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Starting a new setup-need info
I have a gecko g540
Windows 10 computer
Going to get mach4
Going to buy ESS SmoothStepper
in the future, going to buy a WarpRunner for THC.
So here is my first question.
Do you hook up the limit switches to the gecko or the SmoothStepper?
Going to hook the gecko to the SmoothStepper and SmoothStepper to the computer via Ethernet cord.
I also read that you should also hook up the EStop to both gecko “and” the SmoothStepper, is this correct?
Here is the biggie. What is the proper way to hook up EStop and limit switches when I add the WarpRunner?
Thx EZ
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Re: Starting a new setup-need info
Hi,
I cant tell you much about a WarpRunner, but I have used an ESS and Mach4 for 8.5years.
A G540 is a combination breakout board with four stepper drivers built in. It has 'one ports worth' of IO, ie 17 inputs and outputs. As 12 of them are outputs that leaves only five inputs.
You would need at least one of those for an Estop. You are advised not to hook any switches or other paraphernalia to the ESS, not because you can't, but any small cock-up and you'll
blow the ESS. If you use a good breakout board, any cockup might wreck the breakout board but not the ESS.
The issue you have is that you really only have four spare inputs. If you got a second breakout board like a C10 ($23.00) then you have 'two ports worth' of IO, one from the G540 and the other from
the C10. The second port of the ESS you can direct it to make pins 2-9 (of port two) inputs, thus you would have a total of 18inputs and 16 outputs....much more useful.
I made my own breakout board because I wanted features that suited the servos that I used on my new mill. It uses all three ports of the ESS for 51 IO's in total with 31 inputs and 20 outputs.
The motor outputs (step/Dir) of all six axes are differential (for high speed signaling to servos), a relay and PWN outputs for the spindle, and a 24VDC output for the electromagnetic brake on the
Z axis. The remaining inputs are 24V active low, and the remaining outputs are 24VDC sourcing and sinking.
So specifically:
Quote:
Do you hook up the limit switches to the gecko or the SmoothStepper?
Do not hook direct to the ESS, hook to spare inputs of the Gecko and/or spare inputs on your C10(recommended)
Quote:
Going to hook the gecko to the SmoothStepper and SmoothStepper to the computer via Ethernet cord.
Yes, that is correct.
Quote:
I also read that you should also hook up the EStop to both gecko “and” the SmoothStepper, is this correct?
No, the Estop is hooked to a spare breakout board input (either G540 OR C10) and that signals the ESS.
Quote:
Here is the biggie. What is the proper way to hook up EStop and limit switches when I add the WarpRunner?
Don't know......I believe the WarpRunner replaces both the G540 and the C10, ie it is a fully developed three port breakout board that has in addition to all the usual
breakout board features it has THC features as well. The Warp9TD forum is the best place to get this info.
Craig
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Re: Starting a new setup-need info
Thanks for the very thorough answer. Helps a ton.
Do you know of any good posts for general reading on the SmoothStepper and g540?
Thx EZ
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Re: Starting a new setup-need info
Hi,
the G540 is a single port breakout board....not really that much to know. Plenty of people have used the same combination, so I would guess the Warp9TD forum would
be as good a place as any. When all said and done...you still have to set it up......if you imagine you can click your fingers and its done for you you'll be disappointed.
Having said that its not too hard, and there is plenty of help, but the best satisfaction comes from understanding it yourself and setting it up.
Craig
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Re: Starting a new setup-need info
Quote:
Originally Posted by
EZMEF
Thanks for the very thorough answer. Helps a ton.
Do you know of any good posts for general reading on the SmoothStepper and g540?
Thx EZ
Hi,
For an example wiring diagram, have a look at this one I provide.
http://www.homanndesigns.com/pdfs/EN010_V8.pdf
As to the Estop, it should remove the mains power. That said some just feed it into a breakout board, feeding it into the controller software to invoke the Estop. This is not safe practice as if the software or breakout board is the reason you are pushing the Estop, it may not do anything [emoji15]
One caveat to that is if you’re machine can’t do any damage then it is probably ok. Say if you have a CNC machine that winds guitar pickup coils you should be ok. [emoji3]
The warp9 motion controllers and the G540 are a great combo.
