Messages

121

General Mach Discussion / Re: more port and pins question

« on: May 11, 2010, 12:56:14 AM »

Hood-

I did some testing today, and I am still not having any luck.  I tried one of the other inputs on the I/O card and nothing.

Right now, I have the port 2 pin4 (AUX1) set to turn on input #1 in Mach when the torch presses down on the plate and lifts off the micro switch.

When the twitch is made, the input #1 on the diagnostic screen turns on.

What G code would I use to reset the z axis to 0 once the torch micro switch is triggered?

I am trying to determine where the problem is happening in MACH.  If I can get Mach to actually do something when one of the AUX inputs is triggered, then I can rule out the candcnc I/O cards.

Does this make any sense?


Steve

122

General Mach Discussion / Re: more port and pins question

« on: May 08, 2010, 10:04:03 PM »

Stirling-  Yes I did check the "Program Safety Lockout"  and nothing happened.  Using the diagnostic screen, I can watch "input 1" turn on and off.


Hood-

My setup has 6 physical e-stops mounted around the table.

If you are bored, here is a link to my table on cnczone
http://cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33773

so is there any other type of input mapping? 

Steve

123

General Mach Discussion / Re: more port and pins question

« on: May 08, 2010, 10:02:21 AM »

Weldsol-

The port "8" is part of the design from candcnc.  It is some type of virtual port.  I do have 2 parallel ports installed.

At this time there are no silly questions.  I am sure it is something simple, I just can't find it.


Steve

124

General Mach Discussion / Re: more port and pins question

« on: May 08, 2010, 09:06:50 AM »

Hood-

I am using Granite Devices for my servo drives.  My gantry is large, and it uses 2 servos. Every once and a while I will get a fault on one of the servo drives, and one drive stops.  The other is strong enough to make the gantry still move, but it does not travel square, and I scrap whatever part I am making.

I have a relay that turns on when any of the drives fault.  I am wanting to take the dry contacts from the relay, and connect them to the I/O board.

The problem is that MACH is not responding to any input.  The RAW port and pins on the diagonstic page showes that the signal is getting to the computer, it is just that MACH is ignoring it.



Steve

125

General Mach Discussion / Re: more port and pins question

« on: May 08, 2010, 12:04:42 AM »

Hood-

Thanks for the info on using input #1.  It should work for what I want, but it does not

When I short the two terminals together on the BOB, now the LED labled input #1 turns on, and the RAW ports and pin LED in my first post turn on. 

It just appears that Mach does not know what to do with the information once it is recieved.

Any other ideas?

thanks for the help


Steve

126

General Mach Discussion / more port and pins question

« on: May 07, 2010, 01:13:58 AM »

Hi all-

I have been reading the forums for several weeks, and I am more confused now than ever.  But on the bright side, I finally have my 6 x 12 oxy/ propane table running good enough to make parts.

Here is my question.  I am trying to add a fault circuit to my table, and the best OEM code I can find to stop the motion of the table is OEM 1021.

When I set up the ports and pins in the input config page I have set OEM trigger #4 to port 2 pin 3
then on the hotkeys setup page I have OEM #4 set to 1021.
I have also emulated OEM trigger #4 to the "F" key

When I short (jump together ) the two terminal on the I/O board I can see the RAW Ports and Pin change states, but nothing else happens
When I press the "F" key, the raw ports and pins led changes states, and the system goes into reset.

I am using granite devices servo drives
I am using the BOB from candcnc


I am sure that I am missing something simple.  any ideas?

Steve
for some reason I cant post the pictures.  I will try to edit the post later and add the pictures

127

General Mach Discussion / Re: my first project

« on: May 29, 2009, 12:43:13 PM »

OK-  The relays are installed.  I have 3 relays, 1 for each axis.

Everything for the e-stops is now working.

Now for the next problem.  I can not get the two servo motors for the x axis to spin at the same rate.

This is what I have tried so far--

- the settings in the VSD-e servo drivers are set the same
-I have Mach 3 set to slave X axis and A axis together
-I have the motor tuning portion for mach 3 the same for both x and a axis

Both servos are spinning the correct direction.


Any ideas if this is a servo driver setting  problem, a Mach 3 motor tuning problem, or something else?


Thanks for the help


Steve

128

General Mach Discussion / Re: my first project

« on: May 08, 2009, 01:09:28 PM »

Jeff-

Thanks for the help. 


I can use the software from Granite Devices to monitor the encoder values when I am setting the parameters of the servo drive.  Is it possible that I am loosing the signal from the encoders?   I am using differential encoders, and shielded wire.

I will wire in relays for the e-stops.

I was hoping that I could use the Modbus for over travel limit switches, because wiring would be easier, but I will run them to the BOB.


Thanks again.



Steve

129

General Mach Discussion / my first project

« on: May 08, 2009, 01:38:45 AM »

Hi everyone-

My name is Steve, and I am in the process of building a plasma table.  I have been working on this project on and off for some time now.  I finally have the mechanical and most of the electronics installed and wired up.  I have started to configure Mach 3, and that is where some of my problems are starting.  So I am hoping that someone can get me pointed in the right direction.


Here is what I have so far.

My cutting area of the table is 6 x 12 foot, I also have 2 feet of extra running room at each end.   This allows the gantry to travel the entire area of the cutting space.
-   I am using 2  - 1125 in oz servos with 1250 US Digital encoders for the X
-   I am using 1 880 in oz servo with 1250 US Digital encoders for the Y
-   I am using 1 600 in oz servo with 1250 US Digital encoders for the  z with a ballscrew
-   I am using a rack and pinion for the movement
-   I am using 5 to 1 Thopmson DuraTrue planetary gearboxes
-   I am using VSD-E servo drives from Granite devices
-   I am using linear rails and bearings
-   I am using the C23 breakout board
-   I am using the Smooth Stepper motion controller
-   and I am using a Modbus I/O board

That is a list of most of the stuff I have installed so far. 

I tuned the VSD-E servo drive according to the manufacturer, this took awhile (long Story), now when I try to control the servos with Mach, the servos will start to spin, then speed up out of control.  This is my biggest problem.  I am not sure if it is a Mach 3 problem, a servo drive problem, or something else.  If I can not figure this out, I see a major CRASH in my future.

My next issue is with the E-stop.  I have an E-stop located at each corner of my machine.  When the button is pressed, nothing happens.  The servos keep running.  The BOB shows that it received the e-stop signal, but that is all.  So is this a BOB problem, a Smooth Stepper problem, or a servo drive problem?

The last question for now is can I or should I connect my over travel limit switches directly to my BOB or can I connect them to the Modbus I/O board?   My over travel switches are one of the last items I need to wire.

I will try to post some pictures in the next few days.

thanks for the help, and let me know if you need more information.


Steve