Messages

971

Galil / Re: Galil 2123 with AMP-20520 lathe Z axis DRO not working

« on: September 30, 2014, 12:49:16 PM »

Galil Error -2: Emessage = "96 SM jumpers must be installed for stepper motors."

Your Galil B axis motor type is set to stepper but no stepper jumper is installed.  If you are using amps with servos, change the motor type for the Galil B axis to "Servo" in the plugin configuration dialog.

Steve

972

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

« on: September 30, 2014, 12:42:40 PM »

DMC-8240 is not a controller that I recognize.  I would not use anything ISA, period.  10 years ago, I would have said different.  But now, it is a waste of money.  You can buy a new DMC-41x3 cheaper than you can put a modern processor in a ISA motherboard (they still make them but they are expensive!!!) to put together a system that is still ultimately based on a bus controller.

We are moving away from Linear mode in the plugin and toward Contour mode.  The only bus based controller that supports contour mode is the DMC-18x6 (PCI).  For Mach 4, we go back to using the Galil drivers and they do not support ISA at all.  So there is no future for ISA controllers.

Steve

973

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Read write to a DRO ??

« on: September 23, 2014, 02:23:13 PM »

That is truly the definition of getting stuck between a rock and a hard place.  

Start Mach4GUI in edit mode.  Mach4GUI /p <ProfileName> /e

Replace ProfileName with the name of your profile.  

974

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach 4 Feature Request

« on: September 23, 2014, 02:19:07 PM »

Brian is working on that right now.

Steve

975

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Read write to a DRO ??

« on: September 22, 2014, 06:20:54 PM »

Edit the screen set and click on the top item in the tree.  Then click on the event icon in the properties.  It will let you edit the PLC script.

Steve

976

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach 4 Feature Request

« on: September 22, 2014, 06:18:50 PM »

We have been waiting a bit for MachMotion to get their show footage available.  When they do, I will link to it.  Want to see what Mach4 can do?  The guys at MachMotion have paved the way.  There were lots of jaw dropped stares in the SolidCam and Yaskawa booths.  Even the big boys came over to have a look.  It WAS impressive.  MachMotion did a first rate job.  But what else are you going to expect from a group of first rate guys? 

Steve

977

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach 4 Feature Request

« on: September 22, 2014, 03:49:28 PM »

K-Flop can work in servo mode with K-Analog.  It has a PID loop.  The PID loop is what gets it to point B.  If the PID parameters are not correct (needs tuning) the following error will bee too great and then ANY controller will fault.  Even real-time OS based systems like EMC.  But with a proper PID setup, you will get to point B with K-Flop.  There is NOTHING that will guarantee hitting the numbers with an improperly tuned system.  

If you are interested in the K-Flop, talk to Tom.  He's a really nice guy.  He will tell you exactly what it will do and how to accomplish what you want to do.  Mind you, the K-flop is an advance controller with some amazing flexibility, so there is a bit of a learning curve with it.  But if I didn't already have Galil controllers, I would probably be using a K-Flop or a DSPMC.  Tom is working on the Mach4 plugin now.

There is nothing simple about setting up an analog servo system.  You either have experience with it or are faced with a steep learning curve.  That is why the newer drives also have position control modes.  It makes dealing with servos a lot more simple.  And usually cheaper too.  So if you are not faced with the task of re-using the analog controlled drives, use the position mode drives and a cheaper step/dir controller and call it done.

From what I saw at IMTS, SolidCam is the leader.  There are others that attempt to do what they do, but it just isn't in the same league.  It ain't cheap though.  But well worth it if you make your money with it.  It does require one hell of a machine to run it to it's full capabilities though.

Steve

978

Galil / Re: Galil 2123 with AMP-20520 lathe Z axis DRO not working

« on: September 22, 2014, 02:38:57 PM »

I have never tried a lathe setup with a 2 axis controller.  If you could setup the controller and map the axes to X->A, Z->B and provide a GalilDebug.txt file, that would help me understand what is going on. 

Steve

979

Galil / Re: Mach 3 Galil Setup Problems

« on: September 22, 2014, 02:33:18 PM »

Contour mode is a work in process.  So there may be issues.  I put that in there right about the time I started developing the Mach4 Galil plugin.  And the Mach4 plugin has been keeping me occupied as that is the future.  So stick with Linear mode for the time being.

Why are you using a 4080 to control steppers?  An ESS or HiCON would do a good job for far less money. 

Steve

980

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

« on: September 22, 2014, 02:27:50 PM »

Hans,

Those sound like ISA bus controllers.  But the 5 on the end of the model number indicates a special controller that may have been an OEM controller made to their specs by Galil.  Meaning they may not work as a regular Galil would.  In any case, they being ISA, I would not use them.  Smart Term drivers only.

Steve