Messages

61

General Mach Discussion / Re: Another 2nd parallel port question

« on: October 19, 2011, 08:38:46 PM »

  After reformatting, and installing the drivers and the CNC4PC brain that goes with my pendant, the motor tuning config box still won't open.

I removed  the drivers for the 2nd parallel port, and the CNC4pc brains for the C22 board & pendant.

Now I can run the motor config again.


JAckal

62

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach won't let me tune motors. Dialog page won't open??

« on: October 19, 2011, 08:35:52 PM »

After removing the drivers for the parallel port, and the pendant brains from CNC4pc, the motor tuning will open now.

I guess my machine will only work with the PMDX 145 board for a pendant

JAckal

63

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach won't let me tune motors. Dialog page won't open??

« on: October 19, 2011, 04:42:31 PM »

Everything is set back up. Windows XP, Mach 3  with my last good working .XML file, etc.

The motors jog ok,and  the motor tuning page opened up, too.



Now it wont, after I added the CNC4pc brains, and the 2nd parallel port.

It seems to me, like it is the port drivers, or the CNC4pc brains.

Stay tuned, after I remove  those extras and check it.

JAckal

64

General Mach Discussion / Re: Another 2nd parallel port question

« on: October 19, 2011, 01:31:53 PM »

2) Mach anomaly (may or may not still be with us in current versions)   For me, Mach would not tolerate changing the address in the config unless I first zeroed the address, disabled the port and closed and restarted Mach. Upon restarting Mach, I could then enable the port, put in a new port address and Mach would use it. Note that this is just an observation and I do not know why it happens this way. I might speculate that this is because the port driver has a death grip on the port while running as a separate process outside Mach, but whatever the cause, I found you have to slap Mach in a face to get it to let go of the address it is clinging to before it will consider changing to a new port address.

That is VERY helpful.

It seemed strange to me that I was getting (2) set of address numbers for each port

Ex:

Port #2

       A800-A807
       AC00-Ac07

Port #3

       A00-A007
       A400-A407

Someone  else had told me to use just the first numbers before the (-).

That re-starting Mach  sounds like a good trick.

Simpson,

I sure  do thank you very much,

JAckal  

65

General Mach Discussion / Re: Another 2nd parallel port question

« on: October 19, 2011, 11:18:40 AM »

Thanks Simpson,

I got the drivers from the Moschip site and tried them.

Steve from PMDX had me  disconnect my B_O_B and try it on the other (2) added ports ( Rosewill), while changing and going through all the addresses and calling them Port#1.

It never would recognize.

I started having problems with Windows going crazy, and re-formatted the computer. After everything is back to where it was (there is  a good back up of my .xml), I will start again with the port thing.

Thanks for replying,

I really appreciate all of the help on here,

JAckal

66

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach won't let me tune motors. Dialog page won't open??

« on: October 19, 2011, 08:24:15 AM »

Hood,

I didn't go through the basic steps for a first time installation. It was re-booted like you are supposed to do.

Would it still jog the servos if the driver wasn't installed?

My thinking was that the driver test, and other stuff was to see if the computer was compatible with Mach.

Today, I'll remove & reinstall the driver.

Thanks,

JAckal

67

General Mach Discussion / Mach won't let me tune motors. Dialog page won't open??

« on: October 18, 2011, 09:14:01 PM »

During my  mission to get Mach to recognize the #2 parallel port, Windows XP went crazy.

It kept saying "new hardware device found" every 10 seconds, and doing other wild stuff.

My .xml file was saved/backed-up, so I just reformatted my computer.

Now,I have loaded Mach 3 and  the .xml with all of my tuning.

For some strange reason when I go into the "Config" tab, it shows the motor tuning, but the motor tuning page won't open.

It is something I hit by mistake.

Thanks a lot,

JAckal

68

General Mach Discussion / Re: Another 2nd parallel port question

« on: October 14, 2011, 09:32:59 PM »

Steve Stallings replied to my E-mail. Steve gave me a few things to change and had me remove the .xml file and save it. Then install a factory  Mach3 .Xml file and see if Mach recognizes the 2nd port. It didn't .

Also, he said to remove any PMDX Plug-ins. These are for expanded mode only, and  configure the second port on the unused pins of Port 1. < I didn't' have any of these.

Pmdx came out with a #145 card for pendants about a month ago, but there isn't a users manual out, yet.  When asked   about this, Steve said  he didn't want to give up on my 2nd Port just yet.

This is a common problem and is necessary for any hardwired pendant.

After changing several drivers found online, the LED on the pendant stays on now.

I installed The cnc4pc .xml on the computer in the house just to see the port and pins settings.

My thoughts are  to add these changes to the pins & ports, etc on  my mill and see if it works. I can always change to the back-up .xml if needed.

All comments, ideas, experiences, and warnings appreciated.

Stay tuned,

JAckal

JAckal

69

General Mach Discussion / Re: Another 2nd parallel port question

« on: October 13, 2011, 02:07:05 PM »

I swapped the cables around. Added the ribbon cable & header for the 3 parallel port.

Tried Mach on all 3 ports, no luck on #2 or# 3.

Called them all port #1,2 or 3 at one time. Went through all of the assigned addresses in device manager, too.

Pendant didn't work on port #1 ( motherboard provided port).

I have noticed that the LED on the pendant come on when you start the machine.

It stays on while Windows is booting up. A couple of seconds before  the Main Windows screen ( with the icons) comes up, the pendant LED goes  out.

I'm not sure but that sounds like something to do with the "charge pump" circuit.

There are (2) different CNC4PC brains. One is with charge pump, and the other W/O charge pump.< I've tried both 


About an hour ago I sent an e-mail to Steve @ PMDX. This may be impossible, or he may have a 10 second fix.

I would be willing to wire this pendant pin-by-pin if takes that.

The only  thing really needed is:

MPG

Axis selector

Axis increments; .001, .01, 01.

The E-stop had a relay that is wired outside the comm cable.

Stay tuned for further updates.


JAckal

70

General Mach Discussion / Re: Another 2nd parallel port question

« on: October 12, 2011, 07:11:10 PM »

Hood,

I wondered about that. Could I just swap the Break out board parallel cable and pendant cable, then go into device manager and switch names on the ports?

 Or would I need  to go in and change/check each individual pin? It  would seem that if ports addresses were changed, just a swap of the cables.

BR,

I will try this change of ports and then get in touch with PMDX. Steve Stallings (PMDX) is super quick on the electronics stuff. Maybe what I'm wanting to do can't be done with a 126 board. The expanded mode and several different header plug-ins on it, may make this impossible to plug-and play.

If so, Steve can probably tell me how to take the end off of the pendant cable, and wire up the axis switch and MPG direct.

When  asking him for help, I just want to be able to say I've tried most things already.

I'll try the port address thing, and then get in touch with  PMDX.

You'll know in a few days how it works out.

Thanks to all of you for your help.

I am a little deeper involved in electronics that I had intended, but it pulls you in and you have to go deeper to understand  it.

Maybe some day I can return the favor.

JAckal