Messages

31

General Mach Discussion / Re: Adding audible alarm to Mach 3 thru HobbyCNC board...

« on: August 23, 2011, 10:13:32 PM »

Excellent info!
I'm glad I'll be able to check the operation on the diagnostic tab.
And thanks for the reminder on the in-line switch...
I'd actually thought of that myself, but it's a great reminder!
There will now be a several day pause until I get my relay driver board...
Chet

32

General Mach Discussion / Re: Adding audible alarm to Mach 3 thru HobbyCNC board...

« on: August 23, 2011, 09:29:45 PM »

OK, here's some info on the HobbyCNC board:
pins 1, 14, 16, 17 are available, but only on a straight through basis...
a 10K pull up resistor will be needed...
So, let's say I pick pin 14 --
I'd want Config/Ports & Pins/Output
Enable 1, ENABLED, port 1, pin 14, BUT Active Low should be Red X or Green check???
Please advise...
Thanks, guys!
(And, yes, I did order the relay driver board from CNC4PC)

33

General Mach Discussion / Re: Adding audible alarm to Mach 3 thru HobbyCNC board...

« on: August 23, 2011, 03:42:13 PM »

You're right... The docs for HobbyCNC circuits are nearly non-existent...
They come with great assembly instructions, but little documentation.
However, I have now cross-posted my problem to the HobbyCNC group...
Thanks, TJ, and all of the rest of you, for your insights!
If a solution does appear, I'll be sure to let this group also know!
Chet

34

General Mach Discussion / Re: Adding audible alarm to Mach 3 thru HobbyCNC board...

« on: August 23, 2011, 11:18:48 AM »

Turning off the vac by a Mach controlled relay is a wonderful suggestion!!!!!!
Anybody here using Mach and a HobbyCNC breakout board that can tell me how to do that?
Chet

35

General Mach Discussion / Adding audible alarm to Mach 3 thru HobbyCNC board...

« on: August 23, 2011, 08:51:26 AM »

In spite of my best troubleshooting techniques, I'm getting a random limit switch activation.
Not frequently, but they happen.
This is a problem because I typically leave my machine running by itself for extended intervals of time.
If Mach 3 generates a limit trigger, I lose all of the time I didn't know the machine was stopped.
I'm cutting foam, and the sound of the vacuum cleaner drowns out everything else.
A member here, TJ, suggested the following:
"Do you have an extra output pin available for use??? IF so If you buy a C37 relay board from CNC4PC ($15.00) It would take about 15 minutes and whatever alarm you want to use and have what you need.
Set up the pin and port for Enable1 . When Mach is active the relay will open turning off the alarm. When ever the systems Estops the relay will close and turn on the alarm.
You would use the Normally CLosed (NC) side of the relay."
So.... anyone here familiar with the step-by-step to make this happen?
If I pick an output pin on Mach 3, can I pick it up on the HobbyCNC Pro board?
Will it be visible as an active output on the Diagnostics's tab?
I'm open to experimentation, but if someone here knows the process already, I'm ready to learn...
Thanks, Chet

36

General Mach Discussion / Re: False Limit Switch Emergency Stops & audible alarm

« on: June 10, 2011, 05:21:19 PM »

Thanks, Hood, you always good ideas.
But the solution may be difficult to implement...
I've got my limit switches wired in series.
Finding the faulty intermittent one will certainly be problematic.
AND is there a pinout for an audible alarm?
Chet

37

General Mach Discussion / False Limit Switch Emergency Stops & audible alarm

« on: June 10, 2011, 05:10:29 PM »

For some reason I've started getting false Limit Switch Emergency Stops.
They don't occur at any particular frequency, nor any particular place.
This is a new problem in an operation that's worked well over the past two years.
AND secondly, is there a pinout from Mach3 so an audible alarm could be triggered if there is an Emergency Stop?
That would sure be handy!
I typically let Mach3 run without constant monitoring, and an audible alarm would let me know something was triggered...
Chet

38

General Mach Discussion / Re: Z axis drift during X-axis motion...

« on: November 22, 2010, 10:39:43 AM »

Outstanding explanation!!!!
Thanks, Hood!!!!!

39

General Mach Discussion / Re: Z axis drift during X-axis motion...

« on: November 22, 2010, 09:57:31 AM »

The slow Z-axis rotation starts immediately...
I won't be able to do the line modify until later today...
Thanks for enduring...

40

General Mach Discussion / Re: Z axis drift during X-axis motion...

« on: November 22, 2010, 09:44:12 AM »

Yes, the problem is that the Z-axis drifts below Z=0.0 while moving to a new location on the X-axis only...
This causes a taper across the top of work...
It's removing material where it should not...