Messages

1

CS-Lab / Re: Spindle control setup with CSMIO/IP-M

« on: October 20, 2015, 05:10:42 AM »

You have to be really an expert to get clumsier than I was and still am.
I need to check from the sketches I drew at the time, but at least in principle I arranged a rotation change of spindle motor with two external relays as illustrated in this image.
Pin 12 driving relay 1 and pin 13 relay 2. Pin 25 is just a common for these relays.

2

General Mach Discussion / Re: Re-routing input to output in Mach??

« on: March 05, 2015, 11:37:02 AM »

It works!

Danke Schön Thomas!

Cheers!
Juha

3

General Mach Discussion / Re: Re-routing input to output in Mach??

« on: March 04, 2015, 05:17:52 PM »

Thomas, your macro seems to work. However, being a nitpicker, there is one thing...

Sub Main()

    'ask Operator to enable output
    Response = MsGBox ("Do you realy want to enable Output 1?" , 4)
    'Yes has been pressed
    If Response = 6 then
         ActivateSignal(OUTPUT1)
    'Abort has been pressed 
    Else   
        GoTo Ende
    End If   

    'ask Operator to disable output
    Response = MsGBox ("Do you realy want to disable Output 1?" , 4)
    'Yes has been pressed
    If Response = 6 then
         DeActivateSignal(OUTPUT1)
    'Abort has been pressed 
    Else   
        GoTo Ende
    End If   


Ende:
End Sub

If you answer to the first question (do you want to enable output1) yes, the output is activated.
Then if you answer no to the 2nd question (do you want to disable), the dialog box disappears and output remains active. So far so good.
But then if I finally want to disable output and I press the button created for the output control, I get the first message again and it asks to enable even the output is already enabled.

So how to modify macro that it jump to the second question right away if output is already activated when you hit the button?

Code: [Select]

Sub Main()

   [color=red]If OUTPUT1 =Active then goto dude[/color]
'ask Operator to enable output
    Response = MsGBox ("Do you realy want to enable Output 1?" , 4)
    'Yes has been pressed
    If Response = 6 then
         ActivateSignal(OUTPUT1)
    'Abort has been pressed 
    Else   
        GoTo Ende
    End If   

[color=red]dude[/color]
    'ask Operator to disable output
    Response = MsGBox ("Do you realy want to disable Output 1?" , 4)
    'Yes has been pressed
    If Response = 6 then
         DeActivateSignal(OUTPUT1)
    'Abort has been pressed 
    Else   
        GoTo Ende
    End If   


Ende:
End SubHow to code what I've tried to explain in red text?
Ok, it seems that the coloring does not work in the code section, but you can see what I am explainin there in between color brackets [  ]

Cheers,
Juha

4

LazyCam (Beta) / Re: Lazy Cam (or other product) for doing GIF to SVG to GCode

« on: March 03, 2015, 12:30:29 PM »

Hi!

Couple nights now Ive been trying to convert some graphics to vectors (SVG) with Inkscape. And I believe I have succeeded in this but my intention is to open the file created with the SW called Blender. For some reason Blender does not import the file. Or I do not know what it does but anyway I cannot see anything on Blender's screen. Anybody been there?

Rgds,
Juha

5

Feature Requests / Re: Signal matrix for inputs & outputs

« on: March 01, 2015, 10:18:18 AM »

I was trying to add a button on to the screen for the function I was looking for. In fact I got it done (that it almost works as intended).

To get this done, I obviously needed a screen editor.
By using a program, I got the button added, but on saving and opening screen on Mach, the page (1st, Program run) got totally mixed up. All buttons and DRO and so were almost randomly pleced on the screen. What am I doing wrong?

There are lot of things to study in the recommendation list referred as I do not even know what is Mach3 CB. It might be obvious for some, but for dudes like me, uhh...

Cheers,
Juha

6

Feature Requests / Signal matrix for inputs & outputs

« on: February 27, 2015, 07:04:09 AM »

Hello!

I came accross of need to reroute input signals to outputs (see the topic)

What do you think about an idea to have ins & outs in a matrix, in a sort of table having columns and rows where you can route signals just by having signal intersections checked? And even better, if you could have some logic implemented, a least AND and OR (maybe also NAND, NOR etc) would be good to have.

