PMDX-SmartBOB-USB Mach4 Plug-in Release Notes 26 Jan 2015 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Version 0.16.82 (26 Jan 2015): ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Firmware version: 0.30.103 Mach4Hobby versions: build number 2192 and higher (tested with 2192) ** WILL NOT run on any build older/lower than 2192 ** New features since Version 0.15.77: ------------------------------------- - Support configurable charge pump frequency - Configuration option for "charge pump on always" (as long as Mach4 is running), as opposed to only when Mach4 is "enabled". This option should be used when connected to a Geckodrive G540. - Improved motion queue handling code that should prevent most "motion queue underrun" errors. - Support for PMDX-411 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- *WARNING** If your profile contains macros for M3, M4 or M5 (like are installed by the Mach4Hobby installer), you MUST delete these files in order for the PWM spindle speed control to function. The macros as provided with some Mach4Hobby installations DO NOT WORK, and they are not needed for the PMDX-SmartBOB-USB to function. NOTE that if you installed the PMDX sample profile from previous plug-in releases, that profile may contain these macro files. You will need to manually delete them. EVEN IF YOU TOLD THIS INSTALLER TO INSTALL THE SAMPLE PROFILE! The installer does NOT overwrite an existing copy of the sample profile. These macros are in the Profiles\YourProfileName\Macros directory. You should see two files for each M-code. For example, "M3.mcc" and "M3.mcs". You must remove both of these files for each M-code, either by deleting them or by moving them to another directory. If you have created custom versions of the M3, M4 or M5 macros, or have Lua code that affects that functionality, you will need to test them with the PMDX-SmartBOB-USB plug-in to see if the plug-in still works. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bug Fixes Since Version 0.15.77: ------------------------------------- - None Known Issues: ------------------------------------- - Does not (yet) support probing (coming soon) - Does not (yet) support coordinated I/O (via M62 and M63 codes) - Does not (yet) support threading - Does not (yet) support slaved motors - Does not (yet) support PMDX-126 Expanded Input Mode ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Optional Sample Mach4 Profile: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you selected this during the plug-in installation, there will be a sample Mach4 profile on your system that is pre-configured to use the PMDX-SmartBOB-USB. The profile is named "PMDX-Sample". This profile has the following configuration: - PMDX SmartBOB Plug-in is enabled and selected as the motion device - All four motors are set for 1000 steps/unit, max velocity = 10 units/sec, accel = 5 units/sec^2, notor not reversed, 0 backlash - Homing: soft limits disabled, homing enabled, no homing offset - Inputs: E-Stop assigned to PMDX-SmartBOB-USB Pin 10 - Outputs: * Charge Pump assigned to PMDX-SmartBOB-USB Pin 17 * Spindle On assigned to PMDX-SmartBOB-USB Pin 1 (this controls the relay on the PMDX-422) - PWM Spindle speed control disabled. There are two ways to run this profile: - Use the "Mach4 Loader" shortcut on your desktop and select "PMDX-Sample" - Use the "Mach4 PMDX Sample" shortcut on your desktop *if* you selected that to be installed !! IMPORTANT !! We *strongly* suggest that you NOT make changes to the sample profile, since it may be overwritten in future plug-in updates. Instead, make a copy of the profile, like this: - Double-click on the "Mach4 Loader" icon to bring up the "Select Profile" dialog. - Click once on the "PMDX-Sample" line and then click on the "Copy Profile" button - Enter a name for your new profile - Optionally, you can select a screen set. If you leave this blank, Mach4 will default to using the "wxMach" screen set, which looks mostly like Mach3. - Then click on "OK" to create the new profile. - Finally, double-click on the new profile name to start running that profile. If you want to change the PMDX-Sample shortcut on your desktop to run your new profile name: - Right-click on the PMDX-Sample icon and select "Properties" - At the right end of the "Target" line you will see "/p PMDX-Sample" - Change the "PMDX-Sample" to the name of your new profile. - Click on OK - The right-click on the PMDX-Sample icon again and select "Rename" and give it new, meaningful name. Then click on "OK" - Enjoy! ############################################################################ ## ## OLDER RELEASE VERSIONS BELOW ## ############################################################################ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Version 0.15.77 (12 Jan 2015): ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Firmware version: 0.29.100 Mach4Hobby versions: build numbers 2114 and higher (tested through 2157) ** WILL NOT run reliably on any build older/lower than 2114 ** ** SPECIFICALLY - The spindle speed control will not work at all ** New features since Version 0.14.72: ------------------------------------- - Support the PMDX-407 Simple Spindle Speed Controller. SEE WARNING BELOW! - Improved error reporting when configuring the SmartBOB device. - Can now select the spindle speed PWM polarity (only when using pin 14 or pin 16 for PWM output, the PMDX-407 PWM polarity is fixed). