Re: [Emc-users] Seeking ideas how to sync an AC generator to 60 HZ average.
Generally they adjust the frequency throughout the day. As the load on the system increases the frequency drops. To increase the frequency they bring more generators on line. If the frequency gets too high they reduce the generating capacity. The really tricky bit is matching generating capacity to the load well enough to maintain a reasonably accurate 50/60Hz Les On 23/11/2010 15:17, Roland Jollivet wrote: I heard once (here in SA) that the mains cycles were adjusted close to midnight, so that the number remained consistent on a daily basis. I don't know how it's arranged though, since there are so many power stations to sync. Regards Roland -- Increase Visibility of Your 3D Game App Earn a Chance To Win $500! Tap into the largest installed PC base get more eyes on your game by optimizing for Intel(R) Graphics Technology. Get started today with the Intel(R) Software Partner Program. Five $500 cash prizes are up for grabs. http://p.sf.net/sfu/intelisp-dev2dev ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] OT ultra-reliable, long life PC
In my experience hard drives that are kept running continuously often last longer than ones that are started and stopped on a regular basis. Les On 24/10/2010 10:38, Ian W. Wright wrote: Dell, replaced with Intel, and now Kingston... - He does use the machine quite intensively, 16 - 18 hours a day but I have cheap hard drives running in desktops which have been on permanently for over 4 years now so I would have expected much better. -- Nokia and ATT present the 2010 Calling All Innovators-North America contest Create new apps games for the Nokia N8 for consumers in U.S. and Canada $10 million total in prizes - $4M cash, 500 devices, nearly $6M in marketing Develop with Nokia Qt SDK, Web Runtime, or Java and Publish to Ovi Store http://p.sf.net/sfu/nokia-dev2dev ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] OT ultra-reliable, long life PC
I have to admit I like Dells as well. They seem to be pretty well designed. My network server has a fairly old motherboard with an AMD 500MHz processor. They don't run as hot as modern CPUs so it will run fanless with an oversized heatsink. I also have a 12V fan running on 5V just for peace of mind. The OS boots off a CF card but main storage is 2x 300GB mechanical hard drives. Every day it backs up one drive to the other. It has been running 24/7 for many years. The PSU is a 600W one with an oversized fan running on 5V instead of 12V. The computer probably only pulls around 100 - 150W so the PSU is hardly ticking over. I have a SSD in my office computer for the fantastic speed. However it did fail after less than 6 months which is rather worrying. It was replaced under warranty but it doesn't bode well for long term life. Les On 23/10/10 05:04, Jon Elson wrote: Based ENTIRELY on my personal experience, I would go with a used Dell Optiplex. One good thing about the used thing is that they come pre tested. Now, as for how much of their lifetime has been used up, I don't really know. But, I have sold a number of them, and have used them, and hauled some of them back and forth to a number of EMC meetings s -- Nokia and ATT present the 2010 Calling All Innovators-North America contest Create new apps games for the Nokia N8 for consumers in U.S. and Canada $10 million total in prizes - $4M cash, 500 devices, nearly $6M in marketing Develop with Nokia Qt SDK, Web Runtime, or Java and Publish to Ovi Store http://p.sf.net/sfu/nokia-dev2dev ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] OT ultra-reliable, long life PC
Hi Jon, I used hdparm to tell the drive to spin down after 5 minutes of inactivity. The backup is simply rsync running as a cron job. The SSD I used in my office machine was a Kingston. I have to say I was impressed by their customer service. I emailed them on Monday and got an RMA number within an hour. I sent the drive back and had the replacement by Thursday. They offer a 3 year warranty so they must expect them to be pretty reliable. To be honest, even if the SSD is as unreliable as a hard drive, I would still use it. The computer feels so much more responsive with an SSD. Les Do you have a script that spins up the backup drive, runs the backup and then spins it down? If so, I'd like to see how you did that! If you don't spin down the backup drive, it may wear out at the same time as the main one. I have kind of planned on moving to an SSD with daily hard-drive backup, but haven't worked out the exact mechanics of how to do it. I just got a 250 gb SATA drive for the backup, but haven't figured out what SSD to get, they are still a bit expensive. If this works out, I might do the same on my server, too. I have a SSD in my office computer for the fantastic speed. However it did fail after less than 6 months which is rather worrying. It was replaced under warranty but it doesn't bode well for long term life. I don't have a huge turnover in files on my desktop system, but would be kind of afraid to do this without daily backup. I just was horrified to discover that if you recall an old backup project in K3B, it doesn't add any files that were created since the project was saved. I ASSUMED that it recalled only the directories, and backed up all files NOW in those directories! YIKES, glad I discovered this feature before I needed to recover files! Jon -- Nokia and ATT present the 2010 Calling All Innovators-North America contest Create new apps games for the Nokia N8 for consumers in U.S. and Canada $10 million total in prizes - $4M cash, 500 devices, nearly $6M in marketing Develop with Nokia Qt SDK, Web Runtime, or Java and Publish to Ovi Store http://p.sf.net/sfu/nokia-dev2dev ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] OT Re: DXF to G-Code
The only limit is the number of lines of code. I'll send you a license that will remove the limit for about 30 days so you can try it out properly. Les Newell www.sheetcam.com On 10/10/2010 21:05, Marshland Engineering wrote: Thanks Chaps I did download it last night and it seems to be very good. Any idea on what limitations there are on the demo version. It seems to be running without any problems. -- Beautiful is writing same markup. Internet Explorer 9 supports standards for HTML5, CSS3, SVG 1.1, ECMAScript5, and DOM L2 L3. Spend less time writing and rewriting code and more time creating great experiences on the web. Be a part of the beta today. http://p.sf.net/sfu/beautyoftheweb ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] DXF to G-Code
Yes, it will perform all of the normal 2.5D milling functions. Les On 11/10/2010 17:23, Igor Chudov wrote: Dave, can Sheetcam do basic 2.5 D milling (such as drilling holes, pocketing etc). -- Beautiful is writing same markup. Internet Explorer 9 supports standards for HTML5, CSS3, SVG 1.1, ECMAScript5, and DOM L2 L3. Spend less time writing and rewriting code and more time creating great experiences on the web. Be a part of the beta today. http://p.sf.net/sfu/beautyoftheweb ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] DXF to G-Code
It won't currently do conical or spherical pockets. The Linux version should run under Ubuntu 10.04 32 bit but several people have had problems. I haven't yet found out why. However the Windows version runs quite nicely under Wine. Les On 11/10/10 18:25, Igor Chudov wrote: Can it do, say, conical or spherical pockets? And does it work under Ubuntu 10.04? Thanks Les. -- Beautiful is writing same markup. Internet Explorer 9 supports standards for HTML5, CSS3, SVG 1.1, ECMAScript5, and DOM L2 L3. Spend less time writing and rewriting code and more time creating great experiences on the web. Be a part of the beta today. http://p.sf.net/sfu/beautyoftheweb ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] OT Re: DXF to G-Code
Yes. The Linux and Windows versions are pretty nuch the same, though the Linux verson is getting a bit out of date now. The license will work with both the Linux and Windows versions. Les Does the limit apply to the Linux version too ? *am* -- Beautiful is writing same markup. Internet Explorer 9 supports standards for HTML5, CSS3, SVG 1.1, ECMAScript5, and DOM L2 L3. Spend less time writing and rewriting code and more time creating great experiences on the web. Be a part of the beta today. http://p.sf.net/sfu/beautyoftheweb ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] EMC controlled sniper robot
Use a paintball gun instead? Fire paint balls at a wall and write your name :-) Les On 07/10/10 05:24, Bill J wrote: You may want to re-think advertising anything about actually building this, you're going to be in violation of a few BATFE regulations. They're not nice to people that violate their regulations. -- Beautiful is writing same markup. Internet Explorer 9 supports standards for HTML5, CSS3, SVG 1.1, ECMAScript5, and DOM L2 L3. Spend less time writing and rewriting code and more time creating great experiences on the web. Be a part of the beta today. http://p.sf.net/sfu/beautyoftheweb ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Multiple external Estop switches
I would strongly recommend that your Estops directly shut down the machine. Even if the computer crashes, Estop should still work. If the machine starts removing parts of your anatomy you want to know that Estop WILL shut it down no matter what else happens. To run multiple switches, the best bet is to use normally closed switches and run them in series. If any one switch breaks the circuit the machine stops. Les On 21/09/10 10:23, Mark Wendt wrote: external estop switch that I'd like to activate. The current working estop is on the control box and is hooked in through pin 10 on parallel port 0. Works fine, lasts a long time. The pendant estop switch is hooked in through pin 15 on parallel port two. I've tried a number of different things - different variable names, but it seems the -- Start uncovering the many advantages of virtual appliances and start using them to simplify application deployment and accelerate your shift to cloud computing. http://p.sf.net/sfu/novell-sfdev2dev ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Servos cannot calm down -- maybe I should go away from velocity mode in amplifiers?
Two velocity loops shouldn't be a problem. Have you tried reducing the amp gain? Somewhere the amps must have controls for the loop gain. Try turning the gain down. It doesn't matter if the amp velocity loop is a bit weak as EMC's loop will compensate. Les On 13/09/2010 15:37, Igor Chudov wrote: I posted a message to this list that my servo motors cannot calm down after a motion. Right now my amplifiers are set to velocity mode and I use a tachometer for velocity feedback. So, the amps themselves have a velocity loop that they close. There is essentially two loops per axis, one in EMC2 and one in the amplifier. -- Start uncovering the many advantages of virtual appliances and start using them to simplify application deployment and accelerate your shift to cloud computing http://p.sf.net/sfu/novell-sfdev2dev ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Servos cannot calm down -- maybe I should go away from velocity mode in amplifiers?
Yes, with this loop, stability is more important than accuracy. You can still get get very good results with no velocity feedback at all. Les Maybe I should turn the gain on the amplifier loop way down? i -- Start uncovering the many advantages of virtual appliances and start using them to simplify application deployment and accelerate your shift to cloud computing http://p.sf.net/sfu/novell-sfdev2dev ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Servos cannot calm down -- maybe I should go away from velocity mode in amplifiers?
