While you are there you can set up softlimits, this will stop you from hitting the physical limit switches by mistake, you will have to experiment to find the Slow Zone for your machine as it will depend on your velocity and acceleration how big you need to make it.
Hood
-
javascript:void(0);javascript:void(0); thank you once again, until the next time.
all the best, bob
-
I really didn't mean to be back so soon..... I went to Settings, Special Functions, Auto Limit Override, and clicked on it (it turns green), but the axis won't move. The red light at the Manual Override is blinking, and doesn't change either to green or stop when I click on it (the Override Limits button). Any ideas?
Thanks, Bob
-
Have you done the Reset before trying to Jog off?
Hood
-
I'm pretty sure I did, but when i tried to do it again this morning, my mouse stopped working and i need to solve that before i can do a double check. don't you ever sleep?
-
don't you ever sleep?
Yep, some people talk in their sleep, I type ;D
Hood
-
I can believe it. Re: jogging off limit switch, problem solved. Thanks again, bob
-
Great :)
Hood
-
Hood, I just sent an email to your PM, but then realized that this would be better. Just tried to do the first run w/ my machine, loaded a file, which appeared in the File line, pushed Cycle Start, but nothing happened. I can jog all three axes, the Diagnostics page is clean, there are no error messages, and the Reset button is not blinking. Any suggestions?
Thanx, Bob
-
Answered your PM, can you attach your code to this thread please.
Hood
-
see attached. by the "greenish box in the upper left hand corner of the screen', I mean the one where I think Gcode is supposed to be displayed, and it has a horizontal white stripe across the middle of it.
-
the code loads fine here, can you attach your xml and I will see if I can find a problem there.
Hood
-
attached
-
Strange, it loads fine when I use your xml so there is nothing wrong with it either. Maybe reinstalling Mach over the top of itself would cure it. One thing, what size computer do you have? If the graphics or CPU are lowish then try disableing the toolpath from General config and see if it loads.
Hood
-
It's a 2.2 Ghz HP w/ windows xp 2002 version. i followed the Mach requirements for Ram. I will try reinstalling Mach-- anything i should be aware of in doing that?
-
Not really, just run it again and it should install over the top of itself. First however just disable the toolpath, you will find a button on the Diagnostics page right above the reset that will turn it off, I was thinking it was in General Config as well but maybe not.
Oh and if you reinstall Mach then probably an idea to re-download it just in case the one you have is corrupt.
Hood
-
if i disable the toolpath from config and it loads, do i then un-disable the toolpath to run the file?
-
No, its just you wont have a toolpath view. What that will show is your CPU or more likely your graphics card is getting bogged down trying to load the toolpath.
Hood
-
disabling didn't work -- the file shows up in the FILE line but not in the green Gcode box
-
It's kind of a simple file -- just a rectangle -- so the graphics card shouldn't be overloaded. I will reinstall Mach.
thanx again, bob
-
that is a weird one indeed, never seen that happen before.
Hood
-
OK, now I'm really confused. since i played w/ the soft limits earlier, i thought i'd jog to the middle of the table just to see if maybe that had something to do w/ it, and i've apparently got that screwed up. the axes will only move in one direction and when i move in that direction and then try to move back, it will move about 1/2 inch and then stop -- that is, the axis will stop but the stepper will sound like it's being stressed. 1/2 inch is what i have the slow down set at. the table is x44 by y24 by z7, so I set the soft maxes at x43, y23, and z6, with the soft mins set at 0. the checks at the left under the heading Reversed are all red, the checks under the heading Home Neg are all red, and the checks under the Auto Zero are all green. I have 000Home set at the upper left corner if you are standing at the open end of the table where you would put the material in. is that all wrong?
-
it gets weirder -- see above
-
Just disable the softlimits and see if it works, button is right below the DROs at the right on the main programme run screen.
It kind of sounds like you have the Softlimits set wrong but a pic of your machine would help clarify, if you have such a thing.
Hood
-
i forgot to mention -- it does this even though i deactivated the soft limits button on the main screen
-
i will pic the machine
-
OK if it does it with softlimits disabled then thats not your problem.
