Messages

4041

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 set up for clearpath motors and c62 BOB with Ethernet SmoothStepper

« on: July 13, 2018, 03:16:16 PM »

Hi,
the C62 RJ45 sockets for the axis motors have a terminal  Err/Res....an error and reset.

The C34CP presumably adapts the HLFB of the servo cable to the Err/Res of the C62.

It is not plain to me how the manufacturer combines all the Err/Res lines or to what ESS pin or pins to which it is attached.
No doubt we could find out but it highlights the problem that the C62 has and other boards like it.....the manufacturer has made
certain decisions regarding how certain functions are handled and to which pin or pins they are connected and you now have to
play catch up.

The simple expedient is cut the RJ45 plug off one of the servo cables, solder the wires onto the C34CP per the diagram provided,
plug it into the C62 with a short jump cable and try it.

A few hours experimenting on the board with a multimeter will teach you what you need to know, more than any 100 videos or 1000 forum posts.
If you which to use the C62...do so If you wish to be the 'master of your own destiny' by using the much simpler C10's....then do that and post the
C62 and C34CPs as surplus for sale.

Craig

4042

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: G-Code for Mach4 vs. Mach3

« on: July 13, 2018, 06:24:21 AM »

Hi,
I found that all my Mach3 files ran in Mach4. It must be said that the Mach3 files themselves were fairly simple, they didn't have
tool compensation and that sort of stuff just basic movement codes and they run fine in Mach4.

Mach4 is a little stricter with modal commands like drill cycles, we've gotten used to Mach3's rather loose standards and it appears that Mach4
is more difficult, its not, it just more demands closer attention to Gcode syntax.

I've used Fanuc Posts with pretty good success.

Craig

4043

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: ESS Inputs and Outputs not doing anything

« on: July 12, 2018, 08:50:22 PM »

Hi,

So right now I have Port1 pins 10, 11, 12, 13 getting 5v when the motors are enabled.  I also have them set to active low

This is good.

Don't worry about the port 2 pins just yet, we'll come back to that, there is enough to think about with pins 10,11,12 and 13
without adding more complication!

When I enable the machine all the LEDs on the board come on.

This is signalling that there  servos are in fault mode. Are you 100% sure the servos are powered up? Note that
when the servo is 'good' there is a is a conductive path between HLFB+ and HLFB-(asserts)  and a non-conductive path when in fault
mode. Thus when the servo is un-powered, and therefore there is no conductive path, that  is equivalent to
the servo signalling a fault!

Next question: have you programmed the HLFB. There are several modes in which it can operate. I suspect the mode you
want is 'In Range'. Thus the HLFB asserts, ie conducting, when the servo is in position and correctly following the step/direction
commands.

Page 46:

The HLFB can be used to signal:
• If the servo drive is enabled or in a shutdown (Servo On)
• When the commanded move is complete and settled to your
specifications (ASG-Position)
• How well the motor is following your positioning or velocity**********************
commands (In Range)
• Motor speed, via PWM output (Speed Output)
• Motor torque, via PWM output (Torque Output)

And on page 48:

IN RANGE
The HLFB In Range mode signals when the motor shaft is within a userdefined
range of the commanded position or commanded velocity. This
mode is available in positioning or velocity op modes and changes
automatically based on the ClearPath op mode you are currently using.
In Range-Position
You must be in a ClearPath positioning mode and select In Range from
the HLFB menu. During operation, the HLFB output asserts when actual
motor position is within X counts of commanded position. You set the X
value (i.e., the range) via the Advanced>MoveDone Criteria dialog in
MSP.

Note how Tecknics use the term HLFB 'asserts'....nice use of language...I will use it too.
Let us know how you get on.

Craig

4044

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: setting up mach 4 demo

« on: July 12, 2018, 08:00:16 PM »

Hi,
when you open Mach a little screen opens with the available profiles including names like
MachMill etc. MachMill is one of the standard profiles supplied.

When you get to that screen make a new profile by hitting <Copy>. It will then ask which profile to copy,
choose one that looks suitable to you. It may well ask you to nominate a screen set as well, choose wx4.set.
Name the profile something unique like lumberMill or similar.

