Messages

1501

Galil / Re: Mach3 + Galil

« on: April 17, 2009, 12:59:40 PM »

Version 4.1 of the Galil Plugin has been released.

It corrects issues when running high encoder counts.  This one is capable of running 700 IPM with an encoder count as high as 32768.  It may go faster, but my motors are maxed out.

We will be working on threading and tapping now.  It will all be theoretical, as I don't have a machine that will do either.  But that is the next item on the list.

Steve

1502

Galil / Re: Galil controller compatability (what works with the plugin)

« on: April 15, 2009, 08:12:20 PM »

Jeff,

Your code is still there and it should still work.  I don't have one of those controllers to test it out though.  But if it doesn't work, then we'll get it working somehow.  When you get ready, we'll get you hooked up on CVS.

Steve

1503

Galil / Re: Mach3 + Galil DMC2133

« on: April 09, 2009, 05:12:48 PM »

The new Galil plugin (V4.0) allows axis mapping.  It will do what you are wanting to do.  You can download this new version on the plugin download page.  Read the documentation, as there are a few things that are different from the V3.0 plugin.

Steve

1504

Galil / Galil controller compatability (what works with the plugin)

« on: April 09, 2009, 05:09:37 PM »

NOTICE!!!!!!!   Going forward, I would ONLY recommend DMC-41x3 or DMC-40x0 Ethernet controllers.  Mach 4 will not support older Ethernet or bus based controllers!  You may get them to work but they will not be supported at all.  All development will be for the aforementioned DMC-41x3 or DMC-40x0 controllers only. 

I wrote this in another thread, but here it is in a quickly accessible place...

Any current Accelera controllers will work.  Stick with the version 7 Galil drivers though.

Any bus based or ethernet Optima controllers will work.  This includes the DMC1700, DMC1800, DMC2100, and DMC2200.  In theory, the DMC2000 (USB) may work as well.  I just don't know if there would be any issues with USB.  But it has all of the other necessary things to work.  Use the version 7 Galil drivers that come with SmartTerm for these controllers.  Older drivers will cause you big time headaches.

The DMC-18x2 econo controllers will also work.  But they don't support binary commands and this will slow things down a bit.  It takes about 350 microseconds for a Galil controller to process an ASCII command.  This time is saved if the controller can accept binary commands.  The Galil plug-in takes advantage of binary commands if the controller is capable.

The DMC-21x3 are like the DMC-18x2 controllers.  They might not work with the Galil plug-in because of the way they handle Data Records.  Big question mark here.
EDIT:  The DMC-21x3 controller will work fine as long as they don't have the 31x3 distributed mode firmware loaded.  If you have a 31x3, simply install the latest and greatest 21x3 firmware and you are good to go.  Also these controllers, while labeled "Econo", will accept binary commands.

There is also an older version of the DMC-21x3 called the DMC-21x2.  The difference is that the x2 controllers use the 100 pin SCSI connector instead of DB base interconnect modules for the x3 models.  So you will have to have ICM-2900s for the DMC-21x2 controllers.

The DMC-3415 and DMC-3425 controllers will not work.  These are 1 or 2 axis ethernet controllers that can be "chained" together to make a distributed controller that has as many as 8 axes.  But the way they do this is through a modified Data Record which is not compatible with the Data Record that the Galil plug-in will want to see. The Data Record is what Mach looks at (via the plug-in) to see if the state of I/O pins and DRO.

DMC-1415 and DMC-1425 controllers will work.  But they are 2 and 1 axis, respectively.

A DMC-3425 can be updated with DMC-1425 firmware and it will work.  But you are stuck with a 2 axis machine.  Same with the 3415 except you will have a 1 axis machine.

The DMC1000 ISA controllers will NOT work.  This is because these controllers do not have a Data Record at all.  They also do not support binary commands.  The Galil plug-in could be modified to support these controllers, but they would most likely be in the SLOW department.  Don't waste your time or money on these controllers for Mach use.

