Messages

421

General Mach Discussion / Re: Keyboard M-function?

« on: November 24, 2015, 10:57:58 PM »

There was a slight tweak I had to make because it appears that the space bar was mapped to the gas solenoid as well as the laser, so I just had to change that using the mach screen editing software.

Oops... sorry thought I'd done it.... must have gone back in to MachScreen and had a play as I've just checked my file and it didn't work right either ... at least you got it sorted.

Yeah, it would be nice to see it working.

What size / type of laser are you using (argon mentioned so presume argon?) [know little about lasers... but interest me much the same]

Happy cutting.

422

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Milling Is Off Center

« on: November 24, 2015, 10:52:03 PM »

Damn, that is a nice machine, and very well documented too!

http://romaxxcncrouters.com/romaxx-cnc-router-wd-1
http://romaxxcncrouters.com/cnc-downloads

I guess the most obvious thing to check is are you using one parallel port or two?

Forget about the ballscrews, I'd say they have got it right (considering the good construction quality of the machine).


The break Out Board Schematic for the machine is here:
http://romaxxcnc.com/boencboschematics.html
Port 1 / Pin 1 - Output Relay 1
Port 1 / Pin 2 - X Step
Port 1 / Pin 3 - Y Step
Port 1 / Pin 4 - Z Step
Port 1 / Pin 5 - A Step
Port 1 / Pin 6 - X DIR
Port 1 / Pin 7 - Y DIR
Port 1 / Pin 8 - Z DIR
Port 1 / Pin 9 - A DIR
Port 1 / Pin 10 - not denoted, but presume E-Stop!  (it is referenced in the zipped XML file download (link below + text file within)
Port 1 / Pin 11 - Cycle Start (button on front plate)
Port 1 / Pin 12 - Feed Hold (button on front plate)
Port 1 / Pin 13 - A Channel [MPG?]
Port 1 / Pin 14 - Output 2 Relay
Port 1 / Pin 15 - B Channel [MPG?]
Port 1 / Pin 16 - Output 3 Relay
Port 1 / Pin 17 - Output 4 Relay (Actually The Charge Pump Circuit!.... see text file in XML setup / zipped folder!)

Presume no encoders so ignore port 2 pins.

Their XML setup files are here: http://www.romaxxcnc.com/RomaxxCDplusplusB.zip


Attached is an XML file I edited looking at what the manufacturers wiring diagrams and following a read of their text files.

>>> I normally do not edit XML files for people in case everything goes horribly wrong and we are all responsible for our own actions!!!!<<<<
Use this XML file at your own risk!

I would suggest jogging the machine to a central location (1/2 way in all directions X, Y and Z), then load the XML file into Mach 3, by reloading Mach3 using the "Mach3 Loader" option,  whilst having your E-Stop depressed on the machine.

Have a look at the XML file and try to understand what I've done (you have a nice machine, and I'd hate to break it!
All the step and direction signals are as per the manufacturers schematic (link above) as are all the inputs and outputs.
I've got rid of all the duplications and port 2 references (as I presumed you have no encoders on the machine... other than maybe the MPG and the run and stop buttons on the front of it). edit: read your comment later... read my suggestion below about limit switches + a probe input! (taken a little while to write and edit the xml file...)
I have also programmed in the Run and Stop Buttons to the appropriate OEM Trigger Input pins and set up the corresponding OEM Button Codes.  (on the system hotkeys menu)
I've also been through the config screen and setup the lookahead, the initialisation script (it will set you maximum feedrate to be correct to align with the manufacturers max velocity).
I've also setup the step and direction pulse widths to "reasonable" / common numbers (think of them as teeth on a cog.... the bigger they are the better they are seen by your stepper drives [up to a point!])... you have zero in here before and I suspect that this along with the lookahead was probably your problem, and maybe the ports and pins being shared.
I've also set the machine to go into E-stop at programme end on the config screen (or M30 or rewind).... I find it helpful.... just press the reset and you can re-run the code.... it ensures that the machine won't do anything strange at the end of the cut.


One thing that does concern me about your machine.... no limit switches or homing switches or even a touch off probe for setting the tool offset / length following a tool change ..... (think the manufacturer missed that one sorry... not very good in my opinion [personally])

I have removed the encoders (except for the MPG.... and did not change its settings as I presume the manufacturer put the settings in correctly).>>>> In hindsight.... I saw your comment on your last post... not using MPG.... if It were me.... I'd use one of the inputs and put some homing and limit switches on the machine and a touch off probe for offset (see my other comment.... if you want help setting these up just ask).

And I changed the kernel speed to 25kHz (your steppers are only running at slightly less than 16kHz... you don't need any more than that).

If you have not done so already, I'd check you are using the right version of Mach3 which seems to be generally accepted to be version ... 062 and not 066.... available for download from here: ftp://machsupport.com/Mach3/

423

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Milling Is Off Center

« on: November 24, 2015, 03:12:38 PM »

What about all the other stuff? (Encoders and mpg, 2nd parallel port, OEM triggers etc)

Are you able to measure the leadscrew pitch... Are the ballscrews or threaded rod?... Number doesn't look right to me as far as steps per inch

Have you got access to the stepper drives, can you see any dipswitch settings?

What type of machine is it (manufacturing link... Photo)?

The setting up stuff is easy... Just got to start with the basics.

424

PoKeys / Re: 57E >> Mach3 M10Px/M11Px (Mach4 M62/M63), plus Torch Height Control

« on: November 24, 2015, 02:39:11 PM »

Cheers thanks very much for the info and update,  looks like a great visuallogic programming tool.