Cheers
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
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Re: Starting a new setup-need info
Hi,
Quote:
As to the Estop, it should remove the mains power. That said some just feed it into a breakout board, feeding it into the controller software to invoke the Estop. This is not safe practice as if the software or breakout board is the reason you are pushing the Estop, it may not do anything Starting a new setup-need info
I reckon this is plain rubbish. I've never had an Estop that cuts the power, and whenever I've ever hit Estop the machine has always stopped,11 plus years, first Mach3 and parallel port through Mach4 and ESS.
In commercial or industrial practice it may be necessary to have an Estop to cut the power to get an electrical certificate, but it is not a legal requirement for a hobby machine.....aside
from that who's going to enforce it?
This is a classic case where regulation and even common practice is a decade or more behind where even hobbyist hardware is.
A decade or so ago it was not 'legal' to use Profibus or Ethercat to carry safety data, door interlocks, Estops etc. That has changed, so both Profibus and Ethercat now carry safety data.
Why would you have a machine installation with a cable daisy chaining all the nodes together, maybe dozens of nodes, but then require a separate EStop cable for each different section of the machine???
Eventually the pinhead regulators got caught up and realized that safety data over a bus is actually more reliable than a whole swag of individual cables.
Craig
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Re: Starting a new setup-need info
Every one is entitled to an opinion.
I’m not stopping you from wiring however you want.
Cheers
Peter
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Re: Starting a new setup-need info
Hi Peter,
you have been CNCing for many years....have you EVER had a machine, be it parallel port, ESS or any other motion controller, that did not stop immediately with an EStop?
If you have; then having an Estop depower the machine would be essential........but if you've never had a machine 'runaway' and refuse to stop when you hit an EStop....then why
insist that it depower. Is it needed?
Craig
PS: I've heard the same sort of argument made in yachting circles: 'I have life jackets, a life raft, an EPIRB, flares....all the safety equipment....therefore my boat is safe'
BS....what makes a boat safe is the design, construction and equipment combined with the skill and experience of the crew to avoid the need for a life raft. There is a saying
'you should always climb up (from the sinking boat) into a life raft'. By the time you need a life raft you've long since departed from safety.
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Re: Starting a new setup-need info
Hi Craig,
Sure, I’ve had half a dozen times where I’ve needed to hit the Estop when Mach3 and 4 has had a runaway, usually during jogging. This has occurred while using the keyboard while jogging.
Mach4 in the early days was known for this.
As to whether a soft Estop was sufficient to stop the runaway, I don’t know as, my Estop shuts down power to the drives. That said, the motion controllers are still powered.
As I Said, people can wire their Estop however they like. I just presented a fail safe method.
A soft Estop will work until it doesn’t.
Cheers
Peter.
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Re: Starting a new setup-need info
Hi Peter,
I rather meant that if you ever hit an Estop does the machine not stop? I suppose you cant tell because your Estop depowers the machine, so of course it would stop.
My Estop operates on Mach alone. That has worked perfectly reliably as long as I have been CNCing.
I used to have Mach3 run away sometimes when jogging, but I don't recall ever having Mach4 do so. I've been using Mach4 for 8.5 years, and I have used the Estop occassionaly over that
time, its never because an axis run away, but because my toolpath was faulty and it was doing something I did not like, gouging clamps or the vice or whatever.
One thing I don't like about an <Estop> is that it aborts whatever trajectory data is in the ESS motion buffer. I leave the ESS motion buffer at its default, which is 180ms. Thus, when you hit
the Estop up to 180ms worth of movement data can be lost and therefore the machine loses reference....and requires re-homing before further use. I hate that. If however you use <FeedHold>
rather than <Estop> the motion data in the buffer is executed before the machine stops. To my way of thinking a potential overrun of 180ms is near enough, to my eye, as instantaneous.
So I don't have an <Estop> button anymore, I in fact have a <FeedHold> button, it still the great big red button.....but it feed holds rather than crash stop. In Mach4 you can decide for instance
whether you want the spindle to turn off when executing a <FeedHold>, which excepting the barely perceptible delay (180ms max) makes it like an <Estop>. A Limit event or a servo alarm still
causes a genuine <Estop> ie a crash stop with the inevitable loss of reference, but I've not had a Limit event or a servo fault while operating my new mill for 2.5 years.
