Messages

21

Mach3 and G-Rex / How to change output voltage to 5v

« on: February 23, 2017, 07:59:18 PM »

First what with all the negativity these days, I want to say that over the last 9 years I have been using my G100 for hundreds of hours and still don't understand why the various parties gave up on it.  I run Mach3 on XP on Bootcamp on a Mac PowerBoook.  I run 2000 line (4000 quadrature) encoders on 1/3hp dc motors.  Not sure if anything today comes close to some of the specs of the G100.

Now to my question.  I'm trying to make this G100 brained Shoptask Mill/Lathe also able to 3D print.  To that end I need the 16 digital output pins to be 5V max instead of ~9V.  The specs and schematic indicate the outputs can be 5-24V.  Unfortunately, I can't figure out how to change this.

Any ideas?

22

General Mach Discussion / Re: can a Mach3 macro toggle an output pin?

« on: February 16, 2017, 08:19:42 PM »

Tweakie,
Thanks for the help.  I was really struggling.  Neither worked alone, but using both together, before and after the output signal I will be triggering on, seemed to work.
Here's the code so far for reading custom M-Codes and sending off to a micro.  I'm using a G100 by the way.

Code: [Select]

'M106.m1s MyG100 for 3d printing from Slic3r
'Turn the extruder fan ON
fanspeed=param1()
Dim v As Integer
v = CInt(fanspeed)
msg = ""
Dim i As Integer
For i = 1 To 12
ActivateSignal(OUTPUT4) 'clock
If 1 = (v Mod 2) Then
ActivateSignal(OUTPUT3) 'this is the data
v=v/2-1
msg = msg & "1"
Else
DeactivateSignal(OUTPUT3)
v=v/2
msg = msg & "0"
End If
Code "G04 p1" 'this and next line required to slow signal. Must have
While IsMoving()  ' 'pause as ms' set in Config/General Config..
Wend
DeactivateSignal(OUTPUT4)'read data on clock going low
Code "G04 p1" 'need to surround where I want to read data
While IsMoving()
Wend
Next i
Message msg &" "&fanspeed

End


This is what the above does with channel 1 ->OUTPUT4, the clock and 2 ->OUTPUT3 as the data.  As you can see it takes about 5 seconds to send 12 bits of data even though I have the delays set for 1ms.   Slow but Ok since it doesn't happen to often.  Still needs tweaking of course, data is inverted.



This is calling up the M-Code in MDI mode.  M106 is for a fan aiming at the part and the P parameter is the speed.  The status line shows the P parameter 13 and the binary output that I'm sending to a Teensy micro controller that will be heating the bed and extruders and doing whatever other custom stuff a 3d printer does.  I was trying to use the analog in and out of the G100 but the documentation, software tools and language are too much pain for me.  Also tried the serial out but maybe it doesn't work on the G100.  With this little bit of code the G100 will be handling the X,Y,Z and extruder feed and handing off the rest via M-Code to the Teensy.  All the G-Code and M-Code is generated automagically from Slic3r.  Can't wait to try it.

23

General Mach Discussion / can a Mach3 macro toggle an output pin?

« on: February 16, 2017, 02:40:27 AM »

The following code toggles when stepped through in the Mach3 VB script editor but not when run or when the macro runs.

Code: [Select]

ActivateSignal(OUTPUT4)
DeactivateSignal(OUTPUT4)
ActivateSignal(OUTPUT4)
DeactivateSignal(OUTPUT4)
End
Viewed with an oscilloscope hooked to OUTPUT4 it moves when single stepping but never triggers when running.  Only the last state happens.  What am I missing? 

24

Mach4 Toolbox / Re: How to pass parameters to a User Macro in the MDI or G-code line

« on: February 14, 2017, 10:01:29 PM »

Found my answer..  No only Mach4

For Mach3 see:

http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,28451.msg199825.html#msg199825

Read the replies following it because there are a few gotcha's.

25

Mach4 Toolbox / Re: How to pass parameters to a User Macro in the MDI or G-code line

« on: February 14, 2017, 09:43:01 PM »

Is this for Mach3 or Mach4?

thanks

26

Mach3 and G-Rex / Re: grex download manager not working

« on: March 08, 2010, 03:45:17 PM »

Just in case others are looking for answers, the problem was probably the firewall needs to be turned off.  Typical firewall settings allows standart http connections but not the kind between Mach3 and the Grex.  So Firefox or IE see it but trouble happens later.

27

General Mach Discussion / Re: PCB manufacturing

« on: June 27, 2008, 10:48:31 PM »

Try
/http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pcb-gcode/

I haven't actually cut a board yet but have generated gcode and cut air with Eagle, this and Mach3 Grex.Ê I'm trying to decide wether I should mount a Dremel or a Bosch 30k rpm router on my 2200 rpm max mill.

Mike

28

Mach3 and G-Rex / Re: Latest G100 Set-Up Guide

« on: February 03, 2008, 01:11:14 AM »

Thanks for the guide.  It REALLY helped!
A major omission though.  With windowsXp you must either turn off the firewall for your local net or better yet add mach3 and gRexloader to the exempted applications.

I just had fun trying to figure out why on two nearly identical computers, one worked completely and the other couldn't run gRexloader or Mach3 but could be pinged, and amazingly successfully loaded with firmware and fpga code from IE using the IP address.  The G100 was setup about 9 months ago on the first computer and still worked.

I had seen a post about the firewall but the firest machine worked fine with it enabled.  Both computers had the firewall enabled with the same port and application exceptions on both so I didn't think the firewall was the problem.  gRexloader and Mach3 could never connect to the g100.  As soon as I disabled the firewall it worked.  Adding gRexLoader and Mach3 to the exceptions and enabling the firewall also worked.

I can only figure that some of the windoz updates that have been installed in the last 9 months somehow allowed the existing setup to work but when I built the new system the firewall had to be configured more strictly.  Hope this helps someone.

29

Competitions / Re: ******Guess and win a G100 Grex******

« on: May 22, 2007, 08:34:03 PM »

  Hay, Not fair, all the good numbers are already taken!

But I'll settle for 2,530,399

  Mike

30

General Mach Discussion / Re: 'Mill dust' and breaking bits... Advice please...

« on: February 09, 2007, 11:11:33 PM »

Hi,
You didn't mention what kind of aluminum you are machining but it looks soft.  The hardness of the aluminum makes a great difference in machinability.  The hardness is determined by the kind and treatment.  Dead soft aluminum such as 1100 series gums.  6061-T4 is probably the best for machining and general use and is not that much more expensive. Look up aluminum at http://www.mcmaster.com/ for some good info.