Messages

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 / Re: Spindle speed capped

« on: March 17, 2016, 06:03:37 PM »

Thanks - It works much better set to 1 rpm. The L-cheapo laser is a dull dot. It does not seem to burn anything.

3

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

4

SmartBOB controllers and dedicated accessories / Re: Understanding PWM Spindle Control

« on: February 29, 2016, 04:50:21 PM »

New laser works MUCH better.

5

SmartBOB controllers and dedicated accessories / Re: Understanding PWM Spindle Control

« on: February 21, 2016, 08:54:19 PM »

I tested the laser and found it was not working correctly. Worked with the manufacturer and found it had a bad board. I should get a new one in a few days. The problem was it was not recognizing the quick change of states in M4.

6

SmartBOB controllers and dedicated accessories / Re: Understanding PWM Spindle Control

« on: February 21, 2016, 11:07:54 AM »

Thanks - I can now see the Readout.

I had another pattern that would drop the laser out at a certain segment (when it started a corner - arc). It was repeatable. I changed the plugin so I can read the spindle speed. It was steady at 100 throughout the pattern. The laser dropped out at the same spot. If I click on the Spindle CW button (disable) the spindle and then click on it again (to enable the spindle) the laser comes back on.

I have played with the laser a little. The PWM signal seems to stay at 5V even when the laser goes off. I tested the 12V side of the laser to see if I was getting a short. With the meter on the 12V side the laser stays on when it would go off before. Perhaps I have a short in the laser / wiring. The 12V and the 5V share a ground out of the laser so it might be a problem. I will play with the laser a little more to isolate the problem.

7

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

8

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

« on: February 16, 2016, 09:19:13 PM »

The spindle is a separate control from Mach. It is controlled by a toggle switch and a POT wired directly to the spindle VFD.

The laser PWM is attached to pin 16 of the PMDX 132. I enable 12V to the laser via a physical toggle switch and then run Mach 4 to give the PWM signal.

I will run the debug the next time I am at the machine. Hopefully we can catch the problem.

9

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.

10

SmartBOB controllers and dedicated accessories / Re: USB Cable Length - PMDX 422

« on: October 27, 2015, 02:02:33 PM »

Don't know if this will help - I put a USB hub by the PMDX board and connected the hub to the computer via a long USB cable. I mainly did this so I could use a ShuttlePro on the machine as a pendant; however, it seemed to correct a few problems. Has been working for several months.

This was early in my testing of Mach 4 so I don't remember what the problems were. I also don't really know if they were a Mach 4 or communications error. Too many components were changing at that time. It may be worth trying.

11

SmartBOB controllers and dedicated accessories / Re: Slave axis homing

« on: September 25, 2015, 08:50:29 PM »

Yeaaaaaa - I can't wait. Have you seen the plugin that decouples the slave axis, homes the A axis, and then recouples the slave axis. Interesting but I don't know if I trust it.

Peter

Ps. if you see the auto touch off working let me know. These two would make my life a lot nicer.

12

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

13

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