Messages

1

VB and the development of wizards / DLL - CreateObject help

« on: July 15, 2014, 11:43:08 PM »

I am trying to use a .dll to interface an instrument with Mach3 through a macro call.

When I view the dll in visual studio the structure looks like this:

ALControls2                          '-----------------   .dll file
     {}alNETControls                '----------------    namespace
             AcqMultiControl        '-----------------   class

             AcqMultiControl()      '------------------   default constructor
             FromXML(string)       '------------------   filepath to load settings  public void
             NumberofBoards()    '------------------    returns # of boards installed   public int
             Init(bool,bool,bool)   '------------------    call to setup board objects before use   public void
             CollectSingleShot()  

So far many attempts have failed.  Should I be able to use CreateObject?  Could someone suggest how to structure all this?
The only documentation I have with this is for visual studio and I am totally new to that so it is hard to follow.
The instrument is an ultrasonic pulser/receiver feeding into a PCI aquisition card, it computes a time of flight.
I have used some other simple .dll's with the Declare Function and had no trouble (setting a multiplexor channel, serial communication).
Am I on the right track, is this possible???  I have found a few examples that I am trying to learn from like, PoKeys.
When I single step through any of my scripts it fails at my createobject and goes to error handler.
Right now I would just love to connect to the board and have it return the NumberofBoards() atleast, but nothing so far.

Thanks!

-Bob

2

Galil / Re: Updated PCI driver, Mach can't connect

« on: August 13, 2013, 02:53:54 PM »

Just found this, sounds like I will have to configure one way to use GalilSuite and then reconfigure to run Mach as the PCI drivers are not compatible between SmartTerm and GalilSuite, and Mach needs SmartTerm I think?

http://www.galilmc.com/support/manuals/galiltools/pci.html

-Bob

3

Galil / Re: Updated PCI driver, Mach can't connect

« on: August 13, 2013, 01:06:56 PM »

Forgot to add that when I ran the new PCI driver EXE, the install failed because it is an unsigned driver so I had to manually point windows to the driver file to update.  Could not resolve the unsigned driver problem.

-Bob

4

Galil / Updated PCI driver, Mach can't connect

« on: August 13, 2013, 01:02:32 PM »

Hi All,

     I was finally able to get all the bugs out of our system and manually tuned the servos, all was well.  I decided to purchase the GalilSuite software to hone in on the best servo PID parameters.  For GalilSuite to function I had to use a new PCI driver from Galil, this install went fine and I can use GalilSuite!  Now when I try to use Mach3, it doesn't see the Galil card.  If I roll back the driver then all is well in Mach, but I can't find a solution that allows Mach3 to see the Galil card without using the old driver.  I think this has to do with being in the Windows registry, as I believe this is not done with the new driver.  I installed Smart Terminal and when using the old driver, I can register the device.  With the new driver, SmartTerm doesn't see it...

Any advice?

-Bob

5

Galil / Re: Plugin Configure, motors running away

« on: July 12, 2013, 01:44:02 PM »

Thanks you for the help!

     I disconnected the drives and adjusted my motor settings for reverse on the Y axis.  This got the motors settled down.  I can now jog the x and y, but I want to be able to drive this with g-code.  Is there any resources for this, in the looking I have done it appears I may need some g-code to galil converter?  I tried sending g code through the MDI, but galil doesn't recognize this.

Thanks again,

Bob

6

Galil / Plugin Configure, motors running away

« on: July 11, 2013, 05:35:50 PM »

Hi All,

     I have a 3 axis machine that has run for years with custom motion control software but currently experimenting with Mach3 control.  The setup consists of DC brushless motors on the X and Y with a stepper on the Z.  They are controlled with DMC 18-6 controller.

I downloaded Mach3 and the Galil plugin, installed according to PDF guide.  I first started Mach3 and initially it didn't see the galil and requested that I restart the program.  After this I restarted and went to the config-plugin menu and in the drop down I saw the DMC 18-6 option so I selected that.  The x axis immediately (or after hitting reset, can't remember) went full speed and I had to quickly hit "big red" to kill the power.  I rebooted everything and verified the PID settings through DMC setup.  Started Mach3 again and the Y axis took off, so another point for the big red button.  I thought to go back in to the plugin config with the controller off so that the motors wont move, but Mach3 doesn't like this and locks up upon starting.

Is there a way that I can safely configure without risk of motor movement or should I un-couple them from machine?
Any ideas on what I should check first on the plugin config?  I am sure that I have some settings incorrect but afraid to run Mach3 until I get some guidance.
The machine is very large and dangerous and moves extremely fast during these problems.

Thank you very much,

Bob