Messages

1101

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Error handling

« on: March 14, 2007, 11:01:40 AM »

I was able to get it configured and read one input last night.  I'm going to start working on a 'Setup Wizard' today, which will both make it easier to see what the I/O do and allow it to be configured easier.  The cool thing about the MCC stuff is that the programming interface is (generally) the same no matter what bus.  So you can write one program to allow interfacing USB/PCI/PC104 based I/O.

EDIT: just saw the post above on error handling, Thanks! I did find out how to do error handling - use 'On Error'!

The docs mention the use of a 'declares file', which presumably is a sort of header file but there is no information on its formatting nameing or referncing.  Any ideas.

1102

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Error handling

« on: March 13, 2007, 04:25:42 PM »

I hooked up the above mentioned board today and was able to make it's 'connect' LED blink via a script.  Now I will work on gettign some I/O working via the macro-pump.  Should work OK for thigns like coolant etc.  The board is USB based has 28 digital I/O (24 of them throug a 27 pin d-sub that hooks right to an Opto-22 SSR board) as well as a few analog I/O for just over $100 USD.

I'd still be intersted if anyone knows how to do error handling in the script.

Thanks.

1103

VB and the development of wizards / Error handling

« on: March 12, 2007, 11:44:13 PM »

I've been playing with VB scripting a bit tonight to see if I can get a MCC miniLab-1008 ( http://www.measurementcomputing.com/cbicatalog/cbiproduct_new.asp?dept_id=412&pf_id=1522&mscssid=UQAPC1BR1GS68M5XNR5G403JEBKB291E ) to work for I/O in Mach3.  I had used it previously to control a vise, enclosure door and misc in conjunction with a drip-feed program I wrote for our Dyna 2400 mill in the lab.  I'm upgrading and would like to continue using this same unit as I have it and it gives me an excuse to delve into scripting (and then plugins).

Anyhow, I just did a basic script to try and discover the board name of the first MCC board hooked to the system.  Since I'm sitting in my easy chair watching a MythBusters re-run  I of course do not have one hooked up and expect to have an error returned.  So I do get an error, but have yet figured out a way to handle it from within the script (or even get the Long that is returned by the .dll).  I've attached the code and error dialog box that pops up.

So, is there a method to handle/catch errors within the script?  I've looked through the Cypress docs and did not locate anything. Thanks...

Here is the code:

Code: [Select]

Declare Function cbGetBoardName Lib "cbw32.dll" _
    (ByVal boardNumber As Integer, ByRef boardName As String) As Long
   
GETFIRST = -2
cbGetBoardName (GETFIRST), bName$

1104

General Mach Discussion / Re: Stepper's spinning with glitch'es

« on: March 06, 2007, 12:28:03 AM »

Thanks for the tip!  Works for my Dell 610 well enough for testing (until I get a PC built for the control).

1105

General Mach Discussion / Re: thc help

« on: March 05, 2007, 12:47:30 PM »

I guess you and I have experiance on diffrent equipment.  I just checked the maintance manual on C&G's (with which I am most familiar) website and it does appear that all functions of the lift station are controlled by their THC.  I don't want to keep beating a dead horse.  Thanks for setting me striaght that touch off is not a function of the plasma power supply.

1106

General Mach Discussion / Re: thc help

« on: March 04, 2007, 08:06:53 PM »

Well, yes I am both a bit rusty and confused.  The touch off is a function of the THC working back through the voltage sensing lead.  The power supply would supply an arc established line (current sensing) and the voltage sensing lead to the THC.  And now that you mention it, xjdubber, I seem to remember that at least one lift station had a sort of release on the downward torch travel that would not allow the torch body to be driven into the work (and it also relased a micro switch as a signal to the control). 

1107

General Mach Discussion / Re: thc help

« on: March 04, 2007, 10:35:14 AM »

The touch off control works through the plasma power supply.  The power supply applies a small voltage to the tip and the CNC control drives the torch down slowly until contact is made between the plate and torch.  The power supply senses the current flow (voltage drop) when contact is made and sends an output to the control.  Well, now it occurs to me that the above is how it used to work on ThermalDynamics power supplies I think C&G may have had this built into their THC and used the arc voltage lead as the sense lead for touch off.  I may still have some schematics around here, somewhere.

At any rate, touch off can have its problems, if electrical contact is not made the Z-Axis can keep driving down until the torch or lift station break.  This used to be a problem on C&G lift stations but I have not worked on them for 7-8 years so they could have changed them.