Topics

1

Mach SDK plugin questions and answers. / Does anyone know how to get hotkey notification in plugin ?

« on: May 23, 2019, 04:35:38 AM »

.... as I need to service STOP ( from ESC key) in

https://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php?topic=39819.new;topicseen#new

It is working, but we ( with mariusl) trying to get in production shape.

2

Mach SDK plugin questions and answers. / Anybody interested in Mach3 plugin for Nucleo-F429ZI board as motion controller?

« on: April 06, 2019, 07:10:09 AM »

Hi,

Few years ago I have made small ethernet controller for Mach3. At that point there was no interest.
Recently I got some some questions whether I could review it ( after 8 years :-) ) and put for others using one of cheap eval boards.

I have made some archeological digging in my copies and found out that I can still compile the code ( VC 2010 Express + DDK)
I would use this one as platform:
https://www.st.com/en/evaluation-tools/nucleo-f429zi.html
25Euro ( in my place locally), it even has Arduino connectors on top ( so you can  use some shields locally)

My guess is it would run about 150..250kHz

I have placed some refreshed code here:
https://github.com/jarekkt/step2mach

I would release it under beerware-like license ( so you can use it and if you appreciate it you can send my 'Paypal' beer )

Last time it worked it used dsPic processor from Microchip. Not all was yet implemented ( like scannig , axes slaving) , but ordinary operation and jogging worked.

So please let me know if there is real need for it ? ( I do not use Mach anymore, I do not know how alive Mach3 is and what is the demand)

3

Finished Plugins for Download / Step2Mach - DIY ethernet controller for Mach

« on: October 08, 2011, 04:38:30 PM »

See http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,19697.0.html for details :-)

4

Mach SDK plugin questions and answers. / Step2Mach - My DIY ethernet controller for Mach

« on: October 08, 2011, 04:37:43 PM »

Hi,

Some time ago I have started topic about sharing knowledge about motion controllers : http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,17612.0.html
Few monts passed, nobody joined. Since then I have converted virtual idea to real motion  controller.




I spent quite some time on it, copied code from my other projects and got it working. Originally I wanted to share only hardware design and sell licenses for plugin, but after long discussion with Scott “Poppa Bear” I decided to go different way.
I decided to share most of the code ( while keeping all my copyrights) under special license:
-  If you use my device and you are happy with it - please pay 35$  ( in EU 35$ + VAT) to my paypal account. You will find link in the code and in the configuration web page for the device
-  If you want development license ( to reuse my code for your professional product) - it is also possible, see license code for details. In such case you will get full source code plus free consultancy to get most from it.
-  If you just want to examine the code - feel free to do it.  The Mach SDK is poorly documented and the examples are messy, so it may help you with your Mach development.

About the device itself:
- 4 axis support
- 100 kHz step/dir frequency
- LPT DB25 connector (as it emulates PC parallel port)
- Easy to assemble hardware design ( main components are DIP, all passives are SMD – 1206
or bigger, possible to make on single layer PCB)
The ethernet connection provides following features:
- Web interface for configuration
- DHCP client/server support
- NetBIOS support ( for accessing device by its name)
Known limitations:
- No slaving support ( not yet implemented)
- No threading support for lathes ( not yet implemented)
- No spindle support ( not yet implemented)

It still requires a lot of testing ( I am preparing few units for my friends for serious testing in real production environment). I have successfully run it on my simple gcode, homeing, jogging but  I am sure there will be issues on some specific configurations. Especially that motion plugins are left alone for jogging and homeing ( so I had to implement it myself) and I am not sure that it is 100% compatible with e.g. LPT operation.  Please let me know if you find something - I will fix it.

I will always post latest code and documention in finished plugins section: http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,19698.0.html

5

Mach SDK plugin questions and answers. / Motion plugin for virtual hardware(for tests) - lets share our knowledge

« on: February 25, 2011, 10:12:23 AM »

Hi,

I have my own USB CNC controller ( something close to ncPod - 120Mhz Arm Cortex CPU capable of about 100kHz operation). It works with different software then Mach.
I wanted to to write Mach plugin for it, but there is no good documentation for it. There are few people who know it quite well, but this knowledge is commercially valuable , so nobody was interested to join me.

I have it quite alive. There are few things missing ( like input/output processing, homeing, jog operation), but basic motion works. There is also console windows to dump all interesting internals
I decided to share it before finishing as there are some other people working on similar design (http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,17602.0.html)

So - please have a look at sources, play with it.
It is free to use as long as you share your knowledge to make it really good template for starting own motion plugins.

You need Visual C++ Express 2010 to compile it.
You will need to change in project post processing step - to accomodate path to your Mach directories.
In case your console window is too small - change it . Once changed it will keep setting for consequiteve runs.

6

Mach SDK plugin questions and answers. / Motion planner - cubic moves in GMoves

« on: July 15, 2010, 06:46:10 AM »

Hi,

I have been developing motion plug in for my hardware.
I have studied documentation and code examples. My hardware is quite close to ncPod, so that was the base for me.
Could you help me with following questions ?

1) According to the doc GMoves can be cubic ( so instead of linear motion  you get circular - with endpoints and circle origin). I have studied ncPod plugin and it seems it ignores the info ( GMoves.type) and treats everything as linear motion. Can I force Mach to get only linear motion - not to process these cubic motions myself ( with linear approximation ) ?

2) Coordinates sync between external hardware and Mach. Is it so that during GCode motion Mach assumes that all vectors send are executed and the coordinate is the final coordinate of last vector ? I have seen some coordinate feedback to Mach only while jog processing ( and in quite strange units - Engine->Axis[..].Index which is integer - means pulses ?? )

Thanks for your help

PS. Link to the doc http://www.machsupport.com/MachCustomizeWiki/index.php?title=The_G100/GREX_plugin_as_a_model_for_device_control

7

Mach SDK plugin questions and answers. / Is it possible to get all movments (vectors) at once ( want to store in flash)

« on: August 28, 2008, 08:57:26 AM »

Hi,

I have developed my own motion controller ( work still under progress).  It was designed for some other type of control software, but I wanted to create Mach plug-in for it.
It uses a bit different approach - I create a vector file which is sent with USB to device NAND flash memory. Then you press button and 5 ARM7 processors ( one main LPC2378 and four LPC2013 for axis) start processing the program.

I checked the example plugins - the movements are given synchronously. Is there a way to get them all at once in a nice way ? ( I could always just 'cheat' and get store them instead of executing, but then I would not have Mach to show progress and all other stuff).

Basically - I would like to get the whole trajectory first, store it to my device and then send back Mach the trajectory progress. Is it possible ?