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1
Galil / Re: Three stupid questions
« on: February 20, 2012, 04:15:42 PM »
I'll answer #3.  You still use the Galil tools to set motor parameters (i.e. tuning KD, KP, KI) and then execute the BN (burn) command, othewise they will get reset.  If you're referring the Galil debug file, I think its in the Galil plugin directory.

2
Galil / Re: Slave axis travels faster during homing on DMC-4143
« on: February 08, 2012, 05:21:55 PM »
A couple people pinged me offline, so here's an update for anyone tracking it.  This is a known issue, reported by other users:

http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,17216.0.html

Steve explained to me what is going on: "What happens is that Mach sends a Home down to the plugin for the master axis and immediately sends a home to the slave axis.  But, and here is the kicker, the Galil has the axes geared together already.  So the slave axis is moving with the master at 1:1 plus the slave is getting a jog command (as a result of the second home operation) which effectively doubles the speed of the slave axis."

The home slave with master check box doesn't seem to have any effect on the issue.  Hoping we'll get a plugin update from Steve when he has time to address it.  If anyone else has had success in homing a Gantry with Mach & Galil, please respond to this thread.  Thanks!

3
Galil / Re: Slave axis travels faster during homing on DMC-4143
« on: January 16, 2012, 11:41:58 PM »
Thanks for the quick response.  That's how it is currently configured:

1. ‘Home Slave with Master’ in the general configuration - NOT CHECKED
2. ‘Perform Axis Squaring for Slaves’ in Galil plugin - CHECKED

I downloaded the latest Galil plugin, but the result is the same: slaved axis is traveling faster than primary axis and gets a limit error when it hits the switches.  BTW -- I have the conventional setup of three switches per axis of limit +, limit -, and home.  I've tested, using Galil Smarterm, that the limits are in the correct orientation for the Galil FLS, RLS (forward/reverse limit) convention and also confirmed in Mach limit +, limit -, and home.  Its worth noting that all switches and homing work fine if I treat it as a single axis.

See attached debug file captured using last plugin with above settings.  Thanks in advance for your help!

4
Galil / Slave axis travels faster during homing on DMC-4143
« on: January 16, 2012, 04:10:17 PM »
I have a 3-axis CNC (gantry with slave, so actually physical 4-axis’ total) using a Galil DMC-4143 controller.  All works well except slave axis homing.  I've read all of the threads and documentation to understand (and have tried) all permutations of ‘Home Slave with Master’ in the general config and ‘Perform Axis Squaring for Slaves’ in the Galil plug-in.  But after investigating all weekend I still have a problem: the slaved axis travels *faster* than the primary axis during homing, racking the gantry.

First, ‘yes’ I have the homing speeds set to be the same in the limits/homing configuration.  I thought it was my hardware or a setting in the Galil controller. So I performed a hard reset on the DMC-4143.  But what really convinced me is that if I simply swap the primary and slave axis cables coming out the Galil controller I get the same result with the other physical axis.  It’s what’s coming out of the Galil that making the slave axis move faster.  The final clue is this: the slaved axis actually slows down to what is the prescribed speed immediately *after* the primary axis is done homing.

I’ve attached two Galil debug files.  The first one is a successful home of the y-axis -- using diagnostics screen button to just home the y-axis only.  I accomplished this (with the x-axis gantry cross member removed) by moving the slaved axis carriage further back than the primary carriage.  Thus, the primary axis reaches home first, even though the slaved axis is traveling faster.  The primary axis homes, the slaved axis slows down, reaches the switch, and homes properly.  Everything is fine … except you never could have physically done this with the gantry attached.  The second Galil debug is the carriages aligned, thus the slave arriving first because it’s moving faster, triggering a limit error in Mach.  I’ve also attached my Mach XML setup file too.  I’m using the latest V4.5 Galil plug-in and Mach VR3.043.022.

Any help appreciated!