The only time the button gets used is if I hit it for whatever reason, like a faulty toolpath, or some other cockup of my making. I try to minimise those faults but they happen every once in a while,
and Mach4 has never, ever, even once, NOT failed to stop as I have commanded.
Craig
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Re: Starting a new setup-need info
OK. I’m getting close to actual setup.
I’ve feel like I’ve looked at every page from Warp9 setup page. I can’t find the info I thought I saw.
Simple question. When mounting the ESS to my control panel chassis, do you use metal standoffs or do you isolate with plastic standoffs? My chassis should have earth ground.
Thx EZ
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OK. I’m getting close to actual setup.
I’ve feel like I’ve looked at every page from Warp9 setup page. I can’t find the info I thought I saw.
Simple question. When mounting the ESS to my control panel chassis, do you use metal standoffs or do you isolate with plastic standoffs? My chassis should have earth ground.
Thx EZ
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Re: Starting a new setup-need info
Hi,
there is a note in the ESS literature somewhere that one of the PCB islands surrounding the mounting hole is electrically connected to the 0V common of the ESS.
If you desire the 0V common to be earthed to the chassis then use a metal standoff on that one mount. The other mount points are electrically isolated, so it doesn't matter whether you
use metal or plastic standoffs.
I would not have thought earthing the 0V common of the ESS is required, so use plastic standoffs.
My own ESS is not mounted at the standoff points but the three 29 pin IDE plugs plug into a socket on the board underneath, and that physically locates the ESS board, thus the board is not earthed to the chassis.
Craig
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Re: Starting a new setup-need info
Hi,
found the note on the mechanical drawing page:
Craig
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Re: Starting a new setup-need info
Is there another choice for THC to use with the SmoothStepper ESS other than the WarpRunner?
Unless all the others cost about the same. $499 for WarpRunner.
thx EZ
PS. Warp9 forum doesn't seem to be moderated so I've got no responses from the forum.
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Re: Starting a new setup-need info
Hi EZM - Look at the knighthawk controller. Does everything in one box. Very well supported I have found and good price. Peter
https://www.cnc3d.com.au/nighthawkcnc-controller
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Re: Starting a new setup-need info
Hi,
Quote:
Is there another choice for THC to use with the SmoothStepper ESS other than the WarpRunner?
Not with anything like the functionality or the bandidth of the WarpRunner. It has Anti-Dive strategies which no other ESS ready controller has.
Mach4 does have a software driven THC facility, but low bandwidth, say 5Hz, maybe 10Hz. So if you only require low dynamic THC then you should investigate that. You in effect need
a ADC to convert the tip voltage (or sample thereof) to drive Mach4's THC module.
The Proma 150 is another alternative. It does not do ADC, but makes an Up/Down signal based on the threshold you dial into the Proma. Downside is no Anti-Dive, and because Mach4
has no idea of the tip voltage (in absence of an ADC) and therefore little or none of the Mach4 THC module will be of any use to you.
Quote:
Look at the knighthawk controller.
Does the Nighthawk support THC? Does it have analogue inputs or does it require an ADC? What bandwidth is the THC? Does it have Anti-Dive strategies? Have you actually tried it or
have reports from those who have?
Craig
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Re: Starting a new setup-need info
Hi - Yes it does have THC but I have no experience with plasma. Ask cnc3D support about it. I did use to run an oxy copier some 30 years ago.. :) Peter
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Re: Starting a new setup-need info
Hi,
Quote:
Warp9 forum doesn't seem to be moderated so I've got no responses from the forum.
Andy, the regular support guy at Warp9 is building a house ans has largely been absent for a few months.
Craig
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Re: Starting a new setup-need info
Hi,
Quote:
Unless all the others cost about the same. $499 for WarpRunner.
I understand not wanting to pay $449 for a THC controller even if it is good....but how much is your plasma machine worth? Even cheap s****t Chinese plasmas are likely more than that,
and even the smallest Hypertherm is much much more than that. What's the bet you'll spend more than $450/year on consumables alone!
Now don't get me wrong .....I am all support for reducing the cost of items but not at the expense of functionality.
