Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: Strange axis movement ONLY when spindle is starting or stopping...

« on: May 16, 2013, 01:53:55 PM »

 Overloaded, this is the solution !

 I was fighting with output config (Thank to Chaoticone) and it didn't solve the issue.

 I have set all value to 0 for CW CCW spin up and down and now, it looks perfect !!!


 Thank you all for your help, but now, can someone explain ?

 I don't like to work by test and retry, I prefer to understand...

 What are those values and why should I put them to 0 ?


 Thank you again !

2

General Mach Discussion / Re: Strange axis movement ONLY when spindle is starting or stopping...

« on: May 16, 2013, 12:40:47 PM »

>>Did you not configure e-stop ??

 Yes, but no difference... It's not the problem...

>>>How about Motor Tuning ??

 I made two differents kind of configuration, and I may have found a clue:

 (Sorry for the unit, we are using metric system on the other side of the Atlantic ;-)

 1st:   200 Steps/mm   3000mm/min Accel = 200

 Quite fast config, but very good for my usage...

 2nd: 200 Steps/min   120mm/min Accel = 4

 Ultra Slow config but I have noticed something very interesting.

 In first case, Axis motor is crying like hell when I click on "Spindle CW F5" button.

 Then axis continue to move without problems (And losing thousands of steps !!!)

 In second case, Axis motor is stopping when I click on "Spindle CW F5" button.

 Then axis continue to move without problems (And losing maybe no steps, I cannot see that)


 BUT: I've seen something that I had never noticed before.

 During the time when the Stepper motor is crying of being stopped, there is a button which is blinking for around 2 seconds ==> DWELL

 When it's blinking, my axing are not working at all. Each time I click on Start or stop while axis is moving, Dwell blinks, and horrible noise !


 If I'm right, clicking Start should call M3 macro, and Stop should call M5 macro, right ?

 I have even removed the content of M3 and M5 without success.

 Problem doesn't come from DoSpinCW and DoSpinStop system calls.

 Dwell should be a good idea, but, I don't know if I'm right !


 


>>>Are you sure you ran Mach3 under your new TEST profile ??

 Absolutely. Newbie filter is on ;-)

>>>Sorry to ask these stupid questions but I have tried "**While an axis is moving** , click on "Spindle CW F5" button on the bottom right of the screen." and found no problem with motor noise or missing steps

 No stupid question, only kind replies !

>One further thought - run the DriverTest.exe (Mach folder) to check that your PC is up to the task.

 I did. But as I say, my system works perfectly (And fast) except those crazy Start / Stop transitions

3

General Mach Discussion / Re: Strange axis movement ONLY when spindle is starting or stopping...

« on: May 16, 2013, 07:43:48 AM »

 I made a small test during lunch.

 Very easy to reproduce. If someone could confirm the behavior, it would be great !

 Here are the steps required:

 - Rename your Mach3 installation to Mach3.BAK
 - Install Mach3 R3.043.066. No need for license. Demo mode is enough.
 - Start and create a TEST profile.
 - Configure Step/Dir pin to allow X/Y/Z moves.
 - I have changed nothing else in configuration.
 - No additonnal plugin, vfd, scripts, etc... Clean Mach3 system !
 - No VFD connected of course !

 Start Mach3.

 Leave reset mode.

 Move the axis.

 **While an axis is moving** , click on "Spindle CW F5" button on the bottom right of the screen.

 The motor will sound very strage and loud (Lots of missing steps)

 It doen't take a long to check this issue....

 I have no others idea now, as my system is totally clean now...


 Heeelp !!!!

4

General Mach Discussion / Re: Strange axis movement ONLY when spindle is starting or stopping...

« on: May 16, 2013, 04:44:34 AM »

 I will try tonight to create a new clean profile.

 For the VFD noise, I'm sure this is NOT the problem !

 I made another test:

 Remove completely VFD. (Disconnected totally, digged in the backyard ;-)

 Removed VFD plugin to control.

 Move axis, then click on start spindle button (Which start nothing, just call a macro M3 if I remember well)

 Same ugly noise !

 I feel a SW problem which is (I hope !) a configuration problem, but I don't see what.

 Again, if I change speed + or - when moving axis, no problem.

 It's only the stop/start or start/stop transition while any axis is moving that cause so much trouble...


 Thank you !


 

5

General Mach Discussion / Strange axis movement ONLY when spindle is starting or stopping...

« on: May 16, 2013, 03:49:27 AM »

 Hello !

 I'm facing a strange problem, which I'd like to describe here...

 My setup:

 - Chinese 2.2KW spindle + VFD, connected to Mach3 via ModBus adapter and Huanyang VFD controller plugin.
 - 3 axis.
 - I'm using the famous Screenset 2010

 For example:

1st case:

 VFD Controller is configured to be started manually (Huanyang RS485 link is NOT used)

 I have to configure PD001 = 0 to run it manually

 I move all axis, alone or together manually ==> No problems
 
 move axis, then start or stop spindle  ==> No problems

 You can play as you want, it's OK !

