Topics

1

SmartBOB controllers and dedicated accessories / Sample PMDX-424 profile

« on: July 21, 2016, 02:45:12 PM »

I took a look at the sample PMDX-424 profile today and it looks pretty neat. Is there any reason that I should not use this with the PMDX 410? I really like the large toolpath window!

2

SmartBOB controllers and dedicated accessories / Spindle speed capped

« on: March 17, 2016, 05:19:45 PM »

I am getting a message in the history box that states "Spindle speed 1 RPM bumped to min PWM duty cycle (5%, 5 RPM). Is this a limitation of the board (PMDX 410  with a PMDX 132 using port 16), smartBOB, or Mach 4?

I am using the spindle to control the laser. I drop the power way down to position the laser to the home on the work piece. 5% can still burn the work piece if I don't move pretty quickly. It would be nice to be able to have a lower power level (perhaps 3rpm)

Peter

3

SmartBOB controllers and dedicated accessories / Understanding PWM Spindle Control

« on: February 19, 2016, 02:18:25 PM »

I have a laser connected to my CNC as a spindle and use PWM control from pin 16 on a PMDX-132 with a PMDX-422 as a motion controller.

Question 1 - How do I set up the controls to get maximum power out of the laser. I have the spindle set up as a 0-100 with a max speed of 100. I set my tool at 100. The slider override is 0-300% with a default at 100. I would think the with the slider at 100 it would set the laser at full power, however, that does not seem to be the case. If I set the slider at 300 the laser appears to be more powerful.

Question 2 - The spindle speed indicator DRO on wxMach does not seem to work. Is there anything I need to do to get this to work.

Question 3 - How can I test the PWM output with a meter?

Question 4 - This is weird. When cutting out a pattern Mach 4 (or SmartBob) occasionally changes the power output for the laser for individual items. I have even generated a different G Code file that uses a different order of cutting so the item is in another position; however, the item still has a lower power. If I reboot Mach 4 this problem goes away. Told you it was weird.

Thanks in advance,
Peter

4

SmartBOB controllers and dedicated accessories / Mach 4 freezes at spindle control

« on: February 16, 2016, 07:53:36 AM »

Bob asked me to post this on the PMDX forum:

"Occasionally Mach 4 freezes when it encounters a spindle control. I can run the same G code file numerous times and Mach 4 will all of the sudden stop at a M03 command. The cycle start button will be grayed out. Sometimes I can disable Mach 4 and re-enable it to get the cycle start button to be slectable again. Sometimes this does not work so I have to reboot Mach 4 again. I am running build 2797 with SmartBob 33.159 plugin.

Anyone else having this problem? Any suggestions?"

More info - When the cycle start becomes selectable again most of the time it only proceeds to the next spindle command and then stops again with the cycle start grayed out.

5

General Discussion / EStop button

« on: September 13, 2015, 01:23:03 PM »

Purchased an EStop button from PMDX. I have it set up for the EStop on the machine on one side and the spindle stop on the other. The problem is when I hit the EStop it stops everything and latches down; however, when I let the pressure off of the switch the spindel comes back on. I have not looked to see if the machine EStop is momentary or if it suffers from the same problem. I will check when I am back in front of the machine. Is there some type of adjustment for the EStop button.

Thanks,
Peter

6

SmartBOB controllers and dedicated accessories / Slave axis homing

« on: September 13, 2015, 01:19:00 PM »

Steve - is there any update to add the slave axis homing to the PMDX SmartBOB anytime soon? I have a gantry style machine. Currently I do the homing dance:

Home the machine
Override the limits
Run the primary X axis into the stop
Slowly move the X slave to the stop
Move the machine back off of the home switch
Rehome the machine

Let me know,
Peter