Hi guys!

I am trying to ignite my laser using Output1 but I seem to be unable to get the signal active. I've experimented this with a Mach controlling PC's parallel port so no external motion controller should be causing problems here. I've tested the hardware with a oscilloscope and it works fine so the problem is in software side.

So far the only way I've managed to activate Output1 was by creating a macro called M500.m1s that contained a line "ActivateSignal(OUTPUT1)" and then executed a command M500 in Mach's Diagnostics view. I've tried to issue the M11P1, M10P1, E1P0, E1P1 and various other combinations in that same Diagnostics view's command prompt without success. I've also created a dummy g-code file, loaded it in to Mach and executed it but with same thin results.

I've assumed M11P1/M10P1 and E1P0/E1P1 commands don't need user macros in order to work. Am I completely mistaken? What I am missing here?
Can the above mentioned commands be used also with Smoothstepper?

My Mach is version R3.043.062.

Regards,
Jii

Hi Jii,

The M11P1 / M10P1 (and the E commands) are only activated coincident with axis movement.

For example....

M11P1
G01 X10
M10P1
G01 X0

Hope this helps.

Tweakie.

Thanks Tweakie, your advice led my to investigation to right track!

Actually, it turned out that I had missed the b0/b1 from the end of the M11/M10 commands. Valid format is like "M11P1 b1". 
Still don't know exactly what the b0 and b1 stand for.

Another thing I noticed was that I was able to get the Ouput1 activated with M11P1 b1 command even without any axis movement.
By giving the command in the Diagnostics view or making and running a G-code file that consists only of M11P1 b1 commands both activated the Output1.
It was against what I expected.

Regards,
Jii

Hi Jii,

'b' is an axis so Mach3 treats 'b1' is an axis movement of one unit even if no actual axis is connected.

Tweakie.