I would turn the posts down a bit and see if it makes much difference. If it does then turn them down a bit more. If it makes no difference then it could be that the drives aren't the problem. Take a photo or mark the pots before you tweak them. That way if something goes wrong at least you knwo where they were. Les -- Start uncovering the many advantages of virtual appliances and start using them to simplify application deployment and accelerate your shift to cloud computing http://p.sf.net/sfu/novell-sfdev2dev ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Lathe ATC integration
I really can't understand why they use a stepper for this task. There is no need for expensive stepper drivers and mucking about with allowing for lost pulses. A DC motor works easily as well if not better. Here is a video of an Emco conversion I did. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4PrCejPbZ8 All you need is a relay output and a simple encoder with one pulse per tool. With the relay off the motor is driven in reverse through a current limiting resistor. This holds the turret firmly in place against the pawl. With the relay energised it runs the motor at full power forwards. To change tool you work out how many tools you need to index then turn the relay on and count pulses from the encoder. When you reach the desired count, turn off the relay and it locks in place. In the above conversion I used a simple hexagonal cam and a microswitch as the encoder. If you want to do a really good job of it, add an index signal to find tool 1. At startup you rotate the turret until you see the index. I never bothered. I just set it up to remember the current tool number when you restart. Les On 26/07/10 02:27, Steve Stallings wrote: Sorry, but the pawl is essential to how it operates. The counter rotation is limited by the pawl to the exact position where the tool should rest. These tool turrets will only work with the spindle rotating in the normal direction, pushing the tool back against the pawl, but they do work well for such a simple design. They were used by Southbend, Emco Maier, and many others. Steve Stallings -- The Palm PDK Hot Apps Program offers developers who use the Plug-In Development Kit to bring their C/C++ apps to Palm for a share of $1 Million in cash or HP Products. Visit us here for more details: http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;226879339;13503038;l? http://clk.atdmt.com/CRS/go/247765532/direct/01/ ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Machine Lubrication via EMC
I would suggest that you try ClassicLadder. It is a little overkill for just the lube pump but once you get the hang of it, you will probably find lots of other uses for it. For instance on my lathe it takes a second or two after they are enabled for the drives to signal back that they are ok. I use a timer triggered off the drives enable that ignores the drives ok signal for the first couple of seconds. Probably the best signal to enable the pump is one of the drive enables. It doesn't matter which one because as far as I know they all come on together anyway. If you want to be extra safe, make the drive enable signal also reset the timer so that you always get a shot of oil when you enable the drives. This way, if the machine has been sat in estop for a while you get an immediate shot of oil before you start moving. Les -- This SF.net email is sponsored by Sprint What will you do first with EVO, the first 4G phone? Visit sprint.com/first -- http://p.sf.net/sfu/sprint-com-first ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Jog under PAUSE / tool cnange
I've been running emc2 all day today and every job has required a manual tool change. What I do is simply divide up my program and end each section with M00 so it doesn't continue past that point, then I just hit escape, jog, change tools, touch off, and then use run from here on the first line of the next section. Which is exactly what my tool change hack does. It just automates the process. Les -- ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Jog under PAUSE / tool cnange
Les' manual toolchange fix allows that without the risk of the unknowns involved with the run from here command. Steve Blackmore Er, actually it does use run from here. For example if you were to use all incremental code from the tool change onwards it would foul up in a big way. You get away with it because no-one in their right mind is going to use incremental code directly after a tool change anyway. Les -- ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Jog under PAUSE / tool cnange
How about tagging each move? Each move has a unique number. If you stop to change tool halfway through the system knows exactly what move it is on and how far through that move it is. For instance you may be 50% through move 5227. When you restart, the interpreter dry runs the code using the new tool offsets until it hits move 5227. This could be in the middle of a subroutine, or canned cycle. It doesn't matter where it is. You now need to set the coolant/spindle outputs to the result of the dry run then restart from half way through that move. This is pretty much a variation of the existing 'run from here' code that my tool change hack takes advantage of. The current code already tags moves with the current line number so this would just be extending that function. If you are part way through a CV blended move you won't be able to start in exactly the same point you stopped but it should be close enough to make no real difference. Pausing and restarting with the existing code probably results in slightly different blended tool paths. I suppose in theory you could tag the output of the TP and dry run it as well. This should end you up in exactly the same place you started. The only time I can see that this would fall over is if you use incremental code from the start or if you use clever subroutines that generate different code for every run. I don't think any system is going to be totally fool proof. However the current 'run from here' code has the same limitations and has been in use for some time now. Les Stephen Wille Padnos wrote: It seems a lot of people either didn't fully read John's email, or didn't fully understand the implications of it. (I'm just responding to Steve because this happens to be the last email I read - nothing personal :) ) Offsets are applied in the interpreter, and the already-offset motions are queued for the motion controller to execute. If you change the tool offset, the queue has to be discarded and re-filled with a new set of offset motions. Executing G-code can change the interpreter state, e.g. by changing variable values (or coordinate offsets, G90/91 motion modes ...). This increases the complexity of re-running code quite a lot, since we would need a way of returning the interpreter to the state it was in when the executing motion was queued. That's not an easy problem. - Steve -- ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Jog under PAUSE / tool cnange
As run from selected line just do RUN FROM SELECTED LINE! and if machine is metric and in 1'st line you have G20 then part come out realy big. and if somwhere within program some variables are set after Run from selected line they have big chance to be wrong. I thought it re-ran the whole code. My mistake. I probably got confused by Mach which does re-run the whole code. -- ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Jog under PAUSE / tool cnange
I agree. There is no need for an estop button in the GUI. In fact the start button is of dubious value. On any machine I build you have to physically press a button to enable the drives. Trying to do it in the GUI will do nothing. Les Slavko Kocjancic wrote: I'm aware of that. And I have Hardware ESTOP even in smalest machine. But sadly I see machines that rely only on keyboard key as estop. The best thing is to remove that button from AXIS GUI. Let's force users to be safer. -- ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Jog under PAUSE / tool cnange
It has been a while since I last looked at it but if I remember correctly my 'fix' is just a hack to the tool change routine. on a tool change it takes a note of the current line then stops the interpreter. You can then jog etc. Afterwards it just does a 'run from here'. This only works on a tool change and can't be safely implemented during pause. It is also pretty easy to get things horribly out of sync if you aren't careful. That is why I didn't ask for it to be included in EMC. Les On 15/05/10 20:19, Dave wrote: OK.. now I am confused. I haven't looked at Les' jog during tool change fix. Where is that fix documented? Is it in the Wiki? I have no idea why that is not in V2.4. Perhaps no one asked that it be included? Are you saying that you can do a jog during a tool change but you cannot do a jog during a pause? I can clearly see the value of doing a jog during a pause as I have seen cutters get bound up with stringy swarf many times. Dave -- ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Tangential tool configuration
Yes, SheetCam can do tangential control. The tricky bit will be the mechanical design. You need to make sure the point where the jet contacts the work does not move at all as you rotate it. Can you get a joint that will withstand the pressure and allow rotation? Les Eric H. Johnson wrote: Viesturs, I was able to do it through Sheetcam (http://www.sheetcam.com/) and slightly customizing the post for some special conditions required for use with an ultrasonic knife. I expect Leslie Newell will chime in on this, as it does require a special post which I do not believe is included in the standard distribution of sheetcam. Regards, Eric -- Download Intel#174; Parallel Studio Eval Try the new software tools for yourself. Speed compiling, find bugs proactively, and fine-tune applications for parallel performance. See why Intel Parallel Studio got high marks during beta. http://p.sf.net/sfu/intel-sw-dev ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Tangential tool configuration
I would like to do it without any additional cost and in EMC so that i can use my current CAM application, so that is why i was asking, if someone has managed to implement preprocessor for EMC that does tangential control. I fully understand. Apart from the monetary cost of buying another package you then need to spend time and effort learning how to use it. No, that point will move, if the head rotates around C and the head is tilted around B axis. I believe that some additional work with kinematics module will solve this issue and EMC will calculate all the necessary compensating moves Theoretically you should be able to do it all with kinematics but it could be tricky to implement. You would have two options: 1) As you suggested, set B to the kerf angle then rotate C to be tangential to the cut path 2) Have A as tilt left/right and B as tilt front/back then use kinematics to operate both axes as you cut. The kinematics would have to offset X and Y as it tilts A and B. This would be a variation on the standard 5 axis kinematics. My apologies, i do not completely understand, what did You mean by this question :) If you are using scheme 1 above you need a joint on the nozzle that can handle rotation as the C axis rotates. A rotary joint then can handle waterjet pressures is likely to be very expensive. I suppose you could mount the nozzle assembly in a bearing so the nozzle itself does not rotate. Les -- Download Intel#174; Parallel Studio Eval Try the new software tools for yourself. Speed compiling, find bugs proactively, and fine-tune applications for parallel performance. See why Intel Parallel Studio got high marks during beta. http://p.sf.net/sfu/intel-sw-dev ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] EMC2 to Compact Flash
If you use a CF to IDE adapter you can install EMC on it just like any other hard drive. There is some useful stuff on the wiki http://wiki.linuxcnc.org/emcinfo.pl?Install_To_CompactFlash Les On 13/04/10 22:49, RogerN wrote: I'm interested in trying to run my EMC2 lathe from a CF card. I bought a 4Gb CF card, can I make an Acronis backup of my EMC2 hard drive and restore on the CF card? Or if I try to install from the Live CD will it let me select the USB CF drive and leave my working hard drive alone? I want to try it out on the CF card but I don't want it to destroy what works on my hard drive. Thanks! -- Download Intel#174; Parallel Studio Eval Try the new software tools for yourself. Speed compiling, find bugs proactively, and fine-tune applications for parallel performance. See why Intel Parallel Studio got high marks during beta. http://p.sf.net/sfu/intel-sw-dev ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] CAM solutions
SheetCam www.sheetcam.com isn't open source but it is pretty reasonably priced and there is a Linux version as well as a Windows version. The Linux version is a little out of date at the moment but the Windows version runs well under Wine. I am working on an update to the Linux version. Les Karl Schmidt wrote: What are people using to generate tool paths? I dug into this a few years back and put my notes here: http://wiki.xtronics.com/index.php/CAD_CAM#Linux_friendly_CAD_CAM_packages I've not found usable Open-source software - so I'm looking for something affordable that works. Can anyone compare bobcat with synergy? ,.,. I'm also interested in getting contacts from EMC users in the Lawrence - Topeka - Kansas city area - reply off list.. -- Download Intel#174; Parallel Studio Eval Try the new software tools for yourself. Speed compiling, find bugs proactively, and fine-tune applications for parallel performance. See why Intel Parallel Studio got high marks during beta. http://p.sf.net/sfu/intel-sw-dev ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Jog under PAUSE / tool cnange
While my 'jog during tool change' code mostly works it is not foolproof. I wrote it quickly to get around the problem but it was never properly tested or finished. I can't find it here. Steve, you probably have the most up to date version. Les Steve Blackmore wrote: Les Newall's jog during toolchange is a must and should be implemented in the release version. It works fine and is invaluable for those using collets for tool holding and tool length is not repeatable thus making the tooltable pretty useless. So easy then to jog, touch off and re-zero Z. Steve Blackmore -- Download Intel#174; Parallel Studio Eval Try the new software tools for yourself. Speed compiling, find bugs proactively, and fine-tune applications for parallel performance. See why Intel Parallel Studio got high marks during beta. http://p.sf.net/sfu/intel-sw-dev ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Absolute Encoder Feature Request
