Topics

1

Feature Requests / Signal matrix for inputs & outputs

« on: February 27, 2015, 07:04:09 AM »

Hello!

I came accross of need to reroute input signals to outputs (see the topic)

What do you think about an idea to have ins & outs in a matrix, in a sort of table having columns and rows where you can route signals just by having signal intersections checked? And even better, if you could have some logic implemented, a least AND and OR (maybe also NAND, NOR etc) would be good to have.

All configuration that is already now included separately for inputs and outputs could be merged into a same table (e.g. inputs in columns and outputs in rowss) and signal connections added in to the matrix.

Maybe you could get some idea about suggestion by looking how signal matrix has been done in ABB's PCM600 protection relay setting tool.

Juha

2

General Mach Discussion / Re-routing input to output in Mach??

« on: February 26, 2015, 06:35:16 AM »

Hello!

A background to my question lies on an automatic tool changer in my small milling machine project.

I managed to build a macro (thruth is that I really do not know how to write these in VB, so I had no option but to copy&edit it) that handles the fuction. It e.g. activates an output (output #1 which further employs mag. relay) as requested.
The question is, how to activate the same output by activating a certain input? In my case the input signal is going to be emulated. I want to release tool once I hit e.g. "T" on a PC keyboard. This feature would be needed in a simple manual tool change but also in case when I need to use more tools than I have in a tool magazine (all 3!). Idea is that the machine waits till the tool gets changed and then continues work. I have not figure out yet how to do this in macro, so lets's see... but anyway manual release is needed at this point. Actually it would be nice if the output could be toggled.

Briefly, how to reroute inputs (even emulated) to outputs and how to get this in a toggle mode?

I'm using CSMIO/IP-M controller, but I think it is not relevant in order to configure Mach to reroute IOs

Thanks,
Juha

3

CS-Lab / Spindle control setup with CSMIO/IP-M

« on: February 22, 2015, 02:04:03 PM »

Got axes up and running.

So now I'm focusing on a spindle control setup and get confused.

First some dry run findings:
It looks I cannot get spindle running at all.
By looking at the section "Spindle Speed" on Mach screen, there is a DRO "RPM". I cannot get any readings to that, except for a very short period (1 sec). There are number decreasing from about 1000 to 0 within second once I hit F5 or type appropriate code in MDI input (e.g. M3 S500). If I cannot get any readings in to that DRO, I guess that means that the spindle is not rotating at all (Mach is not generating control signals).

Then, how to configure CSMIO/ip-M?
I have ticked "Spindle" in "Motor Outputs" config.
In a CSMIO plugin config I have enable "Spindle DAC" as I am trying to get 0...+10 VDC for my spindle driver.
For the analog output I have chosen Analog OUT 0 and connected pins 1 and 2 accordingly in an analog out out terminal of CSMIO.
Then back to Mach port&pin setup and "Spindle Setup" tab. What should be chosen in a "Motor Control" section? Or does it matter when CSMIO is used? Since I'm using a spindle motor, it would be easy to think "Use Spindle Motor Output" should be checked. But what then, PWM or Step/dir? In a relay control section I have unchecked "Disable Spindle Relays" checkbox, and set output# to 4 and 5 as CSMIO manual recommends. However, I cannot get these output activated in CSMIO by using codes M3 and M4 in MDI or in G-code program.

Spindle pulley ratios are all set to 1 and min and max speed are from few hundres to couple thousands. One question here, are the pulleys selected in a G-code (like in my "real" CNC lathe. Okuma uses codes M40 upwards for calling different gears)?
 
I am basically looking for a stepbystep spindle setup guide for really dummies. At least I did not find anybody else struggling with the same issue...


Cheers,
Juha

4

CS-Lab / ePID fault... press RESET on MACH screen" error with CSMIO-IP-M

« on: February 06, 2015, 03:10:17 PM »

Hi!

Mach worked fine till I changed an output from channel 0 to channel 3 in CSCMIO plugin configuration.
I started to get ePID fault... press RESET on MACH screen" errors.
It did not cure the symptom when I changed setting back how it was before.

If I start mach with a printer port mode, I do not get errror mentioned.

Any experiance on wth the same error?

Thanks,
Juha

5

CS-Lab / CSMIO/IP-M observations

« on: January 28, 2015, 08:50:13 AM »

I just got a my first CSMIO/IP-M controller (and hopefully not last as the product itself looks promising).