A while back I found myself defending the cost of Mach4 ($200) and an ESS ($225) a total of $425. I've had them for 8.5 years, so $50/year, that such a miniscule sum really. Just one
servo costs $438 and I've got five of those, and my whole machine now including the trunnion and fifth axis is over $25000. I pay $500/year for fusion Basic and another $1320/year for Fuson Machining Extensions.
Really the cost of the CNC software solution (Mach4) and the motion control (ESS) is truly miniscule by comparison.
If you start thinking in those terms you might well see that a WarpRunner that you use for the next twenty years is a minor expense.
Craig
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Re: Starting a new setup-need info
Thanks again for all the good answers.
Things changed again, so now I have another question.
Are any of you using a wireless keyboard and mouse? I’m thinking of moving my keyboard, mouse and monitor to the other side of my table. Are there any issues of using either wireless or long cables for these 3 items? I only need to move about 9 ft.
Thx EZ
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Re: Starting a new setup-need info
Hi,
I don't use wireless on my machine but do not see any reason that it would not work with conventional CNC machines......but plasma??
Plasma is, when all said and done, small and controlled but extremely intense 'lightning.' Electrical noise by any definition......and I think is likely to screw with
the wireless comms.
Is there any need to go wireless? Do you have some aversion to cables? Is this machine to do some work or is it a fashion statement?
Craig
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Re: Starting a new setup-need info
I looked up info on cables, ( should have done that first). Found out DisplayPort easily will do 10-15ft.
I can extend the usb cable for keyboard easily 16ft. I only need 10-12 ft.
I will start out with a wireless mouse that I have. (30ft range)
Again, I just didn’t know how far you could extend cables.
Thx again
EZ
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Re: Starting a new setup-need info
I’m stuck.
Here is where I am at.
I installed ESS and mach4 and set up configs. Gecko g540 is up and running.
I’ve only plugged in my X axis motor and I can control it with Mach4, both MDI and jogging with mouse on the screen buttons.
I can stop my X axis with the EStop. At one time I could press the reference all, and X would go to zero. I think it still does it.
I uninstalled the configs for EStop because mach4 would give me erratic messages. I will deal with this later.
EStop is wired to gecko only. Do I need to do the configs in ESS or can I just leave it as is?
I’m confused on the g540. With power, I get a red light, when I reset the EStop I get the green light. (Works)
My charge pump switch on the g540 is off. Is that how it’s suppose to be?
Do i need to set up a charge pump signal in ESS and/or mach4?
I’m also having problems setting up my home/limit switches. I wired them with the simple wire diagram from corvetteguy.
I’ve read the warp9 setup page multiple times and I’ve watch some good videos on how to set them up in ESS/mach4 configs, I can’t get them to trip. What am I missing? I get an ohm reading until I hit a switch, then I get an OL reading. I believe they are wire to the g540 correctly.
Not sure where to go on this.
I figure if I can get 1 axis running I can do the others later.
I’ve learned a ton already, need to learn more.
Thx Eric
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Starting a new setup-need info
Hi,
A couple of points.
Worry about the charge pump last. So leave the switch on the G540 in the off position. The Charge pump signal was designed primarily to deal with a PC twiddling with its parallel port pins while the PC booted. This had the unintended effect of momentarily turning on the CNC controller outputs such as the spindle. The ESS does not twiddle its outputs, so the charge pump is not strictly necessary. It is still useful in letting the controller know that Mach3/4 is up and running and in control of the system.
If you do use it make sure that you configure it to be present during reset, otherwise you will end up with a race condition. Mach4 won’t come out of Reset and start the charge pump as the G540 is asserting the Fault line, and the G540 won’t come out of fault mode because the charge pump is not present.
With the Estop, from your description, presumably you have it wired to control the G540 enable line. When the switch is open the G540 led will be red, disabling the outputs, motors and asserting the Fault signal to the ESS. If you don’t configure Mach4/ESS to deal with the G540 fault signal, it won’t know when you’ve pressed the Estop button. So you should set it up.
For the limit switch inputs. The switch should be connected between the G540 input and the G540’s power supply 0v terminal.
On the G540, the switch input is active when the input is grounded. You should be able to use the ESS diagnostics tab in Mach4 to check if the ESS is seeing the inputs change state when the switches are pressed.
