Consider monitoring the weight of the hopper as an indication of it's fullness. Omega Engineering has an entire catalog section on load cells and indicators. Strain gages are also a possibility.
----- Original Message ----- From: emc-users-requ...@lists.sourceforge.net To: emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net Sent: Sunday, March 22, 2015 1:03:39 AM Subject: Emc-users Digest, Vol 107, Issue 53 Send Emc-users mailing list submissions to emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to emc-users-requ...@lists.sourceforge.net You can reach the person managing the list at emc-users-ow...@lists.sourceforge.net When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of Emc-users digest..." Today's Topics: 1. Re: Simple, adjustable timer (Dave Cole) 2. Re: Simple, adjustable timer (Viesturs L?cis) 3. Re: Simple, adjustable timer (Chris Morley) 4. Re: Simple, adjustable timer (Dave Cole) 5. Re: Simple, adjustable timer (Dave Cole) 6. Re: Simple, adjustable timer (Viesturs L?cis) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Sat, 21 Mar 2015 14:11:17 -0500 From: Dave Cole <linuxcncro...@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [Emc-users] Simple, adjustable timer To: emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net Message-ID: <550dc255.9010...@gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed Ultrasonics work ok if the surface is relatively flat you are aiming at (like liquid level). Otherwise they are iffy. Another idea; Put a reflector in the grit tank on an angle so the grit falls off the reflector. Then use a standard light sensor aimed at the reflector in the tank. When it is covered with grit - the reflector is blocked. When the sand falls off the reflector the sensor sees the reflector and you can add more sand. I had to do something similar to measure the height of a dirt pile (a small one) for a farm machine. An ultrasonic didn't work for that application. I'd run the input to a unused Mesa 24 volt input and put some logic into Classic Ladder for a couple of timers to condition the input with time on and time off delays so you don't short cycle the grit loader. Or just tie it in via hal if no timers are required. Dave On 3/21/2015 12:24 PM, jrmitchellj . wrote: > How about an ultrasonic range finder to watch how full the small hopper is? > > > Ray > > --J. Ray Mitchell Jr. > jrmitche...@gmail.com > (818)324-7573 > > > The things we admire in men, kindness and generosity, openness, honesty, > understanding and feeling are the concomitants of failure in our system. > And those traits we detest, sharpness, greed, acquisitiveness, meanness, > egotism and self-interest are the traits of success. And while men admire > the quality of the first they love the produce of the second. > -John Steinbeck, novelist, Nobel laureate (1902-1968) > > > On Sat, Mar 21, 2015 at 9:49 AM, Jon Elson <el...@pico-systems.com> wrote: > >> On 03/21/2015 09:22 AM, Viesturs L?cis wrote: >>> Hello! >>> >>> My customer acquired different abrasive hopper system for their >>> waterjet and now they want me to implement some controls over it. >>> I managed to do that, but the problem is that it can not be left in >>> "on" state for extended time as it causes the abrasive overfill the >>> small tank on abrasive regulator unit. >>> There are no sensors or anything I could use, so currently my only >>> idea is to turn it on and off on timely basis. >>> >>> >> There are long-range optical sensors that are used for this >> exact purpose. When the hopper is full, it blocks the light >> and shuts off the filling. These either have one unit and >> need a mirror on the far side, or they have two units, one >> sends the beam, the other senses it. We even have stuff like >> this on our electric garage doors to stop them when someone >> is under the door, so it is not real high-tech stuff. >> >> But, you can get modular electronic timers for general >> industrial control purposes. Some have dials, others have >> screwdriver slot adjustments or switches to set the time. >> >> Jon >> >> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> >> Dive into the World of Parallel Programming The Go Parallel Website, >> sponsored >> by Intel and developed in partnership with Slashdot Media, is your hub for >> all >> things parallel software development, from weekly thought leadership blogs >> to >> news, videos, case studies, tutorials and more. Take a look and join the >> conversation now. http://goparallel.sourceforge.net/ >> _______________________________________________ >> Emc-users mailing list >> Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net >> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users >> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Dive into the World of Parallel Programming The Go Parallel Website, > sponsored > by Intel and developed in partnership with Slashdot Media, is your hub for > all > things parallel software development, from weekly thought leadership blogs to > news, videos, case studies, tutorials and more. Take a look and join the > conversation now. http://goparallel.sourceforge.net/ > _______________________________________________ > Emc-users mailing list > Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. http://www.avast.com ------------------------------ Message: 2 Date: Sat, 21 Mar 2015 21:45:22 +0200 From: Viesturs L?cis <viesturs.la...