The way I got around this problem is to use the hal_input component with a USB game port adapter such as this one http://cgi.ebay.com/15-Pin-GamePort-to-USB-Port-Adapter-for-Flight-Joystick_W0QQitemZ310199439311QQcmdZViewItemQQptZVideo_Games_Accessories?hash=item483953cfcf. These ones http://cgi.ebay.com/USB-to-15-Pin-Joystick-Gameport-Converter-Adaptor-Cable_W0QQitemZ260550295897QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Computing_ComputerComponents_JoysticksJoypadsGamepads?hash=item3caa020159 don't work very well. These adapters work with the absolute position of a potentiometer so there are no problems with losing position after a shutdown. It is also much cheaper than using encoders. If you want you can use a hacked joystick but the adapter is more tidy. I did find that they are a bit sensitive to EMI so it is best to keep them well away from power wiring. I know this goes against the EMC way of doing things but who is going to want to use a GUI based override when you have a nice convenient knob on the front panel? I use this for feed override, spindle override and rapid override. Les Kirk Wallace wrote: Thanks to some help from the IRC (tom3p), I got the encoder working with AXIS's spindle override. One problem I am still having is that when AXIS starts, the spindle override always starts at 100% even though the knob is usually at a different setting. When I move the knob, the override moves proportionally with the knob until I hit the 0 to 1024 encoder boundary. After this the knob and the slider agree. Is there a way to have AXIS start with the knob setting? -- Download Intel#174; Parallel Studio Eval Try the new software tools for yourself. Speed compiling, find bugs proactively, and fine-tune applications for parallel performance. See why Intel Parallel Studio got high marks during beta. http://p.sf.net/sfu/intel-sw-dev ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Absolute Encoder Feature Request
I have to say that pretty much every machine I have ever worked on (I do quite a bit of repair work) that had an override used a pot, giving an absolute position. I don't think I have seen one with an incremental control for the overrides. Les John Kasunich wrote: The NIST/EMC way of doing things doesn't just apply to pendant controls vs GUI controls. It is a general principle for any time there can be more than one source of control. For example, a large machine, especially something like a horizontal boring machine, might have two (or more) sets of jogwheels and buttons, one on each side of the table, for the convenience of the operator. -- Download Intel#174; Parallel Studio Eval Try the new software tools for yourself. Speed compiling, find bugs proactively, and fine-tune applications for parallel performance. See why Intel Parallel Studio got high marks during beta. http://p.sf.net/sfu/intel-sw-dev ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Installing
Hi Ray, It is looking for a drive that doesn't exist. Either you have changed your hardware configuration or you installed over the previous Ubuntu installation and something got left behind. I would suggest that you re-install from the live cd but make sure the hard drive is reformatted when you install. Les I tried installing EMC2 from the live cd and it failed. I installed Ubuntu 8.04 and it ran fine, but when I installed EMC2 and tried booting the rtai kernel I received this message: Loading, please wait... check root = bootarg cat /proc/cmdline or missing modules, devices : cat/proc/modules ls/dev ALERT! /dev/disk/by-uuid/04305177-f75e-4da0-8f56-f258c89ba7db does not exist. Dropping to shell! I know nothing about Linux, is there any chance someone can explain how to fix this problem? -- Let Crystal Reports handle the reporting - Free Crystal Reports 2008 30-Day trial. Simplify your report design, integration and deployment - and focus on what you do best, core application coding. Discover what's new with Crystal Reports now. http://p.sf.net/sfu/bobj-july ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Compact Flash card for Hard Drive
Hi Kirk, You must be very lucky. I have a whole stack of dead drives. When a hard drive fails it is very often catastrophic failure and you lose everything. One day it's working fine, the next day it won't boot. With Flash if you do get a failure it is likely to only be a few bits which can be detected and often recovered with parity and error checking. The quoted number of write cycles is the guaranteed minimum and most sectors will handle far more. I use a flash microcontroller that has a rated life of 100 write cycles. Some of my development boards have probably had ten times that or more and I have never had a programming failure. With the setup I use on my lathe for example you don't notice any difference in usability. You can load and save files exactly as you would with a hard drive. The only noticeable difference is that you lose the log files if you reboot. Les Kirk Wallace wrote: I am not trying to disagree, but my experience has not indicated that hard drives are unreliable. I haven't had a hard drive fail on me for over ten years. Usually the whole PC gets replaced before a drive goes out, and I usually get second hand PC's as a replacement. My file server drive is at least eight years old. So from my experience, generally, hard drives are pretty darn reliable. Right from the get go, with flash, there is all this talk about memory cell life, and how best to get by with having data storage without actually using it. I get the feeling that you never know when they will fail and I just don't need the extra stress in my what's left of my life. It seems like getting a gallon of ice cream and leaving it in the freezer, so you will always have some. In my house, everyone thinks it's there to be eaten, so you can't be shy. -- Let Crystal Reports handle the reporting - Free Crystal Reports 2008 30-Day trial. Simplify your report design, integration and deployment - and focus on what you do best, core application coding. Discover what's new with Crystal Reports now. http://p.sf.net/sfu/bobj-july ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Deadband, FF1 and FF2
FF1 adds a percentage of the commanded velocity to the output. Ideally in a steady state FF1 should be high enough that P doesn't have to do anything. FF2 adds a percentage of the commanded acceleration to the output. Ideally FF2 should be high enough that D doesn't do anything. Basically they are creating a rough mathematical model of the motor and machine so that emc can calculate the motor's needs in advance. If the model was perfect you would not need any P or D but in practice you still need them reasonably high. Here is how I set them up. First set I to zero and set the following error limit quite high (say 1 or more). Set P and D as low as possible while not tripping the following error limit. Now do long moves at your average feed rate and keep turning up FF1 until the following error during steady state movement is as low as possible. If you go too high the following error will start going up again. Next do a series of short moves and keep turning FF2 up until the following error during acceleration is as low as possible. Once you have FF1 and FF2 set up, play with P and D to get rid of the remaining errors. Test P and D over a range of feed rates and at rapid rate. Finally tweak I to get the steady state error down. Afterwards you may need to adjust I and D up a bit more. Expect to spend around 1 day per axis to get it spot on. and also- is deadband the window over and under 0 volts that yields no movement? does this mean that you can kill steady-state oscillations by increasing deadband? Only use deadband to stop I from continually tripping between two encoder counts at idle. Normally 1/2 of one encoder count is enough deadband. You cannot use deadband to stop oscillation. I would set this to 0 until the axis is properly tuned. Also- if you guys dont mind- please gimme an Idea of what you have these variables set to and what kinda results they gave you. How long is a piece of string? These values are VERY dependent on your setup. There are no fixed values that you can use. On my lathe I can get 0.001 following error at all times with rapid up to 4m/min or 160IPM. At feed rate or stationary it is much lower. Les Pat Lyons wrote: Hello- I'm having some difficulty tuning my P, I, and D variables. I've used PID before in school, and understand how they are calculated, but I wanted to ask about the three terms I don't really understand... I found in the wiki these explanations: *FF1 = 2.000 a velocity feedforward, helps reduce following error proportional to velocity * * FF2 = 0.25 an acceleration feedforward, helps reduce foll. error when accelerating* However I dont quite understand them- would someone be willing to maybe define the math behind these concepts? and also- is deadband the window over and under 0 volts that yields no movement? does this mean that you can kill steady-state oscillations by increasing deadband? Thanks again!!! -pat -- Let Crystal Reports handle the reporting - Free Crystal Reports 2008 30-Day trial. Simplify your report design, integration and deployment - and focus on what you do best, core application coding. Discover what's new with Crystal Reports now. http://p.sf.net/sfu/bobj-july ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users -- Let Crystal Reports handle the reporting - Free Crystal Reports 2008 30-Day trial. Simplify your report design, integration and deployment - and focus on what you do best, core application coding. Discover what's new with Crystal Reports now. http://p.sf.net/sfu/bobj-july ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Compact Flash card for Hard Drive
The trick is to turn off virtual memory. Obviously you must have enough ram to handle this. If you are just running emc then the memory requirements are fairly low. 512M works well on my lathe. There are other workarounds as I describe on the wiki page. Les RogerN wrote: I'm not sure if this is relevant with Linux, but we have some Siemens MicroBox PLC's at work, they run Windows XP embedded IIRC. They have a compact flash drive and they have to protect the CF because Windows will try to read/write constantly as virtual memory and wear the CF cards out shortly. Then we have the problem that if we reboot, cycle power, or lose power, the settings are lost and we have to re-enter settings that have changed since last save with the write filter off. Anyway, if Linux uses a drive as virtual memory, I would think it would have the potential to wear out a CF card fairly quickly, though their may already be work arounds for it. RogerN -- Let Crystal Reports handle the reporting - Free Crystal Reports 2008 30-Day trial. Simplify your report design, integration and deployment - and focus on what you do best, core application coding. Discover what's new with Crystal Reports now. http://p.sf.net/sfu/bobj-july ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Compact Flash card for Hard Drive
There are two potential issues with CF cards in IDE adapters. Some adapters don't implement UDMA correctly which can cause problems. With windows you get intermittent read and write errors. With Linux the kernel usually crashes when it tries to mount the drive. Also some cards report themselves as removable storage. Windows won't install on a removable drive. You can however get around this by installing on a hard drive then making an image of the hard drive and copying it on to the CF card. You then need to use a boot manager such as Grub or the one that comes with xfdisk. Les Dave wrote: I have some Windows based systems running off CF cards. I found that some low dollar IDE to CF adapters simply would not work to boot windows reliably. I ended up buying some more expensive Addonics SATA to CF adapters and that solved the boot issues that I ran into.I used Transcend 133X CF cards and the systems I did have been running for about 1 1/2 years now - with zero failures. I used part of the Windows XP embedded OS software so I could turn off the random disk writes entirely. Some CF cards simply cannot boot an OS. -- Let Crystal Reports handle the reporting - Free Crystal Reports 2008 30-Day trial. Simplify your report design, integration and deployment - and focus on what you do best, core application coding. Discover what's new with Crystal Reports now. http://p.sf.net/sfu/bobj-july ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Compact Flash card for Hard Drive
The main reason for me is reliability. Generally hard drives are the least reliable part of a computer. I am fed up with swapping out failed hard drives. Les Kirk Wallace wrote: Is there any advantage to using a CF or thumb drive as opposed to a 2.5 or 1 hard disk? Physical size should not be a big issue since most machines and equipment boxes usually are fairly large. The difference in power consumption and price between a flash drive and a small hard disk compared to other power and money sinks is negligible. A hard drive is a little more convenient to set up. I just have an Inquiring mind. I'm thinking if you guys are going through the trouble, there must be a reason for it? -- Let Crystal Reports handle the reporting - Free Crystal Reports 2008 30-Day trial. Simplify your report design, integration and deployment - and focus on what you do best, core application coding. Discover what's new with Crystal Reports now. http://p.sf.net/sfu/bobj-july ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Compact Flash card for Hard Drive
I have done quite a few of these now. Unless you know your card adapter can handle UDMA, disable it. Not all card adapters are wired for UDMA and you get all sorts of problems if you try to use UDMA on them. As far as I know all SATA CF card adapters can handle UDMA. It may give you a bit more speed so once you get everything working, try enabling UDMA and see if it makes any difference. Some cards identify themselves as removable storage. This makes it difficult to install Windows but Linux doesn't seem to mind. Les UDMA is probably not necessary. 1 x is 150 kB/second, or the speed of an audio CD. The 133x card is therefore about 20 MB/second, which is pretty slow by hard disk standards. It should be OK to set UDMA on, since the BIOS or Linux will fall back to the highest supported mode anyway. I think LBA is the best mode in general, but you may need Large for one reason or another. -- Let Crystal Reports handle the reporting - Free Crystal Reports 2008 30-Day trial. Simplify your report design, integration and deployment - and focus on what you do best, core application coding. Discover what's new with Crystal Reports now. http://p.sf.net/sfu/bobj-july ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Compact Flash card for Hard Drive
