Hello Guest it is March 29, 2024, 09:05:00 AM

Author Topic: Setting up Galil 2143 + Mach3 for use on an automated laser welder  (Read 6451 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Hi all! Let me start off and say first and foremost, I am not a programmer and not very comfortable with code. I am a mechanical engineer, and am trying to get our automated laser welder up and running.

What I have is a X/Y table with stepper motors and limit switches, which is controlled by the Galil 2143. I am able to jog the X/Y table around using Mach, and I have been able to run a simple G-code program generated by a DXF in LazyCam.

Now, I need to get the laser welder to fire using Mach. Using Galil language, turning on the welder is done by "ENSB 1". I believe it is on one of the I/O outputs of the Galil.

How do I configure Mach to do the same set bit command? I think it is in the extended I/O section of the configure plugin...but I really don't know how to configure that. And then even once configured, how can I say "when the table is at thse locations in X and Y, fire the laser"?

Thank you to anybody who takes the time to read this...and if someone can help me I would be extremely appreciative!

Cheers,
Connor
« Last Edit: July 24, 2014, 02:06:17 PM by cburke996 »
Re: Setting up Galil 2143 + Mach3 for use on an automated laser welder
« Reply #1 on: July 24, 2014, 02:03:27 PM »
BTW - here is a demo program that a co-worker of mine wrote during training at the laser weld company's facility. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to go to the training. This is straight Galil language/DMC programming. I don't know if this will be of use in seeing what fires the laser.

'Demo 29 May 2014
#SETUP
MO
MT-2,-2
LC1,1
AG1,1
CN 1
KS5,5
SHA
SHB
JG 1000,1000
YA64,64
YB200,200
YC32,32
AC50000,50000
DC5000000,5000000
SP3200,3200
WT 50
II 1,5
X=4400
#MAIN
WT100
JP #MAIN
EN
'JGA 1000
#PATTERN      ;'CUSTOMER DEMO
'#CIRCLE1
'VMAB
'VS6000
'VP X,0
'CR X,0,360
'VE
'BGS
VMAB
VP730000,0
CR262000,270,170
VP-728000,555492
CR280000,100,160
VP0,0
VE
VS80000
VA100000
VD100000
BGS
ENSB 1          ;'LASER ON
AMS
CB 1
EN
#ININT
MG "INTERRUPT"
IF(@IN[1]=0)
JG -50000,0;BGA
MG "JOG X-"
AI 1;STA
ENDIF
IF(@IN[2]=0)
JG 50000,0;BGA
MG "JOG X+"
AI 2;STA
ENDIF
IF(@IN[3]=0)
JG 0,20000;BGB
MG "JOG Y+"
AI 3;STB
ENDIF
IF(@IN[4]=0)
JG 0,-20000;BGB
MG "JOG Y-"
AI 4;STB
ENDIF
IF(@IN[5]=0)
MG "START WELDING"
DP 0,0
'JS #CIRCLE1
JS #PATTERN
ENDIF
RI1
#CMDERR
ZS0
MG "COMMAND ERROR", _TC
ST
JP #SETUP
EN1
#AUTO
JP #SETUP
EN
Re: Setting up Galil 2143 + Mach3 for use on an automated laser welder
« Reply #2 on: July 28, 2014, 08:27:33 AM »
Hello, I would look at turning the laser on with a contact closure controlled by the M3 command in Mach. In your cnc code you could write a subroutine calling a welding cycle such as turning on (M3) waiting then turning off (M5). You could also write subs that only turn it on or off and insert those wherever you wanted. When Mach finishes a move command and the laser is where you want it, you could pulse it, keep it on and travel or whatever you wanted.
 ENSB 1 is something I don't recognize. You setup the Galil outputs in Mach and can then assign an M code to fire the laser. I have done this with a YAG laser, MIG welder and Plasma welders and cutters.
Hope this helps.
Allen
Re: Setting up Galil 2143 + Mach3 for use on an automated laser welder
« Reply #3 on: July 28, 2014, 08:29:20 AM »
Thank you Allen, I will check into this.
Re: Setting up Galil 2143 + Mach3 for use on an automated laser welder
« Reply #4 on: July 30, 2014, 11:48:32 AM »
Got the laser firing! Thanks Allen.
Re: Setting up Galil 2143 + Mach3 for use on an automated laser welder
« Reply #5 on: August 05, 2014, 07:44:18 AM »
Glad to be able to help.
Re: Setting up Galil 2143 + Mach3 for use on an automated laser welder
« Reply #6 on: September 03, 2014, 04:23:47 PM »
Conner,
Email me and I'll see if I can help you.
Allen