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1

SmartBOB controllers and dedicated accessories / EStop condition persists even if the E-Stop input is low

« on: March 27, 2018, 07:03:48 PM »

Hello,

I have a PMDX-424 with nothing connected but power, USB and J14 (with the jumper mounted between E-Stop and GND).
In Mach4-->Mach Configuration-->Input Signals, E-Stop is configured as follows:
Mapping Enabled = True
Device = SmartBOBUSB
Input Name = EStop
Active Low = False
In Diagnostic-->PMDX-SmartBOB-USB - Practical Micro Design-->Real-Time Status, the EStop software "led" is red, that means low.
If I remove the J14 connector, Mach4 displays "E-Stop condition!", and EStop software "led" in "Real-Time Status" window immediately turns green. The DS1 green led is blinking slowly and the red led is on. So far so good.

The problem is when I reconnect J14:
 - Sometimes, after I reconnect J14, EStop immediately turns back to red and "E-Stop cleared!" message is displayed. That is OK.
 - Sometimes, after I reinserted back the J14 connector, it takes 30 seconds to 3-5 minutes to clear the E-Stop condition.
 - Sometimes, (with J14 mounted) this EStop condition persists (with DS1 green led blinking slowly and the red led on), for over a half an hour, until I close the Mach4 application. After that, I restart Mach 4, but the E-Stop condition is still on. The following messages are recorded in History:
"PMDX: Communication status 'Sync'd to Device'
E-Stop condition!
E-Stop is in effect!  Clear the E-Stop condition."

Only when I switch the power (of PMDX-424) off and back on and restart Mach4, it starts correctly, with the E-Stop condition off.

What is wrong?

Thanks,

Serban

2

SmartBOB controllers and dedicated accessories / How to generate Charge Pump signal with PMDX-424?

« on: February 11, 2018, 01:20:15 PM »

Hello,

I have a CNC router (Heiz High-Z S-1000 T) equipped with a Zero3 controller and I'm replacing the old motion control and software (WinPC-NC USB) with PMDX-242 and Mach4.

https://www.cncstepusa.com/cnc-control-zero3/
https://lewetz.de/en/products/winpc-nc/winusb

The problem is that Zero3 controller needs a Watchdog/Charge Pump signal on LPT1.16 and PMDX-424 does not support a "Charge Pump" feature. The frequency of Charge Pump signal generated by WinPC-NC USB is 12.5 kHz.
I'm thinking of generating this signal from Mach4, using a Lua script, but the signal should be toggled every 40 us and don't want my routine to disturb Mach4 main routine.

How can I fix this?

A similar issue, but with another solution (for PMDX-411) is here:
https://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php?action=printpage;topic=31446.0

Thank you.

Serban