Topics

1

General Mach Discussion / How many commands can the MDI buffer?

« on: July 27, 2020, 09:28:26 AM »

Hi there,
Sometime I use the MDI facility in Mach3 to jab in some simple commands (e.g. when surfacing a workpiece), and add more commands while it's executing other movements.
However: how many commands can Mach3 buffer entered via this MDI way before something bad might happen?

If this limit is small, does this ever overflow, and commands are skipped?
Does Mach3 alert you if you try and enter too many?

Thanks,
Dan

2

General Mach Discussion / Customisation of E-Stop / Reset button actions (Spindle Relays)

« on: July 05, 2018, 07:08:46 AM »

Hi there,
Is it possible to customise what happens when Mach3 is E-stopped / reset, either via software button or via hardware input pin/switch?

I think currently when it is pressed all outputs are disabled in one go. This would normally be fine, however the reason I ask is because of how my spindle reverse is implemented.
Currently... I have 0-10V analog output to a VSD via a PWM speed output from Mach. Then I have two relays... one SGR // Spindle Go Relay, to enable power to the motor. Then a second relay SRR // Spindle Reverse Relay (a DPDT motor reversing relay) to determine the direction of rotation.

I've written M3, M4 and M5 macros to correctly handle the changeover from CW to CCW under all conditions safety. i.e. the logic and delays for spin up / spin down, and direction selection. Any wrong combination = bad news for the spindle drive.

This all works perfectly for now.
However when E-stop I have identified a potentially problem.
If the spindle is going CW // M3, and e-stop is pressed... Mach3 kills the outputs to all pins, the SGR is disengaged and the spindle stops / disabled.
HOWEVER... if the spindle is going CCW // M4 and the e-stop is pressed... Mach3 again kills all outputs (even the SRR relay). Which will case the relay to change over its poles and try and dump the energy stored in the running spindle.
This is obviously really bad.

So the question:
How can I get Mach3 to do it's e-stop / reset thing as normal with the exception of ignoring the state of one output?

OR... do I rip out the current spindle relay setup and try and implement the Mach3 spindle logic in timers and relays to make it "foolproof"?

All the best,
Dan

3

General Mach Discussion / 3x Parallel Ports with Mach3 (ESS)

« on: June 22, 2016, 07:46:56 PM »

Hi there,
The Ethernet Smoothstepper has 3x Parallel ports, and I need to interface all three for I/O with Mach3; I don't think I can fit it on 2x Parallel ports.
I've connected ports 1 and 2 to the PMDX-126, and the third to an additional PMDX I/O board.

How do I setup the extra (3rd) parallel port in Mach3?

Many thanks in advance,
Dan