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- *WARNING** If your profile contains macros for M3, M4 or M5 (like are installed by the Mach4Hobby installer), you MUST delete these files in order for the PWM spindle speed control to function. The macros as provided with some Mach4Hobby installations DO NOT WORK, and they are not needed for the PMDX-SmartBOB-USB to function. NOTE that if you installed the PMDX sample profile from previous plug-in releases, that profile may contain these macro files. You will need to manually delete them. EVEN IF YOU TOLD THIS INSTALLER TO INSTALL THE SAMPLE PROFILE! The installer does NOT overwrite an existing copy of the sample profile. These macros are in the Profiles\YourProfileName\Macros directory. You should see two files for each M-code. For example, "M3.mcc" and "M3.mcs". You must remove both of these files for each M-code, either by deleting them or by moving them to another directory. If you have created custom versions of the M3, M4 or M5 macros, or have Lua code that affects that functionality, you will need to test them with the PMDX-SmartBOB-USB plug-in to see if the plug-in still works. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bug Fixes Since Version 0.14.72: ------------------------------------- - Fixed spindle speed PWM when assigned to pin 14 on revision "A" SmartBOB boards. Note that revision "A" boards were only sent to beta testers and were never sold through our web site. Known Issues: ------------------------------------- - Does not (yet) support probing (coming soon) - Does not (yet) support coordinated I/O (via M62 and M63 codes) - Does not (yet) support threading - Does not (yet) support slaved motors - Does not (yet) support PMDX-126 Expanded Input Mode ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Optional Sample Mach4 Profile: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you selected this during the plug-in installation, there will be a sample Mach4 profile on your system that is pre-configured to use the PMDX-SmartBOB-USB. The profile is named "PMDX-Sample". This profile has the following configuration: - PMDX SmartBOB Plug-in is enabled and selected as the motion device - All four motors are set for 1000 steps/unit, max velocity = 10 units/sec, accel = 5 units/sec^2, notor not reversed, 0 backlash - Homing: soft limits disabled, homing enabled, no homing offset - Inputs: E-Stop assigned to PMDX-SmartBOB-USB Pin 10 - Outputs: * Charge Pump assigned to PMDX-SmartBOB-USB Pin 17 * Spindle On assigned to PMDX-SmartBOB-USB Pin 1 (this controls the relay on the PMDX-422) - PWM Spindle speed control disabled. There are two ways to run this profile: - Use the "Mach4 Loader" shortcut on your desktop and select "PMDX-Sample" - Use the "Mach4 PMDX Sample" shortcut on your desktop *if* you selected that to be installed !! IMPORTANT !! We *strongly* suggest that you NOT make changes to the sample profile, since it may be overwritten in future plug-in updates. Instead, make a copy of the profile, like this: - Double-click on the "Mach4 Loader" icon to bring up the "Select Profile" dialog. - Click once on the "PMDX-Sample" line and then click on the "Copy Profile" button - Enter a name for your new profile - Optionally, you can select a screen set. If you leave this blank, Mach4 will default to using the "wxMach" screen set, which looks mostly like Mach3. - Then click on "OK" to create the new profile. - Finally, double-click on the new profile name to start running that profile. If you want to change the PMDX-Sample shortcut on your desktop to run your new profile name: - Right-click on the PMDX-Sample icon and select "Properties" - At the right end of the "Target" line you will see "/p PMDX-Sample" - Change the "PMDX-Sample" to the name of your new profile. - Click on OK - The right-click on the PMDX-Sample icon again and select "Rename" and give it new, meaningful name. Then click on "OK" - Enjoy! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Version 0.14.72 (16 Dec 2014): ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Firmware version: 0.27.93 Mach4Hobby versions: build numbers 2114 and higher (tested through 2157) ** WILL NOT run reliably on any build older/lower than 2114 ** New features since Version 0.12.53: ------------------------------------- - Updated for Mach4 build 2114 and higher (tbough we recommend running the most recent Mach4Hobby release, which is build 2157 as of this release date) - Add PWM spindle speed control on pins 14 or 16 (see plug-in configuration dialog on the "Feature Config" tab). SEE WARNING BELOW! - Supports Mach4 configurations where this plug-in is not the motion controller (i.e. the PMDX-SmartBOB-USB can act as an I/O device without driving step and direction to motors) - Plugin configuration allows the user to change the motion buffer lengths in case