Hi Gene, But booting a normal linux like the version we use for emc, that uses ext3 as the filesystem would probably use it up in a week or 2. Don't underestimate the number of write cycles a CF card can handle. As long as you disable atime and stick the logs into a ram drive, as I describe in the wiki, a CF card will last a very long time. I even run unmodified copies of Windows on CF cards and I have never had a failure. Les -- Let Crystal Reports handle the reporting - Free Crystal Reports 2008 30-Day trial. Simplify your report design, integration and deployment - and focus on what you do best, core application coding. Discover what's new with Crystal Reports now. http://p.sf.net/sfu/bobj-july ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Mister for small mill
Sounds like you have an aquarium air valve. Find a hobby shop that sells models that use engines. Ask for a mixture needle assembly. Most shops have a stack of broken models out the back that they raid for parts. Generally the needle valves have a 1/8 hose barb on one end and a thread on the other that screws into the carb. They give very fine control over the flow. If you find a good shop they may well have remote needle valves for aircraft. These have two hose barbs. Les Without a doubt. The so-called needle valve I got from Lowes didn't want to shut off, so I took it apart to discover there was nothing needle about it. The reason it wouldn't turn off is that the threads in the body weren't tapped deep enough, and I had to force it the last half turn to actually get to a seated condition. ATM it is open maybe 2 degrees from screwed down tight, so the oil is just sort of seeping through it and that seems to be more than enough to keep the mill and work wet. -- Let Crystal Reports handle the reporting - Free Crystal Reports 2008 30-Day trial. Simplify your report design, integration and deployment - and focus on what you do best, core application coding. Discover what's new with Crystal Reports now. http://p.sf.net/sfu/bobj-july ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] How Exactly does a Mister Work
In general flood with a water based coolant will shift more heat than a mist system. Flood also usually shifts the chips better. On the down side it is very messy and can actually reduce the life of carbide tooling. Carbide tooling can take a lot of heat but it hates thermal shock. The cutting edges of a milling cutter operating in flood coolant will get heated rapidly while they are actually cutting then suddenly cooled as they hit the coolant. This can cause cracking and chipping. Oil has a much lower thermal capacity and conductivity than water so it doesn't cause as much thermal shock. To a large extent you can get around the problem by using high pressure flood coolant to make sure the cutter does not get a chance to heat up. So why are mist systems still fairly rare in industry? Two main reasons spring to mind. 1) flood keeps the work and machine at an even temperature so you don't need to allow for thermal expansion. 2) Flood has always been used. If it works, why change it? In my experience carbide works well with oil misters, HSS needs flood or a heavy mist of water based coolant. Les John Harris wrote: Hi All, Back in the late 50s when, as a young apprentice, I was turning knobs on a milling machine as part of my education, the shop foreman replaced the flood system on the mill with a new-fangled mister. The mister feed tank was filled with the same stuff that was used for the flood system. That is water with 15(?) percent soluble oil. The foreman told me that the mist cooled the part and the tool by evaporating the water, and the oil gave some lubrication to the cutting action. Also misting greatly aided the water evaporation compared to the flood system. As the foreman is by now no longer with us, I feel safe in raising the question, was what he told me true? If it was, why are you now using only oil that is much less efficient in absorbing heat by evaporation than water? Regards all. I love reading the chat. -- Let Crystal Reports handle the reporting - Free Crystal Reports 2008 30-Day trial. Simplify your report design, integration and deployment - and focus on what you do best, core application coding. Discover what's new with Crystal Reports now. http://p.sf.net/sfu/bobj-july ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] How Exactly does a Mister Work
Carbon dioxide is 66% oxygen (CO2). As aluminum is very active it will strip oxygen out of the CO2. That is also the reason why you should never use a CO2 fire extinguisher on magnesium fires. Les Andy Pugh wrote: I am fairly sure it would displace the oxygen (being heavier) and so would both cool and reduce oxide formation. You might have hit on a cunning plan, and it would look cool too. -- Let Crystal Reports handle the reporting - Free Crystal Reports 2008 30-Day trial. Simplify your report design, integration and deployment - and focus on what you do best, core application coding. Discover what's new with Crystal Reports now. http://p.sf.net/sfu/bobj-july ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Mister for small mill
I would be concerned about having a very fine needle sticking out. It would be very vulnerable. I have no problems with a piece of 1/16 OD tube and a needle valve. You are going to need a needle valve anyway because some jobs need more oil than others. Les Gene Heskett wrote: On Thursday 19 November 2009, stus...@gmail.com wrote: Glue the needle in place - then cut it off That is also a thought, use Ian's idea to swage it down to nearly zip, use the needles piercing point to bore it to fit the needle, and then glue the needle in and wear the point off with some of Mr. Russel's fine stone. Trying to cut it will probably just crush it as its only 0.012 OD. Thanks. These are all good ideas. Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile -- Let Crystal Reports handle the reporting - Free Crystal Reports 2008 30-Day trial. Simplify your report design, integration and deployment - and focus on what you do best, core application coding. Discover what's new with Crystal Reports now. http://p.sf.net/sfu/bobj-july ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Mister for small mill
As far as I know you don't have to hold it hot for very long. Get it red, quench and job done. Quenching in battery acid helps remove the black oxide but beware of the fumes. Les Andy Pugh wrote: 2009/11/19 Gene Heskett gene.hesk...@gmail.com: What is the best procedure to anneal just the last 1/8 of this tubing, it might work if I can get it dead soft again. Just get it hot and keep it that way for a while. There is no phase transition to worry about with brass. -- Let Crystal Reports handle the reporting - Free Crystal Reports 2008 30-Day trial. Simplify your report design, integration and deployment - and focus on what you do best, core application coding. Discover what's new with Crystal Reports now. http://p.sf.net/sfu/bobj-july ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Mister for small mill
If you are machining some of the softer grades of aluminum you need a pretty much constant flow of coolant. You don't need much but if it runs dry it can clog the cutter very quickly. Also if you are using carbide a sudden squirt of coolant could cause the cutting edges to crack. Les Ron Ginger wrote: If you really dont want mist in the air there was an article in an old magazine, I think HOME SHOP MACHINIST about building a solenoid operated pump with a nozzle held by a mag base and pointed at the work. It used a 555 timer IC to generate a tiny pump stroke every few seconds. This directed just a drop of coolant right on the tool edge, and with a simple knob you adjust the rate to get just enough coolant. This one has been 'on my list' for a while, I think its the best approach for a home shop. Someday Ill actually get around to it. ron ginger -- Let Crystal Reports handle the reporting - Free Crystal Reports 2008 30-Day trial. Simplify your report design, integration and deployment - and focus on what you do best, core application coding. Discover what's new with Crystal Reports now. http://p.sf.net/sfu/bobj-july ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Mister for small mill
From past experiences with IC radio controlled models, this is a definite drawback to castor oil. Les Ian W. Wright wrote: There's good reason not to want castor oil mist spraying about too much - those first world war fighter aces were never constipated breathing in all the castor oil fumes coming from their engines - and the brown underpants were not always a result of clashes with the enemy!! ;-} -- Let Crystal Reports handle the reporting - Free Crystal Reports 2008 30-Day trial. Simplify your report design, integration and deployment - and focus on what you do best, core application coding. Discover what's new with Crystal Reports now. http://p.sf.net/sfu/bobj-july ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Mister for small mill
Here is how I did it. I took a short piece of brass bar and drilled most of the way through with a drill slightly bigger than the smallest tube I could easily obtain. This creates the air jet. I then drilled the rest of the way with a drill the same size as the tube. Next I drilled diagonally in from the back to allow air to pass around the oil pipe to the air jet. The small tube is pushed right through and soldered in place. It projects about 1mm past the end of the jet. The whole lot is then pressed into the plastic nozzle on one of those cheap loc-line hoses. A small plastic pipe runs from the small tube in the jet, down the loc-line and out of a made-up block at the bottom. It sounds more complicated than it is. I found the trick is to make sure the pipe down the middle projects past the end of the air nozzle. This way you get a stream of fine droplets in a cylinder of fast moving air. If the oil pipe is flush with the air outlet you get a fine mist that hangs in the air rather than going on the work. Note that I use a pressurized oil feed as this setup doesn't generate much vacuum. The pressurized oil is supplied with one of those cheap combined air regulator/filter and oiler units on eBay like item #250528218868. I took out the air filter bits and added a pipe fitting on the bottom of the water trap. The water trap now becomes the oil reservoir. The reservoir is only small but it lasts quite a long time as you only need a trace of oil. It pays to use oil designed for misters as it is less toxic than the usual cutting oils. The stuff I use is vegetable oil based and a gallon was damn expensive. However it will last many years. Les I used the smallest tube I could find. Gene Heskett wrote: Greetings all; I find that I can get brass tubing in pretty small sizes, like 1/16 OD, usually sized to be a slip fit in the next larger size, so this makes it easy to solder up a small nozzle, with the far end built up to 1/4 for attaching the air supply. Now, I'm wondering if there is a standard formula that would tell me the exact geometry it would take to make a 2 tube, one blowing across the end of the other with air, and the second pulling from a nearby quart of cutting oil, in the same manner as the old hand pumped Hudson sprayers, to add a slight mist of cutting oil to the air blowing on the mill? Angles, center separations etc? I think I can just solder the tubing(s) to another small piece of sheet brass to maintain the alignment. -- Let Crystal Reports handle the reporting - Free Crystal Reports 2008 30-Day trial. Simplify your report design, integration and deployment - and focus on what you do best, core application coding. Discover what's new with Crystal Reports now. http://p.sf.net/sfu/bobj-july ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Mister for small mill
Hi Gene, almost exactly the same as an air brush gun, where the liquid comes out of the center. So that center tube feeding in the oil is surrounded by by the air exiting through the gap between the OD of that tube and the drilled holes walls. Yup. The tricky bit is finding the right drill diameter. You only need a very small gap otherwise you end up using LOTS of air. With a small gap you can use a higher pressure and most of the flow is then air dragged in by the high velocity air stream. A better way may be to drill the other way round. A big hole followed by a smaller hole that is the jet size. The oil tube is then fitted through a star shaped insert that fits in the larger hole. The air travels through the gaps in the star. Slightly more complicated but it reduces the restriction on airflow so again you can decrease the jet gap and increase efficiency. Mine uses a fair amount of air and the compressor kicking in on a fairly regular basis can get annoying. Oh yes, I forgot to mention you really need a needle valve and one-way valve in the oil line. If you don't have a one-way valve the oil drains back and takes a while to start flowing next time you turn on the air. I used 4mm nylon pipe from the oil reservoir to the mister. You can buy 4mm push fit needle valves and one way valves designed for pneumatics. Neat, and looks to be fairly rugged too. The thin inner tube is a little vulnerable but so far it has survived on my lathe where it often gets wrapped up in swarf. Good to know that the atomization can be overdone. Yes you want to keep atomization to a minimum. pump, triggering it with a spare relay on the spindle controller, spindle running, get oil in the air. I use a solenoid valve on the air supply, driven from the mist coolant output. Les -- Let Crystal Reports handle the reporting - Free Crystal Reports 2008 30-Day trial. Simplify your report design, integration and deployment - and focus on what you do best, core application coding. Discover what's new with Crystal Reports now. http://p.sf.net/sfu/bobj-july ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Toothed belt pulleys [Was: Re: G2 moves puzzle ]
Most cad packages will open dxf files. A quick Google search popped up LinuxCad http://www.linuxcad.com/. It says it opens dxf files. Les Erik Christiansen wrote: Asking wikipedia about dxf file, I've found a long list of applications which can display that stuff. I'll see if I can find one of them on linux. (I see that it's a text file, but looking at that only tells me that there are lots of arcs in the pulley. :-) Erik -- Let Crystal Reports handle the reporting - Free Crystal Reports 2008 30-Day trial. Simplify your report design, integration and deployment - and focus on what you do best, core application coding. Discover what's new with Crystal Reports now. http://p.sf.net/sfu/bobj-july ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Where to put controllers?
