Messages

11

SmoothStepper USB / Re: MPG and smoothstepper, input problems

« on: December 20, 2008, 01:29:21 PM »

Hi Hood,

Sorry for not getting back sooner, just so busy finishing up for Christmas.

Anyway, you are correct, it is only the six single ended inputs that are used. My problem with the inputs is it seems because my second BOB is so basic and cannot use the outputs as inputs. I've managed to work around it for now by using the available inputs on the second BOB for the multiplyer and three of the inputs on the SS for Axis select. Not as I would like it but it works now at least

I suppose really what I need is MODIO or something like as I can see this is going to get me wanting to build a console but this will do for a start.

Thanks for all the help.

12

SmoothStepper USB / Re: MPG and smoothstepper, input problems

« on: December 05, 2008, 03:21:18 PM »

I'll try to get my XML uploaded later tonight, it is on a different machine.

On the same sort of theme, i.e. inputs, I'm using A & B on the SS for the pulse generator. The manual says I can use the other pins as Parallel port type input pins. How many of these pins can I use as inputs, is it just the ones marked "+" (2A+, 2B+ etc.)? The manual is unclear as it states "The strip of 11 green screw terminals is meant for encoders, but may be used as input pins, just the same
as the pins on the two parallel ports." This seems to imply (to me) that all pins can be used but a table below this shows only six pins. I'm thinking that if I can use all the pins, I would be better off using the SS for the pendant as that would give me the required number of pins.

Regards, Jeff.

13

SmoothStepper USB / Re: MPG and smoothstepper, input problems

« on: December 04, 2008, 03:18:18 PM »

Thanks for that Hood,

Would you know if I need pull-up resistors fitted to enable pins 2-9 to work on the 2nd port BOB (it really is a bare-bones BOB)? The encoder works perfectly, The A axis DRO counts up and down with turning the wheel, I just cannot get Mach to detect when I have selected X,Y or Z or the step multiple from the pendant.

i.e. If I change the selected axis on the pendant, nothing happens in Mach (it is stuck on A) and I'm positive the wiring and Mach config is correct. Doing a little research suggests I may need pull-up resistors but it would be nice to have it confirmed.

Many thanks for the help.

14

SmoothStepper USB / MPG and smoothstepper, input problems

« on: December 04, 2008, 12:38:32 PM »

I'm running the latest SS plugin on Mach3 V3.042.020.

I want to install an MPG, one of these: http://cgi.ebay.com.hk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110309110622&ih=001&category=633&_trksid=p1742.m153.l1262

I have the encoder hooked up to the SS's own inputs and it works fine.

For the axis select and step multiplier, I want to use a BOB on Port 2 of the Smoothstepper. The BOB I have is this one: http://www.slidesandballscrews.com/cnc25-pi-140.html?osCsid=bfd521b8f0ca780a0201e058aead5b1e as you can see it is about as basic as you can get.

I have enabled the second port in Mach3 and ticked "pins 2-9 as input" and in the SS plugin I have set the pins 2-9 as "In". I assume that is correct.

I've set the ports & pins inputs for the OEM triggers to port 2 , the relevant pins (3-8) and I've added the OEM codes in the hotkey setup  but mach or the SS does not see any switches, however, if I wire into pins 10 upwards, I can get mach to see them. Does anyone have any idea why I can't seem to input on pins 2-9 when mach and SS are set correctly? Could there be something funny about my BOB or have I gone about connecting it wrong?

Regards, Jeff.

15

Feature Requests / 3DConnexion, 6 axis controllers, please add support

« on: October 04, 2008, 12:38:49 PM »

Hi everyone,

Would there be any possibility to add support for the 3DConnexion line of 6 axis (or 6 DOF) mice? The Space Navigator is extremely affordable at only £34 in the UK ($50?) and would make a superb jog pendant. There is a full SDK available from the 3DConnexion website for adding support into Mach3. You could also add support into LazyCam too. I own a SpacePilot (top of their range) and it has revolutionised how I interact with CAD/CAM applications like Solidworks and Mastercam.

Have a look at these devices on the 3DConnexion website.http://www.3dconnexion.com

Thanks for looking.

regards, Jeff.