I have some other questions to CS-LAB in addition to concerns listed below and they have promised to answer as soon as I will clear some space in to my mailbox as their mails have gotten rejected due to my full mailbox.
However, in a mean while I was thinking to have comments also from other users to following concerns that are not too clear to me. So if somebody experienced (or otherwise knows the product) could clarify few things tried to describe below:

CSMIO/IP-M manual p.4 says
"Inputs/outputs signals are inside optically isolated, filtered, protected against short circuit, overheating etc."
However, manual's p.12 says:
"Pay special attention during connection because STEP/DIR signals are not protected against short circuit and voltage higher than 5V!"
How is it, are these IOs protected e.g. against short circuit or not?

I have some troubles to get motors turning when I have connected all four differential output signals (step+, step-, dir+, dir-) from controller to stepper driver (like illustrated on manual's page 19). In other words, motor do not spin. So I started to try something on Mach’s motor output configuration.

Going back to page 12, there are the description of the pins and signals. Are the signals fixed or can these be configured in Mach like it is the case with LPT-port? To me it looks the configuration has no effect on outputs. As an example, an X-axis step signal is connected to pin#2 by default, but I cannot e.g. configure the x-axis dir to pin #3. No matter what I have configured in Mach, dir signal goes to pin #1.

So, this did not wake up my motors. Let’s try something else with different wiring:

In the Differential outputs manual sect. 2.1.2 under the connection example image, there is a text
"In this case, we do not use twisted cable and that is why the connection is more exposed to the influence of interferences. Shared cable (cathode) is connected to the GND of the device, in the CSMIO/IP-S it is 13th PIN of STEP/DIR connector, and in the CSMIO/IP-M we have to use the GND on 2nd PIN or ANALOG I/O 8 connector because there is no GND PIN on STEP/DIR connector."
I just cannot get the meaning of "and in the CSMIO/IP-M we have to use the GND on 2nd PIN or ANALOG I/O 8 connector"
Where the GND can be found from, is it analog IO terminal pin #2 or pin#8 or what? (forgive me I'm not a native English speaking person, so every now and then I got confused...)

Further to the wiring, Manual p. 46 says:
“While connecting the controller– e.g. for the M542 stepper motor you should connect the PUL+ signal to the 5V power and CSMIO/IP-M STEP output to the PUL- of the drive. This way – switching on the optocoupler in the M542 will be followed by the leading edge of the CSMIO/IP-M STEP signal.”
Where is this 5V taken from? From the controller pin perhaps? Is there any diagram available about this scheme?


Comments on these issues and other findings would be very much appreciated.

Input IOs seem to be working as long as the port number 10 is set. This is instructed on manual page 41. It would be nice to have this mentioned on manual’s p. 14 as well, where all DI pins signals are described.


Thanks for listening,
Juha

6

General Mach Discussion / Chinese breakout boards (flipping signal?)

« on: January 01, 2015, 12:58:18 PM »

Hi!
This is my first post on this forum. I used to use Yahoo forum long time ago (equals to +10 years) when I started with Mach (maybe 1). For a certain reasons I've been recently quite lazy with my CNC applications and naturally with Mach as well. However, recently I found a small CNC mill (Terco CNC 45) which I rescued and placed it into my basement thinking to rebuild it.

I got a Chinese breakout board for the project and my questions concerns exactly that one.
I cant find any manual for it but if I paste some links here about it, maybe someone can recognize it (from another forum)

Somebody on that forum says that he/she had managed to get the thing working. However, I have not had that much good luck.

The problem I have here is, that the board converts my signal (flips it upside down). I get pulses nicely in to the board, but the smith triggers (those three chips) sneaking on the board are giving a halterneck to the signal throwing it upside down. this signal is then something the stepper driver do not understand and it does nothing.

If I change active low in mach configuration, everything on the BO board works fine till the optocouplers. A very short negative pulse does not seem to come through.

If the BO bord is really functioning like it designed to, I just can't get what I'm doing wrong.

I'd really appreciate if I could get some hints for this.

I was thinking to try by replacing smith triggers with non-converting ones. But at this stage it'll take time since all stores (selling chips) are closed till 7th Jan due to a holiday season.

Thanks,
Juha
(from Finland)