Hi Ian, The signal lines are FAR more sensitive to noise than the stepper lines. It is virtually impossible to pick up enough noise on the motor lines to affect the motor. I don't think your Z axis problem was directly related to pickup on the motor wires. It is possible that there was some noise picked up and it was re-radiated in your control cabinet. I always try to keep the signal lines as short as possible, especially in noisy environments. Les Ian W. Wright wrote: HI, I'm in the process of building a second little mill - this time a stepper-driven gantry type and I'm wondering what the pros and cons might be of different driver locations. On the first mill I had all the controls in a big box under the bench with heavy wires going to each motor but I'm wondering now whether any advantage might be gained in this project by positioning the driver cards adjacent to each motor. This would shorten the cables carrying power to the motor but would mean carrying signal cables from the parallel port around the machine together with DC power wires to each card. One reason for considering this is that, on my previous machine, I had a problem with the Z-axis stepper picking up interference from brushed spindle motors and so I had to change to a 'universal' AC motor drive for the spindle which was heavy and limited in speed. I tried various methods of screening the Z-axis motor leads and put ferrite beads over them but nothing seemed to work. As I'd like to use a high speed spindle based on a DC motor on this mill, I wondered if it might be easier to shield the 'signal-in' wires rather than the power wires to the motor. Any thoughts? Ian _ Ian W. Wright Sheffield UK -- Come build with us! The BlackBerryreg; Developer Conference in SF, CA is the only developer event you need to attend this year. Jumpstart your developing skills, take BlackBerry mobile applications to market and stay ahead of the curve. Join us from November 9#45;12, 2009. Register now#33; http://p.sf.net/sfu/devconf ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] A couple of videos
Hi Andy, It's nice to see one of those lathes with a new lease of life, they are very nice machines. Yes, they are good machines. I stripped off most of the enclosure as it is mainly used in manual mode for one-offs. The electronics now run on single phase, including the inverter which is powered from a 415V transformer. It makes the lights flicker a bit when it winds up to speed :-) I wonder if eBay 120464845266 would be any help for the drilling operation? My toolpost isn't compatible with Dixon holders. The machine came with a nice set of Dixon holders but a lot of my tooling was too big to fit so I fitted the tool post off my old Gate Rigidturn. If I was doing a lot I would have put the drill in a tool holder but as I was only doing 8 I couldn't be bothered. Les -- Let Crystal Reports handle the reporting - Free Crystal Reports 2008 30-Day trial. Simplify your report design, integration and deployment - and focus on what you do best, core application coding. Discover what's new with Crystal Reports now. http://p.sf.net/sfu/bobj-july ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] G76
Hi Chris, Steve wants the display units to change with the G-code. If the code is metric, the display is metric. If the code is inch the display is in inches. Having inch code with metric DROs or vice-versa can be very confusing. Les You can pick whichever display units you want in the menu. With AXIS you can have any combination of units: inifile units, gcode program units, dro displayed units. -- Let Crystal Reports handle the reporting - Free Crystal Reports 2008 30-Day trial. Simplify your report design, integration and deployment - and focus on what you do best, core application coding. Discover what's new with Crystal Reports now. http://p.sf.net/sfu/bobj-july ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
[Emc-users] A couple of videos
Hi all, I uploaded a couple of videos to Youtube showing my EMC converted Colchester Triumph 2000. This one is cutting a keyway in a gear http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArRQhpHGtro This one is turning and threading a piece of stainless. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhYGre1xSPY Les -- Let Crystal Reports handle the reporting - Free Crystal Reports 2008 30-Day trial. Simplify your report design, integration and deployment - and focus on what you do best, core application coding. Discover what's new with Crystal Reports now. http://p.sf.net/sfu/bobj-july ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] G76
Hi Steve, Here's my take on G76: I don't understand the implementation method, in particular the drive line mentioned in the manual. The drive line is the safe clearance outside the thread. It is the current X axis position when you call G76. I normally use thread peak + 1mm. I is the distance from the drive line to the thread peak K is the distance from the thread peak to the thread root (cut depth) Was that program written for radius mode? Undoubtedly. Diameter mode is pretty recent. Wouldn't a XZ start point and an XZ end point and a return clearance distance have been more practical? And less confusing. G76 gets the job done for parallel threads but you do have to really think about it. It would appear from the parameters that the G76 doesn't support taper threads. No it doesn't. I had to do a taper thread today and the only way was with G33. Les -- Let Crystal Reports handle the reporting - Free Crystal Reports 2008 30-Day trial. Simplify your report design, integration and deployment - and focus on what you do best, core application coding. Discover what's new with Crystal Reports now. http://p.sf.net/sfu/bobj-july ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Realistic spindle encoder count for parallel port?
Hi Steve, Yep - only for threading, but in counter mode can EMC still make corrections for spindle speed variations? Yes. I am not sure if you can thread with the spindle in reverse using counter mode though. Hopefully this list allows attachments. This circuit uses a 4024 or 74CHT4024 counter. You can get them from any of the usual suspects such as RS, Rapid etc. You may well get away without R1 and C1 as they are just noise filtering. It depends on how much noise there is on your machine. The input is one line from either the A or B channel of the encoder. Actually I have just had a thought - you will probably also need to stretch the index pulse from the encoder. It is likely to be very short and at higher speeds EMC won't reliably detect it. Here is an example of a pulse stretcher circuit though you would have to change the values to suit your setup http://www.electronics-lab.com/articles/basics/components/555mono.htm Les inline: 4024.gif-- Let Crystal Reports handle the reporting - Free Crystal Reports 2008 30-Day trial. Simplify your report design, integration and deployment - and focus on what you do best, core application coding. Discover what's new with Crystal Reports now. http://p.sf.net/sfu/bobj-july___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] OT - Sheetcam
Hi Eric, The Linux version was developed and built on 8.04 so it should run. Do you have working OpenGl? If you don't have OpenGl you may get a crash as TNG loads. Les Eric H. Johnson wrote: Les, et al, I am posting here in case this is of benefit to anyone else. I was just taking another look at Sheetcam and downloaded SheetCamTNG 1.01 for Linux running on Ubuntu 8.04. Both the SheetCam libraries and SheetCam itself installed without incident. On running SheetCam I am prompted for the language, after which the Software license is displayed. Upon selecting Ok, I get a dialog box with the heading Debug Report and stating A debug report has been generated in the directory /tmp/... The report contains the file below, where the referenced file is SheetCamTNG.xml. SheetCam itself does not load following this message. I have tried it on two different machines and get exactly the same results. Also, not that I expected there would be a difference, but I also tried booting from both the generic and rtai kernels and again got the same results. Any ideas? I can pastebin the xml file if that helps. Thanks, Eric -- Let Crystal Reports handle the reporting - Free Crystal Reports 2008 30-Day trial. Simplify your report design, integration and deployment - and focus on what you do best, core application coding. Discover what's new with Crystal Reports now. http://p.sf.net/sfu/bobj-july ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users -- Let Crystal Reports handle the reporting - Free Crystal Reports 2008 30-Day trial. Simplify your report design, integration and deployment - and focus on what you do best, core application coding. Discover what's new with Crystal Reports now. http://p.sf.net/sfu/bobj-july ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] OT - Sheetcam
I don't know what is wrong then. I have it working on this computer (9.04), my lathe (8.04) and on a 8.04 virtual machine. Can you send me a copy of the debug report. Les Eric H. Johnson wrote: Les, Yes, both machines support OpenGL. One is a workstation with an NVidia graphics accelerator on which I do most of my CAD / CAM work. It dual boots Windows and Ubuntu Linux 8.04. After it did not work there, I tried it on a notebook computer which does not have a high end graphics accelerator, but does support OpenGL. I did make one error in the previous post, the notebook computer is in fact running Ubuntu 9.04. I forgot that I had upgraded it and presumed it was 8.04. Regards, Eric The Linux version was developed and built on 8.04 so it should run. Do you have working OpenGl? If you don't have OpenGl you may get a crash as TNG loads. -- Let Crystal Reports handle the reporting - Free Crystal Reports 2008 30-Day trial. Simplify your report design, integration and deployment - and focus on what you do best, core application coding. Discover what's new with Crystal Reports now. http://p.sf.net/sfu/bobj-july ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users -- Let Crystal Reports handle the reporting - Free Crystal Reports 2008 30-Day trial. Simplify your report design, integration and deployment - and focus on what you do best, core application coding. Discover what's new with Crystal Reports now. http://p.sf.net/sfu/bobj-july ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Realistic spindle encoder count for parallel port?