they see "buffer underrun" errors (see new "Performance Settings" tab) - Plugin configuration dialog has button to restore default debug settings - Plug-in allows Mach4 to come out of reset (i.e. "enabled") if the plug-in is disabled and there is no device connected. Previous versions required a SmartBOB-USB to be connected even if the plug-in was disabled, or the plug-in would prevent Mach4 from going into the "enable" state. - The installer log file copied to the Plugins\PMDX-SmartBOB-USB directory in case there are installer issues. - The installer checks if Mach4 is running or a SmartBOB-USB is plugged in and prompts the user to close Mach4 and unplug the SmartBOB-USB. - The installer now presents a license before proceding with the installation and stores a copy of the license in the Plugins\PMDX-SmartBOB-USB directory. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- *WARNING** If your profile contains macros for M3, M4 or M5 (like are installed by the Mach4Hobby installer), you MUST delete these files in order for the PWM spindle speed control to function. The macros as provided with Mach4Hobby DO NOT WORK and are not needed for the PMDX-SmartBOB-USB to function. NOTE that if you installed the PMDX sample profile from previous plug-in releases, that profile may contain these macro files. You will need to manually delete them. EVEN IF YOU TOLD THIS INSTALLER TO INSTALL THE SAMPLE PROFILE! The installer does NOT overwrite an existing copy of the sample profile. These macros are in the Profiles\YourProfileName\Macros directory. You should see two files for each M-code. For example, "M3.mcc" and "M3.mcs". You must remove both of these files for each M-code, either by deleting them or by moving them to another directory. If you have created custom versions of the M3, M4 or M5 macros, or have Lua code that affects that functionality, you will need to test them with the PMDX-SmartBOB-USB plug-in to see if the plug-in still works. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bug Fixes Since Version 0.12.53: ------------------------------------- - Fix motion buffer underrun issue when Mach4 is "Step jog mode" and the selected step size is "small" (usually 0.010 or 0.001, depending on your machine configuration). - Increased default motion buffer length to avoid "buffer underrun" errors - Fixed installer bug that did not install the USB Virtual COM Port driver - Fixed/updated error reporting from device driver interface - Removed Mach4 macro files from sample Mach4 profile (they did not work and interfered with PWM spindle operation). - Only validates motor tuning parameters when selected as the motion device Known Issues: ------------------------------------- - Does not (yet) support probing (coming soon) - Does not (yet) support coordinated I/O (via M62 and M63 codes) - Does not (yet) support threading - Does not (yet) support slaved motors - Does not (yet) support PMDX-126 Expanded Input Mode ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Optional Sample Mach4 Profile: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you selected this during the plug-in installation, there will be a sample Mach4 profile on your system that is pre-configured to use the PMDX-SmartBOB-USB. The profile is named "PMDX-Sample". This profile has the following configuration: - PMDX SmartBOB Plug-in is enabled and selected as the motion device - All four motors are set for 1000 steps/unit, max velocity = 10 units/sec, accel = 5 units/sec^2, notor not reversed, 0 backlash - Homing: soft limits disabled, homing enabled, no homing offset - Inputs: E-Stop assigned to PMDX-SmartBOB-USB Pin 10 - Outputs: Charge Pump assigned to PMDX-SmartBOB-USB Pin 17 Spindle On assigned to PMDX-SmartBOB-USB Pin 1 (this controls the relay on the PMDX-422) - PWM Spindle speed control disabled. There are two ways to run this profile: - Use the "Mach4 Loader" shortcut on your desktop and select "PMDX-Sample" - Use the "Mach4 PMDX Sample" shortcut on your desktop *if* you selected that to be installed !! IMPORTANT !! We *strongly* suggest that you NOT make changes to the sample profile, since it may be overwritten in future plug-in updates. Instead, make a copy of the profile, like this: - Double-click on the "Mach4 Loader" icon to bring up the "Select Profile" dialog. - Click once on the "PMDX-Sample" line and then click on the "Copy Profile" button - Enter a name for your new profile - Optionally, you can select a screen set. If you leave this blank, Mach4 will default to using the "wxMach" screen set, which looks mostly like Mach3. - Then click on "OK" to create the new profile. - Finally, double-click on the new profile name to start running that profile. If you want to change the PMDX-Sample shortcut on your desktop to run your new profile name: - Right-click on the PMDX-Sample icon and select "Properties" - At the right end of the "Target" line you will see "/p PMDX-Sample" - Change the "PMDX-Sample" to the name of your new profile. - Click on OK - The right-click on the PMDX-Sample icon again and select "Rename" and give it new, meaningful name. Then click on "OK" - Enjoy! --- End ---