Messages

2861

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 with SmoothStepper Hardware Remote Start and Stop

« on: March 20, 2019, 01:51:13 PM »

Hi,
the script editor is Operator/VB Script Editor per attached.

You will have to run it as a macro pump to continuously sample your remote input.
You might alternately use a 'Brain', ladder logic programming. Mach3 programming is not my forte.

I could do this with less than a dozen lines of code in Mach4 Signal Library table, no PLC script required.

Craig

2862

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 with SmoothStepper Hardware Remote Start and Stop

« on: March 20, 2019, 01:13:42 PM »

Hi,

So far, our testing has been great but now to the point where we are asking questions such as how could the machine be started remotely and then is it possible to get a output from the machine when it is done with the image, if so could we then automatically remove the product and move in place the next item etc. 

The answer is yes, it can be done. You will have to learn to program Mach3 in VB. I myself found VB and Mach3
very frustrating and elected to upgrade to Mach4 an Lua.

Craig

2863

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 / PMDX-122 Issue

« on: March 20, 2019, 01:08:14 PM »

Hi,

I think PMDX sells a opto-board calls PMDX-105 to "PATCH UP" for the PMDX-122 lack of opto-isolation.

Why bother, this BoB has worked for years in this configuration.

Craig

2864

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 / PMDX-122 Issue

« on: March 20, 2019, 05:41:52 AM »

Hi,
while it might be desirable to have BoB inputs opto isolated, and of course many are,what happens with bi-directional
boards like OP's PMDX-122?.

Under normal configuration pins 2-9 are outputs, commonly step/dir for the motors. It would be unusual for outputs
to be opto isolated, especially when so many stepper drivers have opto isolated inputs. If the board is used on the second
parallel port to get more inputs then pins 2-9 will be inputs. This board accommodates this. But now you have a problem,
if you have an opto output the phototransistor is hooked to the output terminals whereas if it has an opto isolated input
the photdiode must be hooked to the terminals.

To my knowledge there is no such thing as a bi-directional opto isolator. To construct one out of opto ICs adds unnecessary
complexity, especially given the requirement for yet more isolated power supplies.

Craig

2865

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 / PMDX-122 Issue

« on: March 20, 2019, 05:24:15 AM »

Hi,

if your BOB inputs are not optically isolated, it must be an old model (design).

Rubbish, while it is true that a lot of BoBs are opto isolated it is also true that a lot aren't. The pics I posted are from
the PMDX-122 manual and none of the inputs or outputs are opto isolated. I should point out the PMDX has a superb
reputation for quality products.

For this typical BOB board for MACH3

You posted a pic for a 'typical' parallel port BoB.......but it bears no resemblance to the pic posted by OP of his BoB.
Indeed look at his pic again and see if you can identify any optos, bet you can't because there aren't any.

I use MB02 BoBs from Homann Designs in Melbourne. Peter Homann is a legend in Mach circles and his MB02's don't
have optos either. I've been using them for five years.

Craig

2866

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 / PMDX-122 Issue

« on: March 20, 2019, 02:41:15 AM »

Hi,
reuelt commented:

Input from Limit/home switches etc. can use HIGH voltage and so through opto-isolation chips (sort of relay) for safety reason. The PC USB is grounded with with PC case so USB is NOT isolated from PC.

This is potentially misleading. I have attached the representative digital inputs (DB25 pins 10,11,12,13,15) and none of them are
optically isolated. If you put more than 5V on any of them you will fry the buffer IC. DO NOT USE 24V INPUTS unless you
make and provide some voltage translation. Exceed 5V input to 74LS TTL IC's frys them!

I have also attached pics of the digital outputs (DB25 pins 14,16,17) and the motor outputs (DB25 pins 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9)
and they are not opto-isolated either.

This has implications.
First one and one only 5V supply is needed. It can be derived is different ways but still only one supply is required.
Under no circumstances apply more than 5V to any input.
Do not demand that any output exceed sink or source current appropriate to 74LS TTL. To be safe no more than 10mA
sinking or sourcing.

Craig

2867

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 / PMDX-122 Issue

« on: March 19, 2019, 11:39:30 PM »

Hi,

I just found the power supply that I have and it's a 24VDC...

No, the manufacturer says a maximum of 12V. I commonly use 7805's, there like an asshole.....everyones got one,
and they are rated to about 30V input, so I would have thought 24V would have been fine. I would be cautious though,
you don't want to blow the IC up, it could be repaired easily enough but you don't want to tell the boss that you ignored
the manufacturers recommendation and therefore damaged it.

As far as the enable signal goes, I'm not talking about either Mach or the Bob.....but the stepper driver. The input terminals
MF+ and MF- require a constant 5V signal otherwise the drivers do nothing.

Craig

2868

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 / PMDX-122 Issue

« on: March 19, 2019, 11:30:49 PM »

Hi,
just found this in the PMDX-122 manual.

If you use the jack or pins nominated you can use a 9VAC or 7-12VDC supply.

If you have batteries as reuelt has suggested you can use those too, just not through the jack.

Craig

2869

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 / PMDX-122 Issue

« on: March 19, 2019, 11:24:28 PM »

Hi,
just found this pic on the net for your driver. The inputs named MF+ and MF- are the equivalent of an
enable as shown in the pic attached.

Those drivers require an enable signal.

reuelt commented:

Try to supply 5V power though the DC socket and not the USB. Just for testing you can use 4 NI-MH batteries in series that will give 4.8 volts to 5.2 volts.

I'm not sure that is correct. If my guess about the 7805 IC is correct then you would need a minimum of 8V for the
regulator to work. The difference is called the dropout voltage.

Craig

2870

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 / PMDX-122 Issue

« on: March 19, 2019, 11:02:59 PM »

Hi,
I notice also on the pic of the BoB that the three terminal TO220 IC just North of the DC input socket is a 7805?
Can you confirm, the reflected light in the pic makes it difficult to read the part number.

If that is the case then any voltage supply 12V,15V or so would probably work as it will pass through the 7805 voltage
regulator to end up 5V on the board. Can you probe with your meter between one of the terminals labeled 5V and 0V?
I would expect the USB input would be 15V but critically any 5V terminal should be 5V.

Craig