I built an NC tube bender last year and had a thread going on CNCZone.
http://cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=68163
I use Mach3 to control the directional control valve. I load the tube and start the bend. Unfortunately, the first 10+ degrees are used to absorb the slop in the system. I would love to use a strain gage or some sort of torque meter to measure the strain on the die so I know when the slop has been absorbed.
Assuming I can purchase a torque meter that will output different voltages and different torque levels, how can I configure Mach3 to read these voltages?
Lets assume 10 ft-lbs corresponds to 2.5V. 10 ft-lbs is the torque at which the system has no more slop. How could I get Mach3 to read this voltage?
I currently use a macropump that gets a reading from a rotary encoder. It constantly analyzes the desired bend angle to the actual bend angle and makes the "cylinder extend output pin" high until the desired and actual bend angles are equal. Once they are equal the "cylinder extend output pin" goes low and the directional control valve centers itself. I want Mach3 to zero the actual bend angle once the theoretical 10 ft-lbs has been reached.
I can handle the programming, but how do I interface a sensor that sends a voltage reading (assuming it sends a voltage) to Mach3?