Messages

21

General Mach Discussion / Re: E-STOP Mechatronics Controller

« on: September 05, 2009, 07:41:37 PM »

Hmmm-  Is the Diag page LED light still lit while the button is pressed?  what's the story with your button?  Is it a momentary or is it maintained?  What pin are you using?  Is anything else misconfigured to use that same pin?  A little more info please!

22

General Mach Discussion / Re: E-STOP Mechatronics Controller

« on: September 05, 2009, 12:19:36 PM »

OK- there's your problem.  It looks like the limit switches are using a terminal marked COM (Common)-please confirm!.  Looks to me like you need to

Go from Common---> E-stop
E-Stop ----> Pin 10 or Pin 15.

See attached drawing!

Then you should get a light on the Diagnostics page and all should be good

23

General Mach Discussion / Re: E-STOP Mechatronics Controller

« on: September 05, 2009, 11:54:41 AM »

If you go to the diagnostics page in Mach- can you see the on screen LED light up when you trigger your E-Stop Button??  If Not then you are not getting 5V back to the BOB

24

General Mach Discussion / Re: E-STOP Mechatronics Controller

« on: September 05, 2009, 11:37:36 AM »

I looked at the manual for this controller and sadly there is not 1 note about how to connect an E-Stop button.  This is a major oversight IMO.  Regardless, I have usually seen PIN 10 Used for E-stop.  Not sure why but it seems to be a standard.  Can you try swapping things around and put your button on 10 and configure as such?

HTH,
Sid

P.S.  Active Low is OK/Normal

25

General Mach Discussion / Re: E-STOP Mechatronics Controller

« on: September 05, 2009, 07:36:30 AM »

Have you configured your E-stop button in the 'ports & pins' page?  Is it enabled?  Correct pin selected?

26

General Mach Discussion / Re: Very green newb, Is this possible?

« on: September 01, 2009, 12:19:22 AM »

It could be mechanical?  Have a VERY close look at your belts/pulleys when you are running your program.  Are you slipping a tooth on your pulleys?  Sometimes this will happen if your belts are not tight.

27

General Mach Discussion / Re: Smooth Stepper reset

« on: August 23, 2009, 01:45:05 PM »

Ray,

Thanks- Steel Box comming right up!  I know the Main Enclosure is grounded well.  I am using the standard USB cable that Greg/Stephanie ship with their units, I think it's about 4 feet.  It's too short for me to route around the perimeter of the enclosure (away from other pwr cables) SO- I was able to route it BEHIND the subpanel.  It is the only cable runing back there and my thought was that being behind a 1/32" plate of steel it would help with the noise issue. Maybe not??  I'll try the steel box but maybe I need to rething my USB cable routing and get a longer USB-A to USB-B?

Aside from this issue- everything else works good!

Regards,
Sid

28

General Mach Discussion / Re: Smooth Stepper reset

« on: August 23, 2009, 12:33:43 PM »

Jeff,

Thanks but, I am running a 1.5HP 3Phase spindel motor from a VFD.  I don't think your line filter is gonna do it for me.  I'll have to search elsewhere.  BTW- I think it's the VFD causing the noise problems in my case-not the motor.

Ray,

I have 2 enclosures.  The main panel is a 36"x24" with most everything in there- Power Distro, Servo Motors/breakouts, E-stop circuit contactors, DC power supplies, circuit protection, the PMDX122 breakout AND finally the SS.  The other enclosure is a 16x20 that is mounted on top of the main panel. It houses the computer, Screen, E-stop button and a few indicator lights.

Everything works pretty well- EXCEPT starting the spindle motor from Mach triggers a reset about 80% of the time.

I don't understand why you would mount the SS inside the PC case.  It seems to me that it defeats the purpose of being able to use USB cables to break the 6' PP cable liimit-maybe I'm misunderstanding something??

I know I'm going to sound like a broken record here but...Interestingly when I run this system on PP everything works flawlessly.  ZERO noise problems.  I just have to run at a lower resolution and conversely a slower speed due to the high encoder count (or use electronic gearing).

Any suggestions to 'get er done' with the SS would be appreciated!!

Thanks,
Sid

29

General Mach Discussion / Re: Smooth Stepper reset

« on: August 23, 2009, 11:33:21 AM »

Jeff,

Thanks for your comments.  It seems that you & I are living parrallel lives regarding the SS.  

I have experienced all of the USB noise related problems that you mention.  

Currently I am having a problem with my spindle motor triggeriing a reset.  Noise filters in the plug in are ineffective.  I'm going to check out the line filter you mentioned but, sometimes it's pretty hard to route the USB cable in the manner in which you describe.  Enclosure size/configuration can make it a real challenge to kick this USB noise thing.  

That being said is is possible to design/build/modify a USB calble that has some sheilding (I don't think USB cables have any??).  Perhaps this might be the 'Silver Bullet'?

Sid

P.S.  Do you guys think we should move this topic over to the SS forum/section???

30

General Mach Discussion / Re: Smooth Stepper reset

« on: August 23, 2009, 01:27:14 AM »

What USB Protocol are you using?  (i.e. USB 2.0).  I was having a ton of comm issues with smooth stepper on a machine that had USB 1.0.  Then I purchased a PCI to USB 2.0 Card and after installing virtually all my problems went away.  I seem to recall getting some pop up message once that said something like, Communication error motin has been stopped in the future this will be handled more gracefully, press ok to regain control.  Pressing OK did not regain control, nor did a reset- however, shutting down Mach (no power cycling necessary) and relaunching Mach cured all.

HTH,
Sid