Messages

51

General Mach Discussion / PWM VS Pins 2-9

« on: April 20, 2011, 10:26:07 PM »

Why is it that i can only get Mach to output a PWM signal on pins 2 through 9???

Pins 1, 14,16 &17 are output pins as well but no matter what i do i cannot get a PWM signal on these pins. but pins 2-9 work just fine???

 I see that Mach has a setting to use port2 pins 2-9 as inputs instead of outputs. I was hoping to use that functionality but i can if i cant get a PWM signal to work on pins 1, 14,16 or 17

52

General Mach Discussion / Re: System grounding questions

« on: April 12, 2011, 11:14:54 PM »

thanks!

53

General Mach Discussion / Re: 3 Parallel Port cards??

« on: April 12, 2011, 11:10:32 PM »

Ok a little clarification. the enable lines. that simply turns on/off an axis? is there any reason why these lines shouldn't just be tied directly to +5v?  why would you want to shut off 1 or all axis? without shutting off the whole controller?

54

General Mach Discussion / Re: 3 Parallel Port cards??

« on: April 12, 2011, 07:39:34 AM »

sweet. ok I am reworking how I am going to do this then. Thanks!

55

General Mach Discussion / System grounding questions

« on: April 11, 2011, 07:14:48 PM »

I am nearing completion of my custom stepper motor controller and i am wondering about proper grounding.

My Mill is a Shibura Roibot. a converted industrial X/Y arm with a modified Z axis. Internally the motors have separate ground wires connected to them then tied together and brought out on one wire. How should the ground for the mill as such be handled? Do I want the Mill ground tie to the motor controller chassis?? Do I need to take a ground wire from the chassis of the mill and the ground wire from the motors and tie them together at the motor controller?? the motors are bolted directly to the mill but maybe 2 wires is needed??

My Motor controller of course has the AC line grounded directly to the chassis of the motor controller box. the PC inputs are all optically coupled so no ground connection between PC and mill except through AC line ground.

 

My spindle motor is a modified Dremel tool running from a PWM controller so it is isolated from ground.

56

General Mach Discussion / Re: 3 Parallel Port cards??

« on: April 11, 2011, 07:05:26 PM »

I have 2x 25 pin breakout boards in my custom motor controller box. I have access to all 25 pins on the BOB, there is a cable that connects from the BOB to the circuit board. so yes I have access to all pins. So can i jumper the enable lines to +5v? or should I jumper the three axis together to one PC port enable pin?

 I am using a HY-TB4DV-M Toshiba TB6560 motor controller board commonly found on eBay.

57

General Mach Discussion / Re: 3 Parallel Port cards??

« on: April 10, 2011, 12:54:26 PM »

I was wondering if i could do that or if there was a reason it needed all 3?? sweet well there are the 2 pins i need then!

58

General Mach Discussion / Re: 3 Parallel Port cards??

« on: April 10, 2011, 11:59:58 AM »

that's a bummer with only 10 input pins. I need one more! or i need to re-think how to do the jog buttons.

I currently have:
X Limit
Y Limit
Z Limit
E stop
Jog X+
Jog X-
Jog Y+
Jog Y-
Jog Z+
Jog Z-

 and that wipes out all 10 pins. I need a way to get a speed pulse into Mach3 any suggestions??

 I suppose I could disassemble a USB keyboard, remove the keyboard PCB and wire the arrow keys to the direction buttons on the panel. that would free up 6 input pins. but i really don't want to do that if i don't have to.

 Plus I would like to be able to add a digitizer at some point and that will require yet more pins....hmmm

59

General Mach Discussion / 3 Parallel Port cards??

« on: April 10, 2011, 11:05:07 AM »

Is there a limit as to how many parallel port cards can be used with Mach3??

 I am currently running 2 in the machine I am building. the first card is pretty much used up controlling the TB6550 controller board. it seems to require Step, Dir & enable pins for all 3 axis plus spindle control and there are no pins left.

 I added a second card to control some Solid state relays for Vacuum and flood pump and I am using the rest of the pins for manual direction control.

 But I would like to add a 3rd card so I can utilize the P.I.D function for spindle speed control. I just don't have anymore available inputs on the 2 existing cards.

 So I'm curious if I can run 3 cards with Mach3. assuming I can get 3 cards to run in the PC in the first place.

60

General Mach Discussion / Re: Motor Controller front panel control suggestions?

« on: January 27, 2011, 06:54:15 PM »

I have a stop button planned. But im looking for anything that is imperative to have for basic Mach3 operation. anything you need quick access to. I am not familiar enough with the software or CNC machining to know.