Here is a diagram I produced showing how to wire up the G540.
http://www.homanndesigns.com/pdfs/EN010_V8.pdf
Cheers
Peter
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Re: Starting a new setup-need info
Hi,
Quote:
EStop is wired to gecko only. Do I need to do the configs in ESS or can I just leave it as is?
No, they have to be both configured and consistent between them. I think the G540 has commonly used pin 10 as the Estop input. You could change it I suppose...but if that is how
the G540 is wired that's fine. If you open the ESS diagnostic you'll see which input the Estop switch operates. Lets imagine and guess that if you operate the Estop
switch on the machine and the ESS diagnostic shows port 1 pin 10 going active/inactive as you operate the switch then that determines that you should configure the ESS port 1 pin 10 as
an Estop.
Quote:
My charge pump switch on the g540 is off. Is that how it’s suppose to be?
Do i need to set up a charge pump signal in ESS and/or mach4?
I personally have never used the charge pump. It was meant as a safety item so that if Mach was not operating then all outputs would be off. I have always made sure that all of my outputs are 'safe'
if Mach is not operating....and so I don't need a charge pump. If there is the potential for the spindle to turn on WITHOUT Mach being in charge, then maybe you do need a charge pump.
Quote:
I’ve read the warp9 setup page multiple times and I’ve watch some good videos on how to set them up in ESS/mach4 configs, I can’t get them to trip. What am I missing? I get an ohm reading until I hit a switch, then I get an OL reading. I believe they are wire to the g540 correctly.
That's why God invented the ESS Diagnostic! Use it. I suspect that you need to change (on the ESS Pins Config tab) the Active High/Active Low setting. Eventually you'll see the signals on the ESS Diagnostic Input Signals tab.
Craig
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Re: Starting a new setup-need info
Thx again guys,
It seems I’ve been doing things correctly, I must be missing one little thing
I should use the diagnostics, I’ve only used them once.
I’ll read your posts again prior to working on it again.
I’ve learned a ton by doing what I’ve done so far. Things are making more sense the more I work on it.
Thx again, I’ll keep you posted.
Two things I did accomplish is I did get a 700imp rapid and I did figure out how to calibrate the distance.
Two wins, more to come.
EZ
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Re: Starting a new setup-need info
Hi Eric,
Yep, there is a lot to learn and not everything is obvious. So, just keep working and keep asking questions, and you’ll get there.
Cheers
Peter
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Re: Starting a new setup-need info
Quick question.
What mach4 build are people using? And what ESS build is being used with that build.
I’m using mach4 4809, ESS 285. Windows 10. Recommended by warp9. Not sure how updated that info is.
Warp9 said there was some instability with mach4 5000+, again not sure how updated info is.
Thx EZ
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Re: Starting a new setup-need info
Hi,
I am using 4612 and ESS278, well over a year old. Prior to that I had a build that was about four years old.
4809 and ESS285 is more recent, fully featured and stable. Stick with it.
Unless there is something specific that you require from a later build of Mach4 do not be in a rush to update. No matter how well thought out and planned there is always
some hiccups.
About a year or so ago NFS came out with a major new build, the first 5000 build. The problem was that certain parts of the code run very much faster than it had in previous builds
and many motion controllers, the ESS included, ended up in a 'race condition'. There was a major flurry of activity by the various motion controller manufacturers to update their plugins
to accommodate the new builds.
I believe the current ESS plugin has largely accommodated the changes, but not necessarily completely. Andy is the software guy at Warp9 and he has taken time off to build a house,
and consequently the software development and bug fixes for which he specializes have been few and far between over the last six months. Unless there is something you need from a Mach4 5000+
build, just don't bother yet. Wait until all the bugs have been addressed and its stable.
This represents a failure by NFS in my opinion. What is the point of releasing a new build only to find that with the existing motion controllers cannot operate correctly with it?
Ultimately it is the end user whom is inconvenienced or even pissed-off, and they are when all said and done NFS's customers. Dumb s****t!
