Messages

31

Modbus / Re: Can A Modbus control a.........

« on: July 26, 2008, 09:54:19 PM »

I’ve been looking at my options do get this done
and there’s more than one way to skin this cat.

So what I’ve been thinking was since my breakout board
is full “running 4 axis” can I use a smooth stepper to index my ATC and let a simpler more basic PLC handle the other stuff?

I’ve done a little reading about smooth stepper boards
and It seams to me that they are just a USB brake out board, am I right?

If this I’m right can Mach run a smooth stepper or some other device to control a axis via USB with the printer port being tied up doing other axis work?   

You veterans please be payshint with me.
I read and read and read and search the forums
every night and it is making more and more since
every day but there is so much to take in.

32

Modbus / Re: Can A Modbus control a.........

« on: July 22, 2008, 06:17:37 PM »

Yea Ive been looking at the prices and it's not cheap.
On top of all that the Automation direct tech guy tells me that the software to
program the PLC is about $400.00.

So this is not going to be cheap but it will pay for it's self in about 2 mouths.

33

Modbus / Re: Can A Modbus control a.........

« on: July 21, 2008, 06:50:23 PM »

Automation direct looks like the source for the PLC do you recommend a part#?

34

Modbus / Re: Can A Modbus control a.........

« on: July 21, 2008, 03:58:47 PM »

poppabear:

Mach would go to a preset Z and send the PLC a signal to start the tool change and after the tool change is compleat
the PLC would tell Mach to start again?

If this is the case the bulk of the programming would be done in the PLC right?

35

Modbus / Re: Can A Modbus control a.........

« on: July 21, 2008, 08:49:32 AM »

So what your are saying is to use a PLC to take a tool change command from Mach, make the change and use a multi contact double poll double throw relay to take the motor outputs for a axis and use them for the tool changer and when the change is complete the relay would go back to controlling the axis?   

 

36

Modbus / Re: Can A Modbus control a.........

« on: July 20, 2008, 11:10:02 AM »

If I use a smooth stepper and a brakeout board do I still use a PLC?
I'm going to use switches to confirm movements and tell Mach and or a PLC or what ever
you guys suggest to command the next move.

37

Modbus / Re: Can A Modbus control a.........

« on: July 19, 2008, 02:38:04 PM »

What would you guys use?

38

Modbus / Re: Can A Modbus control a.........

« on: July 18, 2008, 05:17:12 PM »

I'm building and ATC for my mill.
My brake out board will do 4 axes and i'm useing them.
I need to control a stepper for the ATC.

39

Modbus / Can A Modbus control a.........

« on: July 17, 2008, 08:59:55 AM »

Good morning guys.

Can A Modbus control a stepper driver and still
take on 30 I/O’s ?

I was looking at Automation Direct Modbus’
and there’s a lot to choose from do you guys
have a model that you prefer?     

40

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach 3 hiccups - Please Help

« on: June 10, 2008, 07:21:45 PM »

What is adding .05 to your tool offset?  Are your tool offsets changing buy .05 every time you hit the cycle start button?

Brett

To be honest with you I wish I knew. 

I know that my parts are coming out .05 to short and when I check to verify that my tool offsets are correct they appear to be .05 to short.

I use a .375 dowel to roll under my tools when I am setting them up on the offsets page.  You can select any tool number that you like, put that tool in the spindle and touch off on the dowel and your pogram coordinates for that tool should be .375.  And when it was taking .05 off the part and I would check it the program coordinates would be .425.  I thought .05 was kind of odd being that it was such a round number. 

Okay guys.  Just got back from Office Depot.  I purchased a new keyboard and a surge protector.  We had an issue one time where you try to click on an icon and it would highlight about half of the icons on the desktop.  We found some debris under some of the keys.  We blew the keyboard out and haven't had this problem since but I was thinking maybe the keyboard had some debris under it causing these tool offset problems.  I've also noticed that when I switch the coolant pump from auto to on this problem would occur from time to time.  So I get back with my new stuff, set the machine up again and run the program with no tools then I put a tool in the spindle, selected that tool number and brought it down to the part and checked to see if the offset height was still incorrect.  It was off by .031 this time. 

I normally use a .375 dowel to roll under my tools to set them up.  I put this number in my touch correction on the offsets page and turn it on. 

I've been setting up tools this way for seven or eight months and everything works fine.  Then all of a sudden this thing has a mind of its own.  If you guys could think of anything that I could do to cure this, please let me know. 

Thanks for your time!
Chris