Messages

1

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: MACH 4 home switch configurations...

« on: December 02, 2023, 05:51:43 PM »

Mr Stallings, I performed the setup including the scripting.

A few questions...

I was able to do the first part of script with one error and was able to get it save w/o error...all axes homed and backed off a smidge after activating switches.

When I got to the second screen, what the video shows and what my screen show do not match.

the "--RefAllHome()" as line 1 is not there

Line 1 reads "wait = coroutine..." without the 2 -- preceding text

Line 4 in video shows space, mine does not...

I saved and the only thing I noticed is where the commentator states an error will show up, I noticed 2 red lines (I do not remember if they were there prior to edit) and my keyboard jogging does not work now...

I was actually trying to move axes to see if the ref all axes button would move machine again like in first script, however, I can't get it to move at all now...

See screenshots and let me know if you see anything out of place...

thanks!

2

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: MACH 4 home switch configurations...

« on: November 26, 2023, 08:16:45 AM »

Good morning Mr Stallings. I do have the steppers operating with the board as I am able to jog the machine around via the keyboard.

I guess the question arose as before the scripting change, the narrator went thru the homing sequence. I couldn't tell if it was performed for display purposes as I didn't hear a machine running...



Thanks!

3

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: MACH 4 home switch configurations...

« on: November 25, 2023, 07:13:13 PM »

Hi Steve, I came across this video from Warp9...Not sure if you are the author/commentator, but I believe this is what you are referring to as far as set up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laLrcg_RbNw

Do I have to physically have the software hooked up to the machine? Right now I took the computer to my office so I can configure the software step by step while referencing the youtube video on another computer.

thanks

4

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: MACH 4 home switch configurations...

« on: September 04, 2023, 08:41:20 PM »

You mentioned limit switches. According to the screens you posted, you have home switches, not limit switches. Careful with terminology so you don't confuse people.

First step is to get homing working properly. If machine does not home correctly, use the Mach4 "Diagnostics" screen to verify that Mach4 can see your home switches. The indicators on the diagnostics are in the right hand column of the Input Signals part of the panel. M0 and M1 labels may be missing the word home, but are the same type of indicator as the M2 Home etc. directly below them.

If you had actual limit switches they would have names like M0-- and M0++.

The configuration option for Home Offset is often misunderstood. It does not cause any motion, rather it determines the numeric value associated with the location where the homing operation stops the machine. One common way to use this is to define Home Offset to a small negative value like -0.100 so that telling the machine to Go to Zero will cause the machine to come to rest 0.100 from the home position.

You are, I think, trying to set up Soft Limits. Since you are NOT using home-in-place without home switches, it is mandatory that you have homing working and that the machine is homed before enabling Soft Limits. The Soft Limits function does not take effect until you enable it. The control for turning it on is in the set of functions in the lower right block of the main Mach4 screen. The button is labeled "Soft Limits On/Off".

Pay attention to the error messages in the bottom line of the main screen to make sure Mach4 does not have issues with your Soft Limits configuration.

Steve Stallings
PMDX

Thank you Steve. You are correct as these are homing switches. I will follow up and let you know what I find...

Thanks again!

Mr Stallings, I went into the diagnostics tab and the M0, M1 and M2 inputsare not lit along with the ES...however the outputs are...

I went into configure / inputs / homing selecting M0, M1 and M2 putting green checks in all 3 boxes. Select OK and nothing changes. I go back into config and nothing has taken hold...

Thx
ROG

5

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: MACH 4 home switch configurations...

« on: August 26, 2023, 04:20:04 PM »

You mentioned limit switches. According to the screens you posted, you have home switches, not limit switches. Careful with terminology so you don't confuse people.

First step is to get homing working properly. If machine does not home correctly, use the Mach4 "Diagnostics" screen to verify that Mach4 can see your home switches. The indicators on the diagnostics are in the right hand column of the Input Signals part of the panel. M0 and M1 labels may be missing the word home, but are the same type of indicator as the M2 Home etc. directly below them.

If you had actual limit switches they would have names like M0-- and M0++.

The configuration option for Home Offset is often misunderstood. It does not cause any motion, rather it determines the numeric value associated with the location where the homing operation stops the machine. One common way to use this is to define Home Offset to a small negative value like -0.100 so that telling the machine to Go to Zero will cause the machine to come to rest 0.100 from the home position.

You are, I think, trying to set up Soft Limits. Since you are NOT using home-in-place without home switches, it is mandatory that you have homing working and that the machine is homed before enabling Soft Limits. The Soft Limits function does not take effect until you enable it. The control for turning it on is in the set of functions in the lower right block of the main Mach4 screen. The button is labeled "Soft Limits On/Off".