If NFS wants to release a major new build they should long before its released to Mach4 customers be giving it to the motion control manufacturers to give them the chance to
test the compatibility of the new build relative to their own plugin. This is an example of where the model of the CNC software manufacturer (NFS) being a different company to the
motion control manufacturers (Warp9, Vital Systems, PoKeys, CNCDrive, CSLabs and PMDX) has failed. I do hope NFS have taken this to heart, they simply cannot afford to sully
their products reputation in this manner.
Craig
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Re: Starting a new setup-need info
Thx,
Just thought since I don’t have a ton of time into setting up,, that it would be a good time to upgrade if the newest version would be better. Sounds like I’m where I should be.
Back at it. See if I can get set up
Thx for your help EZ
I thought of a question about EPP setting.
Do I need to worry about the bios setting for the EPP, since I’m using ESS instead of the parallel port?
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Re: Starting a new setup-need info
Hi EZ - If your looking into the future, look at 3D printer controllers, systems like Duet3D, Buildbotics and Knighthawk (and others). The issue with the fragmented machine controllers and motion controller suppliers has historically and currently limited how the CNC hobby and Maker area can move forward. Since they have not "talked" to each other for decades means they are limited in what they can do. Companies like Duet and Big Tree tech with excellent one board solutions offer better performance than the discrete device approach and due to market volume have the resources to R&D forward to better products. This type of clash that Craig describes between discrete devices will occur more often in the CNC world and maybe the next generation of machine builders will pick modern solutions vs the old school solutions. There are better machine control solutions out there then the "usual" and they are much easier to set up as they are integrated solutions that have been sorted well. Peter
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Re: Starting a new setup-need info
Hi,
Mach, in its various forms has been running for tens of thousands of users for decades. The guys inventing GRBL and all of that sort of stuff were infants when Mach came out.
GRBL and similar do not support ANSI standard Gcode, quite frankly I think they are toys.
Quote:
The issue with the fragmented machine controllers and motion controller suppliers has historically and currently limited how the CNC hobby and Maker area can move forward. Since they have not "talked" to each other for decades means they are limited in what they can do.
Complete rubbish. The leading Mach4 developer Smurph, is on first name terms with all the motion controller developers, including Greg and Andy at Warp9. I imagine it is similiar
between other manufacturers and NFS. I believe Smurph was surprised that the 5000 release screwed with so many motion controllers but any suggestion that NFS do not
perforce cooperate with motion controllers is complete rubbish. Mach is unusual in that the software manufacturer is not the same as the motion manufacturer whereas, for
example, CNCDrive manufacture their own software AND motion control and they actively exclude any competiton in motion control manufacture.
Craig
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Re: Starting a new setup-need info
Hi Craig - You are welcome to your opinion but times change. I think you'd upset Duet3d if you said it was a toy. Kodak said the same about digital cameras and IBM said similar about desktops and they now both are dead. The future is always different from the past and things change fast. I appreciate the inertia involved in changing our stuff but I'll be bold and say that Mach has had its day and other devices are taking its place. Peter
Duet3D · Duet3D
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Re: Starting a new setup-need info
Hi peteeng,
I don't give a fat rats arse about what Duet think, I call all Gcode senders like that a toy.
Craig
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Re: Starting a new setup-need info
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Re: Starting a new setup-need info
Hi peteng,
if you are so great and favorable on the Duet....do you have one???? You have also posted in other places at other times that you have used UCCNC and one of the CNCDrive motion boards,
a solution very akin to Mach? Do you still use it? Does it work? How long have you used it for?
I presume if you thought it poor you would already have spent money on something else and ditched UCCNC.
I personally think Gcode senders are a toy...I do not have one nor would I waste my time on one. Is that plain enough?
Craig
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Re: Starting a new setup-need info
Hi Craig - I have used a Knighthawk on my test machine & will use the KH on Epoch the small 5 axis I'm working on. I was going to use Duet but came across the locally made controller so gave it a try. Very happy with UCCNC and Knighthawk(KH), probably will not use UCCNC again as KH is a one box solution, saves 20 hrs of wiring and works very well. Also runs off my phone and is wireless. CNC3D are about to release the KH Pro which is 6 axis in one box... I'm designing a large (3x3x2m) commercial 5 axis machine at the moment and seems Duet maybe the candidate for that machine. Although KH Pro should do it, this machine may need lots of inputs and outputs for dust control safety systems etc... so Duet maybe the better choice as it has lots of extra modules that are useful. I'm always looking for a better spanner to use... Peter
UCCNC and Mach are not poorly they are just limited because they are not an integrated machine control solution. They work fine and dandy and once your through the learning curve your wedded to the product it seems. I'm happy to go through a learning curve if I feel the product offers an advantage in this case Knighthwk is a one box solution no need to wire it, comes in a nice black box. Just plug the motors, spindle and laser into it and it works out of the box... simples
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Re: Starting a new setup-need info
I did follow warp9 and mach4 instructions to set up for homing.
