Messages

201

SmoothStepper USB / Re: Mach3 with Smoothstepper, table that don't stop jogging

« on: March 04, 2013, 09:07:42 AM »

I would suggest posting these problems on the Warp9 forum. Someone there was having a similar problem and Greg wrote a special plug-in to log the jog commands Mach sent to the plug-ins in order to diagnose the source of the problem. If you email Greg he will send you the special plug-in for testing purposes.

202

SmoothStepper USB / Re: couple of bugs I found spacebar feed hold and Imach usb pendant

« on: March 03, 2013, 06:40:21 PM »

When you have different hardware like this working together the outcome in unpredictable. The first thing I would do is revert back to Mach .062. Version .066 has a whole bunch of bugs that many folks have noticed.

Depending on how the pendant implemented jogging it may or may not work properly. Some pendants simulate keyboard presses which usually works OK will only work if your screen set is configured properly. If the pendant uses its own plug-in then they way it does things may not work properly with external motion controllers. Best to ask your pendant vendor about that.

When you reinstall Mach make sure only the plug-ins you are using are in the plug-ins folder. Sometimes it help to install the pendant plug in, get it running as though in parallel port mode, then install the plug-in for the motion board (SmoothStepper) this makes sure Mach calls the pendant plug-in first.

You should post this on the Warp9 forum. Greg wrote a special plug-in to record the jog commands that Mach3 sent to the plug-ins so he could diagnose a jogging issue a few weeks ago. Take a look at this thread: http://www.warp9td.com/index.php/kunena/7-general-discussion/4843-runaway-axis-returning-from-hit-limit-switch?start=6

The GCode edit problem is unrelated to using the SmoothStepper. I use it all the time with the SmoothStepper and non SmoothStepper equipped machines.

203

SmoothStepper USB / Re: ESS installation help before I break something!

« on: March 03, 2013, 07:46:45 AM »

Just click 'OK'. All this message is telling you is that it is the first time you have used the SmoothStepper on this Mach profile. Since the ESS was not part of your configuration before it needs to add a few pieces of information to the Mach profile that were not there previously.

204

General Mach Discussion / Re: relay control headache

« on: February 23, 2013, 08:41:51 AM »

Those settings are all of your axis settings, they have nothings to do with controlling outputs (relays). You need to go the Outputs tab in Ports and Pins and tall Mach what Port/Pin your outputs are on. Then go the the spindle tab and make sure that things are set up correctly there.

205

General Mach Discussion / Re: Can't get spindle to turn on, for 2 years!

« on: February 22, 2013, 05:09:30 PM »

The only two things I can think of are that the PWM signal is not getting to the G540 (problem with ribbon cable from SmoothStepper) or the PWM circuit on the G540 is not working. If you want to send me the G540 I'll test it out here to see what the problem is.

Thanks for clarifying the meter connections. I hesitated to ask as I figured it was done correctly but someone reading this later on trying to troubleshoot a similar problem might not realize both meter probes need to be connected.

206

General Mach Discussion / Re: Can't get spindle to turn on, for 2 years!

« on: February 22, 2013, 04:36:01 PM »

What is the other probe on your meter hooked to? I can only see one probe from your meter which is hooked to an orange wire.

207

General Mach Discussion / Re: Can't get spindle to turn on, for 2 years!

« on: February 22, 2013, 04:13:00 PM »

You just need a small flat blade screw driver.

208

General Mach Discussion / Re: Can't get spindle to turn on, for 2 years!

« on: February 22, 2013, 02:35:45 PM »

Please try it right at the G540, this eliminates any problems with the wiring between the G540 and rear panel. Granted there are only three wires but it is good to eliminate everything that can be eliminated.

209

General Mach Discussion / Re: Can't get spindle to turn on, for 2 years!

« on: February 22, 2013, 10:26:45 AM »

The next thing to do is check the VFD output right at the G540, pull the back panel of the control box down again, and disconnect the three wires going to the VFD terminals.

Get a hold of a 9V battery with the connector/leads. The 9V+ (red wire) goes to Pin 9 on the G540 and the 9V- (black wire) to pin 7, measure voltage output on between terminals 7 and 8. When you issue a S5000, then M3. The spindle relay should click and you should have about 2.5V measured on the meter.

210

General Mach Discussion / Re: Running Mach 3 in Windows 7 64 bit

« on: February 22, 2013, 10:23:05 AM »

THC is something that is being worked on for the SmoothStepper plug-in. Any 'real time' funciton like this has to be done by the motion device.