Topics

1

HiCON Motion Controller / Hicon Mach 4 connection issue

« on: October 30, 2017, 07:08:05 AM »

Okay, so everything connected up but on starting Mach and selecting Hicon as the motion controller the controller is detected and shows up briefly in the History window at the bottom of the screenset only to be replaced by "hicon disconnected" every few seconds. Accompanying this in what i assume is the debug window is the following  message "WARNING: Reduced Timer Socket transmit poll rate detected (1 pkts/sec)" . This fluctuates between 1 and 0 pkts/sec and i cannot get a permanent connection between the Hicon and Mach 4. Any assistance as to how i fix this gratefully received.

Scratch

2

HiCON Motion Controller / Using output ports chosen for M3 and M4 signals to VFD to power 24v relay coil

« on: October 22, 2017, 06:08:37 AM »

Hi, i have modified the standard 3 phase spindle motor on my Denford Easiturn with the addition of an independently powered 240v single phase electric fan in place of the shaft driven one to promote better cooling at low speeds. My question is , can i use the M3 or M4 output signal from the Integra to the VFD to also power the 24v  coil for the 240v relay to the electric fan or is this a bad idea?. what i'm aiming for is the fan to start up with the motor.
Many thanks

3

SmoothStepper USB / Smoothstepper port 3 pins?

« on: March 22, 2013, 11:39:18 AM »

Hi, does anybody know if you can use smoothstepper  port 3 input pins for single ended MPG connection and if so which can i use to connect two MPGs. They are currently connected to port  2 but i could really do with the port 2  inputs for other stuff?.

Many thanks
Scratch

4

General Mach Discussion / Opto Disc

« on: March 15, 2013, 05:45:23 AM »

Hi, i am in the process of machining a slotted disc for the spindle for pwm signals for  my cnc lathe retrofit but am unclear if the latest versions of Mach 3 support multiple slots plus a wider index  slot. I have read that  you can now only use  one slot so can somebody who really knows please clarify this as i would prefer to use multiple slots for greater accuracy if possible.

Many thanks
Charlie

5

Galil / All change from smoothstepper to Galil

« on: October 18, 2011, 07:32:17 AM »

Hi, i currently have a 3 axis router being controlled by Mach through a smoothstepper. Whilst reasonably reliable i still get a few drop out problems when using other machinery in the shop at the same time. I now have access to a Galil dmc1880 pci controller so i thought i'd give it a go. My first job when i retire will be converting the gantry to 5 axis so its worth the effort getting the Galil to work. I have a few questions to start.  (i) the Galil is registered and Mach sees it okay as i get a "galil reset complete" message when resetting but i have no drop down menu for the plug in control, is this normal ? (ii) Can i input the 24v limit/homing switch input directly into the galil board( I have the 100pin cables and icm 1900 breakout boxes) or does it need reducing to 5v?
(iii) I have normally open limit/homing prox sensors at both ends of each axis but currently only one wire per axis into the controller as mach knows which way the gantry is moving. Do i need to change this and add seperate homing switches or can i jumper any of the connectors on the icm 1900 and if so which ones? (iv) I am using mitsubishi j2s servos which are currently set up to receive step/direction signals for activation. I am assuming i can continue in this fashion if i jumper  JP4 and JP5 on the galil board?
That's about it for now, any help greatfully appreciated. I can then hopefully move on to the next step. I do have a spare pc and some spare step motors and amps by the way which i will connect up to bench test before i rip all my old set up out.
Many thanks
Charlie

6

FAQs / problems with X and Y axis

« on: March 04, 2011, 04:00:07 PM »

Hi all, i have just replaced my steppers with servos and rewired my electrics  and fired up for the first time this evening. The Z axis homes as it should but the X and Y axis try to home in the opposite direction to the way they should. ie left to right and front to back. Also if you press the X+ or X- jog buittons they both move the axis in the same direction. This applies to the Y axis as well. If i switch off the auto override limits button  then i cannot jog the X or Y axis at all. The DRO reads negatively when it should read positively as well. I have obviously cocked up somewhere  and i may be missing something simple but any help greatly appreciated.

7

Modbus / MP03 pendant-Smoothstepper conflict

« on: June 21, 2010, 04:14:05 AM »

Help, has anyone managed to get the Homann Designs MP03 pendant kit working with the Smoothstepper running in Mach3 .I have tried everything my very limited electronics knowledge can think of without success as the two seem to be in complete conflict with each other. Very disappointing after having built it to find that on the face of it they appear to be incompatible.Unless you know differently.
Scratch

8

General Mach Discussion / Problems with jogging using latest ver.of Mach3

« on: February 11, 2010, 04:55:17 AM »

Hello again, i have a slight ( actually big ) problem with the jog controls after updating to latest ver.of mach. When trying to jog in any axis either with the touch screen or using the keyboard once the key has been depressed the axis will not stop moving even after the key is released. the carraige goes sailing along until it hits the limit switches. Most disconcerting. I have experienced a similar problem with earlier versions of mach  depending upon which USB port on the motherboard  i plugged the smoothstepper into. It still occasionally does funny things in jog mode using the older ver.  For instance, sometimes in step mode the stepper drive turns incredibly slowly. It will still stop at the requested increment say one millimetre but it takes forever to get there. Not sure if its a smoothstepper problem or mach problem. Any tweaks or advise greatly appreciated as its starting to get to a no confidence situation especially when jogging in Z with a tool in the collet. Using a desktop pc by the way not a laptop. Thinking of adding an MPG for jogging but will this cure it or will i still have the same problems?.
Many thanks

9

General Mach Discussion / No spindle output using latest ver. of Mach3 and latest SS plug in

« on: February 06, 2010, 03:07:59 PM »

Help, have just updated to latest version of mach 3 and latest smoothstepper plug in but now have no spindle ON  output using the spindle relay option. Spindle speed is controlled manually with a pot  but Mach (or the SS plug in)  now ignores the M3 command in the program to start the spindle and starts trying to cut the program with a stationary spindle. The movement delay option on spindle spin up no longer functions either. Have reinstalled earlier version of Mach and spindle function has returned but now i can't load the programs properly as i get an error telling me the start stop point of various lines of code don't match so won't run the program. Will try reinstalling old plug in tomorrow to see if that works. Any other ideas greatly appreciated.

10

Third party software and hardware support forums. / U-Hid keyboard emulator

« on: February 17, 2009, 10:44:33 AM »

Hi, anybody out there know if the new U-Hid keyboard emulator from Ultimarc is compatible with Mach3 and Smoothstepper?.
Thanks in anticipation.

Scratch