jeepsr4ever
Very soon we are starting to shoot videos this week actually.
Apocalypse Fabrication
OK, we actually got our card tonight. I moved the computer out to the garage and started following CandCNC's instructions for Mach3. I have the motors plugged in and they are all locked. I tuned the motors using the parameters you (Matt) sent me in pm.
The program will not come out of reset. I am getting the "External E-stop Request" error. Possible solutions include the EPO jumper is not in place... but it IS. OR the Table I/O card is not connected... but it is, through the grey flat cable.
Any ideas?
BTW it's a real pain the ass that there arent 2 crimp spade terminals included with my gantry kit. I dont have those little connectors at home to connect the limit switches on the z axis, so yet another delay until tomorrow when I can get some. Doing this at 8 pm on a weekday to try to get this table going and... That's just ridiculous.
Apocalypse Fabrication
Ok, we fixed the error by reconfiguring the port to match in Mach.... continuing on now...
jeepsr4ever
Auxillary parallel port card may limit your system dramatically. A motherboard mounted parallel port card allows enough system resources for fast dialog between controller and PC.
Apocalypse Fabrication
[QUOTE=jeepsr4ever;132568]Auxillary parallel port card may limit your system dramatically. A motherboard mounted parallel port card allows enough system resources for fast dialog between controller and PC.[/QUOTE]
We bought and installed this card to our motherboard:
[url]http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000510SW/ref=oh_details_o03_s00_i00[/url]
jeepsr4ever
May or may not work well enough for full speed. I know people have had problems with that type of card.
Apocalypse Fabrication
Ok, what card should we be using? Could you please post a link to something that is going to work.
I think I am understanding you now that I reread your post... we need a new motherboard?
Apocalypse Fabrication
This is Jason's wife, Katie. I was working with Mach 3 last night to perform the motor tests. We were having some issues with the direction of the x axis, along with some other problems. I was entering in the G code to test the direction of the x axis, and when I changed the polarity, it was still going towards 0,0 and not away, like it should have been.
Is there a trick to entering the G code? I would enter in one line and execute, but after that I would have to exit the gcode function, use the arrow keys, sometimes reset, and even then it only worked 50% of the time.
Is there a different scale for the Z axis? I entered G00 Z1.0 and it moved all the way out, not one inch. The x axis is also off by 1/8" on the scale when moving it with the arrow keys and watching the position. The y seems to be just fine, on all accounts.
jeepsr4ever
That is the problem with auxillary cards and/or Windows 7. You need a motherboard integrated parallel card set. Also when you change the settings you need to reset Mach. From manual data input press the MDI tab in Mach to enter Gcode.
Apocalypse Fabrication
[QUOTE=jeepsr4ever;132574]That is the problem with auxillary cards and/or Windows 7.[/QUOTE]
Which problem? Could you please link me a motherboard that you think would be acceptable?
I'll let Katie respond to your other comments.
jeepsr4ever
Can you see the parallel port and serial attached? [ATTACH=CONFIG]239[/ATTACH]
Apocalypse Fabrication
Yes, I see them. Finding a motherboard with those features to buy is proving to be interesting.... I will keep looking.
jeepsr4ever
The one thing you have to keep in mind is that this type of tool doesnt require huge processing power and it doesnt need much more than a couple hundred dollar PC to run it. It does need the correct resources. Even the Mazak lasers require windows xp 32 bit to run them on. The reason is XP doesnt mess with the parallel resources like the other windows (vista being the worse). Find youself a pentium 4 with XP 32 bit with 1-2 gig of ram and youll be very happy.
Apocalypse Fabrication
Did I read somewhere that Bulltear sells computers for these tables?
I found one mobo, but it doesnt have a serial port... just parallel: [url]http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=40987&CatId=6981[/url]
Apocalypse Fabrication
[QUOTE=jeepsr4ever;132578]The one thing you have to keep in mind is that this type of tool doesnt require huge processing power and it doesnt need much more than a couple hundred dollar PC to run it. It does need the correct resources. Even the Mazak lasers require windows xp 32 bit to run them on. The reason is XP doesnt mess with the parallel resources like the other windows (vista being the worse). Find youself a pentium 4 with XP 32 bit with 1-2 gig of ram and youll be very happy.[/QUOTE]
Is this acceptable?
[url]http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7122665&SRCCODE=WEBGOOPA&cm_mmc_o=mH4CjC7BBTkwCjCV1-CjCE&gclid=CLegkLWM3rMCFYF7Qgod_RIAQg[/url]
Is Windows XP Professional 32 or 64 bit?
Apocalypse Fabrication
Found a whole list of XP desktops on tiger... doesnt seem to be any that arent refurbs tho... scary
[url]http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_slc.asp?CatId=5139&name=Refurbished-Windows-XP-PCs&[/url]
Apocalypse Fabrication
This one actually lists 32 bit, specifically...
I sure dont like reading the reviews on these things though.
[url]http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5180149&CatId=5139[/url]
Apocalypse Fabrication
I just called a local computer repair shop; I know the owner. He's looking into getting something for me locally. It's just a major pita with Newegg and TigerDirect when their stuff doesnt work out of the box.
cjheap
I picked up a surplus Panasonic Toughbook CF28 ( the one the cops use in their cars) . Water proof, shock proof, dust proof and it even has touchscreen. Came with xp pro .
Apocalypse Fabrication
We got a computer put together, so that isn't a problem anymore. Took an old server from work and combined it with an xp computer we had.
We're now having an issue with the x and a axes seizing when we run them with G code (which is now working fine, btw). They run fine and for the predetermined distance some of the time. Other times, however, the motors themselves stop turning, the sound of them continues to run, and the x axis reads as though it's traveled the full distance. All of the gears are meshing the track, the set screws have been tightened and the belts have been checked. Jason will be posting a video of it next post. Thanks.
