Messages

41

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: MACH4 HOW TO DISABLE 1 AXIS

« on: January 27, 2020, 05:31:42 PM »

Figured this one out with a little help.  Enabled "Drive enable from pins from Mach4" in the Pulse Engine tab.  I then configured a button on the screen to enable/disable the axis.  Might script it later but I'm good for now.  :-)

42

Mach4 General Discussion / MACH4 HOW TO DISABLE 1 AXIS

« on: January 26, 2020, 10:06:39 AM »

Hello fellow CNC'ers.

My setup is a 4 Axis CNC with Mach4 and POKEYS57CNC.  The 4th axis is A (rotary).  I have the enable/disable signals wired from the stepper drivers.  So for example when I "Unable" control all of the stepper motors are de-energized. 

My question is how / can I disable only 1 axis?  For example when I am cutting a job and I don't need to use the A axis I would like to disable it. 

I can't see in any documentation or inputs/outputs where I can make this happen.

Not sure if I should post here on in the Pokeys Topic.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

43

PoKeys / Re: MACH4 AND POKEYS57CNC CANNOT SET SPINDLE SPEED

« on: January 22, 2020, 05:37:37 PM »

For anyone who has this issue in the future.

Ok so I figured this one out.  Turns out that Pokeys57CNC and Mach4 don't play nice when you set the Spindle Mode to "Const. Surface" (On Mach4 Control, Defaults Tab).  There is no literature on this!  I changed this thinking it would be good for surface finish. 

Mach4 and PoScope:  If your're reading this please update your appropriate manuals!

The only way I found a way out of this is to randomly cycle through changes, fumbling my way through.  Seems a very hackish way to go about things.

Thanks.

44

PoKeys / MACH4 AND POKEYS57CNC CANNOT SET SPINDLE SPEED

« on: January 19, 2020, 10:24:21 PM »

Hello all!

I have an issue that I cannot set the spindle speed using Mach4.  If I set the VFD to set the speed using it's control panel I can change the speed with no issues.  If I leave this setting on the VFD I can turn the spindle on and off in Mach4 and adjust the spindle speed with the VFD potentiometer.

The problem is when I try to set the spindle speed with Mach4.  I cannot get the configuration correct so I can output 0-10V across Pin17 (PWM).

In Mach Output Signals I have Spindle On set to PoKeys_*********XX PE Relay 1.  This works for turning on and off the spindle. 

I also have Spindle Fwd set to PoKeys_*********X Pin 17(out).  This does not work.

In the Pokeys57CNC Plugin configuration Miscellaneous Tab I have Enable PWM Outputs checked, PWM frequency set to 20000, Enable Pin 17, Spindle output to Pin 17 and Set to 0 when OFF checked.

I have a NOWFOREVER VFD and the Relay 1 output connected to X1 and Com.  This works to turn the spindle on and off.

I have GNDi and Pin 17 from the Pokeys57CNC connected to AIN1 and Com on the VFD.

As far as I know by looking at the NOWFOREVER VFD manual this is correct.   Additionally I have set the VFD setting to accept the signal to AIN1 for setting spindle speed.

However if I probe GNDi and Pin 17 on the Pokeys57CNC board it is always flat at 0V even when setting the speed.

Now an interesting point is if I use the Pokeys V4.4.5 Configuration Software and go to the Peripherals -> PWM Outputs Tab and manually set the output on Pin 17 (PWM 5) I get the proper voltage output across Pin 17 and GNDi on the Pokeys57CNC board.

So I know I dancing very close around the solution however I can't figure out how to get it to work.

Can anyone give me a clue on what I am missing?

Thank you.

45

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Slave Motor Will Not Home

« on: January 19, 2020, 07:07:18 PM »

Thanks.  I joined the 2 drivers off the same signal on the controller.  All works well.

Thanks for the advice.

46

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Slave Motor Will Not Home

« on: January 19, 2020, 10:37:09 AM »

Thanks KatzYaakov for your reply.

I don't see a home or limit signal for the slave motor in the Machine Diagnostic Tab so I don't think it is active.

I will take your advice of wiring the motors to the same driver if I can't fix the issue.  It just seems it should be not this complicated to assign 2 motors on 1 axis with separate drivers. (I've used another controller flawlessly however it had integrated stepper drivers)

In my last post I said "it appears" the slave motor is not turning during homing.  I have confirmed it is definitely not turning.

Can I ask you how you setup a slave motor to make it home properly (without wiring them to the same driver)?  I would like to try this method.

Best regards.

47

PoKeys / Re: POKEYS57CNC and Mach4 Homing Switches

« on: January 18, 2020, 11:21:58 PM »

Ended up figuring this one out, painful as it was.  On to the next issue!

48

Mach4 General Discussion / Slave Motor Will Not Home

« on: January 18, 2020, 11:18:44 PM »

Hello all,

I have 2 motors on my Y Axis.  When I manually jog the axis the motors work properly.  However when I try to home the machine it appears that only one of the stepper motors is turning.

I am using POKEYS57CNC and Mach4.

Does anyone know what would cause this issue?

Thanks.

49

PoKeys / POKEYS57CNC and Mach4 Homing Switches

« on: January 13, 2020, 07:44:56 PM »

Hello All,

I am having difficulty configuring home switches.  I have NC switches wired to the X and Y axis.  They are connected to the Axis 1 and Axis 2 switch locations on the board terminal.  I have tested the switches with a multi-meter and they function as required.

However it seems I am just going around in circles trying to configure them in the POKEYS Plugin and the Mach4 Control Configuration.  I cannot figure out how to complete the configuration.  I've spent time googling and even found reference to the same  type of problem on this forum.

No joy.

Could anyone help me with the steps to configure the home switches?

Much appreciated.

Thanks.