Messages

31

FAQs / ALT-A input to select MPG axis

« on: April 10, 2012, 01:55:17 PM »

Hey all,

From reading the topics my request seems very doable but I have yet to make it work.

Goal:  I would like one input (from a button) to toggle the active axis (alt-a) for my single MPG. So I would like to use a single MPG to control axis X-Y-Z.

I am using an MPG that works well. I can select the axis by using Alt-A.  I have an input that works well and I have tested it with other tasks.

What I have tried:
Go under inputs and selected my input as input #1 (it shows up under diagnostics) then the hotkey is 2145 for Alt-A.

This does not work.

Please let me know what I am doing wrong.

32

General Mach Discussion / Re: 2 machines 1 pc

« on: November 08, 2011, 06:44:23 PM »

Air2gnd,

I use one PC that runs a lathe and a mill and since I have two profiles for the mill I would say yes to your question.

To make even more useful I use the same stepper drives, same PC, same IO board.  To control the steppers I use a DT4P switches.

33

General Mach Discussion / Re: Steppers slightly "jitters" when idle

« on: January 14, 2011, 12:29:04 AM »

Thank you for the feedback.

I have not thought about the heat so I will check by starting cold or checking with temp with sensors.  

Regarding the active low.  I remember when I first hooked up the stepper motors they did not work with active low but I will re-check.

i do have the AMPI drives maxed out on amps and the motors are hot. I do not have the drives to reduce current consumption when idle.  I maxed out the current since I wanted the motors to move rapidaly and be accurate.  Since i have acme screws the current in the drives could be reduced.

What stands out most to me is not hearing about random pulses being generated by mach3 or the PC due to software conflicts.

More to test.  for now I stop and zero everything then check position and cut.

34

General Mach Discussion / Steppers slightly "jitters" when idle

« on: January 09, 2011, 12:04:59 PM »

I am noticing that my stepper motors slightly jitters when mach3 is idle.  Less than .005".  It is mostly the x or y axis.  i have solid movement when running, no issues.

I think the issue is related to the PC doing something in the background and I do not think it is noise.

is there any way of looking to the LPT port to isolate the PC? I am thinking I should disconnect the LTP cable to verify noise??

Running AMD Atholon with 1.5GB memory. two LPT's with AMPI stepper control.

Thanks,

Phill

35

Mach SDK plugin questions and answers. / Re: Xbox 360 Plugin Problems

« on: January 09, 2011, 11:52:42 AM »

I needed to restart the PC a couple of times to get it to show up on the control panel.  Also,  i went the Microsoft website to get the latest DirectX. But I would think that the plugin would not work properly till Mach3 sees it.

I disabled the any plugins that I am not using.  i.e. joystick.

But I have to say that the xbox controller is a VERY nice set up.  I noticed that some of the buttons are analog so the further you press the faster the movement.