None of the VME based controllers will work.  e.g. the DMC-1300, DMC-300, or DMC-13x8 controllers.  The DMC-300 is ancient and should be discarded immediately.  The DMC-1300 suffers the same "no data record" as the DMC-1000's do.  The DMC-13x8 is an Optima controller, but the Galil windows drivers have no support for these cards at all.  Plus, unless you have a very industrial PC, you will not even have a VME bus, much less a VME bus driver.  I did, however, make a DMC-1348 controller work.  It's just that it's not feasible unless you have a bunch of VME hardware lying around.

None of the DMC-700 series or DMC-1500 series controllers will work.  They are serial communication controllers and they also don't have Data Records.  They would be good for making tool changers though.  Perhaps driven by I/O logic.

Also be aware that many of the Galil controllers that are floating around are special controllers made for an OEM.  Galil provides no support for these controllers.  Most of the time, a firmware update is all that is required to get the controller to work like a normal Galil controller.  But if there is special hardware mods, you will loose.

Steve

1505

Forum suggestions and report forum problems. / Request for Galil section in 3rd party software and hardware

« on: April 09, 2009, 12:39:43 PM »

I would like to see a dedicated "Galil motion controller" thread in the 3rd party section.  And if the Galil support link on the Plugins download page could be updated to reflect this new section, that would be great too!

Thanks,
Steve

1506

Galil / Re: Galil Status

« on: April 09, 2009, 12:34:22 PM »

Version 4.0 of the Galil PlugIn has been released.  You can download it from the PlugIns download section.

Direct MPG support - The smoothest MPG jogging you will ever see!!!  (Kenny is the man!)
Axis mapping - Allows sinusoidal commutation axes to work plus greater freedom while commissioning the machine.
Smoother user interface (DROs and toolpath).
Probing support - G31 probes are now supported.  (However, the 3d probing plugin is not supported.)
Choice of two motion modes - Linear interpolation and contour mode.  You can choose which one works best for you!
Each different Mach profile can use a different Galil controller, if required.
Accelera (the latest and greatest from Galil) are supported.

Along with the PlugIn, there is a PDF user manual.  Be sure and read it as there are differences in the way input and output signals are handled (Ports and Pins) as compared to the V3 Plugin.

The Probing requires a special setup and it is not in the documentation as yet.  I will try and get that documented as soon as possible.

Thanks to all who tested this Plugin!

Steve

1507

Galil / Re: Mach3 + Galil

« on: April 09, 2009, 12:31:52 PM »

Version 4.0 of the Galil PlugIn has been released.  You can download it from the PlugIns download section.

Direct MPG support - The smoothest MPG jogging you will ever see!!!  (Kenny is the man!)
Axis mapping - Allows sinusoidal commutation axes to work plus greater freedom while commissioning the machine.
Smoother user interface (DROs and toolpath).
Probing support - G31 probes are now supported.  (However, the 3d probing plugin is not supported.)
Choice of two motion modes - Linear interpolation and contour mode.  You can choose which one works best for you!
Each different Mach profile can use a different Galil controller, if required.
Accelera (the latest and greatest from Galil) are supported.

Along with the PlugIn, there is a PDF user manual.  Be sure and read it as there are differences in the way input and output signals are handled (Ports and Pins) as compared to the V3 Plugin.

The Probing requires a special setup and it is not in the documentation as yet.  I will try and get that documented as soon as possible.

Thanks to all who tested this Plugin!

Steve

1508

Galil / Re: Galil Status

« on: March 29, 2009, 01:03:11 PM »

Scott,

It's trying to run regsvr32 on the resulting DLL.  Look in the project properties, build events, post build events and you will see what is going on at the end of the build.  I'm not sure if the DLL even needs registering, but there it is.  It may be a path problem.

Steve
 

1509

General Mach Discussion / Re: Spindle speed syntax error

« on: March 27, 2009, 10:51:07 PM »

In BASIC, you use a colon to separate multiple commands on one line.  You might look for the magical colon on your other three machines.  Or try it.  I have no idea if it even pertains to the VB in Mach.

Steve

1510

General Mach Discussion / Re: Need Galil Help

« on: March 27, 2009, 01:48:18 AM »

Are you using steppers?  If so, click the "use Ref position not encoder for position feedback" check box in the plugin config. 

PM me with your email address and I'll get you the latest Galil Plugin. 

Steve