Messages

1

dspMC/IP Motion Controller / Dual MPG configuration

« on: May 02, 2019, 12:34:48 PM »

Hi All,

Recently I have started to update to Mach4 from Mach3 due to a host of issues that I don't want to get into. So far I have a Mach4 demo setup running well but have not been able to configure the MPG's. This is for a lathe setup that has dual MPG's.

Both MPG's are connected through the softencoder inputs on the DSPMC, with MPG0 being the X axis and MPG1 being the Z axis. MPG counts per detent are 4 for both.

In the DSPMC plugin I have MPG0 enabled for X and MPG1 enabled for Z. Inputs for both are left blank as it states on the plugin for permanently connected MPG's. Increment inputs are not configured yet because I can change the increment value from Mach4 jog screen.

Axis motion with either MPG causes the X axis to move only. The X axis motion is very unstable even when the increment value is set small for example 0.0001". All other motion during keyboard based jogging or programmed running is smooth as expected for both axis'.

Anyone have insight to MPG configuration using a DSPMC (softencoder input) and Mach4? What about dual MPG setups?

Thanks,
protman16

2

dspMC/IP Motion Controller / Re: PC requirements for Mach4 with DSPMC

« on: May 02, 2019, 09:28:02 AM »

Hi Graig,

Granted XP is pretty old school but then again I am too. I have been using Mach3 since it was Mach2 (I guess about 15 years)!

I tried to install Mach4 a few years ago on the same XP system and had zero success. I realized Mach4 has gone through quite a few updates since then so I attempted to install it again seeing that the system requirements says it is XP compatible. This time it loaded and works well in simulation mode.

My next step was to get the DSPMC plugin installed on the XP system and that's where I found some problems. Now I do have some other PC's with windows 7 on them I plan to test with today since they had no issues loading the DSPMC plugin. If all goes well I will update to a newer windows 7 platform or maybe windows 10.

The main reason for trying Mach4 on XP is because its free (everything for nothing scenario), software requirements state it will run on XP, and I have had too many issues with Mach3 lately that is wreaking havoc with the spindle on my lathe.

Thanks,
protman16

3

dspMC/IP Motion Controller / Re: PC requirements for Mach4 with DSPMC

« on: May 01, 2019, 05:05:35 PM »

For those who maybe interested in this, it seems that Mach4 loads without issue on an XP system. Unfortunately the plugin for the DSPMC will not load the library file correctly under an XP system. I think this is probably due to the plugin being compiled on a windows 7 system.

If you see this error;

"Failed to load shared library 'M4DSPMC.m4pw' (error 0: the operation completed successfully.)"

then your XP system cannot run Mach4 using the DSPMC plugin.

On a side note, I changed firmware from 9.05 to 10.12 in preparation for Mach4 and noticed that Mach3 will still work with the DSPMC. Actually some of the issues I was seeing with the spindle control in Mach3 went away with the firmware update. Not all functions work using firmware 10.12 with Mach3, such as MPG(s), but I did not expect any functions to work considering 10.12 is to be used with Mach4.

Thanks,
protman16

4

dspMC/IP Motion Controller / Re: PC requirements for Mach4 with DSPMC

« on: April 24, 2019, 10:45:22 AM »

Doing a little searching I found one user that said Mach4 needs to run on window 7 when using a DSPMC.

https://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php?topic=32095.msg224015#msg224015

Any other DSPMC machines out there found that they need to run on windows 7?

5

dspMC/IP Motion Controller / PC requirements for Mach4 with DSPMC

« on: April 23, 2019, 03:01:33 PM »

Hi All,

After using Mach3 for many years on both a mill and lathe and experiencing many annoying issues that have supposedly been fixed with Mach4 I have decided to take the plunge and update to Mach4.

Currently I have two machines running Mach3 with DSPMC's on windows XP platform. My concern is when I update to Mach4 with the DSPMC's will I need to upgrade the operating system as well? Does anyone have any insight into updating from Mach3 to Mach4 with a DSPMC controller?

Thanks
protman16

6

dspMC/IP Motion Controller / Re: Threading problems

« on: January 31, 2017, 01:27:32 PM »

Threading problems solved!!!

Here is what found.

