Messages

6881

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Reference all axes (Home) on a machine without limit switches

« on: July 05, 2017, 03:51:35 AM »

Hi,
'home in place' works exactly as expected here. I use an ESS however I don't think the plugin has any bearing on 'home in place' at all.

'Home in place' is part of Machs setup and it means 'don't bother looking for a home switch signal from the motion controller', ie the controller/plugin have
no bearing at all.

I note also that you have set data for soft limits. If you are homing in place then soft limits are irrelevant, they only have meaning if the machine co-ord zero
is at some sensible and REPEATABLE place, home in place doesn't really qualify.

I know some very experienced CNCers say otherwise but setting up decent home switches was the single best thing I've done to make my machine usable and
crash resistant, I can still crash it but I have to try hard!

Craig

6882

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Reference all axes (Home) on a machine without limit switches

« on: July 05, 2017, 02:31:01 AM »

Hi,
only other suggestion you might try is on Machs Homing and Limits page in the home order column set to zero ALL axes OTHER than X,Y,Z.
I'm thinking that the error logging you're seeing is related to axes which are not assigned or have home switches.

Craig

6883

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Reference all axes (Home) on a machine without limit switches

« on: July 04, 2017, 08:29:09 PM »

Hi,
when you say the DROs do not reset are they configured to display work co-ords or machine co-ords?.

When you have 'homed in place' have a look on the diagnostics tab and see what the machine co-ords are.

Craig

6884

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Setting up Mach4 for the first time - Motors won't turn

« on: July 03, 2017, 02:45:07 PM »

Hi,
1) Pull-up
2) ENA+ 5V, ENA- 0V
3) PUL+ 5V, brush PUL- with 0V to cause the driver to step.

Craig

6885

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Help: No joy after Mach4 and ESS update

« on: July 03, 2017, 06:31:34 AM »

Hi,
I think you made it hard for yourself. When you update an ESS plugin just copy the .m4pw and the .sig file into the plugins folder and it
should overwrite the existing one. No need to make a new profile, shouldn't need to change any comm settings....easy.

Craig

6886

General Mach Discussion / Re: Fail to jog but will home.

« on: July 03, 2017, 05:58:53 AM »

Hi,
not quite sure then... can you try some MDI commands?

Craig

6887

General Mach Discussion / Re: Fail to jog but will home.

« on: July 03, 2017, 05:26:42 AM »

Hi,
on the Tool Information panel on the main Program Run tab there is a button 'Jog ON/OFF Crtl-Alt-J'. It turns keyboard jogging on and
off.

Craig

6888

General Mach Discussion / Re: Fail to jog but will home.

« on: July 03, 2017, 04:51:38 AM »

Hi,
make sure the keyboard jog keys are enabled.

Craig

6889

Mach3 under Vista / Re: Mach3 under win10

« on: July 03, 2017, 04:03:13 AM »

Hi Claytonium,
I have been reminded to mention other manufacturers, it always dangerous to make recommendations and comparisons between competing
products, if your information is the slightest bit weak or worse wrong then it can cause offence to various stakeholders!

Two that I omitted from the list above are Galil and Dynomotion. Both companies have been around seems like forever and have great products.

A three axis Ethernet connected Galil controller can cost anywhere between $1000 and $2000 depending on various features offered. Extra axes cost more.
As you can see these products are VERY classy and would be at home in high priced industrial equipment, beyond my budget. Also at this time don't believe
there is a Mach4 plugin ready to go.

Dynomotion have a Kflop board for about $250. There are add-on components that add features but all in all is pretty well priced. Not sure whether there is
a Mach4 plugin yet.

Should point out that any controller that doesn't have a Mach4 plugin or one in the pipeline gets little interest from me. I don't have to defend that position either,
I like Mach4 and its potential is just so much more than Mach3 and if some manufacturer doesn't like that..... TUFF!!

http://www.galilmc.com/
http://dynomotion.com/index.htm


Craig

6890

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Setting up Mach4 for the first time - Motors won't turn

« on: July 03, 2017, 02:52:56 AM »

Hi,
welcome aboard, you poor sick little puppy....LOL

Yes you can test your drivers that way. On page 3 of the KL4030 manual is the wiring diagram. You'll need to follow it.
Common PUL+, DIR+ and ENA+ to your 5V on the C10 BoB. In order to enable the driver short ENA- to 0V. With a short piece of
wire, one end to 0V, each time you brush the PUL- terminal the stepper should rotate one step. Would recommend that you don't have
any microstepping at this stage, the steps are likely to be so small that you'll never detect them.

The C10 is a good board, its like an asshole, everyones got one. If you need another buy a BoB with LEDs on the IO pins, makes it so easy to
set up and diagnose. I use BoBs from Homan Designs in Austrailia but lots of BoBs are made with LEDs. As it stands you'll need a scope or
similar to 'see' any output pulses from the BOB. You should find the pin hooked to ENA- is low, after all your driver inputs are all active low.
You will have to configure Mach AND the C10 to provide active low signals.

Craig