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Setting up MaxNC T2
« on: June 19, 2008, 11:49:15 PM »
Hello,

I have purchased a MaxNC T2 lathe. I would like to set this up on Mach3 2.63. I found the pin outs in the files section of the site and watched the installation videos and have a few questions. The lathe does not have the A and Y axis but it does have the spindle encoder on pins 4 and 5 and a threading control on pin 3. I assume these are outputs from my controller and inputs to the PC. The normal MaxNC Mill with Y and A axis would have these pins as outputs from the PC.

I assume I have to use the MaxNC CL mode within Mach3. When I view the video on setup it said if you choose this option you do not have to select the pins used by the motors as this is done automatically in this mode. I believe this will not work with the lathe as the program will be sending quadrature signals to pins 2 through 5 which will conflict with the spindle encoder on those pins. Also I believe PC parallel port 1 can not use pins 2 though 9 as inputs.

Its its possible to set up this lathe using port 1 only? If not, I was planning on breaking up the cable into two and running the thread control and spindle encoder signals to a second parallel port. This is not optimal but would this work?

Also Does anyone know how to control the direction of the spindle on this lathe? I could not tell from the pin outs what would do this? Is it a signal pin for direction or a specific PWM waveform?

Also what is the threading Control signal for and can it be used in Mach3. Can Mach3 synchronize the spindle to cut threads using G76?

Sorry for all the questions.

Shawn

Offline Chip

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Re: Setting up MaxNC T2
« Reply #1 on: June 20, 2008, 12:27:47 AM »
Hi, Shawn

Do you have the pin-outs for this lathe. ?

May be able to use a adapter 25f to 25m that will allow changing the pin numbers around and just not use the A, Y pins.

Take some pictures of inside of the cont. box, Maybe we can identify the servo boards used in it.

Chip

Offline jimpinder

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Re: Setting up MaxNC T2
« Reply #2 on: June 20, 2008, 12:44:40 AM »
They say a picture paints a thousand words - so a schematic of what the lathe manufacturers recommend would be much easier to comment on.

To cover a few of your points - the LPT1 port on a computer has three addresses in a computer. One address is pins 2 - 9 and you are quite right - all these are outputs. Pins 1,14, 16 17 are a second set - all these pins are outputs and finally pins 10 - 13,15 are the inputs.
Pins 18 - 25 are signal return wires to the computer.

The function (input/output) of these pins cannot be changed, although with Mach3 the configuration of all the pins can be. If you have a lathe with two axis, these could well be run on pins 2,3 and 4,5 leaving the rest unattached.

The normal designation of axis on a lathe is Z axis - longtitudinal and X (cross slide).
You do not say what kind of control the spindle requires, but Mach3 puts out two types of control. One is step and direction pulses, similar to the axis motors, the other is a PWM signal (which needs to be decoded). One my machine, I have relays for "forward", "reverse" and the PWM signal to control the speed. If MaxNC uses step and direction, it is much simpler.

I do not understand  why you do not think the MaxNC option will not work.  I do not think you are necessarily right about pins 3,4,5. These could be outputs from the computer to the machine, not inputs. Does your paperwork not say if these are inputs or outputs.
I fail to see why MaxNC would put inputs on output only wires. Do they not intend for you to use a PC ??

Yes it is possible to use one port, but you are going to silly lengths in splitting cables. All you need is a breakout board at the end of your printer cable, which gives access to all the signal wires. You could cross patch these in any order to match up your computer with your controller. Do not buy a powered breakout board. A simple dumb board with screw terminals would do.

Don't do anything yet !!! I am quite sure the lads on the hill will be able to say whether the MaxNC mode will run your lathe. The other various "specialised" options seem to work well. No doubt someone will enlighten us.

There is probably someone who has a similar setup - give it a day or so.

Failing that I would probably plug it in and try the MaxNC mode and see what happens _ but that is up to you. You can't really do any great damage.

Yes -- Mach 3 can do threading.



Not me driving the engine - I'm better looking.
Re: Setting up MaxNC T2
« Reply #3 on: June 20, 2008, 11:15:34 AM »
Hi Jim,

This is for a MaxNC lathe so they use the quadrature control not the standard step and direction control. I assume the MaxNC CL option enables this waveform type. My worry when viewing the video is that it mentioned that when you enable this mode it ignores the pin configuration you set in the outputs setting screen. I would like to know if this is true or not.

The only pinouts I can find is on the FTP site here. These are what was on the site

> Pin(01) Spindle PWM
> Pin(02) None
> Pin(03) Threading Control
> Pin(04) Spindle Encoder (Quadtrature)
> Pin(05) Spindle Encoder (Quadtrature)
> Pin(06) ZAXIS (Quadtrature)
> Pin(07) ZAXIS (Quadtrature)
> Pin(08) XAXIS (Quadtrature)
> Pin(09) XAXIS (Quadtrature)
> Pin(10) Control Feedback
> Pin(11) None
> Pin(12) Limit Switch
> Pin(13) Tool Setting Sensing
> Pin(14) M3-M4 Output
> Pin(15) None
> Pin(16) OUTPUT - Disable Power to Motors (Low-Normal High-Disable)
> Pin(17) OUTPUT - Reset Controller (Low-Normal High-Reset
> Pin(18) All Signal Grounds
> Pin(19) - Pin(25) None

I have no way of knowing if these are accurate, MaxNC will not give me this information for some reason.

