Messages

11

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: How many use Notepad++

« on: July 28, 2017, 08:46:20 PM »

Looks great.  I'll try it out.
However, where else are all the functions and API listed and explained.  I think I read through all the Docs that came with the Mach4 hobby install and some others on the site.  All the examples certainly help and I have written some startup screen, m-code scripts etc but I'm not very efficient at it.  Where did I miss this critical info?

thanks

12

PoKeys / Re: Counts/unit in motor tuning Mach4 with Pokey57CNC plugin is disabled?

« on: June 26, 2017, 02:52:48 AM »

Well this is embarrassing.  As pointed out to me by PoKeys support, a motor has to be selected in the right column to activate all the boxes.  I thought that's what the check boxes were for but the text for the motor must be selected, not the check box.  Once any motor is selected everything works like in mach3.  Selecting a different motor deselects the last.

I think as a human interface technique the first motor should have been preselected when the dialog was opened to prevent this weirdness.

Really want to thank Pokeys support for helping me out over the weekend..  Awesome !

13

Mach4 Plugins / Re: Invert the Axis enagle for the Motor driver of the Pokey 57cnc breakout board

« on: June 25, 2017, 11:43:29 AM »

With Mach4 invert Enable is the first box in pulse engine tab in the plugin.

14

PoKeys / Re: Pokey57CNC connection to G320 driver

« on: June 23, 2017, 09:39:00 PM »

jastein,
Thanks for looking.  Below almost works as I'd like.  This is from my previous G100 controller setup.  I think Pokey57CNC can probably do something similar without the diodes.
My goals:
1.  A physical start button on the machine that must be pressed until the G320s reset (approx 4 secs).  This dual button also latches a relay for the motors high voltage.  So the
motors and motor power can only turn on with this button.  Mach cannot turn on either of these functions, only turn them off.

2.  The Mach Enable button must be pressed at the same time after the G320 resets or Mach will become disabled.  So you hold the start until you see the motor error LED turn off
or hear the motors singing, then press and release the Enable button.  Mach will hold it on from here.  If Mach is not enabled or estops for whatever reason the motors will be disabled.  The high
voltage to the motors stays on when Mach disables in this way.
     
3.  If a motor errors want to know which one happened first.  That's why the diodes.  Otherwise 3 switches for start and 3 lines to enable.  Maybe since the Pokey57CNC has a motor
enable in each motor connector the diodes on the right aren't needed.



Any motor enable can be used for AX_ENABLE.  The resistor value needs optimizing. 

I haven't finished evaluating if the Pokey57CNC AX_Enable current limits are satisfied.  The AX_Enable pin says it can do 8ma.  This sinks ~16ma for a fraction of a second.
I'll post as I get more info and try a few other things.

15

PoKeys / Counts/unit in motor tuning Mach4 with Pokey57CNC plugin is disabled?

« on: June 23, 2017, 08:15:34 PM »

Using the latest Mach4 and Pokey57CNC.  Can move motors and home/limits work but can't set Counts Per Unit, Velocity and Acceleration or anything in the Configure/Mach.../Motors dialog.  The axis checkboxes and weirdly the Enable Delay(ms) can be changed.  Also can't seem to invert an axis motion anywhere.

Mach4 Hobby Version 4.2.0.3390

PoKeys plugin - Polabs  8.21.0.3344

16

PoKeys / Pokey57CNC connection to G320 driver

« on: June 20, 2017, 11:27:40 PM »

What is the best way to handle the error/reset pin on the Gecko Drive G320 step direction driver?  This pin is both an input and output so always needs special attention.  Surely it must have been delt with b4 but I only see old stuff for other controllers and none of them look very good.

Besides the pin question above how can I invert the error signal on the Pokey57CNC so that it can do an estop on error.  I'm using the plugin for Mach3.  I get the error state on the plugin status but its inverted.

Thanks

17

Bargain Basement / Re: Gecko GREX G100 Motion Controller GeckoDrive LAN / USB

« on: April 27, 2017, 12:46:51 AM »

thanks

18

Mach3 and G-Rex / Re: Having Problem Controlling the 4th axis in 4 axis milling[IMPORTANT]

« on: April 27, 2017, 12:32:15 AM »

This is old but thought I'd chime in as I have recent experience with 4th axis and will post for your info.

The 4,5, and 6th axis, or A, B, and C on the G100 are exactly the same as x, y ,z.  If you don't want it to move, don't give it a command.  If you have the axis setup as any other axis it will be locked into whatever position it's in or move in step with the other axis as required.

In my case I'm using the A axis for the extruder on a 3d printer mill conversion.  When 3D printing its a pretty slow process limited by how hard you want to accelerate your axis.  It's kind of interesting how the G100 firmware will proportion just enough extruded plastic at whatever the max speed and accelerations I can get from the x and y which are limited by the large amount of mass they move.  If you watch the extruder gear you can see it speed up and slow down to match the net x, y velocities.  The A axis position is always increasing as the plastic extrudes out.  When the head stops the A xis backs up a fraction of a mill to keep the nozzle from dripping.  If you want to know how much plastic you extruded just look a the A axis number and multiply by the filament diameter.

19

Bargain Basement / Re: Gecko GREX G100 Motion Controller GeckoDrive LAN / USB

« on: April 27, 2017, 12:03:21 AM »

Is this still available

20

Bargain Basement / Re: Never used Geckodrive g100

« on: April 27, 2017, 12:02:47 AM »

Is this still available