Messages

261

General Mach Discussion / Re: I WANT TO KNOW SATISIFIED USERS

« on: January 17, 2012, 01:58:19 PM »

Hello vail101:

I would suggest you read the forum topic "Getting Disillusioned with Mach3", posted by Tweakie. It is an excellent overview of the current state of Mach3.

You will understand the current state of Mach3, and why a total rewrite, Mach4, is now in process.

The post replies are those of the most knowledgable and technically savvy users of Mach3, plus commentary by Brian, the current developer of Mach.

262

General Mach Discussion / Re: Need Digital Thermometer Support

« on: January 16, 2012, 01:29:54 PM »

Hi mblanken:

Have a look at the Solarbotics site. They sell all manner of digital devices.
http://www.solarbotics.com/products/33440/

This digital temp sensor outputs an analog signal. Using a PLC to read the analog signals, you can display them on the screen with a little bit of screen mods i.e., Machscreen, and brains. Much like inputting a feedoverride or spindle speed pot to Mach3.

263

General Mach Discussion / Re: controlling bits in Mach for PLC communication

« on: January 01, 2012, 10:35:47 PM »

Here is a pretty good explanation handling I/O by Henrik. Although he is talking about his own modbus board, the principles should apply.

http://henriksplace.se/cnc/cnc_mach3_minimodbusboard.html

264

dspMC/IP Motion Controller / Re: DSPMC/IP V2 using more inputs and outputs than defined in MACH3

« on: December 25, 2011, 08:18:51 PM »

edit:

My mistake; I didn't realize you had seen Macro on first read.

I am sure Rufi can answer any questions how to implement same.

265

dspMC/IP Motion Controller / Re: DSPMC/IP V2 using more inputs and outputs than defined in MACH3

« on: December 25, 2011, 08:12:26 PM »

Hello wapayk:

Have you looked at the Visual Basic "Tool change Macro" on the Vital Systems site? There are two files, M6start.m1s, and ToolChang-dspMacro.bas.

266

dspMC/IP Motion Controller / Re: DSPMC/IP V2 using more inputs and outputs than defined in MACH3

« on: December 25, 2011, 03:39:15 PM »

Hello waypayk:

Have a look at the Cubloc PLC boards, and using Modbus. www.cubloc.com The Modbus works through the Comm port.

I am using (2) USB > RS232 convertor cables on one computer that does not have a Comm port, and 1 Comm port plus 1 USB convertor cable on another back-up computer

I am using a "Cubase-32M board, and it has 16 inputs (24v), and 12 NPN transistor outputs. It has (6) analog inputs, which I am using for Feedrate over, Jog rate, and Rapid rate; plus a 20 key keypad. These I/O go through brains, which in turn activate OEM codes.

I have a bunch of panel pushbuttons on the inputs, which are using the Mach3 ports and pins, but with the ladder logic, many more outputs can be done, which in turn can send info back to Mach3.

The  -64M board has 32 inputs (24v), and 32 NPN transistor outputs.
The -40M board has 24 inputs (24v), and 16 relay outputs.
They also have relay boards, of banks of 4, and 8 relays that will plug into the above boards.

There is a "learning curve" to get it working, but the Modbus adds considerable power.

Lots of possibilities.

267

General Mach Discussion / Re: PoppaBear needs some help please!!!

« on: November 26, 2011, 10:47:43 PM »

Hi Scott:

I have done business with this company for many years, and they do speak English.
You can walk in the door, and talk to the boss. A long established Los Angeles gear company.

www.americanchainandgear.com/

Give them a call.

268

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: non co-ordinated move

« on: November 21, 2011, 01:24:46 PM »

Dreck:

You can have separate programs for the various belt lengths, as BR549 wrote a program to grind a belt for a 360 degree rotation of "A". Just run the program with a larger "A" value, and note the degrees to complete a given belt length. Then edit the program, and give it a name that identifies the specific belt, such as: 28 inch Belt, 44 inch Belt, etc.

Also, if you use the spindle CW code, M3, you can turn on a relay for the grinder. A program end code, M30, will turn off everything at the end of the program, without manually turning off the grinding head.

Mach drives multiple axis', i.e., X,Y,Z,A in a vector format if they are on the same line. For instance, if you have the following program;

G0 X0 Y0 M3
G1 X20 Y1 F100
M30

The X and Y axis will start and stop at the same time. However, X will move 20 times faster than Y, but they will move in a coordinated vector.

Conversly, if the G1 line were broken;

G1 X20 F100
Y1
M30

The X axis will move for 20 units first, and after X reaches 20 units, the Y axis will move 1 unit. Then the program will stop, and reset to the beginning. If the grinding head is started and stopped with the M code, it will turn off at the end.

