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HELP WITH OPTIMUM CNC CONTROLLER VI AND MACH3
« on: October 20, 2015, 06:02:08 AM »
Good Day,

I was wondering if any of the esteemed gentleman on this forum could help me with the setup of the above controller with Mach3.
As a novice I bought the Optimum BF20 Vario Mill and then converted it to CNC but never considered for a moment the control software that would be needed.
Mach 3 was a obvious and as far as I am concerned a good choice. Unfortunately getting information regarding spindle connections, touch plate connections, input and output activation for this specific hardware and software are not really forthcoming.

I will however write this down to my own inexperience and knowledge hence this mail.

in anticipation

Offline RICH

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Re: HELP WITH OPTIMUM CNC CONTROLLER VI AND MACH3
« Reply #1 on: October 20, 2015, 07:34:38 AM »
Post info on the Controller VI so one does not need to search for info on it.

Have you read the Mach Mill Manual?
There is also some general info in Members Doc's on setting up Mach.

RICH
« Last Edit: October 20, 2015, 07:36:31 AM by RICH »
Re: HELP WITH OPTIMUM CNC CONTROLLER VI AND MACH3
« Reply #2 on: October 21, 2015, 07:54:05 AM »
hi Rich,
Thank you for the response.

As stated above  I am a novice and have been looking for this info all over the net as well as the Mach 3 manual manual and now eventually giving up admitting that I am defeated. I have read the Mach 3 but this is not where the problem is, it is how the ports and pins of the controller are setup. Optimum has their own software interphase but I would like to use the Mach3 to spare myself the three months wages it would cost to buy it (Rand versus Euro 15 to 1)
I have been able to get accurate movement and done some simple milling stuff but I need to get more to use the system to its full potential.


anyhow here is the Controller VI specifications:

Controller VI V2 (supplied by Optimum in Germany through a South African third party that know less than I do.)

The Unit has:
 2 X parallel ports named port 1 and port 2 (25pin)
 2 X Relay ports named pot1 relay and port 2 relay
 9 pin connection plug for a three axis point of origin
 6 X slots for the stepper motor cards (I am using 3)

Pin assignments for the DB 25 male is
Pin        Application             Description
1          RELAY                    Switch output eg (motor on)
2          Direction X axis
3          Cycle X axis
4          Direction Y axis
5          Cycle Y axis
6          Direction Z axis
7          Cycle Z axis
8          4th Axis
9          4th Axis
10        Free
11        References switch Z   
12        References switch Y
13        References switch X
14        RELAY Output eg coolant
15        Reference switch 4th axis
16  - 24  Free
25        OV DC, Earthing

The 9 pin connection pins are as follows for the reference switches
1    X1      Machine point of origin port 1 X Axis
2    Y1      Machine point of origin port 1 Y Axis
3    Z1       Machine point of origin port 1 Z Axis
4    ROUND TABLE
5    +12V DC
6    X2       Machine point of origin port 2 X Axis
7    Y2        Machine point of origin port 2 Y Axis
8    Z2        Machine point of origin port 2 Z Axis
9    OV DC

The things I d like to do are:
a.  Connect a auto zero plate to indicate tool heights/lengths and Z Home
b.  Switch the spindle on and off from within Mach 3.


I would be grateful for and one that could assist

Thanking you in advance

Offline KTM

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Re: HELP WITH OPTIMUM CNC CONTROLLER VI AND MACH3
« Reply #3 on: October 21, 2015, 11:29:38 AM »
Where abouts are you in SA, maybe I can help.

Regards

Steve
Re: HELP WITH OPTIMUM CNC CONTROLLER VI AND MACH3
« Reply #4 on: October 22, 2015, 02:00:21 AM »
Hi Steve,

Thank you for the responce.
I am Based in Cape Town, Parklands.

I would really appreciate your assistance.

Regards

Stan

Offline KTM

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Re: HELP WITH OPTIMUM CNC CONTROLLER VI AND MACH3
« Reply #5 on: October 22, 2015, 11:41:49 AM »
Ok, I am in Malmesbury, I will send you a PM
Re: HELP WITH OPTIMUM CNC CONTROLLER VI AND MACH3
« Reply #6 on: October 22, 2015, 03:57:17 PM »
 Thanks Steve, you a star ;D
Re: HELP WITH OPTIMUM CNC CONTROLLER VI AND MACH3
« Reply #7 on: November 29, 2015, 04:39:42 PM »
Hi

Please then share information.
 I also require adapting OPTIMUM CNC CONTROLLER to Mach3 Milling.
Indulis from Latvia
Re: HELP WITH OPTIMUM CNC CONTROLLER VI AND MACH3
« Reply #8 on: March 14, 2017, 07:12:05 AM »
Hey.

Have the same problem.
do anyone have the pin setup for the steppers.
my limits are working fine, and x stepper can move one way only.
best regards
gert
gert@soltrold.dk
Re: HELP WITH OPTIMUM CNC CONTROLLER VI AND MACH3
« Reply #9 on: May 11, 2020, 11:20:09 PM »
just acquired this optimum lathe machine, i did set up with the cd coming from industry controls , as per the manuals verified the settings all seems correct still i can not move either axis, i opened the box and found a relay is cutting the power to reach the stepper motor driver from the toroidial transformer ,  is there a specific sitting in mach3 to override this relay but do not see any info for it, as per the manual it says the controller will turn the motors off in case of short or overvolatge but event hing is connected and I can see the limit switches working fine.  any ideas ?  and yes I contacted  Optimuim in Germany directly still did even bother to reply.