If this is just for threading then you could run in counter mode. That would effectively divide the pulse rate by 4. If you still have problems then a simple binary counter such as a 74HCT93 can be used to divide one channel (counter mode only uses one channel) by 2,4,8 or whatever. 74HC series logic chips only cost a few pence. If you want I can send you a circuit diagram of how to connect up a 74HCT93. It is dead simple and can even be made by simply soldering a few wires directly to the chip. Les Steve Blackmore wrote: On Sun, 16 Aug 2009 21:00:31 -0400, you wrote: Sounds like it is time to go back to your homemade 90 count encoder. If you just intend threading and not a rotary axis with positioning, then it should work well. Hi Steve - Not an option I'm afraid, with the 3 speed belt drive installed the timing disc hits the belt tensioner arm and there's no space to fit it any other way. Steve Blackmore -- Let Crystal Reports handle the reporting - Free Crystal Reports 2008 30-Day trial. Simplify your report design, integration and deployment - and focus on what you do best, core application coding. Discover what's new with Crystal Reports now. http://p.sf.net/sfu/bobj-july ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Pulley ranges and VFD's
I have been working on a spindle component that can handle up to 16 gears. For each gear you can specify the acceleration, deceleration, min speed, max speed and output scaling. If you have a spindle encoder it uses the feedback to limit the acceleration based on spindle load. It also provides a filtered spindle speed output for a spindle speed display. I still need to do some cleanup work but it is working well on my lathe. I'll release it once I have finished tidying it up. Les I wrote a simplistic 2-gear component, called gearchange.comp. Its purpose is to do exactly what you're looking for - scale and clip the spindle speed output based on which gear is chosen. I believe it's used in the Tormach PCNC-1100 sample config. There is a PyVCP button which selects the acrive range. It could easily be extended for a 3-range gearchanger. I believe Stuart has also written a 4 or 5 gear change component, but I think his is more specifically suited for his machine (a powered gear changer with various sensors) - Steve -- Let Crystal Reports handle the reporting - Free Crystal Reports 2008 30-Day trial. Simplify your report design, integration and deployment - and focus on what you do best, core application coding. Discover what's new with Crystal Reports now. http://p.sf.net/sfu/bobj-july ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users -- Let Crystal Reports handle the reporting - Free Crystal Reports 2008 30-Day trial. Simplify your report design, integration and deployment - and focus on what you do best, core application coding. Discover what's new with Crystal Reports now. http://p.sf.net/sfu/bobj-july ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
[Emc-users] Is G76 broken in trunk?
I finally got around to testing threading on my lathe and I can't get G76 to work. I ran the G76 sample and it blows straight through the G76. Entering a G76 in MDI results in no movement and no error messages. I initially suspected my setup but G33 works fine. I can't currently use the release version because I am using several custom components. Les -- ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Is G76 broken in trunk?
Thanks Chris, If I program a thread using multiple G33 calls I get a perfect thread. It is seeing the index and the feed tracks the spindle speed. If I use G76 it is completely ignored. If I run the G76.ngc sample it completely ignores the G76. If I try single stepping through the example the next line executed after the g0z.2x.2 is g0x.5. It appears to completely ignore the intervening G76. Les I ran sim/lathe in a freshly updated master and g76 worked. Give more information if you are still having trouble. -- ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Trouble with EMC spiral example
Are you using backlash compensation? If so, what is your backlash compensation speed? Les Jeffrey Pease wrote: Hi EMC, I'm tuning my machine, and I am having some weird problems with the EMC spiral example. This issue is entirely repeatable, and seems to happen without fail regardless of any feed rate, acceleration or speed settings that I have tried. What happens is on a particular place in every arc, the X and Y axis both seem to stutter in the same way - pausing for a second before continuing to finish the arc. This occurs in the area of the arc right before each axis changes direction to start drawing the other half of the arc - so the X axis stutters at 2:30, 3:30, 8:30, and the 9:30 hour positions (the extreme left and right sides of each arc of the spiral) and the Y axis stutters at 12:30, 5:30, 6:30 and 11:30 (the extreme top and bottom of each arc). This strikes me as an unintuitive spot for this stuttering to occur for each axis, since it seems like the actual movement required at these points in each axis is relatively small - once everything speeds up, it seems fine again. I have lubricated all the guide rods and lead screws (thinking it might be some sort of binding issue), but that has not helped. The spiral appears to be perfectly smooth in these areas on the EMC preview, so I don't believe it's a programming issue. I have no explanation for why this glitch is occurring in these spots, and no real idea how to fix it. Any ideas? My machine is using steppers and lead screws. Running EMC2 on Ubuntu 8.04. Thanks, Jeff -- ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users -- ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Synchronised cam turning
Hi Jack, I have done this. A couple of years back I built a 2' x 4' router for a local wood worker. It also had an A axis that he used for turning barley twist legs and such like. It took a bit of settings up but it worked reasonably well. I created a SheetCam post to do the appropriate axis swapping. I don't currently have an A axis for my mill and I can't really justify the time and money to build one just for this job. The idea of using a lathe with a few code tweaks is much more appealing :-) I did try playing around with turning the spindle into an A axis but I had lots of trouble with tuning. The combination of inverter drive and a fair amount of backlash in the gearbox made things rather difficult. I might have another go and see if I can get some semblance of stability at speed. The spindle encoder gives 4000 counts/rev so if I can get the PID loop stable it should have enough resolution for this job. Les Jack wrote: I went to a ShopBot event last year and saw where folks did 'turning' using their indexer. The process they used was to determine the 'final diameter' and layed out a rectangle of 'unwraped' surface (length as the length of the turning, width of the 'final diameter'). Then put whatever they wanted on the 'triangle' using various methods. Once done, the pathed it, and used the just routed the piece as a plane, using the indexer as the 'x' axis, and the 'y' axis as the indexer. You might be able to take that thought and make your 'unwraped surface' to be the profiles of the 'unwrapped' cams. Let us know how you attack this (if you do). -- Enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge This is your chance to win up to $100,000 in prizes! For a limited time, vendors submitting new applications to BlackBerry App World(TM) will have the opportunity to enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge. See full prize details at: http://p.sf.net/sfu/Challenge ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Synchronised cam turning
Hi Jeff, Sorry, I meant do you know of any components that use shared memory to communicate between a user space part and a real time part. Les Jeff Epler wrote: No, I don't think there are any. I proposed something similar (but it doesn't have the adding/removing offsets problem) to some folks doing a scanline laser with emc, but to the best of my knowledge they didn't go that direction with their implementation. Jeff -- Enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge This is your chance to win up to $100,000 in prizes! For a limited time, vendors submitting new applications to BlackBerry App World(TM) will have the opportunity to enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge. See full prize details at: http://p.sf.net/sfu/Challenge ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Synchronised cam turning
Thanks Jeff, you have been very helpful. One last question for the moment ;-). What is the best way to compile C components? With .comp components you use comp with it's various switches. What is the correct command line for a C component? Les Jeff Epler wrote: On Tue, Jul 21, 2009 at 08:42:24AM +0100, Leslie Newell wrote: Hi Jeff, Sorry, I meant do you know of any components that use shared memory to communicate between a user space part and a real time part. Oh, yes. There are several: Userspace Realtime halscopescope_rt halsampler sampler halstreamer streamer and of course emc's task (userspace) and motion (rt) communicate through such a shared memory area. halstreamer is probably the most similar to what I'm suggesting, because a userspace process loads data and a realtime process consumes it. Jeff -- Enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge This is your chance to win up to $100,000 in prizes! For a limited time, vendors submitting new applications to BlackBerry App World(TM) will have the opportunity to enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge. See full prize details at: http://p.sf.net/sfu/Challenge ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users -- Enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge This is your chance to win up to $100,000 in prizes! For a limited time, vendors submitting new applications to BlackBerry App World(TM) will have the opportunity to enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge. See full prize details at: http://p.sf.net/sfu/Challenge ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
[Emc-users] Synchronised cam turning
Has anyone tried turning a cam on a lathe using EMC? I tried using lots of G33 moves but they seem to get out of sync. My machine has pretty high acceleration and top speed but even at very low spindle speeds (14rpm) it doesn't seem to keep up. Does EMC have any other way of doing synchronised moves apart from G33/G76? Les -- Enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge This is your chance to win up to $100,000 in prizes! For a limited time, vendors submitting new applications to BlackBerry App World(TM) will have the opportunity to enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge. See full prize details at: http://p.sf.net/sfu/Challenge ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Synchronised cam turning
Hi Jeff, I would have replied earlier but I blew up my X11 settings and it took me this long to get it working again... is one of two things: you have lots of tiny moves, Yes. There isn't much choice in this. To even get a simple offset circle you need to generate lots of short lines. or you did not properly calculate your K values. I don't /think/ I did. For this job, K gets rather confusing. However changing the spindle speed affects the results so I would guess that K isn't the problem. emc's spindle synchronized motion is more or less the traditional motion planner, but using spindle angle instead of time to control the forward progress. Specifically, it has the same behavior when there are a lot of small segments: it will plan each individual move so that it can stop by the end of that move and stay within machine constraints. Is there any way to trick the motion planner into thinking the machine has infinite acceleration during synchronized cutting? As long as you are careful with the code, following error shouldn't be too bad. emc and gcode don't, but of course hal does. You could create a component which offsets the commanded X according to the spindle angle and the shape of the cam. The component would include the mathematical description of the cam shape, r=f(theta)+r0. Hmm, interesting idea. Not too bad for a simple circular cam but unfortunately I have been supplied with CAD drawings and they are wacky profiles. Several different profiles, all one-offs. Is there any way for a RT component to read a file when it initializes? I could store the profile in a text file which I could generate with SheetCam. Thanks, Les -- Enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge This is your chance to win up to $100,000 in prizes! For a limited time, vendors submitting new applications to BlackBerry App World(TM) will have the opportunity to enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge. See full prize details at: http://p.sf.net/sfu/Challenge ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Synchronised cam turning
Heh. An A axis would be too easy :-) TBH I think I may pass on this job. Too many unknowns. I will check if the cams can be made in pieces. If so then I could simply mill the lobes. Les Gene Heskett wrote: On Monday 20 July 2009, Dave Caroline wrote: An excuse to put a milling spindle on the crossslide maybe. will the clearance angle be ok if turning Dave Caroline I think that is something I would do with the A axis. I have turned stuff with it, but haven't tried to make a cam yet. I got stuck needing the laathe for something, but had a large piece of alu I didn't want to lose the center of, so I did the other small piece on the mill. Slow, but worked well. -- Enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge This is your chance to win up to $100,000 in prizes! For a limited time, vendors submitting new applications to BlackBerry App World(TM) will have the opportunity to enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge. See full prize details at: http://p.sf.net/sfu/Challenge ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Synchronised cam turning
Thanks Jeff I'll look into it. Do you know off-hand if there are any current components that do this? Les rtai has shared memory between realtime components and userspace. This is how the communication between task and motion works, and how it works between the userspace and realtime parts of scope, sampler, and streamer. In this case, you'd have to arrange for userspace to load a 1D array of f(theta) values before beginning the cam cycle, then the realtime f(theta) becomes: find nearest table values to theta, and use an interpolation algorithm on those values (such as linear interpolation on two values) to give the offset. Jeff -- Enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge This is your chance to win up to $100,000 in prizes! For a limited time, vendors submitting new applications to BlackBerry App World(TM) will have the opportunity to enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge. See full prize details at: http://p.sf.net/sfu/Challenge ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Uni-directional approach?
