Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: Reset at the end of an M6 macro

« on: October 31, 2012, 06:25:37 PM »

Thanks Hood.

That improved things a lot. I can see some areas where noise is creeping into the setup and am taking measures to minimise it.

A bit more tinketing and testing should see it all finally working.

All the best

Paul

2

General Mach Discussion / Reset at the end of an M6 macro

« on: October 27, 2012, 05:21:27 PM »

Hi

I've been trying to debug the toolchanger on my little emco lathe. I've got it to the point where it moves to the correct position and then starts to reverse (all correct) but then Mach resets every time.

Is there anywhere that Mach stores the reason for the current reset trip as I'm not getting any visible error message in the display. It would be nice if there was a clue in there somewhere.

Thanks

Paul

3

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Emco Turn tool changer macro

« on: January 30, 2012, 07:07:54 AM »

Hi

That's pretty much what I did on the tool changer but I dumped all the original electronics, just retaining the motor. I used a 12v DC supply and a pair of spco relays to control it, one output for power enable and the other for direction.

The tool changer can only run in one direction to change tools, the other way is only used to lock it firmly in position.

Hope this makes sense.

Paul

4

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Emco Turn tool changer macro

« on: January 30, 2012, 02:16:08 AM »

Hi

The Macro does work for me. It depends on 2 inputs one for each tool position and one for establishing the initial tool position (zero).

If you have the sensors or switches in place for those and a relay setup for forward and reverse on the tool changer motor then it should be fine.

Tool change is normally done using M6 so I have used the M6start macro.

Look in your Mach3/macros/turn folder, there will already by an M6start macro there but with nothing in it.

Just replace that with the macro posted above.

If you need to edit it, you can use the VB script editor in the Mach 3 operator menu.

Hope this helps.

Paul

5

General Mach Discussion / Re: Can't clear emergency condition

« on: November 18, 2011, 05:32:27 PM »

Hi Just an update.

Embarassingly, it seems to have been a wiring or switch fault on the e-stop. Arturo suggested I just use a short wire link on the board estop terminals to eliminate any potential wiring issues. The problem cleared immediately.

Strange though, I thought I had done the same a couple of days ago before posting on here.

Still nothing moving but at least the board seems to be responding. I can hopefully work through the rest over the next few days.

Thanks very much for the help & advice.

Paul

6

General Mach Discussion / Re: Can't clear emergency condition

« on: November 18, 2011, 02:07:37 PM »

Hi Hood

I've now disconnected absolutely everything but the gnd and 5 V, as soon as the power is applied, the board sets emergency and wont clear.

I've logged a call with CNC4PC, I'm starting to wonder if I've damaged something.


Cheers

Paul

7

General Mach Discussion / Re: Can't clear emergency condition

« on: November 18, 2011, 04:23:10 AM »

Hi Hood

Yes, I do have limit switches on the machine. They are not actually connected up yet.

To exclude any external wiring faults as far as possible, I have disconnected all inputs and outputs apart from the E stop button.

The e stop is on port 1 pin 10 and is normally closed.

I can get comms with the smoothstepper going just fine but as soon as I put power on the C32, the emergency light comes on in Mach. If I monitor the LEDs then nothing is lighting up except the Emergency LED.

I have now even tried turning all inputs and outputs off in Mach ports and pins to see whether that makes a difference, it doesnt.

Baffled

Paul

8

General Mach Discussion / Re: Can't clear emergency condition

« on: November 16, 2011, 06:05:52 PM »

Here it is, I hope

Thanks for looking

Paul

9

General Mach Discussion / Re: Can't clear emergency condition

« on: November 16, 2011, 05:42:58 PM »

Hi Hood

Just checked, No limits are set, auto zero is set on all axes.

Any other thoughts ?

Thanks

Paul

10

General Mach Discussion / Can't clear emergency condition

« on: November 16, 2011, 05:26:17 PM »

Hi

I have a Smoothstepper with C32BOB.

I did get it all working a year back on the bench but since then have been distracted by other projects. I have now built it all into a nice cabinet and wired up for installation into the machine.

Unfortunately the PC had to be replaced in the intervening time and as a result, I lost the working XML and settings.

On the new PC, I have downloaded and installed mach, the current Smoothstepper driver and plugin and the latest C32 R4 XML, I have re created the input and output port settings in Mach from the scrrenshots in the documentation I did last year. Both PCs run 64bit windows 7.

The PC starts mach up nicely, offers a choice of profiles, offers a choice of interfaces so I take the C32 XML option and the Smoothstepper interface, the 3 working happily lights come up on the smoothstepper, so far so good.

Mach 3 comes up with a re-configuration e-stop, which I clear. It then comes up with an external e-stop which I clear, it then shows an emergency which I clear, this basically goes on forever. It seems to take a couple of seconds to realise that it has a problem after clearing then it goes right back to an emergency.

I have disconnected everything but the smoothstepper and the power for the C32 to simplify the setup, this didnt seem to change the behaviour of the setup.

Have tried setting E stop to active low but no joy so set it back to normal.

Does this sound familiar to anybody. Probably a really simple error, I just cant see it.

Any help / thoughts would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Paul