@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [Emc-users] Simple, adjustable timer To: "Enhanced Machine Controller (EMC)" <emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net> Message-ID: <CAKNeY+dDuaFZJ5MZ3dN+BogxrYNmbKcEFg=q3dsetm8jkpx...@mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 2015-03-21 21:11 GMT+02:00 Dave Cole <linuxcncro...@gmail.com>: > I'd run the input to a unused Mesa 24 volt input and put some logic into > Classic Ladder for a couple of timers to condition the input with time > on and time off delays so you don't short cycle the grit loader. Or > just tie it in via hal if no timers are required. Yes, I already have it hooked to gpio pin, currently the hopper is switched on/off by a checkbutton on pyvcp panel. I thought about using classicladder and few timers there, but the thing is that this solution is not easy to adjust for operator. Correct timing pattern is unknown at the moment, and I do not think I want to provide instructions over the phone on how to use classicladder, so I thought that 2 spinboxes in vcp panel as a source for the time (in seconds, number of servo periods or whatever) and few HAL modules (like oneshot etc) might do the trick, but did not come up with anything reasonable, so I was hoping for some hints. Viesturs ------------------------------ Message: 3 Date: Sun, 22 Mar 2015 00:27:17 +0000 From: Chris Morley <chrisinnana...@hotmail.com> Subject: Re: [Emc-users] Simple, adjustable timer To: EMC <emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net> Message-ID: <blu174-w5022ba61ad80ecb6e17050c0...@phx.gbl> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > From: viesturs.la...@gmail.com > Date: Sat, 21 Mar 2015 21:45:22 +0200 > To: emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net > Subject: Re: [Emc-users] Simple, adjustable timer > > 2015-03-21 21:11 GMT+02:00 Dave Cole <linuxcncro...@gmail.com>: > > I'd run the input to a unused Mesa 24 volt input and put some logic into > > Classic Ladder for a couple of timers to condition the input with time > > on and time off delays so you don't short cycle the grit loader. Or > > just tie it in via hal if no timers are required. > > Yes, I already have it hooked to gpio pin, currently the hopper is > switched on/off by a checkbutton on pyvcp panel. > I thought about using classicladder and few timers there, but the > thing is that this solution is not easy to adjust for operator. > Correct timing pattern is unknown at the moment, and I do not think I > want to provide instructions over the phone on how to use > classicladder, so I thought that 2 spinboxes in vcp panel as a source > for the time (in seconds, number of servo periods or whatever) and few > HAL modules (like oneshot etc) might do the trick, but did not come up > with anything reasonable, so I was hoping for some hints. > > Viesturs > In classicladder you can dynamically change the timer time with an assignment element. http://www.linuxcnc.org/docs/2.6/html/ladder/classic_ladder.html#_iec_timers %TM0.P=%IW0 will set IEC timer 0 at whatever classicladder.0.s32in-00 is This could be connected to a vcp spinbutton to select the time. Chris M ------------------------------ Message: 4 Date: Sat, 21 Mar 2015 20:35:22 -0500 From: Dave Cole <linuxcncro...@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [Emc-users] Simple, adjustable timer To: emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net Message-ID: <550e1c5a.2090...@gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed I'd go the Classic Ladder route and program a 1 second timer and use that to increment a counter when the timing conditions exist. Then do a comparison to a preset value for the number of seconds of preset time. You could use a spinbox to set the value of the preset for the comparison. I know that would work. http://www.linuxcnc.org/docs/html/ladder/ladder_examples_fr.html Dave On 3/21/2015 2:45 PM, Viesturs L?cis wrote: > 2015-03-21 21:11 GMT+02:00 Dave Cole <linuxcncro...