Topics

1

General Mach Discussion / Spindle Relay Configuration Questions

« on: April 20, 2019, 09:21:25 PM »

I've just about got my mini lathe cnc conversion complete but have stumbled a bit with configuring the BoB spindle relay.  I want to turn the spindle on and off only with Mach3.  Speed will be controlled by a pot.  I've assigned Ouput 1 for M3 and M4 as I don't anticipate needing to run the spindle in reverse.  Based on the limited information contained in the BoB instruction manual (attached) I enabled Output #1 and assigned Pin 16.  Also tried Pin 17.  Checked Active Low too with no change.  The spindle is not wired to the relay terminals.  Using a multimeter and inputing a M3 S1000 command in the MDI I don't detect continuity across the relay terminals.  The motors turn and move the carriage and cross slide as expected so I know the board is powered up.  Does the relay need a load on it to close the contacts?  Is my configuration not correct?  Bad relay?  Looking for some help and guidance to get the lathe functional.     

My configuration screen shots are attached as is the BoB manual.

Thanks 

2

General Mach Discussion / Can't open Mach3

« on: June 30, 2018, 01:01:24 AM »

For some reason I can not open Mach3.  I uninstalled then reinstalled, still no luck.  I also uninstalled the latest W10 update.  Tried opening it as administrator, didn't open.  Was running fine for more than a year on this computer until a couple of days ago.

3

General Mach Discussion / Mach3/PMDX-126 Port 2 Configuration for Spindle Control

« on: November 24, 2017, 11:45:20 AM »

I'm hoping this post is in the correct sub-forum.  I've got a project waiting that includes drilling and tapping about 50 holes using my floating tap holder.  The problem is I can't get the spindle to reverse direction.  My system is:

Win 7 64 bit
Mach3 version 062
PMDX-126 breakout board
PMDX-107 spindle control board
ESS with ESS-M3-170328-u4-f1-H plugin version

I have everything setup and all is working fine except the spindle will not reverse direction with a M4 command.  I've checked my configuration, tried other settings with no luck, reloaded Mach and purposely didn't save my configuration so that I wouldn't carry over a potentially incorrect parameter, and reloaded the ESS plugin.  Setup the ESS and 107 board per the PMDX documents and still no luck with M4.  If I enter a M3 command the spindle turns CW.  If I enter a M4 command the spindle turns CW.  Speed control works.  Ran several tests and it appears that the 126 board has a bad Port 1 Pin 14 relay (the LED does not light up).  If you want to see the tests I've gone through they are posted on another forum.  I will post the link if requested.  I've also posted on the PMDX forum but have not yet received a reply.  

As a work around I'm thinking I can use pins "B" and "C" at terminal J5 on the 126 board.  I've done the configuration and I do get pin "C" LED to light up with a M3 command and pin "B" lights up with a M4 command.  The problem is the Bob and ESS are not communicating with the 107 spindle board.  The only LED on the 107 board that is on is the Power On LED.  What settings, besides those that I made in Motor Outputs to get pins "B" and "C" to function, do I need to change to get the spindle control signals to the spindle control board?  I've attached my XML file and screen shots of my ESS configuration screens.

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

4

General Mach Discussion / -1.#IND Error Message

« on: August 04, 2017, 07:51:30 PM »

Yesterday I was doing some motor tuning (changing microstepping on X and Y) and got this error code, -1.#IND showing in the X and Y axis DRO when I turned off microstepping.  Could not get the code to clear even after I reset the dip switches to their original configuration.  I uninstalled Mach (if it means anything ver 062) and reloaded and all is well now.  What does this code mean?  I always understood that you could run Mach without microstepping so I'm unsure what happened.

Thanks

5

General Mach Discussion / Toolpath Reveresed

« on: July 17, 2017, 09:28:45 PM »

I recently completed installing a PMDX-126 breakout board, ethernet smoothstepper and a PMDX-107 sindle control board.  Got everything configured and running.  A couple of days ago I ran my first test job.  All went well except the toolpath direction is reversed.  I checked my gcode and confirmed that the CAM software (CamBam) generated the correct G3 code for climb milling.  Is this a Mach3 configuration issue or a smoothstepper setting?  Before blindly changing my Mach3 configuration settings I'd like to get some input on why this is happening and what settings I need to change.  Running Mach3 version .062.  I've also attached my gcode file.  Let me know if you need my XML file.  I'd attach it now but it's on my shop computer.

Thanks

 

6

General Mach Discussion / Jog Functions Stops Working

« on: June 22, 2015, 12:33:39 AM »

Hi!  I'm new to CNC and this forum.  Been involved with manual machining my entire career (40+ years) but CNC has proven to be a new, and exciting, challenge.  Now to my question.  Why does the jog function randomly stop working?  Pressing the Regen Toolpath, Rewind, Reset, and the Jog On/Off buttons sometimes gets jogging to work.  There doesn't appear to be a particular button that gets the jog function back.  Sometimes I have to restart Mach, or the computer.  Could this be a noise issue or a configuration/setup problem.

Thanks