Messages

71

Mach3 and G-Rex / G-REX Outputs

« on: April 03, 2007, 07:39:16 PM »

Hello All, I have just got my G-Rex hooked up and actually talking and have started designing the screen interface for our machine. I have a question about outputs on the GREX. I am new to the G-Rex and not quite a newby to Mach but I have noticed that when my MACH is in an estop - and I push a screen button that activates an output, my outputs will still strobe on briefly. I was wondering if this is a bug or something? This could cause some disastrous problems with the machine we are putting together. I can put a safety relay on the estop circuit which would disable any output I was just wondering if this is "normal"

Mike

72

General Mach Discussion / Monitoring Outputs

« on: April 03, 2007, 06:38:21 PM »

Hello all, I hope this post is in the appropriate place. I have been sifting through posts and the customize wiki to see if there is any relevant information for me, unfortunately I have had no luck. I was wondering if there is a built in OEM code for a LED which monitors an output above 6. There are outputs up to 20 or so but I cant find any information on a related LED for them.  Basically I want to see if the Output is active or not I have a diagnostic screen showing all my inputs and outputs and the output buttons will toggle an output on and off, and the appropriate LED will light, but anything above 6 does not seem to have any OEM codes for them so my LED's stay sadly dark. Am I missing something? If anyone has the magic numbers for outputs 7 to 16 they would be appreciated!

Thanks

Mike

73

Mach3 and G-Rex / Re: GREX & MACH General (Possible stupid Questions)

« on: March 17, 2007, 04:03:08 PM »

Me again,
I DID manage to get Mach 3 up and It FOUND my GREX! YAY! It says initializing and then it says error 9991.... It boots me out of mach at that point... any suggestions?
M

74

Mach3 and G-Rex / GREX & MACH General (Possible stupid Questions)

« on: March 17, 2007, 03:48:40 PM »

Hello All, I have finally taken some initiative and tried hooking up my GREX to see if it might address &  fix some of my systems issues. I followed the instructions for setting up the GREx and most everything seems to have worked as it should have... I cannot get the GREX to respond to the test file as described in the easy setup guide from gecko, I have loaded the proper firmware and such I can PING my GREX but Mach says it cant find the grex... I had tried to create a new MACH installation for the grex but when I ran the latest update for mach3 it didnt update the directory I told it too... should I be using mach3 or quantum for testing the grex?

Thanks....
p.s. Is there the simpletons guide to setting up your grex?

Mike

75

General Mach Discussion / Spindle not running Properly

« on: March 15, 2007, 12:12:13 PM »

I have just encountered a wierd issue, I think I have solved it but I wanted to make sure that I have and that it wont appear suddenly when it would be a ver bad thing. I was running my spindle warmup and I heard the spindle shutting down and restarting over and over again. When I checked the diagnostic screen I saw MACH3 was turing the output which controles the spindle on and off. I also noticed that the DWELL was active on my main screen and it should not have been. I checked my motor tuning settings and noticed that the settings for the spindle motor were set at the settings recomended by CNC4PC for the breakout board I am using. which needs the 35K kernel to actually run. So in order to obtain the 10V out with the lower Kernel speed I have my system set to because of other issues I need to set my Step pulse to 6. I have two questions, (ONE) is the step pulse width going to cause any issues with my stepper drives? I dont think so but I am not an expert, and secondly would having the spindle motor velocity out of bounds for the current kernel cause the spindle output to cycle on and off?

Thanks

Mike

76

General Mach Discussion / Driving the Analog out on a CNC4PC IO Board

« on: March 14, 2007, 10:50:52 PM »

Hello again, Since I have reduced my settings because of losing position issues I have noticed some issues with the output to my VFD. I am using the CNC4PC Multifuntion board to generate the  0-10V analog signal needed for the spindle drive , but when I set my settings as per the instructions I get perhaps 55% of the output that it says I should with the adjustment trim pot maxed. Is anyone else out there using one of these board and have you had any issues getting the 0-10 Range using the suggested settings?

Mike

77

General Mach Discussion / Re: Losing Position

« on: March 14, 2007, 10:30:28 PM »

Ok..... (Looking Sheepish) I guess I got ll excited about a one time fluke thing because after a few tests of working flawlessly, my system started acting up again....... Sigh I guess its time to turn this ugly duckling into a swan.... Or maybe time to dust off the G-Rex that has been sitting on my shelf waiting for that perfect time......

Thanks again Guys...maybe the next fix will stick
Mike

78

General Mach Discussion / Re: Losing Position

« on: March 14, 2007, 02:53:14 PM »

Ok. When faced with the daunting task of RE-Wiring the Frankenstien that is my CNC Machine.... I BALKED and tried a few other settings... I did scope the outputs to the stpper drives and it seemed not too too noisey but without hooking everything up to the other computer to record the scope in realtime I am only seeing a fraction of the pulse train. I Changed the STEP LOW Active setting on my motor outputs and that seemed to cover most of the noise I was getting.....I ran a long test which was showing a .064 deviance before and this one came in under a thou.... so I think I have solved the issue.... untill the next modification.... Thank you Brian and Art for your patience and understanding! BTW QUANTUM ROCKS!

79

General Mach Discussion / Re: Losing Position

« on: March 14, 2007, 11:42:54 AM »

Running Steppers, and I have not tried the sherline mode. I too suspect that it is noise in the system but I am uncertain as to where to start. I guess I am just putting off the inevitable and should just get down to re-wiring the whole control box as I think noise has been a problem for a while...

I was hoping and wishing it was anything BUT noise.....
What exactly does the sherline mode do ?

80

General Mach Discussion / Re: Losing Position

« on: March 13, 2007, 09:29:30 PM »

Brian, Actually when it is working correctly the system has been able to maintain under .005 the problem is is that the number just keeps getting bigger! The larger the toolpath the worse it is at the end.

M