Messages

171

SmoothStepper USB / Re: Please Help! Warp 9 Ethernet Smooth Stepper" running out of data "

« on: March 15, 2014, 12:01:10 PM »

Try reducing the SS data transmission time from 4khz (default value) to 1khz on the SS config page, upper left hand corner. The SS buffer is running out of data and give the error message and stopping the program. What's happening is the SS is processing the data faster than the pc can send the data over the eithernet connection. I downloaded the plug-in listed by Jeff Brit and still had the same problem of running out of data. I reduced the timing to 1khz and tried 2khz and never had the problem again. Experimenting with the same gcode running the SS at 4khz would result in "Out of Data" after about 25 lines of code.

172

General Mach Discussion / Re: MACH 3 (NOT RESPONDING) AFTER I PICK MY MILL PROFILE !!!!!!!!!!

« on: March 03, 2014, 08:06:51 PM »

Did you do any Windows 8 updates recently? If so... do a Windows restore to the date before the updates and try Mach 3 again. I run Windows 7 pro and have gotten burned twice with a locked up PC after an update. Loaded some bad DLL files.  I have "Automatic Updates" shut off. MicroSoft does "Update Tuesdays" for patches and other crap.   

173

General Mach Discussion / Re: Modbus / MPG help...

« on: February 15, 2014, 01:50:41 PM »

Rule #1... Anything bought off the internet from China there is a 50/50 chance it won't work right or will work for very long.
Rule #2... Don't expect instructions that make sense or customer technical assistance.
Rule #3... Good luck getting a refund. Most of the Chinese sellers make claims to warrantee products but trying to collect on that is almost impossible.   
Rule #4... Yes, it's cheap but you get what you pay for.

Most MPG have the ability to program the function buttons and usually come with software for that purpose. Unless you have the software or instructions that make sense, you are probably out of luck.

174

General Mach Discussion / Re: Control crash, CNC router?

« on: February 14, 2014, 11:34:36 PM »

I'm glad its been narrowed down.

I assume the prox switches are incorrectly wired in series which is why you didn't see a response from Mach or the BOB. Almost all prox switch have a LED indicator light mounted someplace on them, usually where the cable is attached, which is a great troubleshoot tool to test the function. Prox switches require 12-30 vdc supply voltage. Below 12 volts or over 30 volts can result in unpredictable or failure to operate.

While its possible to configure Mach... I've never been a fan of series wire mech limit switches unless the BOB doesn't have the inputs.     

175

General Mach Discussion / Re: Control crash, CNC router?

« on: February 14, 2014, 07:36:31 PM »

Typical 8 & 12mm barrel type prox switches are normally open (NPN or voltage sinking) and can't be wired in series with other prox switches. This is a common mistake people make thinking there is a internal switch contact. Each switch has to have a separate input assigned in the BOB and Mach 3 configured as required.

The draw back with a NPN prox switch is there is no broken wire safety aspect. So if the switch fails or a wire falls off a terminal will result in a axis homing crash. Normally closed prox switches (PNP or voltage sourcing) are less common and usually much more expensive.

176

General Mach Discussion / Re: Control crash, CNC router?

« on: February 14, 2014, 05:37:09 PM »

The major change was adding the home prox switch. Can you disable the prox switch... only using the soft limits and see if the problem is still present? Prox switches use a solid state device to either sink or source the output logic. The wrong type of prox (NPN or PNP) wired to a BOB can cause strange problems.

Generally the X direction is the longer and Y is shorter. Yours are reversed which isn't a problem if Mach is set up for that.

177

General Mach Discussion / Re: Control crash, CNC router?

« on: February 14, 2014, 04:39:56 PM »

Sounds like a conflict with the new home switch and/or soft limits.

1) Are the native units (mm or inches) set correctly.   
2) Are the soft limits correct for the table size and movement direction?

It almost appears as though the machine home location isn't correct to the table size. What happens when the "Ref Home" command is issued?

178

General Mach Discussion / Re: Control crash, CNC router?

« on: February 14, 2014, 08:55:48 AM »

This probably has nothing to do with the problem but I would not use ver 0.066 it has problems. I was running it and experienced strange intermittent issues. I loaded 0.062 and the problems disappeared. If you are using a cheap chinese VFD... they are very noisy in the RF range especially with the carrier frequency set in the lower range.   

179

General Mach Discussion / Re: Feed hold, am i using it correctly?

« on: February 10, 2014, 05:24:48 PM »

Well... Feed hold is just that, "Feed Hole" I assumed. I found out the hard way it doesn't really work the way it's suppose to work. In my experience issuing a "Cycle Start" after a "Feed Hold" command caused the Z to move to home then X & Y would get out of sync. Result= a junk part and broken tool bit for the recycle bin.  I fooled around with most versions of Mach... all the same results. Now I use a "Stop" then "Start" which works as designed. The program continues from where the "Stop" was issues. 

180

General Mach Discussion / Re: Feed hold, am i using it correctly?

« on: February 10, 2014, 04:58:28 PM »

Feed hold doesn't work right in most versions of Mach. Ver .066 is the worst release ever and should be avoided. Hopefully Mach 4 will fix the many long standing problems with Mach 3. Then again.... it's questionable at this point if Mach 4 will ever be released.