Once Mach opens but before you enable it go to Configure/Control (also called Mach in earlier builds)/Select Motion Device
and select the Sim(ulator) plugin. This is just for a while, eventually you'll want to have the UC100 plugin as active, but Sim
will do to start with. You'll have to restart Mach to get it to stick.

Let us know how you get on.

Craig

4045

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: ESS Inputs and Outputs not doing anything

« on: July 12, 2018, 07:39:50 PM »

Hi,
OK pins 10,11,12 and 13 are good but I think pin 2 port 2 is opposite because of having only one inverter.

Pins 10,11, 12 and 13 should, unless held high by HLFB, will go low and signal a fault.
Pin 2 port 2 is pulled low at the input pin of the BoB BUT the ESS pin will be high by virtue
of the single inverter. So port2 pin 2 will be low when the servo is good and high when in fault.

They are all being supplied 5v from the board to make them go high and all the corresponding input LEDs on the board are lit when enabled.  The servos close the circuit when working properly which is why I tried having it active low so the LED in Mach4 should turn off when the ESS no longer sees the 5v.   

This is correct for pins 10,11,12 and 13.

The question is does it work?

Remember also how Mach4 handles signals, it detects a CHANGE. Thus if a signal is low at start up it will stay low
until Mach sees that its state has changed. This explanation may go some way too explaining why Mach responds
only after you toggle the input.

Craig

4046

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: ESS Inputs and Outputs not doing anything

« on: July 12, 2018, 06:04:16 PM »

Hi,
what pin on the BoB are you using?. Remember these are pulled low and need to be supplied current
to make them go high. Remember also that some pins had one inverter whereas other pins had two.

The setting active high-active low in the ESS plugin doesn't change the pin or signal, just reverses the logic
that Mach applies to the signal.

Craig

4047

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach 4 to Windows 7 : Debug Report Crash

« on: July 12, 2018, 03:10:47 PM »

Hi Bryanna,
I use a dual core Atom with on chip graphics without problem. I'm sure your recommendation is well
meant but my installation runs perfectly well on a VERY much less well specified system.

Craig

4048

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 set up for clearpath motors and c62 BOB with Ethernet SmoothStepper

« on: July 12, 2018, 03:07:35 PM »

Hi,
this is on page 3:

Soft enable mode is available only when using the C32 and C62 boards. In this case
the C32 will enable or disable the drive and it also monitors the driver alarm signal.

Thus if you have the jumpers set for soft enable when Mach enables it will also enable your servo. It apparently monitors
HLFB as well. It doesn't say which pin or how its monitored but my guess is that its hooked to the Estop pin, ie if any of the
servos fault Mach Estops.

The manufacturer has made provision for you if you wish to use it. If you do want to use it you have to follow their instructions
exactly. The other alternative is use C10s and then YOU choose how to wire it and which pin does what.

Craig

4049

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 set up for clearpath motors and c62 BOB with Ethernet SmoothStepper

« on: July 12, 2018, 02:53:58 PM »

Hi,

applied to HLFB+ and HLFB- needs to attached to GND on an input terminal of my B.O.B. in order for my motors to enable.

No HLFB is the fault signal. There are a few options how you program when the HLFB operates inside the servo but the most useful
one is 'In Position'. So when the servo is in position and correctly following the input commands the signal will be active.
Thus if you have 5-24V on HLFB+ under normal circumstances 5-24V will appear on HLFB-. If however the servo can't keep up
with its commanded input then HLFB- will be 0V.

You will want Mach to monitor this signal and if the servo faults then it will probably Estop. You could use a Brain in Mach3 or you could
attach it to a limit switch so that if the servo faults Mach equates that with a limit switch event and turns off.

To enable your servo attach 5-24V to Enable+ and 0V to Enable-.

Craig

4050

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: ESS Inputs and Outputs not doing anything

« on: July 12, 2018, 01:01:45 PM »

Hi,
spotted a typo....I don't need the LEDLabel enabled with the machine, rather the LED itself.

Craig