Also, the feedrate code, F, is modal. This means that it only need to be programmed once, for a given series of feed moves, or it will remain in effect until changed by another F value.

My first example had a F... on each line, as often when combining the X or Y axis with A, the resultant feed can be very different when X or Y combined with the A axis moves. Since "A" is not a linear function, the surface speed becomes a function of the "A" radius, when combined with an X or Y axis movement. This is something that only you can determine given your machine configuration. There is a General config section for the rotary axis radius.

You can play around with different feed rates, and A values, as well as moving the Z axis in smaller movements to engage or disengage from the belt surface, as the A axis keeps moving. For instance you could have the Z axis move in increasing depth increments as the belt rotated, making a finish pass in a smaller value.

It seems to me, the only button necessary to run the grinding process is the "Cycle Start", as Mach can operate relays under program control. As  BR549 pointed out, the entire list of codes is in a "Que", and Mach is not designed to break into the program midway, and branch off into another axis function. You can do a "Feed Hold", but that will just pause the axis motion, not the M3 (spindle relay on), or a "Stop" which you do not want to do either, unless absolutely necessary as they will definitely gouge the belt somewhat.


 
  

269

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: non co-ordinated move

« on: November 20, 2011, 02:50:20 PM »

G1 A100 Z-1 F...
A9800 F...
A10000 Z0 F...
 

270

dspMC/IP Motion Controller / Re: Lagun knee mill with scales build using DSPMC

« on: November 18, 2011, 02:06:09 PM »

Hello j_boyss:

Regarding the tach signal, neither Mach or the dspmc controller incorporate it into their operation.

The tach signal is a feedback to the motor amplifier (or drive); it is integral to the function of the amplifier control of the motor. The amplifier receives the +/- 10v signal from the dspmc controller, and turns on the appropriate power diodes for direction, and motor velocity.

The response of the motor is known to the dspmc controller, as it is monitoring the encoder signals, the "A" channel being one direction, and the "B" channel being the opposite direction; the total amount of travel of an axis, from point (A) to point(B) is a known number of encoder counts by definition (it knows how many encoder counts per inch or mm) , and also supplying the +/- voltage signal.

The dspmc controller then applies the correct signal to accelerate and then decelerate (known as an S curve) to that position, at the commanded speed, which originated from the program in Mach. The dspmc does all this calculation according to the motor tuning parameters which have been input into the motor tuning PID (Proportional - Integral - Derivative: see Wiki) program.

When you tune the motors, each axis has a separate screen in the tuning section. You can see this S curve on the screen, and make changes in the PID settings for the best response. This capability of the dspmc is one of its strong points, regarding motor control. The actual internal actions in the controller are very complex, but the program makes the entire process very simple.
The tuning parameters are saved, and will be used from there on, at every start-up.

The dspmc controller is a "remote device" from Mach. It stores in a buffer, the incoming Mach3 X,Y,Z.... signals. Although they (Mach3 and the dspmc) work together, they are separate entities, that basically "talk to each other."

Regarding your question about the motors and the leadscrew:
As per above, the motor tuning involves the actual work involved to accelerate the weight of a machine table. The tuning is one of the final tasks to do, before using the machine.

Reference switches:
Some users do not use the reference capability. However, I personally believe it is a fundamental part of a CNC machine control.

If you use a "Z" index channel for setting the "Machine Zero", you can return to a known fixture position or setup position, without having to re-indicate a fixture. The reference switches are at the table travel limit. Usually at the machine's extreme + X, +Y, and +Z.

By using the encoder "Z" channel, the accuracy and repeatability of the resultant "Machine Zero" is as accurate as the encoder itself.

Conversely, if you use micro switches alone for the "Machine reference zero", your position is only as accurate as the mechanical repeat accuracy of the switch, which is not comparable to the digital encoder.

Another value to having a "Machine Zero" reference, is you can set your table "safe zones", a physical limit set in the ports and pins setup, with a given distance beyond which the program will not go. This will prevent the machine from tripping the limit switches, as it will not travel beyond whatever you set as that point in X,Y,or Z.

The "Work" zero positions are the G54, G55.....etc, which are referenced from the "Machine Zero".

If you have "reference" switches for X,Y,Z, you do a "Ref All" at a cold start-up. The machine moves in sequence through each axis, and automatically sets the machine "Zero". You then can click on "Go to Zero", and the machine will move to whatever work position is curently set, i.e. G54, G55, G56...... etc.

This process is automatic, and takes less than a minute. It is far quicker than using an edge finder to locate X, and Y, then having to put in a specific tool to re-set the machine "Z" home.

On a cold start, Mach does not know where it is (as in a known digital position) in relationship to the physical machine. All commercial CNC machines use a "Machine Zero" reference position.
 
Hope this is helpful