All configuration that is already now included separately for inputs and outputs could be merged into a same table (e.g. inputs in columns and outputs in rowss) and signal connections added in to the matrix.

Maybe you could get some idea about suggestion by looking how signal matrix has been done in ABB's PCM600 protection relay setting tool.

Juha

7

General Mach Discussion / Re: Re-routing input to output in Mach??

« on: February 27, 2015, 05:54:57 AM »

Thomas,

I just cannot figure out how to call this macro in operation.
Lets say, I want to activate output #3 when I press T key (ascii code 84), how does the macro created know that now it is my time to operate? And how to name the macro that Mach can call it in operation?

As you can see, I'm really out as the snowman with this macro stuff...

Mit FG,
Juha

8

General Mach Discussion / Re-routing input to output in Mach??

« on: February 26, 2015, 06:35:16 AM »

Hello!

A background to my question lies on an automatic tool changer in my small milling machine project.

I managed to build a macro (thruth is that I really do not know how to write these in VB, so I had no option but to copy&edit it) that handles the fuction. It e.g. activates an output (output #1 which further employs mag. relay) as requested.
The question is, how to activate the same output by activating a certain input? In my case the input signal is going to be emulated. I want to release tool once I hit e.g. "T" on a PC keyboard. This feature would be needed in a simple manual tool change but also in case when I need to use more tools than I have in a tool magazine (all 3!). Idea is that the machine waits till the tool gets changed and then continues work. I have not figure out yet how to do this in macro, so lets's see... but anyway manual release is needed at this point. Actually it would be nice if the output could be toggled.

Briefly, how to reroute inputs (even emulated) to outputs and how to get this in a toggle mode?

I'm using CSMIO/IP-M controller, but I think it is not relevant in order to configure Mach to reroute IOs

Thanks,
Juha

9

CS-Lab / Re: Spindle control setup with CSMIO/IP-M

« on: February 22, 2015, 05:38:54 PM »

This help any?
http://www.cs-lab.eu/en/index.php?m=article&s=main&aid=132&uinfo=CSMIOIPM__VFD

Hood

Any? A lot. Ive been trying and trying, both (Mach and CSMIO) manuals red through couple times.

Thousands thanks,
Juha

10

CS-Lab / Spindle control setup with CSMIO/IP-M

« on: February 22, 2015, 02:04:03 PM »

Got axes up and running.

So now I'm focusing on a spindle control setup and get confused.

First some dry run findings:
It looks I cannot get spindle running at all.
By looking at the section "Spindle Speed" on Mach screen, there is a DRO "RPM". I cannot get any readings to that, except for a very short period (1 sec). There are number decreasing from about 1000 to 0 within second once I hit F5 or type appropriate code in MDI input (e.g. M3 S500). If I cannot get any readings in to that DRO, I guess that means that the spindle is not rotating at all (Mach is not generating control signals).

Then, how to configure CSMIO/ip-M?
I have ticked "Spindle" in "Motor Outputs" config.
In a CSMIO plugin config I have enable "Spindle DAC" as I am trying to get 0...+10 VDC for my spindle driver.
For the analog output I have chosen Analog OUT 0 and connected pins 1 and 2 accordingly in an analog out out terminal of CSMIO.
Then back to Mach port&pin setup and "Spindle Setup" tab. What should be chosen in a "Motor Control" section? Or does it matter when CSMIO is used? Since I'm using a spindle motor, it would be easy to think "Use Spindle Motor Output" should be checked. But what then, PWM or Step/dir? In a relay control section I have unchecked "Disable Spindle Relays" checkbox, and set output# to 4 and 5 as CSMIO manual recommends. However, I cannot get these output activated in CSMIO by using codes M3 and M4 in MDI or in G-code program.

Spindle pulley ratios are all set to 1 and min and max speed are from few hundres to couple thousands. One question here, are the pulleys selected in a G-code (like in my "real" CNC lathe. Okuma uses codes M40 upwards for calling different gears)?
 
I am basically looking for a stepbystep spindle setup guide for really dummies. At least I did not find anybody else struggling with the same issue...


Cheers,
Juha