Hood
-
i sent a reply w/ a picture but it hasn't shown up. i will try again
-
Hood, i have tried to send a pic 4 times now, keep getting a message saying that there is already a file w/ that name, but i have renamed the file every time.
-
LOL, sounds like you are a bad picker of names ;D Think you have my email address if so just mail it to me.
Hood
-
news: i turned the pc off and started it up again and the jogging is back to normal. i'm going to leave the soft limits button off and deal with that another day, but i still have the file load problem. do i have to get Artsoft to send another download link in order to reinstall mach?
-
Just download from here http://www.machsupport.com/downloads/Mach3Version3.042.020.exe
Hood
-
do i have to get Artsoft to send another download link in order to reinstall mach?
Nope, just look here at the tabs at the top, downloads. Just download and install it. If you have a Mach licenses it should find it during instalattion. I make it a habbit to back up all my stuff and save to a thumb drive. Screen sets, xmls, custom macros, Licenses, etc.
Brett
-
Hi rabphxaz ,
The answer to the second part of your first question (if you have not heard yet),
is to use the "arcs version" if you want to generate g2 or g3 moves in place of dozens of short tiny g1 moves.
be sure to check the"mach arc inches" or" mach arc mm" whichever you prefer to work in.
Glenn :)
-
Brett and Hood,
Tried downloading from the top of the page and am getting error messages that say a "decompression error has occurred (#5). I then have the options to abort, retry, or ignore. I ignored the first 2, but I aborted after the third one. Please advise.
Thanx, Bob
-
Are you trying to download and save or run? Try to save to your desktop and then run.
Brett
-
That's what I did.
-
Just downloaded it myself and its working fine, maybe try again?
Hood
-
Hi Hood,
Tried again, same thing. I'm wondering if the problem is with my computer, because I remember the same thing happening when I first downloaded Mach a month ago. I hit a decompression error and chose IGNORE, which may be the reason why I now can't import Gcode. I will try to line up another computer -- do I need to somehow transfer the license to the other pc to do this?
Bob
-
You can just copy the Mach1lic.dat file over to your new computer, either by network, cd, email or whatever method. You should find it in the Mach3 folder on your old computer.
Hood
-
Hi Hood,
Well, drove over to a friend's house and tried to download from there. Got the same error message, except that this time it reads, decompression error (#7)" instead of "decompression error (#5). I'm at a loss -- what do you think?
Thanx, Bob
-
I downloaded yesterday with no trouble. What browser are you using? I'm useing IE 7 and I think Hood is useing Opera.
Are you getting the error while trying to download or when trying to run (install Mach)?
Brett
-
On both computers I saved it to the desktop and then ran the install program. My browser is Firefox, and I think the other computer uses Firefox also. I tried both the link that Hood gave me and the download page from the website. I will try using IE.
Bob
-
Well thats certainly weird, I downloaded and installed it on a laptop just to see and it was fine for me, dont know what else to suggest.
Hood
-
Hood,
I had a computer pro come over and he has determined that the crv files that are being generated by VCarvePro are not text files. We loaded one of Mach's test files scorpion.tap and it reads as Gcode. The computer guy said that this *.tap file is a text file.
How do I turn a *.crv file into a *.tap (gcode) text file
or how do I export or save from vcarve to a *.tap file
or how do I open a *.crv file or a *.eps file or a *.ai or a *.dxf file from mach 3. These are all file formats that vcarve exports to.
Am I supposed to run a third program that turns *.crv files or *.ai or *.dxf or *.eps into a *.tap file
What am I missing?
Please help.
-
The file you attached was fine for me but it had a txt extension. Have you tried simply changing the file extension? V Carve should allow you the option of file extension to post with.
Hood
-
When you save a finished toolpath in VCarve pro, it saves it as a *txt file. In order to open this in Mach 3 you need to hit the drop down box (File Type) and choose either "*txt" files or "all files" and then your VCarve txt files will show up and allow you to open them.
Dave
-
Thanks, Dave, I'll give that a try. And thanks also, Hood, for all your effort.
Bob