Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: EXTERNAL ESTOP REQUESTED

« on: November 22, 2016, 09:29:12 AM »

Thanks for the response Tweakie.

Nothing had changed overnight between uses.  Basically with the machine just sitting there, in less than a minute after reset, it would throw the message.  It did it all day.  In desperation yesterday evening, I did a reset and immediately turned the spindle on.  It ran without the message.  I used it for a few hours last night with no issue and it sat all night without the ESTOP message. 

You must be correct on the noise.....  However, it doesn't seem to be in the ESTOP wiring.  If I activate the ESTOP wiring, the message indicates "ESTOP PRESSED".  The fault I am having is "ESTOP REQUESTED".  Do you have any idea what conditions cause Mach3 to give this message?

2

General Mach Discussion / EXTERNAL ESTOP REQUESTED

« on: November 21, 2016, 01:34:08 PM »

I have been using Mach3 on a Shopmaster MillTurn for a few years now.  I have not been having any issues with it....  Today, it throws a message "EXTERNAL ESTOP REQUESTED".

It happens when the machine is sitting with no GCODE running and nothing moving.  I checked the ESTOP switches but when they are depressed, the message is "ESTOP SWITCH PRESSED".  It will happen within 30 seconds of resetting it.  It happens in both mill mode and lathe mode.  I have rebooted everything.  Yesterday when I shut the machine down, the PC "hung" while turning off and I finally had to turn off the power switch.  I looked through the configs, but its been a while since I looked at them and I haven't changed anything.

What can cause this message (since pressing a ESTOP has a different message)?  Any ideas as to what it might be?

Thanks,

Terry

3

General Mach Discussion / Re: M3 speed control issue on startup

« on: February 06, 2016, 12:56:38 PM »

Vogavt,
Thanks, I'll give it a try when I return home next week.  One interesting thing I discovered last week is that in lathe mode ( I have a combination machine) Mach does not have this problem.  It goes to the correct speed on the first M3.

4

General Mach Discussion / Re: Issue with Y axis backlash compensation

« on: January 28, 2016, 04:28:31 PM »

Rich, yes, I tried turning the acceleration way down

5

General Mach Discussion / Re: M3 speed control issue on startup

« on: January 28, 2016, 08:50:44 AM »

Seems like a bug like that would be pretty easy to fix.  I'm pretty new at Mach 3.  Are there official bug lists for the different versions of Mach?

6

General Mach Discussion / Re: M3 speed control issue on startup

« on: January 28, 2016, 12:04:54 AM »

Roger,  I'm not sure I followed 100%, but here's a bit more info.

I have a VFD and set the max frequency at 120 HZ which equates to 5000 RPM on the mill spindle.  I have 5000 set in the pulley 1.  After the first M3 in a gcode file, the frequency is quite close.  It's just that first one that is ~20% or so high.  I had attempted to use the autocal routine to create a linearity.dat file, but that was not accurate at all.  I read on this forum that that feature had bugs and to delete the linearity.dat file.  After I did that, the speed is very close.

Its easy for me to fix the issue in a program by putting a M3 S0 in the initialization block of the c ode,.  I edited my post processor so that it sticks it in automatically.

The biggest nuisance now that I have that resolved is when I want to manually turn the spindle on.  I guess if I knew how to write screen code, I could have the spindle button put the M3 S0 in.  As it is now, I have to start the spindle with the button and retype the desired speed in the setpoint to get the correct speed.  I can also click the down arrow % adjustment and then the up arrow. 

Do all versions have this bug?

7

General Mach Discussion / Re: Issue with Y axis backlash compensation

« on: January 27, 2016, 11:49:35 PM »

Thanks.  I'll see if I can find out what kind of nuts,... the Millturn has and also how to save parameters so I can go to that earlier version.  .066 came on the machine.

I would sure be interested if the code I posted screws up other machines or just mine.

8

General Mach Discussion / Re: M3 speed control issue on startup

« on: January 27, 2016, 07:49:22 PM »

I am running version 3.043.066 on a new Shopmaster MillTurn.  The issue is in both mill and lathe mode.

I was a bit mistaken as the spindle does not go to max speed.  My initial speed was fairly close to max speed and it was bumping into it.  What is really happening is that on the first m3 command, the speed goes and stays significantly higher than set point.  M3 S3000 will go to about 3700 RPM.  A second M3 command of 3000 it will come down to 3000.  I can resolve it with my post processor by putting an M3 S0 in the initialization lines. 

However, the issue is also present when pressing the spindle start button on the screens.  If I have a set point of 3000 and hit the start spindle button, it goes to 3700.  If I retype 3000 in the set point box while it is running, it comes down to 3000.

Thanks for any ideas.

9

General Mach Discussion / Re: Issue with Y axis backlash compensation

« on: January 27, 2016, 07:40:44 PM »

I am using version 3.043.066.

I have a new Shopmaster MillTurn.  I have about .0022 backlash on X and about .0011.  I am not sure at this point what it would take to get that to zero on that price range machine.

The compensation code works fine on the X axis.  It's just that the Y axis compensation causes the querky problem with the X as described initially.

10

General Mach Discussion / Re: Issue with Y axis backlash compensation

« on: January 27, 2016, 09:12:31 AM »

Sorry I was unclear.  by "X axis loosing sync with the steps" I mean that it is as if you are asking it to move too fast so it stops moving and starts screaming or in other words, like you grab the hand wheel and stop its movement while it is still getting step commands.  I didn't mention in the previous post that I also dialed the acceleration down in case it was trying to start up too fast.  No help...

I actually have the Y backlash set at .0011.  If I asked it to move .002 in the opposite direction to the last move, I would expect it to rotate the screw enough to take the .0011 slack out plus the .002 movement.  What's even more interesting is that the Y does what is asked.....  but causes the X to break sync.