Messages

1601

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 Home switch question

« on: June 08, 2016, 06:56:37 AM »

When you do the ref-all function do the LED's on the sensors remain lit?

Sometimes with proximity sensors you cannot see the axis move off as the distance can be very small.

The LED should be off when homing is finished.

1602

General Mach Discussion / Re: Bridgeport Knee Mill Conversion?

« on: June 08, 2016, 04:00:08 AM »

Pendant works perfectly - also has on-off switch so the keyboard jog can still be used

I think thats about it for a couple of weeks now as i'm off on holiday tomorrow

1603

General Mach Discussion / Re: Bridgeport Knee Mill Conversion?

« on: June 07, 2016, 07:56:18 AM »

Pendant turned up today - if anyone is looking for one, this is the first time i have got something from China on eBay and have been surprised at  the quality of it

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251989254779?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

It actually 'feels' good - nice clean clicks on the wheel, positive switches, heavy case and a hard wearing cable, will have to lash it up to my test rig and have a play with it

Away for two weeks on thursday so it'll have to wait i think.

1604

General Mach Discussion / Re: Output control - smart solution sought...

« on: June 07, 2016, 07:00:46 AM »

Ok, bits of this seem smart enough

http://www.cs-lab.eu/en/artykul-131-Macro_for_A_Signal_Tower.html

1605

General Mach Discussion / Output control - smart solution sought...

« on: June 07, 2016, 06:09:54 AM »

I need to activate an output when Mach is running code or in feed-hold, or to use another point of view i need to deactivate an output when Mach is in stop mode.

Is there a smart way to achieve this?

1606

General Mach Discussion / Re: Bridgeport Knee Mill Conversion?

« on: June 06, 2016, 09:22:05 AM »

Revised the safety wiring a little, added some fuses and changed a multiple relay for a single one.

Also sketched up my panel button wiring, the idea is to have the "RUN" relay controlled via a brain or something so it switches as soon as Mach comes out of stop condition i.e. running code or in feed hold - I presume there is a smart way of doing this

This relay then controls the supply to the respective buttons and button LEDS - the idea here was that when in stop mode, you can only press the start, ref z and spindle toggle buttons, as soon as you press the start button, the logic changes so that only the stop and feed-hold buttons are active.

NOW, my query here is - is it wise to control the supply to the switches AS WELL as the LEDs or leave the switches permanently live but control the supply to the LEDs only?

Thoughts??

1607

General Mach Discussion / Re: Bridgeport Knee Mill Conversion?

« on: June 06, 2016, 02:14:43 AM »

Of course, its a plasma not mill

So far I have..

Analogues - feed rate override, speed override, vfd1 speed, vfd 2 speed

Digitals ins...
Servo x fault
servo y fault
servo z fault
cycle start
feed hold
stop
E-stop signal
Probe
spindle toggle
Ref Z axis
Home X*
Home Y*
Home Z*
VFD 1/2 fault

*these will likely be left as screen clicks as only used once per session

Digital outputs...
Servos enable
servo's reset
spindle fwd
spindle rev
coolant
relay for button lamps
spindle 2 fwd
vfd 1 select
vfd 2 select

1608

General Mach Discussion / Re: Bridgeport Knee Mill Conversion?

« on: June 05, 2016, 11:42:37 AM »

I must have missed some bells and whistles then

I even have it controlling the lamps on the buttons so that the OFF, FEED-HOLD ETC only come on when code is running etc

Having the limits on the power side rather than the control side also saved inputs.

1609

General Mach Discussion / Re: Physical buttons for plasma

« on: June 05, 2016, 11:38:46 AM »

Nah, won't make any difference even 0.5mm would work ok if using THC.

1610

General Mach Discussion / Re: Bridgeport Knee Mill Conversion?

« on: June 05, 2016, 11:33:35 AM »

I have a bit more on the MPG module

My list is only about half-capacity at present, plenty to play with