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Topics - jamie325i

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I have been working on trying to get the latest plasma build to work and ran into some strange issues today.

My machine uses a PMDX-410 USB SmartBOB connected to a PMDX BOB. I am using PMDX plugin version 0.52.254 because I had signal problems with the latest update.  This machine is fully functional on the GA release of Mach4 (build 3804), obviously without the Touch and Plasma features.

I started today with a clean install of build 4225 and didn't transfer anything over from previous profiles.  I am using the  defaule Mach4_Plasma Profile.  Once I configured I/O, Motors, and the PMDX plugin, I added the latest configs for the slave Z motor, enabled the THC ON signal, and setup the new Plasma Screen Configuration panel.  Note: I have not connected an arc voltage signal yet so I am running in THC manual mode for now.  I will get back to that later.

Once I homed all axes, zeroed up a piece of stock, and loaded a test file, I started testing.  Some things seem to work as expected:
-With torch powered off, the code will halt at M3 because there is no arc OK signal.  It will timeout and stop.
-with the torch on, I noticed that M3 now has a touchoff routine built-in.  This is great progress guys, I need to learn more about it.

Here is what didn't work correctly:
-The "Omit Touchoff" button initially lead to a probe move down until probe signal comes on, hung the Touch function, and then crashed Mach.  Restart required to get back into action...
-With the Touchoff routine enabled, the machine would touchoff correctly, zero the Z DRO, move up to my pierce height, fire and make the first cut.  The second M3 command would initiate a Touchoff, seek down until probe signal on, then hang.  The errors are 'PMDX DEVICE ERROR 'SYSTEM ERROR(7): Motion Calc Underrun' followed by "MACRO ALARM:3 MERROR_NOT_NOW"

For unknown reasons, the Omit Touchoff button started working after several restarts of Mach, I didnt change anything.  Unfortunately the Touch feature still hangs after the probe signal lights up.

Can anyone help me step through the config, and debug the error I am seeing?  I feel like I am close to having a fully functional plasma rig, I just need to work out the kinks. 

Thanks a lot,
Jamie



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Mach4 General Discussion / Mach4 plasma THC using Pokeys 57E
« on: June 18, 2019, 08:53:55 PM »
Hello All,
I am experimenting with the latest build of the Mach4 Plasma profile and using a Pokeys 57E analog input card to read in the divided arc voltage (I am using a variable DC source for testing, not the torch voltage).  I have set the Plasma config to the correct register and it changes with the voltage input, but I cant figure out how to relate this to an arc voltage on the THC screen. 

-We are using Mach4 build 4225 for reference
-Is there a scaling factor somewhere in the Mach4 config?
-In Pokeys, the analog value is 0-4095, which equates to 0-3.3 volts.  Once you connect Pokeys to Mach via the plugin, the Pokeys diagnostic screen shows a value of 0-1 with no units in the register.
-If you copy the Pokeys register to the clipboard and paste it into the THC config screen for the register used, when you go back to THC diagnostic the iRegs0/nf/thc/ThcActualVoltage register only reads the default 120 value, same as before changing the register. 

Any help is appreciated.
Thanks,
Jamie

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Mach4 General Discussion / Plasma table - Dry Run feature in M3 macro
« on: December 31, 2018, 11:57:12 AM »
Hell All,
I created a custom M3 macro that will wait for an Arc OK signal from my plasma torch before allowing movement.  This is working well and has already improved the cut quality.  Code posted below.

Now I need to add a Dry Run feature so that I can run the G-code with the torch turned off.  The new M3 macro will of course not allow this.

I added a "Dry Run" button to my screen that turns on/off an LED, and is tied to Output0 (see picture attached).  I believe I need to put some kind of IF statement into the macro to allow the machine to move when Dry Run is enabled, even with the Arc OK signal missing.  This is also useful if I need to start the torch on an edge or in a hole.

Can anyone help with the specific code to read the state of Output0 and make my M3 macro work accordingly?

Modified M3 macro:
function m3();

local inst=mc.mcGetInstance();

mc.mcSpindleSetDirection(inst,mc.MC_SPINDLE_FWD);

mc.mcCntlSetLastError(inst,"m3 waiting for Arc");

local returncode=mc.mcSignalWait(inst,mc.ISIG_INPUT62,mc.WAIT_MODE_HIGH,2);

    if (returncode==mc.MERROR_TIMED_OUT) then

        mc.mcCntlSetLastError(inst,"Arc does not respond");
      mc.mcCntlCycleStop(inst); --end program *****
        mc.mcSpindleSetDirection(inst,mc.MC_SPINDLE_OFF);

    else;

        mc.mcCntlSetLastError(inst,"m3 Arc OK");

    end;

end

if (mc.mcInEditor() == 1) then

    m3();

end

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Mach4 General Discussion / Mach4 Arc OK THCON signal programming
« on: December 17, 2018, 06:13:35 PM »
Hey folks,
Forgive me for asking, I know this topic has been covered, but the search function of this forum is busted and I am only getting so far with Google and the other forums.

I have my plasma cutter's "Arc OK" signal wired to Input A of my PMDX-410 and the THCON signal in Mach4.  I verified that this is working because I added an "ARC OK" led to my Plasma screen.  Now I need to add logic that will halt movement until the Arc OK signal is activated.

When M3 is called in my G-code, I'd like it to fire the torch, wait for the Arc OK signal, run the pierce delay (called in my G-code), then allow the next move once the pierce delay has expired.

I have read about several methods including a modified M3 function using the mc.ISIG_THCON signal.  My problem is that I don't know how to create that function, or what else should be modified to add my logic.  I have not had to modify Mach up to this point and now the info is a bit overwhelming...

Is anyone willing to share experience and some steps to get this working?

Thanks in advance,
Jamie

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