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Messages - joeaverage

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4111
Hi,
I just read this in the C25 manual:

Quote
Outputs 1, 14, 16 and 17 (Port 1 and 2) and outputs 2-9 (port 1).
All those pins are directly wired to the C25 output terminals.

It would appear the output of the ESS is direct connected to the output screw terminal of the C25, no buffering.
I consider that less than ideal. The C10 has input AND output buffering and is preferred. I myself use MB2's from Homan Designs
in Austrailia, I live in New Zealand so its near enough to local for me. They are a bit more expensive than the C10 but I've been very
happy with them. They to offer bi-directional pins 2-9 and input and output buffering AND LEDs on ALL inputs and outputs so I can tell
at a glance whats happening. Those LEDs would be a real boon to you at the moment.

Craig

4112
Hi,
the C25 has port 1 pins 2-9 configured as outputs. This is the normal state of affairs, these are the step and direction outputs to your
drivers. Port 2 pins 2-9 are ALL INPUTS. This again is normal from the days of the parallel port.

A single parallel port was always chronically short of inputs for things like limit and home switches. Thus it is common to have the second
port configured with pins 2-9 as inputs. The C25 adopts this convention.

The C10 breakout board can for instance be configured with pins 2-9 as input OR outputs. If you really want to use the third port of your
ESS then I would recommend the C10, it has buffers to offer some protection to the much more expensive ESS and you can configure
the ESS/BoB with more inputs OR outputs as you require.

Back to the issue at hand.

May I suggest that you measure the output voltages of the C25 port   pins 2-9. You need then to set up some code in Mach4 to toggle those
outputs.

Craig

4113
Hi,
you still haven't answered the question....are you using the ESS pins direct?

If you are as I have said its not recommended, any slight bobble on your part can fry the FPGA.

More importantly the ESS has pull-up resistors not pull-down like the C25. I have attached a pic of the input circuit of the ESS.
If you are using the ESS input direct (contrary to advice) then the pin needs to be pulled low, ie 0V.

Craig

4114
Hi,
is it port3 pin13 of the ESS? From your description you have blown that input.

You have all those buffered inputs on the C25, why not use one of them? That's what they're for.

Craig

4115
Hi,
are you using an input on the C25 or not?

It sounds like you are working directly on the ESS pins. If that's the case its not recommended. You really should install a BOB
so that you have buffer ICs between the ESS and your wiring.

Craig

4116
Hi,
so if the input port3 pin 13 is to be held high switch must be closed. If you open the switch the input goes low.
That's what is intended is it not?

Craig

4117
Hi,
the Clearpath manual shows Enable+ and Enable- in the 8 pin Molex IO connector, pins 4 and 8 respectively.
Page 42 shows that if 5-24V is applied to the Enable input is sufficient to enable the servo.

You need to set up an output pin on your BoB that hooks to the Enable input of your servos. That output would be under control
of your ESS/Mach.

Why bother with the charge pump? I've never had a charge pump setup in over five years I've been using Mach without problems.
I think the original idea was that it would prevent any unintended movement prior to Mach assuming control of the hardware.
If you turn the power on to your machine but without turning on the PC do any of the servos or spindle turn themselves on and move?
If not then maybe you don't need it either.

Craig

4118
Hi,
so did you measure the voltage?

Craig

4119
Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Best Mach 4 I/O Borad ?????
« on: July 06, 2018, 04:59:18 AM »
Hi,

Quote
i think that is a money grab the board fully unlocked will cost over 3000$
I think you are deliberately choosing the worst case scenario to make a criticism. Yes you could choose to activate everything and spend $3000 but why would you?

For instance if you want THC because you are building a plasma table then you will pay the activation fee. Who cares then about all the other stuff....you don't need it so
wouldn't buy it.

Probably the most confusing part of the activation components relates to closed loop operation. Certain servos, older ones particularly require the motion controller to close the loop.
Very few motion controllers can do this, much less do it well. If you require a motion controller to close a loop then PAY UP, you can have the HiCon for $300-$500 extra activation
fees or you can have the Gallil for an extra $2000. If you think they are profiteering.....'tough titty!' you don't want to pay... then don't have it.... or go to Linux CNC and try that!

As it turns out the need for the controller to close the loop is rapidly diminishing. Modern AC servos and their matching drives close the loop WITHOUT the controller having to do so
and usually much better than a general purpose controller in any event, and are steadily falling in price. The only time hobbyists require a controller with closed loop activation
is when they are trying to reuse older servos and drives on existing machines and trying to avoid the expense of replacing them with AC servos. Given the complexity and extra
costs of a controller loop closure verses the decreasing cost of AC servos (which are far more flexible and easier to achieve results which are difficult if not impossible with the old
method) closed loop activated motion controllers like the HiCon are losing their appeal. Don't get me wrong the HiCon is still a great open loop controller its just that its
increasingly unnecessary to pay the extra for the closed loop option.

All of the devices I've listed and the ones you have looked are very good and all with the exception of the PMDX-424 have both a Mach3 AND a Mach4 plugin
so you could use either. You will be happy with any of them.

I chose the ESS, in part because I seemed to understand it a bit better coming from a Mach3/parallel port background. I already had the two BoBs
I needed and it was  within my budget. I was less clear about the facilities of the 57CNC but have since realized it is a flexible device and a worthy competitor. At the time the
UC300 Mach4 plugin was not yet available.

One interesting point is that Mach4 allows only one motion controller to be active. In my case its the ESS. If I ever run out of IO or wish to take advantage of the
analogue inputs of the PoKeys 57 series I can do that too. I can load the 57CNC plugin but I don't HAVE to declare it a motion controller. it would instead become
another IO board. Clearly you couldn't expect realtime data sharing between the ESS (primary motion controller) and the 57CNC (auxiliary data input board) but you'd have
swags of IO and for probably less than a PLC of similar capacity. Indeed PoKeys owe their origins to data acquisition and data communication before they were exploited
as CNC controllers and they make superb data handlers.

Craig

4120
Hi,
I can't find the list, a PM to Bryanna would do the trick.

Do you have a parallel port OR an external motion controller? You mention a parallel port in your post and then talk about a USB.....which is it?.

If its a parallel port then Machs parallel port driver IS THE plugin. If you have a USB connected external controller then the manufacturer of the board
provides the plugin.

Craig

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