Are there settings in ESS and/or Mach4 configuration to recognize the limit switch
Because I’m not getting any readings in diagnostics when I manually hit limit/home switch.
I’m 99.9% sure they are wired correctly.
I get readings at my limit/home gx16 cable end. I get numbers on my volt meter at pin 1 and 2, (closed circuit)..then when I trip either switch, I get OL…(open circuit)
Inside panel when gx16 is plugged in…
Pin #1 goes to input #1 on g540.
Pin #2 goes to V-
Pin #3 goes to earth ground,( shielding)
Side question… When ever you change a config setting and you restart mach4. Do you have to reset g540. At first the EStop was working and the messages in mach4 worked. Then as I was setting other settings, Mach 4 would say “EStop condition, reset “
So at this time I deactivated EStop in config.
Thx EZ
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Starting a new setup-need info
Quote:
Originally Posted by
peteeng
Hi Craig - You are welcome to your opinion but times change. I think you'd upset Duet3d if you said it was a toy. Kodak said the same about digital cameras and IBM said similar about desktops and they now both are dead. The future is always different from the past and things change fast. I appreciate the inertia involved in changing our stuff but I'll be bold and say that Mach has had its day and other devices are taking its place. Peter
Duet3D · Duet3D
Hi,
I’m halfway between both sides of this argument. [emoji3]
There has been a lot of advancements in the 3D controller development. In fact I’m using a Duet 3D board in my conversion of my pick and place machine to Open PnP. The controller doesn’t even have a “hold/pause “ input which is surprising.
But would I use it as a CNC controller, not yet. I agree with Craig, they are just not ready yet. Sure, they can move an axis or two but most if not all do not have tapping cycles, threading, encoder synchronization, etc.
They seem to just grab a G or M code and use it for a custom function.
One of the advantages they do have is their motion control. I think they lead the current batch of motion controllers. I’m fairly sure that the CNC motion controllers will be porting some of that across.
I’m sure that they will catch up quickly but they are not there yet. The sender programs are shocking and have a long way to go.
If you look at the nighthawk, it’s an implementation of the open source FluidNC project based on the ESP32 processor.
I’m not sure what stepper drives they are using but I doubt they are very robust.
My personal favorite is grblHAL.
All that said, if they can put a focus on providing a CNC suitable GUI, tidy up the non- standard gcodes, they will be a serious alternative, especially with their superior motion algorithms. I’m thinking 2-3 years.
Cheers
Peter
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Re: Starting a new setup-need info
Quote:
Originally Posted by
EZMEF
I did follow warp9 and mach4 instructions to set up for homing.
Are there settings in ESS and/or Mach4 configuration to recognize the limit switch
Because I’m not getting any readings in diagnostics when I manually hit limit/home switch.
I’m 99.9% sure they are wired correctly.
I get readings at my limit/home gx16 cable end. I get numbers on my volt meter at pin 1 and 2, (closed circuit)..then when I trip either switch, I get OL…(open circuit)
Inside panel when gx16 is plugged in…
Pin #1 goes to input #1 on g540.
Pin #2 goes to V-
Pin #3 goes to earth ground,( shielding)
Side question… When ever you change a config setting and you restart mach4. Do you have to reset g540. At first the EStop was working and the messages in mach4 worked. Then as I was setting other settings, Mach 4 would say “EStop condition, reset “
So at this time I deactivated EStop in config.
Thx EZ
Hi,
No, you don’t need to reset the G540.
As to the limit switches, what sort are they? Mechanical switches, proximity sensors,etc.
one thing you can do is get a wire and directly connect one of the input terminals to the 0v terminal on the G540. That way you know that the switch is active. [emoji3]
Cheers
Peter
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