Messages

7271

Mach3 under Vista / Re: Z-Plate is grounded!

« on: December 26, 2016, 02:06:41 AM »

Hi,
my understanding is that Mach3 development/bug fix has ceased. I think the version your using is the latest 'stable' version,
I've been using the same version for several years. Have dipped my toes in Mach4 waters...

Craig

7272

General Mach Discussion / Re: C10 BOB use with 12VDC Relay

« on: December 26, 2016, 02:00:39 AM »

Hi,
I looking on the element14 website, my goto place for things electronic and may have lead you astray, good ones
capable of a decent load are more like $50.

I did see some DIN rail types, had a fairly modest load though, 100mA at 48V, my guess is that they are designed
to switch contactors on and off.

There are too the 'brick' type with 4 screw terminals, have used a few of that type at work, capable of 3A at 240VAC, may
be of interest to you for your coolant pump, not DIN rail that I saw.

I repair welding equipment for a living and I've seen LOTS of inverter type machines go bad. As a VFD is an inverter of a type
they can likewise make a big mess. I would not power one through a solid state relay no matter how good. BOB to solid state relay
to 'kick anus' contactor yes---solid state relay only between VFD and BOB/ESS/PC no. I mean the AC input side to the VFD here
the VFD inputs don't concern me that much.

Rather depends on how permanent you want your solution, as they  say 'there is nothing so permanent as a temporary solution'.

Craig

7273

VB and the development of wizards / Re: I need a wizard that will route a straight cut

« on: December 25, 2016, 07:40:51 PM »

Hi,
look in Mach3/Addons...should be a folder for each of the wizards, about 20 or so.

These shipped with Mach3 when I downloaded. The only wizards I see mentioned on the Atrsoft website
require a licence. Probably pretty good value but can't find the free ones yet.

Craig

7274

General Mach Discussion / Re: C10 BOB use with 12VDC Relay

« on: December 25, 2016, 12:10:42 PM »

Hi,
just as a matter of interest what are you trying to control with the relay? I know you said 'coolant' but it it AC or DC
and what voltage?

You may have seen 'solid state relays' advertised, they take a modest DC input signal and can switch very substantial
loads, typically AC but in some cases DC as well. Mostly they are optisolated, ie any fault or rubbish happening on the
load side will not propagate back to your BOB/controller. I think $10-20 should get you an example capable of switching
and coolant pump I can imagine.

Craig

7275

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: re-mapping motors and home switch inputs through lua script

« on: December 25, 2016, 11:52:59 AM »

Hi,
small thing I learnt last night...

I have been confused that the Configure/Mach/Axis Mapping page does not reflect actual enable/mapping states
when you start manipulating them programmatically.

I chanced to view the status when I was working on another issue and found that it reflected the assignments I'd
made with the wee script I had been experimenting with for Cal892. Turns out that if you restart Mach the assignments
you program will indeed show in the page.

Craig

7276

General Mach Discussion / Re: Dc servo motors

« on: December 25, 2016, 02:31:52 AM »

Hi,
even if they are +-15V inputs, and I would think it unusual, you can still use the CSlabs board, you just have to scale
your feedback loop so that -10V represents one end of the axis and 10V represents the other. Even if the drive will
accept a voltage outside of that range doesn't really matter. Your noise immunity would be marginally reduced which is
equivalent to 'min step resolution' in a digital system.

If you were being really particular (anal retentive!) then you can put an amplifier between your CS board and the input to
your drive. Good quality opamps with +-15V swing, low noise and adjustable input offset are dime a dozen.

Replacing those drives/motors would cost many many thousands of dimes! If they're in good working order you want
to reuse them.

Craig

7277

Mach3 under Vista / Re: Z-Plate is grounded!

« on: December 25, 2016, 02:13:20 AM »

Hi,
my VB skills are pretty rusty and they were never that good to start with, I've changed to Mach4 and am learning LUA
instead. Have really only scratched the surface yet but IMHO it 'wipes the floor' with CE, Mach3 variant of VB.

Can help with where to put the resistor. Put one end into terminal 15 along with your probe wire and the other end into
the 5V terminal right next to it.

Craig

7278

General Mach Discussion / Re: Learning Mach 3

« on: December 25, 2016, 01:43:42 AM »

Hi,
I've got a couple of weeks off from work and would luv to help. I live in New Zealand...and
have never been to Denver.



Forever Hopeful
Craig


PS while I would luv to help it is a joke!

7279

General Mach Discussion / Re: C10 BOB use with 12VDC Relay

« on: December 25, 2016, 01:37:03 AM »

Hi,
maybe easier said than done. Remember that the BOB is limited to about 20mA, and if you're being conservative you would try
to limit it to less than 10mA. It likely to be a pretty small relay and therefore risk overloading its contacts with any reasonable load.
Further the majority of relays for industrial purposes are 24V so you may have a limited selection.

At work we buy cheap components by the hundred, or at least I do while the boss complains and whinges!
BC547 60V 100mA NPN=7cents,
4.7kOhm 125mW resistor=1.8 cents
1N4148 75V 50mA diode=2.2 cents

You can see where I'm going with this....

Craig

7280

VB and the development of wizards / Re: I need a wizard that will route a straight cut

« on: December 24, 2016, 05:52:28 PM »

Hi,
the cut doesn't have to be parallel to the X or Y axis, it moves it a straight line to wherever you send it.
I might come back with an example.

As far a looking over the wizards, you're in for a pleasant surprise. On the very top menu bar of M3 click the 'Wizards' item and then highlight
and click 'Pick Wizard' and the selection window will open. Another way to do the same thing is to click the 'Load Wizards' button on the program
run page under the DROs.

Craig