Now I assume pins 4 and 5 are outputs from the spindle encoder on the lathe. Pins 2 through 9 CAN be inputs on a parallel port. Mach3 supports this on port 2. I could just wire these to other inputs but I wanted to check if there is a special MaxNC CL mode that would enable this functionality. Probably not as it is most likely for MaxNC Mills that have quadrature output for two other axis on those pins.

MaxNC sell a program called Max III that looks identical to mach3. I am not sure if it is just re-branded or has a special version of Mach3 been build for them with drivers that support this configuration.

Shawn


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Re: Setting up MaxNC T2
« Reply #4 on: June 20, 2008, 02:26:11 PM »
Hi, Shawn

Your last comment is probably correct, "MaxNC sell a program called Max III that looks identical to mach3. I am not sure if it is just re-branded or has a special version of Mach3 been build for them with drivers that support this configuration".

Chip

Offline jimpinder

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Re: Setting up MaxNC T2
« Reply #5 on: June 21, 2008, 03:42:12 AM »
The pin outs (and ins) are quite straight forward and make sense. If Art has made a MaxNC system plug in for Mach 3, as it would appear on the Ports and Pins config then this will automatically allocate the printer port pins in the correct way for MaxNC (clever man is Art).

It would seem to me that all you do is select MaxNC on Ports and Pins - it says a restart is necessary, then plug in the printer cable and away you go.

Art has done this for other various bespoke systems as well - one that came up a few weeks ago ran on the Ethernet connection and ignored all the settings on Ports and Pins.

I would give it a try - I can't see that you will do any damage - I assume your voltages etc are correct, which is the only thing likely to fry anything.

Surely someone on the forum must know the answer !!!
Not me driving the engine - I'm better looking.
Re: Setting up MaxNC T2
« Reply #6 on: June 21, 2008, 09:13:04 AM »
Hi Jim,

I am not so sure  :(. Art may have done this automatically for the MaxNC but I am sure it would be for the Mill that has four axis. That would make pins 2 through 5 outputs.

I took the controller apart last night to confirm some of the wiring.

Pin 1 is definitely PWM
Pin 14 is going to a reversing relay for the spindle.
Pin 2 in unconnected.

Pin 3, 4, 5 Are going to the Micro that would control the z axis on a mill if that board was used on a mill. I am pretty sure that that micro is just re-broadcasting the encoder for the spindle and maybe a sync pulse on pin3 every one revolution of the spindle. I will confirm this tomorrow.

I will have access to an oscilloscope tomorrow so I will be able to determine if MaxNC CL mode does what I think and whether I can control the pins it uses with the ports and Pins function. Best case scenario is I can run the MaxNC mode off port 2 and then make pins 2 through 9 inputs and configuring everything without re-wiring. However, I think chances are slim.

Shawn

Offline Chip

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Re: Setting up MaxNC T2
« Reply #7 on: June 21, 2008, 12:11:26 PM »
Hi, Shawn

This is probably the Max CL Mode diag. (Mill)

PIN ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE
MAXNC CL2 SOFTWARE

PRINTER PORT PIN ASSIGNMENT

1............... M3 OUTPUT (LOW=ON, PULSE FOR PWM)
2............... A AXIS (quadrature)
3............... A AXIS (quadrature)
4............... Y AXIS (quadrature)
5............... Y AXIS (quadrature)
6................X AXIS (quadrature)
7............... X AXIS (quadrature)
8............... Z AXIS (quadrature)
9............... Z AXIS (quadrature)
10.............. INPUT, MOVE ENABLE (LOW=NORMAL OPERATION, HIGH=STOP, SEE NOTE)
11.............. INACTIVE
12.............. INPUT, HOME SWITCH (NORMAL OPERATION LOW)
13.............. INPUT, G61 SWITCH SENSOR
14.............. M8 OUTPUT (LOW=ON)
15.............. NONE
16.............. OUTPUT, DISABLE POWER TO MOTORS (LOW=NORMAL, HIGH=DISABLE)
17.............. OUTPUT, RESET CONTROLLER (LOW=RESET, HIGH=NORMAL)
18.............. ALL SIGNALS GROUND
19 TO 25 ....... NONE


NOTE: MOVE ENABLE IS USED TO STOP THE COMPUTER STREAM OF CODES UNTIL THE SERVO
MOTORS CATCH UP. ON TIME-OUT IT WILL PRODUCE A SERVO ERROR.

Chip
Re: Setting up MaxNC T2
« Reply #8 on: June 21, 2008, 11:17:24 PM »
I have confirmed that if you select MaxNC CL mode quadrature drive becomes active but you can not change the port pins used for the motors. They have no effect. You can disable the motors but changing the pin or port numbers does not have any effect. In Mach3 Lathe, the X axis is locked to pins 6 and 7 of port 1 and Z axis is locked to pins 8 and 9. This is how the MaxNC Mill is configured. Of course the lathe is reversed compared to the mill so X controls Z and vice versa. It looks like a special adapter will be needed. :(

I feel a feature request coming ;)

Shawn

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Re: Setting up MaxNC T2
« Reply #9 on: June 22, 2008, 03:58:06 AM »
Yes - a 25 pin socket and a 25 pin plug - and just patch the wires to the appropriate pins. I was thinking you could just make up a separate cable - but most I have seen are all injection moulded so it makes them difficult to get at. A lead cut in half, with a board mounted socket might be the best bet.

I used something similar as a break out board for a long time.

Best of luck

Has this anything to do with the "enable" leds - they might have been "turned off" in the MaxNC mode.
Not me driving the engine - I'm better looking.