@gmail.com>: >> I'd run the input to a unused Mesa 24 volt input and put some logic into >> Classic Ladder for a couple of timers to condition the input with time >> on and time off delays so you don't short cycle the grit loader. Or >> just tie it in via hal if no timers are required. > Yes, I already have it hooked to gpio pin, currently the hopper is > switched on/off by a checkbutton on pyvcp panel. > I thought about using classicladder and few timers there, but the > thing is that this solution is not easy to adjust for operator. > Correct timing pattern is unknown at the moment, and I do not think I > want to provide instructions over the phone on how to use > classicladder, so I thought that 2 spinboxes in vcp panel as a source > for the time (in seconds, number of servo periods or whatever) and few > HAL modules (like oneshot etc) might do the trick, but did not come up > with anything reasonable, so I was hoping for some hints. > > Viesturs > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Dive into the World of Parallel Programming The Go Parallel Website, > sponsored > by Intel and developed in partnership with Slashdot Media, is your hub for > all > things parallel software development, from weekly thought leadership blogs to > news, videos, case studies, tutorials and more. Take a look and join the > conversation now. http://goparallel.sourceforge.net/ > _______________________________________________ > Emc-users mailing list > Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. http://www.avast.com ------------------------------ Message: 5 Date: Sat, 21 Mar 2015 20:36:44 -0500 From: Dave Cole <linuxcncro...@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [Emc-users] Simple, adjustable timer To: emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net Message-ID: <550e1cac.4020...@gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed On 3/21/2015 7:27 PM, Chris Morley wrote: > >> From: viesturs.la...@gmail.com >> Date: Sat, 21 Mar 2015 21:45:22 +0200 >> To: emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net >> Subject: Re: [Emc-users] Simple, adjustable timer >> >> 2015-03-21 21:11 GMT+02:00 Dave Cole <linuxcncro...@gmail.com>: >>> I'd run the input to a unused Mesa 24 volt input and put some logic into >>> Classic Ladder for a couple of timers to condition the input with time >>> on and time off delays so you don't short cycle the grit loader. Or >>> just tie it in via hal if no timers are required. >> Yes, I already have it hooked to gpio pin, currently the hopper is >> switched on/off by a checkbutton on pyvcp panel. >> I thought about using classicladder and few timers there, but the >> thing is that this solution is not easy to adjust for operator. >> Correct timing pattern is unknown at the moment, and I do not think I >> want to provide instructions over the phone on how to use >> classicladder, so I thought that 2 spinboxes in vcp panel as a source >> for the time (in seconds, number of servo periods or whatever) and few >> HAL modules (like oneshot etc) might do the trick, but did not come up >> with anything reasonable, so I was hoping for some hints. >> >> Viesturs >> > In classicladder you can dynamically change the timer time with an assignment > element. > http://www.linuxcnc.org/docs/2.6/html/ladder/classic_ladder.html#_iec_timers > > %TM0.P=%IW0 > > will set IEC timer 0 at whatever classicladder.0.s32in-00 is > > This could be connected to a vcp spinbutton to select the time. > > Chris M > I wondered about that. That makes it way too easy.. ;-) Dave --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. http://www.avast.com ------------------------------ Message: 6 Date: Sun, 22 Mar 2015 10:02:52 +0200 From: Viesturs L?cis <viesturs.la...@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [Emc-users] Simple, adjustable timer To: "Enhanced Machine Controller (EMC)" <emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net> Message-ID: <cakney+dv6wq4ikk-aspenxngkocetv756k5ipij_svpmjp0...@mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 2015-03-22 2:27 GMT+02:00 Chris Morley <chrisinnana...@hotmail.com>: > %TM0.P=%IW0 > > will set IEC timer 0 at whatever classicladder.0.s32in-00 is > > This could be connected to a vcp spinbutton to select the time. Awesome, thank you! Viesturs ------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dive into the World of Parallel Programming The Go Parallel Website, sponsored by Intel and developed in partnership with Slashdot Media, is your hub for all things parallel software development, from weekly thought leadership blogs to news, videos, case studies, tutorials and more. Take a look and join the conversation now. http://goparallel.sourceforge.net/ ------------------------------ _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users End of Emc-users Digest, Vol 107, Issue 53 ****************************************** ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dive into the World of Parallel Programming The Go Parallel Website, sponsored by Intel and developed in partnership with Slashdot Media, is your hub for all things parallel software development, from weekly thought leadership blogs to news, videos, case studies, tutorials and more. Take a look and join the conversation now. http://goparallel.sourceforge.net/ _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