- Use Spindle feedback in sync mode must be checked
- Spindle Speed Averaging must be checked
- Must be in exact stop mode (G61) vs constant velocity mode (G64)
- Debounce interval = 0
- Index debounce = 100
- Special threading logic inside plugin 4.2.0.0 is required to get proper thread pitch (#1000 = 7762 and #1001 = 1 before G32). Without it the pitch will be finer than expected.
- Use DSPMC_E901_FPGA
- In the DSPMC plugin, threading feedback sampling time = 50
- Currently using Mach3 v66

Using the above settings gave consistent pitch and good thread form

I have not tried G76 yet but I suspect the results will be the same as G32.

My original mistake was thinking the DSPMC took over threading in a similar way it does for rigid tapping based on the special code that needed to be on. What I realized is that Mach3 still has control of the thread and the DSPMC is essentially following orders.

I hope anyone else using a DSPMC with Mach3 on a lathe finds this useful.

7

dspMC/IP Motion Controller / Threading problems

« on: January 29, 2017, 08:18:35 PM »

Having some problems threading with a DSPMC and Mach3. Can not seem to get a clean cut and consistent pitch to the point where the thread is a complete mess. The thread looks to start ok in the first few passes but as the program continues the pitch gets lost to the point where the tool looks to be lagging behind. Trying to recut the thread on the same piece of stock starts the thread in a different position radially then the original cut was performed.

Setup is as follows:

- Spindle encoder 1000ppr set to 4000 on config screen
- Cutting rpm is 210
- Thread to cut is 40 x 1.5mm x about 12mm long
- The lathe setup units are in metric but the program file is imperial (G20)

Both G32 and G76 thread cutting has the same issues.

Thread portion of Gcode file below:

N188 T0505
N189 G97 S210 M40
N190 M03
N191 G94 G54 G0 X.8374 Z1.5457 M8
N192 X.7842
N193 G95 G32 Z.8323 F.05906
N194 G0 X.8374
N195 Z1.5439
N196 X.781
N197 G32 Z.8323 F.05906
N198 G0 X.8374
N199 Z1.5422
N200 X.7778
N201 G32 Z.8323 F.05906
N202 G0 X.8374
N203 Z1.5404
N204 X.7746
N205 G32 Z.8323 F.05906
N206 G0 X.8374
N207 Z1.5386
N208 X.7714
N209 G32 Z.8323 F.05906
N210 G0 X.8374
N211 Z1.5369
N212 X.7682
N213 G32 Z.8323 F.05906
N214 G0 X.8374
N215 Z1.5351
N216 X.765
N217 G32 Z.8323 F.05906
N218 G0 X.8374
N219 Z1.5333
N220 X.7618
N221 G32 Z.8323 F.05906
N222 G0 X.8374
N223 Z1.5315
N224 X.7586
N225 G32 Z.8323 F.05906
N226 G0 X.8374
N227 Z1.5298
N228 X.7554
N229 G32 Z.8323 F.05906
N230 G0 X.8374
N231 Z1.5298
N232 X.7554
N233 G32 Z.8323 F.05906
N234 G0 X.8374
N235 Z1.5298
N236 X.7554
N237 G32 Z.8323 F.05906
N238 G0 X.8374
N239 Z1.5298
N240 X.7554
N241 G32 Z.8323 F.05906
N242 G0 X.8374
N243 Z1.5298
N244 X.7554
N245 G32 Z.8323 F.05906
N246 G0 X.8374
N247 Z1.5457
N248 M9
N249 G30 U-.1 W0. M05
N250 M30

Tried the following versions of Mach3, DSPMC plupin, SyncRay file, and FPGA files and all gave the similar results.

- Tried plugin 4.0.9.0 with SyncRaySG-8.11 and fpga DSPMC-E104 also tried plugin 4.2.0.0 with SyncRaySG-9.05 and DSPMC_E901_FPGA, same results
- Tried different versions of Mach3 (v66, v62, and v57) all same results

Tried the special threading logic inside plugin 4.2.0.0 as well with no change in results.

Anyone have an idea how to get threading to work?

8

dspMC/IP Motion Controller / Spindle settings [SOLVED]

« on: January 06, 2013, 06:50:37 PM »

Hello,

Where can I find the spindle acceleration rate on the latest plugin? This is for a 0-10V analog spindle connected to a VFD.

Thanks