Messages

481

Brains Development / Re: help need with brains and modio feed pot

« on: March 27, 2008, 02:15:17 AM »

Hi Adrian,

As you are not using a constant spacing between steps, i.e. 0, 25, 50,100 a formula would be difficult. It would be easier to just do a set of comparison rungs and be done with it.

Cheers,

Peter.

482

Modbus / Re: ModIO plugin

« on: March 03, 2008, 07:47:19 PM »

The Plug-in can be downloaded from the ModIO Group Files area;

http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/modio/files/MC-01%20ModIO%20Information/

The file is called ModIO.dll

Cheers,

Peter.

483

Modbus / Re: Using a modbus input in ports & pins

« on: March 02, 2008, 11:00:49 PM »

I am trying to use an X home limit from the PLC.  I would like to use it as part of the normal X home function, but I can't configure it appropriately in ports and pins.  Is it possible to add a modbus IO in ports and pins?

Hi,

Home inputs from a PLC or other Modbus devices are not really suitable for use as home inputs for Mach3. The problem is that the fastest rate that Mach3 polls is about 25Hhz. That 40mS between reads not including delays in the PLC or Mach3. As this delay is variable, then your home position will also be variable. Not a good thing.

As for limit switches, it may be OK depending on the configuration of your machine and the type of switches used. If they allow overtravel it may be OK as they will handle the delay.

THe above comments apple to a serial bus controlled PLC. If you are using a TCP/IP controlled PLChe response may be better assuming Mach3 can poll it faster.

Cheers,

Peter.

484

Mach3 and G-Rex / Re: G100 and VFD`s

« on: January 29, 2008, 11:34:53 PM »

Hi all,

I am trying to control HSD (cnc Router) spindle speed with the G-100,through a VFD and not sure
if I can.
The VFD manuals states it can be controlled 4 ways
1. By the digital Keypad (on the vfd)
2. 0 -10 volts input.....        I understand the G-100 outputs at only 5v ,Analog.
3. 4 -20mA input......
4. RS-485 comm port
5. Potentiometer on the keypad (on the vfd)

Any help or info would be great.
Regards
whatda?

You could use a DigiSpeed-GX. It was designed for this purpose and converts the 0-5Vdc from the G100 to an Isolated 0-10Vdc suitable for your VFD.
http://homanndesigns.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=21

Cheers,

Peter.

485

VB and the development of wizards / Re: rapid override pot that not linked to feed overide

« on: January 28, 2008, 05:22:54 PM »

I am new to this like all of us at first. I want a rapid over ride as well as feed over ride to use on my boxford tcl 125. is it possable and how can some one put me in the right direction please. I am using modio board and 2 of the analog ports with 12 steps on the feed pot with resistors between steps to give me 10% steps and 4 steps on the rapid so i get 25% on the rapid so i get 0,25,50,100 this would be great to testing out programs so it does not rapid in to jobs.while i,m on the subject the other thing i what to do is set up the turret to work on my lathe as well. it is a 8 station turret that is stepper driven . it index's just past the station the reverses back to lock. it has no feed back ( i think i can rig something up if needed) how do i go about this as well please put me in the right direction.

Hi,

I don't think that Mack has a feedrate override for rapid speed movements. If it did it would be quite straight forward to use the 3rd ModIO analog input to set the DRO.

You may need to ask Brian if the DRO exists. If it doesn't, mabe he could add it in.

Cheers,

Peter.

486

Modbus / Re: Mach3 config

« on: January 28, 2008, 04:55:48 PM »

Hi,

There should be no issue with having them both working with Mach3. What is is that you are wanting to configure?

Cheers,

Peter.

487

Promote and discuss your product / 80mm and 60mm MPGs now in Stock

« on: January 24, 2008, 05:24:15 AM »

Homann Designs are pleased to announce that the 80mm MPGs are now back in stock.

The larger 80mm Encoder is perfect for CNC pendants and larger machines

The smaller encoder is most suitable for hand held pendants.

Further information may be found at;

http://homanndesigns.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=15

Cheers,

Peter

488

General Mach Discussion / Re: using a spindle encoder w/ Mach 3

« on: January 21, 2008, 06:38:56 PM »

Hi,

Yes, you could be right, and you may need to go to a single pulse encoder. Have you seen the engineering notes for hooking sensors to the DigiSpeed-XL?

The DigiSpeed-XL has signal conditioning circuitry to allow the use of very simple opto-interrupters;

http://www.homanndesigns.com/EN001.pdf
http://www.homanndesigns.com/EN002.pdf

Also, as far as I understand, the Smoothstepper can control 6 axis.

Cheers,

Peter.

489

General Mach Discussion / Re: using a spindle encoder w/ Mach 3

« on: January 21, 2008, 05:39:54 PM »

I have an older DOS-based cnc lathe that I'm looking to upgrade to Mach 3 using my existing g100/mach3 setup. The lathe uses a KVM style spindle motor controller and so I was planning on using the digispeed XL board, however, the spindle uses an encoder (see attached image) and I'm trying to find out how I might be able to take advantage of the existing encoder arrangement by configuring mach rather than swapping it out for a pulse generating indexer, etc...

 Can this be accomplished with the g100 and mach combined or can mach even be configured to at all to take advantage of a spindle encoder like this one?

 Thanks!!

Hi,

Does the encoder you have contain an index pulse output? A lot do. If so you could use that.

Cheers,

Peter.

490

General Mach Discussion / Re: USB or ModBus communication

« on: January 15, 2008, 11:11:58 PM »

Hi John,

For Modbus, it is sort of there. Under the serial modbus configuration, you can set up a schedule for the reads and writes to your various Modbus devices. Have a look at the SerialPlugModbus video tutorial at;

http://www.machsupport.com/Videos/Mach3%20Video%20Selections/Mach3%20Video%20Selections.html

Once that is done, you will then need to process the data depending on what you want to do.

To achieve that, you could write a macropump, or 1 or more Brains, or both. There are video tutorials for both of these methods.

What is it that you are tring to do?

Cheers,

Peter.