Messages

61

Mach3 and G-Rex / Re: GREX and Printer Ports or MOD BUS

« on: April 05, 2007, 12:04:21 PM »

Gotcha! I have ordered one of the MODIO from Homan designs in the event I need more I/O... its just another thing to learn.... and I only Just started to get the hang of the Printer Port stuff.... Now GREX AND MODBUS.... My head is going to explode!

Mike

62

Mach3 and G-Rex / Re: G-REX Outputs

« on: April 05, 2007, 12:01:36 PM »

I dont know what to say Chad, at first I thought that My code was screwy or I had not implemented my I/O correctly then I noticed that I had not "RESET" my mach on startup, once I did that everything did what it was supposed to do.... but not until after the Large port air valve cleaned off my desk for me If anyone else out there has a GREX hooked up and running the laetst firmare try hitting your mach reset button then turning an output on.... It could just be me, historically I am a murphy magnet, I attract odd and unusual behavior in all things mechanical and electrical.

Mike

63

General Mach Discussion / Re: Button Script - Question

« on: April 05, 2007, 11:53:08 AM »

Actually experience has taught me there is always a way..... just perhaps not the way you want. My programming skills have atrophied and are more than a few years out of date, but I do know that you can program visual basic and C++ to do something when a button is released as well and depressed, I am not sure how Mach is setup to deal with them. It is not critical but it would make the screen controls for this bizzaro machine I am building more intuitive....

Mike

64

Mach3 and G-Rex / Re: GRex motor tuning and general configuration ?

« on: April 04, 2007, 06:19:17 PM »

Ok, I got my outputs working, I added an MDI Input Line and while running I output a g00 X0 And suddenly all the jog keys are giving me the correct lights etc. Perhaps something is not setup properly with the "initialization string" or somesuch.... its a bit confusing and it will be a while before I actually worry about motor tuning etc...... will keep you posted... My approach on this mess is the opposite of your marc... get it working with a mess of wires then tidy it up.... probably why my CNC machine has "noise" issue eh

65

Mach3 and G-Rex / Re: GRex motor tuning and general configuration ?

« on: April 04, 2007, 02:17:25 PM »

Marc,
 Any luck getting your GREX Configured? I have been trying to get mine up and running and experiencing some similar issues.

Mike

66

Mach3 and G-Rex / GREX and Printer Ports or MOD BUS

« on: April 04, 2007, 01:56:12 PM »

Hello all, this machine I am currently building is being controlled by a GREX. My question is, is it possible to use a GREX AND the native printer ports for I/O? or would i have to go to something like the MODBUS? I am still pretty green at this stuff and find the amount of Info I have to sort through is overwhelming and sometimes foriegn to me. It is possible that I can make everything work with just the GREX I/O but in the event that i Need more I/O what is the simplest way to go?

Thanks,
 Mike

67

General Mach Discussion / Re: Losing Position

« on: April 04, 2007, 01:36:29 PM »

Hey guys, I would be very interested in learning more about this realtime parameter as well. The problem with a problem like this is that it is so... vague... unpredictable. I think that it is unlikely that mach would be loosing steps on long runs because I suspect many more poeple would have issues. It is possible it has some relation to our PC's or more likely the whole package. In my Case I suspected my PC Power supply as being a bit weak and causing some possible issues with the ports maintaining a clean signal. Add to that a frankenstien creation  which has been re-wired more than my house. I have seen bad noise from my system in the past so it would be my first pick....if and when I get around to re-wiring the darn thing you will all be the first to hear wether or not it clears it up. I am VERY interested in what solves other peoples issues so please let me know if you track down your own.

Mike

68

Mach3 and G-Rex / Help! My Motor Outputs Suddenly dont work

« on: April 04, 2007, 01:20:14 PM »

Hello all, I seem to have done something silly. When I orignially hooked up my Grex with the default setup my motor outputs worked fine, When I hit the jog keys the lights went one and off appropriately. Now I have started building the screenset that we need, I suddenly cant get ANY output out of the motor side of the grex.... now It seems to me it must have been something simple and probably stupid that I have done  , anyone have any pointers as to where I might look?

Thanks

Mike

69

General Mach Discussion / Re: Monitoring Outputs

« on: April 03, 2007, 11:33:22 PM »

Poppabear, Thanks for the post! I did something similar I created a button that toggled a User LED on the screen. I wanted to stay away from using the macropump. I am sure there is a reason those inputs are not as simple as 1-6 if anyone knows I would love to know as well out of curiosity.

70

General Mach Discussion / Button Script - Question

« on: April 03, 2007, 09:11:28 PM »

I am building a screen for a custom machine, I was wondering if there was some function or syntax which allows me to tell within the button script if the button is being held down? i.e. I push a button which runs this script and will continue to run the script untill I release the button. I have looked through the Customize documetation and cant seem to find anything relevant. Also is there a way to set wheter the button toggles or is momentary, I noticed that the text buttons toggle and the graphic ones seem to be momentary..... am I delusional?

Mike