16

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mouse, keyboard disappear then total shutdown, Mach3, Dell Laptop

« on: September 01, 2008, 05:18:33 PM »

Whatever works then, right? 

Glad you got it working-

Dave

Hi Dave,

       Since my last reply, the shutdown problem came back but only on really long runs. I'd also asked about this in other places and found out that while the C640 is a well regarded laptop, it does have cooling issues and I was advised to strip off the keyboard and check whether the heatsink had become detached from the CPU and it had, partially at least plus there was a lot of dust and fluff in the cooling vanes. Cleaned the cooling system, added some new thermal grease and put it back together. I've been running it very hard over the last two days and had zero problems. I think we can add the Dell C640 to the list of Laptops that work with Mach3 now.

Big thanks to PMINMO for the help with RMClock and other excellent advice.

Regards, Jeff.

17

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mouse, keyboard disappear then total shutdown, Mach3, Dell Laptop

« on: August 25, 2008, 04:33:38 PM »

Hi everyone,

Just to update, I installed XP Pro(SP2, standard PC) over my Win2000 setup last night just to compare and while my mouse/keyboard problem had gone, the drivertest results were almost as bad as before and the missed steps etc were back. It didn't seem to matter what I did other than running RMClock, which helped a little, I couldn't get a clean graph at all. I've just re-installed Win2000 and all is smoothness again.

So, for me it appears that Win2000 in Standard PC mode is the way to go.

Thanks to you all for your help.

Regards, Jeff.

18

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mouse, keyboard disappear then total shutdown, Mach3, Dell Laptop

« on: August 24, 2008, 10:36:28 AM »

Thanks for all the help guys,

I've installed Win2000 as Standard PC and the difference is remarkable. The lockup problem is gone. In XP I was getting missed steps and stalling at rediculous rates (500mm/min). The steppers are perfect now, smooth and no chugging like before. I'm working the motors up past 2000mm/min and still no problems. I have not tried stopping services or processes yet and may not have to with a little luck

I may just install XP on another partiton just to see if it was the problem.

Once again, thanks for the help


Regards, Jeff.

19

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mouse, keyboard disappear then total shutdown, Mach3, Dell Laptop

« on: August 24, 2008, 08:13:14 AM »

Hi Chaoticone,

I'm afraid a laptop is a must use

The router wil be housed in an outbuilding and we live in a very damp, corrosive atmosphere next to the sea. A desktop/monitor would almost certainly have to permanently live out there too and while I can harden the machine against damp, the PC might not fare as well.

I've decided to experiment and start with installing Win2000 with a setup as per the Optimisation.txt (standard PC) and see where that takes me. I was using RMClock to mooth out the parallel port and that was working good, thought I almost was there until this little problem. In case it is the Parallel port I was thinking of getting a smoothstepper, can't hurt to try.

Thanks for the help.

Regards, Jeff.

20

General Mach Discussion / Mouse, keyboard disappear then total shutdown, Mach3, Dell Laptop

« on: August 24, 2008, 04:48:39 AM »

Hi everyone,

Have a strange problem with a Dell latitude C640 and Mach 3 2.63. Mach loads fine (Mill) and will sometimes run ok but often for no apparent reason the mouse disappears, the keyboard freezes and after a short while the PC shuts down. This mostly happens when I'm in the config menus, also happens clicking on a dialogue box button. I'v also noticed it happens when Mach3 is running a GCode program, Roadrunner for example. The program proceeds maybe 3/4 of the way through and the mouse disappears, keyboard locks up. What is wierd is that Mach keeps running for maybe a minute before unceremoniously, the PC shuts down.

Things I've tried:

Optimization txt. Gone through this document and other than a re-install of XP or W2000 I've pretty much exhausted that.

Disabled all unused services

Turned off Intel Speedstep

Disabled Wireless LAN and Ethernet.

Installed special driver

Laptop is Dell Latitude c640, P4 mobile @ 2.4 GHz, 1gig ram. Windows XP Pro SP2 running Mach3 R26.3 (also does this in developement version too)

Has anybody any ideas what could be the cause, Mach is the only software that the PC crashes in.


Many thanks for any replies.

Regards, JEff.