As long as your backlash is the same all over the travel then backlash compensation can work quite well in a point to point application. It helps to have a little bit of friction in the ways. If you are using ball slides then it doesn't work as well. With lower friction slides, keeping the acceleration down may help. Les cmg...@sover.net wrote: For a point to point application. A simple x/y table could benefit by a unidirectional approach feature. Is this specialization supported by G-code and EMC? OR is backlash compensation the avenue to achieve the required results? A brief seach for such a topic was not rewarded, perhaps I need to increase my search awareness factor. Regards Cal -- Enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge This is your chance to win up to $100,000 in prizes! For a limited time, vendors submitting new applications to BlackBerry App World(TM) will have the opportunity to enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge. See full prize details at: http://p.sf.net/sfu/Challenge ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users -- Enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge This is your chance to win up to $100,000 in prizes! For a limited time, vendors submitting new applications to BlackBerry App World(TM) will have the opportunity to enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge. See full prize details at: http://p.sf.net/sfu/Challenge ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Hostmot2 homing
Hi Ken, It does make sense. It looks like the encoder outputs are push-pull. Just fro the record I never said they had pullups. Someone just mentioned that some encoders do have weak pullups. Les Kenneth Lerman wrote: Does that make sense? If the terminator is really 100 ohms, that would imply that the pull up is in the order of ten ohms. (Am I correct in my assumption that the power supply is five volts?) -- Enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge This is your chance to win up to $100,000 in prizes! For a limited time, vendors submitting new applications to BlackBerry App World(TM) will have the opportunity to enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge. See full prize details at: http://p.sf.net/sfu/Challenge ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Hostmot2 homing
Hi Peter, What is the default value for the filter? I found that a value of 1 nearly sorted the problem. A value of 2 was pretty well rock solid. Just to be sure I set it to 6 as my max frequency is well under 200kHz. I guess it is already on your to-do list but I would guess that it would be well worth adding this as a parameter with a recommendation in your docs to set it for as low a frequency as practical. Thanks, Les Well if the extra filtering of the TTL inputs helps, I would do the trick with raw-write to setup the filter time constant (the QFilterRate register at 0x3400). Currently the filter frequency is 33 MHZ which gives a 450 ns time constant: good for encoder count rates up to ~4 MHz, if the filter was set to divide by 8 (loaded with 6) you could still count up to 500 KHz but reject pulses up to 4 uSec long. You can divide the 33 MHz by up to 2049 (which _will_ be too slow, limiting your count rate to ~2KHz (filter on) or 10KHz (filter off) -- Enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge This is your chance to win up to $100,000 in prizes! For a limited time, vendors submitting new applications to BlackBerry App World(TM) will have the opportunity to enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge. See full prize details at: http://p.sf.net/sfu/Challenge ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Hostmot2 homing
Hi Peter, One difference is that the TTL inputs have an RC filter, the differential inputs have none. Hmm, that could still point towards a noise issue then. I wonder if your index outputs can drive the termination resistor. Have you measured you index and /index outputs for reasonable differential output voltage when terminated by the 7I29? The outputs swing from 0.48V to 4.1V. It makes no noticeable difference in either TTL or differential modes. Also are you sure about the jumpering: differntal mode is selectec with jumper W1 or W4 moved so its closer to the encoder 10 pin header Yes. At the moment the jumper is away from the header. Im not sure there are any guarantees of what will happen if one input is connected to a possibly noisy input line and the other is open. I would not expect any outputs signal as I would expect the termination resistor to make the open input follow the noise driven input. According to your 7i33 data sheet you are using a 26LS32 which has a differential voltage sensitivity of 100mV. I disconnected the line at the encoder end (very difficult at the drive end with those IDC headers) so noise pickup on the line could be enough to get past that threshold. The 26LS32 has a built in pull up resistor on one input and a pull down on the other to try to catch a disconnected line. However your terminating resistor is probably swamping the effect of the internal resistors. Yes, and we've pretty much had 0 trouble with it. Heh. I'm good at breaking things :-) Les -- Enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge This is your chance to win up to $100,000 in prizes! For a limited time, vendors submitting new applications to BlackBerry App World(TM) will have the opportunity to enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge. See full prize details at: http://p.sf.net/sfu/Challenge ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Hostmot2 homing
Hi Peter, Each output swings from 0.48V to 4.1V. When IDX is high, /IDX is low. Therefore the voltage between them is about 3.6V. Les What I was asking about (maybe not very well) is differential drive: in other words measured between IDX and /IDX. This should be positive in one index state and negative in the other. -- Enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge This is your chance to win up to $100,000 in prizes! For a limited time, vendors submitting new applications to BlackBerry App World(TM) will have the opportunity to enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge. See full prize details at: http://p.sf.net/sfu/Challenge ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Hostmot2 homing
Hi Ken, Yes, this was under load. Les Kenneth Lerman wrote: Did you measure that while it was connected to the receiver? If the terminator is 100 ohms and the pull up is 1K ohms, the voltage under load would only be around 400 mv. That should be fine, I think. If the pull up is 10K, then you would have around 40 mv. I don't think that would work too well. Ken -- Enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge This is your chance to win up to $100,000 in prizes! For a limited time, vendors submitting new applications to BlackBerry App World(TM) will have the opportunity to enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge. See full prize details at: http://p.sf.net/sfu/Challenge ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Using MDI or Jog during a program?
If you want to align your path to the start and end points you will have to both shift and rotate your coordinates. How good are your programming skills? EMC is pretty easy to work with so it wouldn't be difficult to write an application that does exactly what you want. Les Tim Hedlund wrote: Unfortunately, my tool path is complicated. Usually it will have several turns in the path. It is almost like we teach the controller way points to travel to and thru. Thanks, Tim H. -- Enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge This is your chance to win up to $100,000 in prizes! For a limited time, vendors submitting new applications to BlackBerry App World(TM) will have the opportunity to enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge. See full prize details at: http://p.sf.net/sfu/Challenge ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Hostmot2 homing
Hi Peter, I have been doing some more tests on this. Playing around with filters and screening had no noticeable effect. However I have hit an odd anomaly. Just out of interest I switched the 7I29 to single ended input and suddenly it is rock solid. So it can't be noise pickup in the cabling. Any ideas why differential inputs are causing a problem? I know both index and \index are connected correctly. Another odd thing - in differential mode if I disconnect one line the input toggles randomly, obviously picking up noise. Again, shouldn't a balanced input give no output with one line disconnected? By the way, is the 7i29 encoder circuitry the same as the 7i33? Les The hardware works (just tested SV12 encoder 5). There may not be much apparent difference between inverted or non-inverted index because they are both edge triggered. It looks like the driver does not set the ABGateIndex bit so what I said about index happening all the time with the wrong index polarity would not happen, just the home position might change by a count or 2 depending in index width (assuming a normal rotary encoder short index). If swapping the leads solves your problem, it might be electrical troubles. The current driver not setting ABGateindex means a narrow index pulse would work regardless of polarity though the home position would change slightly depending on whether the rising or falling edge generates the index event (since an edge is always needed) -- Enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge This is your chance to win up to $100,000 in prizes! For a limited time, vendors submitting new applications to BlackBerry App World(TM) will have the opportunity to enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge. See full prize details at: http://p.sf.net/sfu/Challenge ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
[Emc-users] Bug: Halui.spindle.forward is not the same as M03
On my lathe I have spindle on/off buttons that are implemented using halui.spindle.forward and halui.spindle.stop. I have noticed some odd effects when using them. Often the spindle starts at 500 RPM instead of the commanded speed. For instance if I enter M3S1000 in MDI the spindle runs at 1000rpm. Now if I use the buttons to stop and restart the spindle it often restarts at 500rpm instead. If using CSS, when I turn on the spindle using a button, CSS does not work until I use M03 or change the spindle speed in MDI or a program. I just ran some further tests and you get similar results using the spindle on buttons in Axis, though the default speed is very low. Les -- Enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge This is your chance to win up to $100,000 in prizes! For a limited time, vendors submitting new applications to BlackBerry App World(TM) will have the opportunity to enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge. See full prize details at: http://p.sf.net/sfu/Challenge ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Using MDI or Jog during a program?
That script will only work on a tool change. I don't think there is a way of running a script from M0 or M1. Tim, is the weld line straight or a complicated shape? If I was doing it I think I would write a script to do all of it and bypass the g-code completely. Another alternative would be to write a script that grabs the current torch positions then generates a complete g-code program that you can then run. Les Hubert Bahr wrote: Tim This seems somewhat related to a recent request of mine. I had asked about being able to use MDI or manual modes during a tool change. Leslie provided me with a new hal_manualtoolchange which allowed me move etc. then hit continue and return to the program. In this case I would zero my z-axis or if necessary change other offsets as well. Then hit continue. I believe he did this in python. I can provide you a copy of it as an example of possibly Leslie will chime in. Hubert Tim Hedlund wrote: I sure could use some help jogging during a program. My project involves laser beam welding, I would like to: 1. Rapid to start of weld 2. Use joystick to align start of weld (camera attached to welding head) 3. Record start position to variable 4. Rapid to end of weld 5. Use joystick to align end of weld 6. Then weld back to the starting point(variable) Everything is working just fine on my system but I can’t jog during a program to my target location, any ideas? Thanks in advance for your help! Tim H -- Enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge This is your chance to win up to $100,000 in prizes! For a limited time, vendors submitting new applications to BlackBerry App World(TM) will have the opportunity to enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge. See full prize details at: http://p.sf.net/sfu/Challenge ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users -- Enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge This is your chance to win up to $100,000 in prizes! For a limited time, vendors submitting new applications to BlackBerry App World(TM) will have the opportunity to enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge. See full prize details at: http://p.sf.net/sfu/Challenge ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
[Emc-users] bug: Axis trunk MDI history
The MDI history in Axis trunk appears to be broken. In the release version, pressing up arrow after entering an MDI command highlights the first item in the history list. In the release version it doesn't appear to reset the selection so pressing up arrow could end up selecting an item quite a way up the list. To demonstrate the bug, switch to MDI mode and press up arrow a few times. Now press enter to execute the command. Press up arrow again and it should select the first in the list. Les -- Enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge This is your chance to win up to $100,000 in prizes! For a limited time, vendors submitting new applications to BlackBerry App World(TM) will have the opportunity to enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge. See full prize details at: http://p.sf.net/sfu/Challenge ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
[Emc-users] Lost encoder detection
After my discussion with Peter last night I decided to have a go at tweaking PID. I first set it up so maxerrorI and maxerrorD also trigger the saturated output. This helped quite a bit. Next I added a function that scales all of the maxerror values when the machine has been stationary for more than a given time (0.05 seconds works well for me). The difference is startling. Before I could easily get the X axis to run from near one limit to the other limit due to I term buildup without faulting. To do this I usually had to give it a tiny nudge with the jog wheel to start movement. If you got the nudge just right it would only accelerate very slowly so the output didn't saturate. Now with the same PID settings the most I can get the axis to move is about 4mm before it faults. Scaling the max errors to 20% still leaves plenty of power to hold the axis in position. I think this would be a worthwhile addition to emc. Currently I have it as a separate component (called safe_pid) but maybe it is worth including the code in the standard pid component. With the default parameter settings the only difference in behavior is that maxerrorI and maxerrorD also trip the saturated output. Les -- Enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge This is your chance to win up to $100,000 in prizes! For a limited time, vendors submitting new applications to BlackBerry App World(TM) will have the opportunity to enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge. See full prize details at: http://p.sf.net/sfu/Challenge ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Hostmot2 homing