 

425

PoKeys / 57E >> Mach3 M10Px/M11Px (Mach4 M62/M63), plus Torch Height Control

« on: November 24, 2015, 02:11:35 PM »

Hello,

I've been curious about the Pokeys offerings and tempted to have a go at PoBlocks...

But I was wondering does M10Px/M11Px and torch height control work on the pokeys offerings for both mach3 and mach4?

(I use an ESS for my sins, but remain curious about what pokeys can and cannot do as a motion controller for some of the inbuilt extra sort of functions that the parallel port driver did in M3).

Many thanks,

426

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Milling Is Off Center

« on: November 24, 2015, 01:30:49 PM »

May I ask....

What are you using OEM Trg #1 & #2 for?

You have used port 1/pin10 and Port 1/pin11 twice...

You have mapped your E-Stop and OEM Trig #1 to port 1/ pin 10

You have also mapped Input #1 and OEM Trig #2 to port 1/pin 11


What are you using Jog A++ / A-- for? (no pins assigned but are using a hokey 45 & 46?)

Why have you set output #3 and output #5 to share port #1/pin 14?
And Output #2 and output #6 to share port #1/pin#16

Do you have two parallel ports?
(given you've listed output #1 as port 1/pin1, and output #4 and port#2/pin1?)
[edit: you must have as you've got encoders setup and mpg on port 2]


You also have Charge Pump & Charge Pump2 sharing port 1/pin 17


.... again its quite hard to review a system that we can't see and don't really understand.... but there is probably a few bits there for you to think about.

I'd suggest only ever use one pin for one thing (although I'm no Mach3/4 Yoda / Guru by any stretch of the imagination) .... if you need to do something else with that output ... then run an M-code, macropump or brains.... I can help but need to understand our setup or what you're trying to do.

Rob

427

SmoothStepper USB / Re: ess runaway on startup

« on: November 24, 2015, 08:40:51 AM »

The thing to remember with the ESS is it is very fast.... way faster than the parallel port... so you need to slow things down a little maybe by adding in some debounce on the ESS Config Screen.

You probably need to allow for a delay in your code for the toolchange to allow your solenoid time to activate (the loop within Mach runs at 10Hz, hence it may try to run through your code so fast that your solenoid is not having time to enegise and de-energise.... also what is not helping things is how fast the loop in the ESS can run.

I'd suggest that Item number 1 and 2 can "probably" be corrected by going to the Mach3 >>> Config >> general Configuration tab, and down the right hand side there are a number options for "Pgm End, M30 or Rewind"....

I'd ask Mach3 to e-stop the machine by ticking the checkbox..

And see if that clears your problem.

It may be worth your while to post your XML file here and someone will have a look at it for you and may be able to provide a few useful comments you may wish to use (or not!)
You will need to change its name to something unique or it won't upload.

428

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Milling Is Off Center

« on: November 24, 2015, 07:34:04 AM »

Thanks Tweakie
...I am at work so it was a quick check...
I was seeing some off numbering for the ports and pins and axis settings but suspect it was me as I looked at the XML file and couldn't see them (think it happens when there is a conflict on the ports and pins if they are shared or listed twice sometimes... I'll review later)

We just really need to try to understand your machine a little more... Photos sometimes help if you are not sure about what it is, or to get an idea of the gantry weights etc with regards to acceleration.

429

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Milling Is Off Center

« on: November 24, 2015, 06:36:28 AM »

Initial comments...

On your motor tuning page you have no pulse width set for your step and direct.... Are you using a motion controller or the parrallel port?

Your machine is in inches, and you have a X, Y and Z set at 5833 steps / inch, and the machines maximum velocity set at 160 inches / min....   so, i'd suggest

changing your machine kernal speed from 35kHz down to 25kHz.... given 5833 x 160 / 60 = 15.5khz (maximum step speed).

I'd also suggest changing the step and direct pulse widths to 5usec (which would be 100kHz and seems to work with most stepper drivers quite well).

I'd also suggest changing the lookahead on the configuration page to 200 (2nd column from LHS).


The 5833 steps per inch is confusing me a little .... as I'm not sure how you worked it out as it does not seem to align with either a metric or imperial pitch (unless you've got gearing on the machine)

either (1 / 5833) x 200 = 0.034287673.....  (bit of an odd number... indicating it may be a metric leadscrew pitch... but)

5833 / 25.4 = 229.6456929133 .... again... little odd number

1 / 229.645.... x 200 = 0.87096908

so maybe a metric pitch of say .... 1.75mm threaded rod.... (on 1/2 stepping mode)  ... still a little off

If it is 1.75mm pitch threaded rod... it should be 5805.714285714.....


[I've never done it... but if you have metric leadscrews, it may be beneficial to set them up as such, and then add a "G20" code to the initilisation string on the config window and also prefix your code with a G20 code so that the machine will appear to be an imperial machine and it will do all the correct math internally with minimal rouding errors ... maybe worth a consideration / comment by some of the more experianced about as to whether this would work]

430

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Milling Is Off Center

« on: November 24, 2015, 02:23:27 AM »

Can I ask what your machine setup is?

Starting at the machine,
What leadscrew pitch do you have for each axis?
What stepper motors are you using (model no)?
What microstepping have you set for your drives?
What voltage is your power supply feeding your stepper drives?
Can you paste your XML file here (may need to rename it to *********.txt for it to upload)
The questions that it will answer:
What units the machine is set to run in
How many steps / unit you have set the machine up with?
What Max velocity you have set?
What acceleration you have set?
What step and dir pulse width you have set?
What lookahead you have set?
Have you set CV to turn off on certain angles?
CV turn off lookahead steps?
What kernal speed you have set Mach to?