5
Galil / Re: Need MPG pin numbers of AUX encoder inputs on Galil DMC-41x3
« on: January 10, 2012, 04:25:45 PM »
I resolved this issue.  For anyone reading this thread in the future: you do *not* need to fill in the port or pin numbers in the MPG 'Ports & Pins' when using a Galil controller, you can just leave them blank.  You also don't need a brain file to make MPG work with a Galil.  It just works if everything is configured properly. My trouble came with the Galil software choosing the wrong part number when it registers the controller.  With the DMC-4143, you have to manually register it using the non Plug-n-Play option and choose the proper part number when you register it.  This is complicated by a non-intuitive hidden function of needing to pressing the CONROLL key on your keyboard when you click on the assign IP address box, otherwise you can't manually enter an IP address (see  the end of Galil Application note #4422 where they document all this).  Anyway, MPG works well with the Galil .. just make sure you have it enabled in the Mach3 MPG section & Galil Plugin + have the current Jog Mode (press the TAB key) set to MPG.

6
Galil / Need MPG pin numbers of AUX encoder inputs on Galil DMC-41x3
« on: December 30, 2011, 08:20:47 PM »
I have an MPG properly connected to a DMC-4143 through the AUX encoder input of axis (X)A.  When I move the MPG wheel I see the 'Encoder Position' increment/decrement for the X-axis on the Mach Settings (ALT-6) screen.  I do not get any motion on the X-axis though.  I have configured the Galil plug-in for MPG #1 Axis X(A) and checked the 'use aux encoder' box.  I have also enabled the MPG #1 under 'Ports & Pins'.  However, there are also settings for the A & B Port # (I assume its 1) and the Pin numbers.  I don't know what values to use for these Pins and assume that's the reason its not working.  All I could find in the Galil manual was that they are interally mapped to address 81 & 82.  Do I need to create a brain file? Can someone please enlighten me.  Thanks!

7
General Mach Discussion / Strategy for servo drive faults with Galil?
« on: December 08, 2011, 07:13:10 PM »
I have a Galil motion controller (DMC-4143) connected to Pacific Scientific servo drives for 3-axis CNC.  Each one of the servo drives (there's 4 of them, its a slaved gantry) has a fault output.  I want the system to stop anytime there's a fault on any of the four servo drives.  I would prefer not to use discrete logic to combine these outputs.  Is the best strategy to connect each of them to a seperate general purpose input on the Galil and somehow map those to e-stop?  Any guidance appreciated.

8
Galil / Re: Galil plugin configuring
« on: December 08, 2011, 07:05:10 PM »
The Galil plugin doesn't show up under the top bar 'plugins' menu.  You have to go to the 'config' menu for plugins.  I missed that detail at first and drove myself crazy installing/re-installing for about an hour.

9
NC Pod / Re: Running from SD card in Mach?
« on: February 12, 2007, 05:07:46 PM »
I traded a couple emails with Art about this.  Apparently he is sending a stream of trajectory waypoints -- so the same problem exists as with the parallel port.  If the PC is too busy then a delay in pulse train is possible.  I also bought a ncPOD hoping it would overcome this limitation, but found the problem still exists.  FYI -- it doesn't sound like running from the SD card is in the near term roadmap for Mach.

10
NC Pod / Re: Running from SD card in Mach?
« on: February 04, 2007, 01:57:11 AM »
Well ... I've been Mach for years, since it was Master 5 ... over several different computers and CNC's.  The main problem is that occasionally Windows background tasks cause 'skipped' steps (not missed output steps).  I've hooked a scope and frequency counter up in a count mode ... Mach never misses steps, but occasionally enough of a delay in the pulse train at the wrong time will cause a motor to skip.  This can be overcome by running your CNC slower such that the acceleration component isn't critical.  Using the ncPOD gave me *much* smoother motion.  No clunks or bangs (I use THK KR slides, so I hear anything that isn't perfect) when the hard drive light occasionally fires up from some other background task (yes, I've disabled *everything* possible).  I thought I was home free with the ncPOD.  However, in the middle of a long program I've already once experienced a problem with Mach3 and ncPOD.  I believe Mach is sending the G-codes one at a time.  While there is supposed to be some buffering on the device (per the SDK notes from OEMTECH), I've witnessed a long enough delay to cause the same time type of pulse train delay between commands while an axis is at full speed (in this case, G04's transitioning from one arc to the other).  I've loaded one of my long programs into the SD card on the ncPOD using OEMTECH's VB panel.  Heavenly -- it works perfect, smooth motion from start to finish ... never a hitch.  However, OEMTECH's VB panel is rudimentary.  It would like to use all of the features I've gotten spoiled on in Mach with the ability to run autonomously from the SD card.

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