Pay attention to the error messages in the bottom line of the main screen to make sure Mach4 does not have issues with your Soft Limits configuration.

Steve Stallings
PMDX

Thank you Steve. You are correct as these are homing switches. I will follow up and let you know what I find...

Thanks again!

6

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: MACH 4 home switch configurations...

« on: August 26, 2023, 04:10:12 PM »

I purchased a used and operating CNC milling machine with a PMDX-126 BOB running MACH 4. when I got it set up, I couldn't get the steppers to move with keyboard. I got it to move thanks to Steve Stallings at PMDX support. I'm not sure while going through configurations, I reset something to lose that link...

Fast forward, I installed home switches on my X, Y and Z axes and plugged in soft limits on the X and Y axes.

My BOB shows home switches operational, however, while manually moving it, it didn't stop moving while going beyond the limit...is this normal as now I'm definitely paranoid about running it under power to home as I don't know if it'll stop.

I have attached some pics of settings as is right now.

Is there a place where I put in the "bounce back" distance?

Is there anything missing as far as settings, checks, numbers, etc?

Thanks in advance...

ROG

Corrected to home switches with soft limits...my apologies for any confusion...

7

Mach4 General Discussion / MACH 4 home switch configurations...

« on: August 26, 2023, 12:52:58 PM »

I purchased a used and operating CNC milling machine with a PMDX-126 BOB running MACH 4. when I got it set up, I couldn't get the steppers to move with keyboard. I got it to move thanks to Steve Stallings at PMDX support. I'm not sure while going through configurations, I reset something to lose that link...

Fast forward, I installed home switches on my X, Y and Z axes and plugged in soft limits on the X and Y axes.

My BOB shows limit switches operational, however, while manually moving it, it didn't stop moving while going beyond the limit...is this normal as now I'm definitely paranoid about running it under power to home as I don't know if it'll stop.

I have attached some pics of settings as is right now.

Is there a place where I put in the "bounce back" distance?

Is there anything missing as far as settings, checks, numbers, etc?

Thanks in advance...

ROG

8

General Mach Discussion / Re: ess + g540... think I'm setup but afraid to hit the ref all home!

« on: August 26, 2023, 12:43:50 PM »

so... for the record I figured out how to get things to home... so I'm almost home.  at this point... my x axis homes, sets it to zero, and moves .5 off of that.  Great.
my z axis homes but is set to +6.45 and my y axis is set to 32.45?  I want these where they are (z=top, x=left, y=front) but I want them set to zero at these positions... if anyone can guide me here it'd be apprecaited.

OK, I'm sinking in this boat. I purchased a used CNC milling machine with a PMDX-126 BOB running MACH 4. when I got it set up, I couldn't get the steppers to move with keyboard. I got it to move thanks to Steve Stallings at PMDX support. I'm not sure while going through configurations, I reset something to lose that link...

Fast forward, I installed home switches on my X, Y and Z axes and plugged in soft limits on the X and Y axes.

My BOB shows limit switches operational, however, while manually moving it, it didn't stop moving while going beyond the limit...now I'm definitely paranoid about running it under power to home as I don't know if it'll stop.

I have attached some pics of settings as is right now.

Is there a place where I put in the "bounce back" distance?

Is there anything missing as far as checks, numbers, etc?

Thanks in advance...

9

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: New guy here...

« on: June 15, 2023, 06:46:50 PM »

Probably the easiest way to get to your max travel is to jog close then slow it way down and slowly jog till it stops.
This will probably not damage anything and i am assuming it has a hard stop.
If they are stepper motors once you hit the hard stop you can loose position so pay attention.

Hi Bill, thanks for the input...by "hard stop", I'm assuming you mean out of threaded rod or solid stop built into the ways by manufacturer?

Thanks again...ROG

10

Mach4 General Discussion / New guy here...

« on: June 15, 2023, 11:00:55 AM »

Virgin actually...

I've recently acquired a PM-727 CNC mill that came with E/S and switches, but were never installed. The BO board is a PMDX-126 with steppers and Mach 4 software. I got the E/S hooked up and now I am on to the switches...

My plans (for the moment) are to use the switches for homing and using Mach 4 soft stops for max X and Y travel...

I did have a 20 minute demo before taking home, so I am familiar with the jog function...

My question is, how do I "safely" get the machine to max travel for home limits? If I overshoot, is there a potential to damage something? Is there a way to tell when I'm close? I'm hoping I don't have to switch everything back to hand cranks / oem screws to accomplish this...

I realize this is real 101 material, just trying to avoid any real problems...

Thanks in advance, ROG66