2nd case:


 Now, PD001 = 2. Then spindle has to be started from Mach3 itself.

 (I click a button a the screen to start/stop spindle, or a command in gcode is triggered)

 Start Spindle, move axis, stop spindle   ==> No problems

 Move axis then Start or Stop spindle while keeping my finger on the direction button

  ==> The stepper makes an horrible noise, as if the pulses received were totally wrong !

 I have to release my finger from the 'move left/right' axis key, then press again and then it will be OK....


 Order is this case IS important ! YOU CAN'T start or stop spindle if an axis is moving !!!!

 You will lose huge number of step, then you'll have to recalibrate and you work is lost !


 I was suspecting some shielding problem, but it's not the case (See 1st case)


3rd case:


 The funniest case now:

 I disconnect the spindle from the VFD.

 Same test:

 I move one axis, then I start the spindle (While keeping my finger on the 'move axis' button)

 Same horrible noise !!!!


 I highly suspect a software problem (Or configuration ? But I don't see where !)...

 Something look to 'eat' CPU, preventing a steady flow of data going to Stepper controller...


 Mach3 send a 'steady' amount of pulse to the stepper controller, then the stepper itself...

 But when I trigger the 'start spindle' or stop spindle command, it's a nightmare.

 I have to release the move button, then start or stop spindle.


 I have wasted a great piece of artwork that was under 'gcode' control.

 Problem: I cannot 'patch' my gcode files to ensure that no start/stop of spindle will be made while an axis is moving.

 
 I have read plenty of forum, and each time, the problem is noise related. But trust me, it's not the case !


 Hope I was clear... Could someone help me ?

6

Finished Screens / Re: Mach3 2010 Screenset - Now available

« on: May 14, 2013, 08:11:25 AM »

 Thank Gerry !

 I had a look into brain features for Mach3... It looks to be what I was looking for...

 Unfortunately, the brain editor is awful and buggy.... Is there any other way to create a new brain for Mach3 with another editor ?

7

Finished Screens / Re: Mach3 2010 Screenset - Now available

« on: May 13, 2013, 10:10:25 AM »

 Thanks Gerry.

 I have made some research about this Deref button (Which is in the standard screen, you're right) and nothing really clear !

 I'm having another question, which are related to Mach3 and/or Screenset 2010, I don't know...


 I'd like to use Output to manage some LEDs...

 For example: 

 LED on when click START (And START has been 'accepted' of course)
 LED off when click STOP, etc...

 The idea is to hook some external LED which are available on a command pulpit to have better overview of the process...

 Two problems:

 When cliking the Start button, it calls an 'internal function' which is called start.  I don't know how to modify it to add this feature !

 Some others button calls a script, for example: M889.m1s (Simple auto zero) or M885.m1s (REF X)

 I'd like to activate an output (To a LED)

 LED should be on until the script M885 has been finished or cancelled.

Example:

ActivateSignal(OUTPUT7)
DoButton(22)
'Code "G53 G0 X1"
'While IsMoving()
'Wend
 DeActivateSignal(OUTPUT7)
 

 Doesn't work ;-(

 IK don't know exactly how to hook output management into Mach3...

 Could someone Help ?   Hope I'm clear enough !

 Thank you !

8

Finished Screens / Re: Mach3 2010 Screenset - Now available

« on: May 13, 2013, 05:57:42 AM »

 Hello !

 There is one feature in Screenset 2010 that I'm not able to understand:

 - What is the purpose of 'DE-Ref all axis' ? Why would I want to dereference all my axis ?


 - I'm a registered user of SC2010... Will I receive a mail notification if a new release is made available ?
 

 Thank you !

9

Finished Screens / Re: Mach3 2010 Screenset - Now available

« on: November 09, 2012, 02:16:52 PM »

 Yeppeee ! Works !

 Thank you !



 I'm also looking for some informations about how the use a Webcam with Mach3/ScreenSet2010 to ease my life.

 (Off topic, I know ;-)

 
 Do you have any links ?

 Thank you again !

 

10

Finished Screens / Re: Mach3 2010 Screenset - Now available

« on: November 09, 2012, 01:36:43 PM »

Hello ger21 and all happy users,

I just bought your great screenset 2010 some days ago, and it looks great...

Unfortunately, I got some serious problems with:


I'm totally unable to start my VFD spindle with it.

I'm using the famous Huanyang VFD plugin. I can hear a relay "clicking" once but the spindle never starts.

When I enter a speed into the box and press enter, the speed goes to zero immediatly.


With default screen, spindle runs OK.

Of course, screenset is totally unusable for me.


Do you have any solution for me ?


Thank you !