Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: PMDX 122/ Mach3 Manual Pulse generator confusion

« on: January 19, 2012, 06:00:19 PM »

Thank you for the great information.

  I will implement what I can and post my progress.

  Gumby

2

General Mach Discussion / Re: PMDX 122/ Mach3 Manual Pulse generator confusion

« on: January 19, 2012, 09:12:50 AM »

Just out of curiosity, what are you using in place of Parallel ports?

  Thanks,
  H

 ( I have a lot of reading to do about that brain stuff. I see the logic, but I don't have any idea of the syntax or commands)

3

General Mach Discussion / Re: PMDX 122/ Mach3 Manual Pulse generator confusion

« on: January 19, 2012, 07:59:57 AM »

Here are two possible parallel cards. Has anyone reading this been using the USB internal one like this with success?

  http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-ICUSB1284INT-Internal-Motherboard-Parallel/dp/B004KLYBBE/ref=sr_1_15?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1326977457&sr=1-15

  I know on audio cards there are latency issues with USB, so I don't know if that is also an issue with the CNC crowd.

  There is also this one.

  http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-1-Port-Parallel-Adapter-PCI1PECP/dp/B00006B8BS/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1326977508&sr=1-1

  I don't know the company Startech, but the reviews are good.

  Just want to buy the right one up front if anyone has any insight on expansion cards. I remember reading a lot about this on the industrialhobbies website, but the issue may be a non-issue by now. (He was also plugging his sixty dollar 5V PCI card, so I never saw the advice as unbiased)

  Henry G.

  BTW, the speed of the responses here has been amazing. Thank you Hood for being on top of it. and thanks also to BR549.

4

General Mach Discussion / Re: PMDX 122/ Mach3 Manual Pulse generator confusion

« on: January 19, 2012, 07:48:16 AM »

Thanks again for the clear input. I looked at those two other solutions.
 
  Am I right in thinking that "Brains" are the term for some kind of macro in the programming?

  Like a trigger that performs some function?

  Also, using the PMDX, is there still an issue with the 3.3 versus 5V Parallel port expansion cards?

  That was my biggest concern with using a newer computer or getting a second PCI parallel card. I know the PMDX has that charge pump, but I wasn't sure if that was just a buffer, or actually compensating for lower voltage boards.

  This is all good news. I have been sitting on this project not sure how to move forward, but this really helps.

  Is there a way to sync the ready light (The one on the Pendant) with the reset button in the software? It may be nice to know right away if the motors are armed by using the LED on the Pendant to light when there are no faults.

  Thanks,
  Henry G.

5

General Mach Discussion / Re: PMDX 122/ Mach3 Manual Pulse generator confusion

« on: January 18, 2012, 08:39:25 PM »

Thank you for the quick reply. If I use a second PMDX, would that give me enough inputs? (right now I only have the one. (Do the E-Stop and limit switches use up inputs or is that considered standard with five additional?)

  Sorry for the novice questions, but my head starts to swim after a while.

  Will I also need a PCI parallel card if I add another PMDX?

  Also, is there a better recommendation than a second PMDX? If I have to get another card, I would be open to suggestions. (Maybe a usb one so I don't need a second pci card)

  lastly, what is a brain? Is it software? I am unfamiliar with that term. 

  Thanks again, I really appreciate it.

  Henry G.

6

General Mach Discussion / PMDX 122/ Mach3 Manual Pulse generator confusion

« on: January 18, 2012, 07:40:58 PM »

I purchased a handheld MPG online and I want to hook it up. I am using the jog dial usb controller now, but would like something with those clear detents to know when and how far I move the axis. (My machine is a three axis converted Seig X2.)

  So I am looking at the MPG.. there are 21 wires and that is where the confusion starts.  Mach3 seems to understand the A-B signals. Which is pretty straight forward. This pendant has the 1X10X100 dial and 6 Axis positions on a second dial.  It also has an enable switch (momentary) and an E-Stop.

  It is 100 CPR and runs on +5 volts.

  It looks almost exactly like this one....

 

  (I know the pic only shows five axes, but other than that, it's pretty much the same as mine)

  I am using a PMDX-122 breakout board. (A single one) so I am trying to figure out if I can use all the functionality of the pendant. I saw nothing about the 1 X 10 X 100 on this forum or on the PMDX manual. I also could not figure out about the enable switch, or the axis selector.

  Is this some simple thing I am missing, or am I trying the impossible here? I would appreciate any help that could be provided on this topic. Here are the pinouts from the MPG in case that helps answer anything

    1:  Red-           +5V
    2:  Black            0V
    3:  Green            A
    4:  White            B
  *3:  Purple           (It says "While the user chooses the L type driver")
  *4:  Purple/Black   (It says "While the user chooses the L type driver")
    5:  Green/Black   + Ready Lamp
    6:  White/Black   -  Ready Lamp
    7:  Yellow           X  Axis
    8:  Yellow/Black   Y  Axis
    9:   Brown           Z  Axis
    10: Brown/Black  4th Axis
    *9 (18) Pink       5th Axis  (While user adds 5th and 6th Axes)
    *10 (19)            6th Axis  (While user adds 5th and 6th Axes)
    11:  Grey            1X  (Amplification Multiple)
    12: Grey/Black     10X  (Amplification Multiple)
    13: Orange         100X  (Amplification Multiple)
    14: Orange/Black   COM
    15: Cambridge Blue  C   (It says Imperative Switch, but I am guessing that means the E-stop)
    16: Blue/Black         CN (It says Imperative Switch, but I am guessing that means the E-stop)
    17: Red/Black          Standby
    Last one is not numbered, but says N.C.

  Thanks in advance, and I am hoping this discussion will help others that are trying the same thing.

  Peace,
  Henry G. (Gumby)

7

General Mach Discussion / Single or Mulitple Power Supplies??

« on: November 28, 2006, 10:30:55 PM »

I am beginning to make a cnc machine. I am confused about the power supplies. Do I need one giant supply to power all the motors, or do I need one for each axis of movement? Is it possible for all the motors to be running simultaneously, or does it pulse each motor individually in sequence? It seems like that would make a difference in power requirements. Also,

  If I have a brush type servo motor, and a 500 line encoder, Is the encoder the only thing that makes the resolution of the motor, or does the motor winding have to be "mated" to the encoder so the two talk? I see many motors talking about the number of steps, and I know a lot of servo motors are revamped step motors with encoders, so it makes me wonder if this is an issue. If a motor has 300 "steps" and a 500 line encoder is that a mismatch, or is there something that happens when you go to servos that makes that a non-issue?

  Thanks in advance to any replies. These seem like some deep waters I'm beginning to step into (no pun intended) and I am glad to have an area like his to do brain-picking in.

  Peace,
  Gumby