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Messages - paulc

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1
Mach4 General Discussion / Re: mcX360 Its Nearly Here
« on: October 30, 2015, 12:28:28 AM »
Quote
Is there a list of input names like cycle start, feed hold, cycle stop, emergency stop etc etc so scripts can be written to match my pokeys buttons?

Look in the API docs within the mach4hobby/docs directory and all is under signals

DazTheGas

Perfect!

2
Mach4 General Discussion / Re: mcX360 Its Nearly Here
« on: October 28, 2015, 10:57:14 AM »
I too want to thank you for your contributions.  For dummies like me a few Lua tuts broken down so as the logic to the language can be understood would be so helpful as I feel so dependant on those that know how to script,  they key to mach4 (at this time) is to know how to write script.  Then the skies the limit.

Today I managed to modify my inputs script to allow a red button to stop the cycle feed and stop the spindle.  One small step........ :) My panel is coming together.  MPGs and touch probe next.  I think it can be done!

Is there a list of input names like cycle start, feed hold, cycle stop, emergency stop etc etc so scripts can be written to match my pokeys buttons?

Cheers Paul.

3
Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Pokeys 57E Issues mach4
« on: October 28, 2015, 10:40:57 AM »
I have a whole shed full of these RC monsters,  From 1990 to 2000 I built one a year, Oh I loved those years, just goofing about in my shop!

Tweakie, mach4 even with the early bugs has 100 x the potential of mach3.  The code performance is much slicker, and most fixes can be done if you know Lua (which I don't).  I see Mach4 more like a blank page, its ready to do what ever you like.  Im only just starting to play with scripts, but already have some working.  
Right now I have a full working 4 axis mill on mach4 (was mach3) and its working just fine and will only get better.  Im glad I switched to mach4.

Thanks to guys like Dazthegas for putting work in to help us along, videos are great.  I agree that the new ESS plugin will soon hopefully address these issues.  Right now I can jog mach4 via pokeys inputs while the mach4 is in disabled mode!!!! which is clearly a big bug!  I can manage it myself but I dare let anyone else use the machine as it is dangerous.  Many others have reported this so I expect it will be fixed.

4
Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Pokeys 57E Issues mach4
« on: October 27, 2015, 09:09:19 PM »
Tweakie,  An update, I can also report that once you hit the mach4 enable button to disable the machine, the axis can be jogged and will run away in the last direction you press you can reverse the axis back and forth but the axis you have started moving will not stop unless you hit the mach4 enable button to enable things, then the runaway axis will stop and behave as it should.

The will happen regardless of how you sequence the starting of hardware!

This only started to occur once the Pokeys plugin was installed and configured.

I suspect its a mach4 bug. Im using version 2686.  Has anyone got the later versions to work with ESS?  Could this fix the issue?

Hi Paul,

Just an observation regarding your last post but you should really get into the habit of getting your control software (Mach3/4) up and running before you switch on or enable your CNC machine. Literally anything could happen (characters sent, outputs switched etc.) during the computer's software start-up sequence and an out-of-control machine does not bear thinking about the possible consequences to life and limb.

(Old hands at flying RC will know what I am talking about regarding switch-on order).

Tweakie.

5
Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Pokeys 57E Issues mach4
« on: October 27, 2015, 07:29:53 PM »
One of my many RC planes, yes they're big!

6
Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Pokeys 57E Issues mach4
« on: October 27, 2015, 07:27:48 PM »
Im am an old hand at RC flying!  :)  But I do take your point.

I find you have to power the ESS before mach4 start.  The ESS cannot be powered after mach4 start.  But I guess I could try powering my CNC servo drives after mach4 and ESS are both online.  I have never had to do this before, but I will try this.

Thanks Paul

7
Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Pokeys 57E Issues mach4 run away machine!
« on: October 27, 2015, 09:02:44 AM »
Thanks to the guys at prolabs, I managed to find the latest 57E application, which allowed my to update to the latest firmware,  Ive got few basic buttons my panel working so Im on my way.

BUT I have a problem in that when I restart mach4 all axis run away, and I have to hit the emergency button, after I reset its ok. Until the next mach4 restart.

I added Dazthegas  screen load  script (inst, 0)and now the machine jolts only a few mm on start up , so thats not so bad.

BUT

Then when I home from here all seems ok, accept now I cant cycle start an NC program until I have jogged all axis.

Its very strange.  This only started happening once i set up the pokeys.

8
Mach4 General Discussion / Pokeys 57E Issues mach4
« on: October 26, 2015, 07:33:42 PM »
Hi All, I'm trying to get help on how to get my Pokeys 57E plugin working on mach 4.  In mach4 when I try and open the pokeys plugin it says "old firmware".

I contacted Pokeys (opened a ticket), those guys asked if I was running version   3.1.65 or 4.1.41?

But I am running pokeys version 3.1.75 does anyone know what pokeys plugin with mach4 2686 and where I can find it?

I'm using the pokeys 57E for I/O functions only not motion control. just panel buttons, jogging etc and later MPG and touch probe.

Thanks in advance.
Paul.

9
Problem solved by Jeff Birt, he advised I needed to change the "IJ" settings in mach3 general config to incremental not absolute as it was set as.  

All good now :)

10
I sure the the steps are set ok.  Becuase when I measure straight movements in X and Y they are perfect.  Ie if I ask X to say move 50mm it moves 50mm same for Y, this is confirmed.  Also the circle is perfectly round just not the right diameter (68mm).  I could only think it was the post processor churning out the wrong code someplace.

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