Messages

31

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Help with first easy script or macro (which term?) for automatic oiler

« on: July 31, 2019, 08:45:55 PM »

hello I had the same problem with the machines i rebuild and received some help
-------------------------------------------------------
-- Run Lube
-------------------------------------------------------
local inst = mc.mcGetInstance()
local hsig,rc = mc.mcSignalGetHandle(inst, mc.OSIG_OUTPUT0)
if (machState == 0)then
    mc.mcSignalSetState(hsig,0)
else
    mc.mcSignalSetState(hsig,1)
end
This program is placed in the plc script and runs when any axis moves. I don't know what type of oiler you have
or how its meant to work. a relay or timer motor should have no problem turning on and off repeatedly. It comes to duty cycle and if a relay fails from that then it was defective or a poor specimen to begin with.

32

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 automatic ways oiler

« on: July 29, 2019, 11:04:26 PM »

As I read one question comes to mind. how did the way oiler work to begin with. Do you have axes to an original manual that might tell you its interval or what Triggers it. On a Bridgeport knee mill the oilier was originally attached to the contactor for the spindle. I with some help wrote a program in the plc script to run the oiler timer whenever an axis is moved. Because we can do probing and that does not use the spindle. Luck

33

Mach4 General Discussion / Tool Change and Bright Idea

« on: July 28, 2019, 09:07:46 PM »

Hello All I am writing a tool change program for a rebuilt Cincinati Milicron. Just starting really. I made a screen tab and plotted all my inputs and outputs to leds. Then I got an idea for displaying the carousel. i started with a circle and that failed. So i increased an led to ridiculous size and placed 21 dro's around it. The object to display which tool is in the spindle and each tool number and position in the carousel. Easy math just take tool in spindle and add or subtract for which position you are in and repeat around the carousel. So i will post the tab if i can figure out how. Can somebody point me to a place i can read up on how to do this to a dro. Or tell me how to program this into a dro. clueless right now but it should be simple. Thank you Mark

34

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Enable momentary on reset

« on: July 01, 2019, 10:14:58 PM »

Thank you for the reply I will give that a shot. Looks like its exactly what I need. Never had one so far that needed the reset turned on then off just for start before. Quite the suprise. This machine a Cincinati Milicron. Nice steel but the computer was trashed with no hope. So I have never heard or seen any of this run. Silver lining 3 axis's and a spindle test run was good.
Mark

35

Mach4 General Discussion / Enable momentary on reset

« on: June 29, 2019, 11:53:39 PM »

Hello
I am upgrading a Cincinnati Millicron with kollmorgen motors and added a dspmc controller. It is starting to come together with some help from vital systems. Anyway here is my problem for the spindle upon startup I need to turn on a reset for a few seconds on startup to start the spindle. The catch is the input cannot stay on it has to turn off. I tried using an enable but by not turning off it doesnt start. the spindle is actually quit sophisticated glad I have drawings.

How to accomplish this in mach4 ? I have an idea of how to program the script. Only an idea. But where to put the script and have the reset call it up and execute I am unsure how to do. And I am fuzzy as to where to program this script. The plc script comes to mind but maybe screen load will be better.
Thank you for any advice
Mark

36

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Homing & Limit Switches

« on: October 09, 2018, 12:38:50 AM »

one thing I would add is the wire going to your home/limit switches shielded and is that shield grounded to one side only.
I have in the past successfully used .1 uf capacitors but haven't had to do that in years. and I 1/2 agree about the separate
switches. some machine like bridgeports only have one switch on X and Y, Z has two. It would take some doing to change and
aside from a Z switch playing up have never had trouble with the X and Y but I do replace the original wire with shielded wire.

37

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Homing & Limit Switches

« on: October 08, 2018, 11:41:09 AM »

If everything was working great something changed either you changed a setting or you could have a wiring or switch problem. 1st thing is check the diagnostics screen and see if any of the limit or home switch leds are on. then if they are all off check the wires and switches and make sure one is not stuck.
 

38

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 Stops mid cycle, "Never happened before"

« on: August 28, 2018, 08:27:14 PM »

well you certainty have some event happening. have you tried another program and see if it does the same thing. also can you tell where in the Gcode its happening, you said its random but i am wondering if you are calling for something specific in Gcode that happens before this happens. also check all you wires to limits and estop to make sure they are connected well one loose wire can cause no end to trouble.
 

39

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Repeating Problems with Y Axis Stepper

« on: June 04, 2018, 06:39:48 PM »

Hello was there a time when it worked perfect and for how long. or have you had this problem from the begining. Then i would go after my machanicals check oilers especailly they can screw up allot. Can you swap drives X and Y. Might also be good to make sure the power going to each drive is up to spec i have had contactors go bad and deliver bad power when under load. More the exception but i have seen it.
Good luck
mark

40

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Homing & Limit Switches

« on: June 04, 2018, 06:30:22 PM »

Hello I use the MB2 and its 24volt IO. This has been the best design for me yet. I upgrade small mills usually they only have one limit switch on X and Y axis for + and - limit and home switch Z axis has two switches. I like the fact that i can set mach up to work with this. I also use Ac servo drives and thanks to this setup i don't need to add extra circuitry to get my homing to go to the index pulse. Which is the most accurate homing you can have. I have been homing to the index pulse for years on different machines sometimes i had to build circuitry to make this happen. Daisy chaining your limit/home inputs might be necessary depending upon config you can still run out of inputs. thats easy though add a plc howver that was tricky to configure as i couldn't get allot of information so i had to experiment. But with a little help from Machsupport and Ess support and Mb2 support they all helped me with different problems. Now i am thrilled with the final outcome and the mill works great.
good luck
mark