Messages

191

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Old turret lathe

« on: September 09, 2018, 04:53:40 PM »

Note that the Hobby version of Mach4 allows only one OB axis. If your
configuration uses OB to implement the spindle, you cannot also use
it for your turret. OB spindles are ones that use step and direction to
run a stepper or servo as the spindle motor.

192

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Old turret lathe

« on: September 09, 2018, 01:29:42 PM »

I assume you are talking about a turrent that does not ride on the saddle.

Seems like you could set up some limit switches for the turret travel and
use an M code to trigger some PMC code to cycle the turret using the
existing power feed. Take care that you can prevent collisions.

193

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: /p profile name not working for me

« on: August 23, 2018, 09:43:03 AM »

There should not be a space between the  /  and the  p 

194

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Help with stoppage mid cycle

« on: August 14, 2018, 08:23:38 PM »

Re-start? You mentioned a freeze, which is what happens when a limit is tripped, but it does
cause Mach4 to provide an error message at the bottom of the screen. You might click on
the History button to make sure that one did not scroll past.

Brushes in a line powered router like the Dewalt can cause plenty of problems if worn.

195

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Help with stoppage mid cycle

« on: August 14, 2018, 07:19:25 PM »

Did you look at the bottom line on the Mach4 screen to see if it provided
an error message?

My guess is that you got a false trip on a limit switch input due to the
load on the spindle. This can happen if you have a spindle motor with
brushes, and especially if the brushes are worn. Sometimes you can
help avoid this by using a shielded power cable to the spindle.

196

General Mach Discussion / Re: No movement all 3 axix's

« on: August 12, 2018, 11:36:19 AM »

Actually 3.3 volts does meet the specifications of the G251X drivers.

197

General Mach Discussion / Re: No movement all 3 axix's

« on: August 10, 2018, 09:33:33 PM »

One pulse for each jog attempt sounds like you may have the step and directions signals interchanged with each other.

198

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Slaving Axis in Mach 4

« on: July 22, 2018, 07:37:04 AM »

In Mach4 you can achieve slaved motion by mapping more than one motor to an axis.
This is a built in software function.

Some motion controller hardware, but not the Pokeys57CNC as best I know, can also
"clone" an axis, or you can in many cases simply wire two motor drivers to a single set
of step and direction outputs When either of these is done, Mach4 does not "see" the
additional motor and behaves as if it were a single motor.

To set up the software version of slaving use the Config functions of Mach4.

For builds of Mach4 earlier than 3804, see: Config > Mach and select the Axis Mapping tab.

For build 3804 or later it is now: Config > Control and select the Axis Mapping tab.

The software approach is easier to configure in most cases because you can control the
spin direction of each motor using the "Reverse" check box on the Motors tab in the
Mach4 Config dialog. Please note that it is important that each Motor used with the
slave function should have the same Steps per Unit, Velocity, and Acceleration.

199

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Best Mach 4 I/O Borad ?????

« on: July 05, 2018, 10:14:26 AM »

Sorry, but you have overstated the PMDX-424's number of I/O signals.
These signals do not try to mimic parallel port mapping, you just assign
them in the plug-in configuration by name.

It provides 4 axis step and direction, with a slaved 5th motor if desired.

There are 3 logic level outputs, plus one relay.

There are 8 isolated general purpose inputs.

There is an isolated E-Stop and fault input.

There are 3 non-isolated inputs that can function as an encoder with
Index, or as just general purpose inputs, typically panel buttons.

For more info, see:  http://www.pmdx.com/PMDX-424

Cheers, Steve

200

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: WHATS THIS ERROR..??? Clearing a spurious limit hit latch event,

« on: June 26, 2018, 05:24:55 PM »

I am confused. You stated that reactors could be a problem for SCRs trying to commutate. Line filters contain reactors (inductors) and would have this same effect. Perhaps it is a matter of the size of the inductor in a "filter" being smaller than a "line reactor"?