Hi Peter, If it is edge sensitive then as you say, inverting the signal has little effect. I was going by your previous statement where you said it was dependent on the state. After doing more tests, noise looks to be a possible culprit. It seems odd that I have a relatively bad noise problem on the index while A and B are fine. They all run down the same screened cable. I ran some tests and the other axis also very occasionally misses. Neither axis loses position while running so A and B don't seem to be affected. From your docs, A and B are filtered. Does Z have the same filtering? The 7i29 has a relatively long ribbon (about 4') so it may be that it is picking up noise. I will first add some common mode chokes to the 7i29 motor outputs (works well for Geckos and Rutex drives). If that has no effect I'll try moving the encoders to the 7i33. That would entail a lot of rerouting and remaking cables so it would be a last resort. By the way, when the encoder inputs are set up for complementary signals, what happens if one wire becomes disconnected? Is there a fault signal? Les The hardware works (just tested SV12 encoder 5). There may not be much apparent difference between inverted or non-inverted index because they are both edge triggered. It looks like the driver does not set the ABGateIndex bit so what I said about index happening all the time with the wrong index polarity would not happen, just the home position might change by a count or 2 depending in index width (assuming a normal rotary encoder short index). If swapping the leads solves your problem, it might be electrical troubles. The current driver not setting ABGateindex means a narrow index pulse would work regardless of polarity though the home position would change slightly depending on whether the rising or falling edge generates the index event (since an edge is always needed) -- Enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge This is your chance to win up to $100,000 in prizes! For a limited time, vendors submitting new applications to BlackBerry App World(TM) will have the opportunity to enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge. See full prize details at: http://p.sf.net/sfu/Challenge ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Hostmot2 homing
Thanks Peter, rate sample rate yet, but this could be tried by using the raw-write command in your HAL init file. With a 5I20, the encoder sample rate is 33 MHz, when the filter is on, 15 clocks are required to recognize an input (the ~.5 uSec above) If for example the sample rate were lowered to 3.3 MHz, those 15 clocks would now be ~5 usec, much better at eliminating PWM interference, and stil capable are reading encoder inputs up to ~400 KHz How would I go about doing that? I'll start playing with chokes and other filtering first. I prefer to stop noise rather than trying to account for it in firmware. However it would be useful as a fallback plan. If you disconnect one side of the differential inputs, that input will likely not work as differential inputs have a 130 Ohm termination resistor and enough hyteresis that they will not switch when only one input is driven. That is a pity. One of the great things about a balanced line setup is that you can detect a broken wire. There is no encoder fault detection, that is better left to FE and PID saturation detect. I am not convinced. For instance if the cable fails just as you stop of while stopped, 'I' could easily drive the motor quite hard before any fault is detected. Les -- Enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge This is your chance to win up to $100,000 in prizes! For a limited time, vendors submitting new applications to BlackBerry App World(TM) will have the opportunity to enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge. See full prize details at: http://p.sf.net/sfu/Challenge ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Hostmot2 homing
Hi Wayne, It isn't that near a fluorescent light but it is obviously in close proximity to the motor cables and it is also in the same cabinet as the 7.5kW spindle inverter. The cable isn't screened. Screened 50 way ribbon cable is difficult to obtain and very expensive. Les Wayne Patterson wrote: Leslie, If you are using this under florescent lights you will pick-up a lot of noise on a four foot cable. If the cable is shielded it shouldn't pick up much noise though. Is the cable shielded? -- Enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge This is your chance to win up to $100,000 in prizes! For a limited time, vendors submitting new applications to BlackBerry App World(TM) will have the opportunity to enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge. See full prize details at: http://p.sf.net/sfu/Challenge ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Hostmot2 homing
Thanks, I'll take a look. Les Take a look at the HostMot2 manual page about raw-write and the regmap file. The sample rate of all encoders in HM2 is controlled by the QFilterRate register at offset 0x3400. If you set this register to 0x008 you will have 10 times longer filter time constants for all encoders (theres a little discussion of this in the regmap file). Setting it to 0x800 wil get you back to 33 MHz sample clock, -- Enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge This is your chance to win up to $100,000 in prizes! For a limited time, vendors submitting new applications to BlackBerry App World(TM) will have the opportunity to enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge. See full prize details at: http://p.sf.net/sfu/Challenge ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Hostmot2 homing
Hi Peter, I can't see any way of achiving a trip in 20ms. I have the PID saturation limit hooked to my estop chain but it only trips once the amp reaches full output (BTW, the hostmot2 example config does not implement this). If the I term doesn't build up quickly to saturate the output then the axis can travel a long way. I just ran some tests and I could easily get my X axis to travel from near one limit to the other limit by disconnecting the encoder, just driven by I term. Good job I've got good limits :-) Interestingly, reducing the I term limit actually makes things worse. The I term limit doesn't trip an error but it does limit the output. Therefore you can end up with the output near maximum but not enough to trip an error. Les No, PID saturate can get that in 20 mS or less... -- Enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge This is your chance to win up to $100,000 in prizes! For a limited time, vendors submitting new applications to BlackBerry App World(TM) will have the opportunity to enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge. See full prize details at: http://p.sf.net/sfu/Challenge ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Hostmot2 homing
Hi Peter, With a small error (1 count or so) thats possible but that also most likely indicates that your integral term is way too low. LOL. Most people have been telling mee i'm using too MUCH I term... Thats probably something that should be fixed in the PID component (indicate saturate also when integral term is in limit) I might do that. It isn't exactly a difficult fix. I wonder how much it would help though as again you need a fairly high limit or you will get nuisance tripping. I am a bit paranoid on this subject as this machine can be used as a manual, using high resolution MPGs. Therefore a runaway could be quite dangerous. Les -- Enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge This is your chance to win up to $100,000 in prizes! For a limited time, vendors submitting new applications to BlackBerry App World(TM) will have the opportunity to enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge. See full prize details at: http://p.sf.net/sfu/Challenge ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Hostmot2 homing
Hi Peter, Interesting idea. You probably still need a delay to allow for braking. This isn't a real problem to implement though. Les Peter C. Wallace That gives me another idea: if commanded velocity is 0, set the PID output limit to 20% or so and use the PID saturate -- Enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge This is your chance to win up to $100,000 in prizes! For a limited time, vendors submitting new applications to BlackBerry App World(TM) will have the opportunity to enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge. See full prize details at: http://p.sf.net/sfu/Challenge ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Hostmot2 homing
How about tripping if the PID output is greater than a certain percentage and the encoder velocity is below a certain threshold? Les Peter C. Wallace wrote: I think the nuisance tripping can be avoided with the right time delay in other words if your PID output or integral term are saturated for more than 50 mS or so, you are running open loop so something is dreadfully wrong... I am a bit paranoid on this subject as this machine can be used as a manual, using high resolution MPGs. Therefore a runaway could be quite dangerous. -- Enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge This is your chance to win up to $100,000 in prizes! For a limited time, vendors submitting new applications to BlackBerry App World(TM) will have the opportunity to enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge. See full prize details at: http://p.sf.net/sfu/Challenge ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Servo tuning
Hi Jon, I am using pid. I tried at_pid but it is exactly the same. Les Jon Elson wrote: I'm beginning to suspect there has been a change in the way PID works, either due to hostmot2 or the version of EMC you and I are using. Do you use the normal PID component (loadrt pid num_chan=4)? -- Enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge This is your chance to win up to $100,000 in prizes! For a limited time, vendors submitting new applications to BlackBerry App World(TM) will have the opportunity to enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge. See full prize details at: http://p.sf.net/sfu/Challenge ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Servo tuning
Hi Alex, BINGO! You win the prize ;-) A newbie mistake on my part - I had read just before write. Putting read at the beginning fixed the problem. Now I realize what is happening, the I problem makes sense as it is effectively 1 cycle behind where it thinks it is. Thanks to all for your suggestions and help. Les Alex Joni wrote: What's your SERVO_THREAD rate? Are you sure that the functions are in the correct order added to the servo thread? (e.g. first read inputs, encoders, perform motion stuff, pid, output)? We can check if you can pastebin a halcmd show all while emc2 is running. Regards, Alex -- Enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge This is your chance to win up to $100,000 in prizes! For a limited time, vendors submitting new applications to BlackBerry App World(TM) will have the opportunity to enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge. See full prize details at: http://p.sf.net/sfu/Challenge ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Servo tuning
After a bit of playing around I am within about +/- 8 counts, no matter what I throw at it. Feeds are within about 6 counts. Grabbing hold of the servo shaft and trying to turn it by hand as hard as I can deflects the position by about 8 counts before it returns to 0. I first tuned PID as good as I could get then turned I down to 0 and the other two down to about 20%. I then set up FF1 and FF2 to give the minimum following error. Finally I turned P,I,D back up to their previous values. I think that is pretty much as good as I am going to get. Les -- Enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge This is your chance to win up to $100,000 in prizes! For a limited time, vendors submitting new applications to BlackBerry App World(TM) will have the opportunity to enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge. See full prize details at: http://p.sf.net/sfu/Challenge ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
[Emc-users] Hostmot2 homing
Now I have the motor tuning sorted out and here is my next problem... I am using hostmot2 and trying to use index and home switch. My setup is as follows: hm2 configuration: loadrt driver=hm2_pci config=firmware=hm2/5i20/SV12.BIT num_encoders=6 num_pwmgens=6 num_stepgens=0 net xinex-en axis.0.index-enable hm2_[HOSTMOT2](BOARD).0.encoder.05.index-enable setp hm2_[HOSTMOT2](BOARD).0.encoder.05.counter-mode 0 setp hm2_[HOSTMOT2](BOARD).0.encoder.05.filter 1 setp hm2_[HOSTMOT2](BOARD).0.encoder.05.index-invert 0 setp hm2_[HOSTMOT2](BOARD).0.encoder.05.index-mask 0 setp hm2_[HOSTMOT2](BOARD).0.encoder.05.index-mask-invert 0 My axis homing settings are as follows: HOME = 230 HOME_OFFSET = 230 HOME_SEARCH_VEL = 30.00 HOME_LATCH_VEL = -1.000 HOME_USE_INDEX = YES HOME_SEQUENCE = 0 note I am using millimeters. Watching GPIO 28 with halmeter I can see the index so the hardware is working correctly, going TRUE when the index is active. When I home, it appears to ignore the index completely. The machine hits the home switch, backs off then stops almost immediately when the switch breaks, ignoring the index. Watching axis.0.index-enable with halmeter I see it go TRUE for a moment when the switch releases then almost immedaitely FALSE again. Les -- Enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge This is your chance to win up to $100,000 in prizes! For a limited time, vendors submitting new applications to BlackBerry App World(TM) will have the opportunity to enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge. See full prize details at: http://p.sf.net/sfu/Challenge ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Servo tuning
Hi Terry, Actually it is very low. I am using millimeters. At the moment I have it set to one count. Les Terry wrote: Glad you got it figured out Leslie. Is your Deadband .0001? That seems kind of high But I forgot encoder count is. I had some good results lowering mine below one count,it had more of an effect than I thought it would. Sure glad you got it going. Terry -- Enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge This is your chance to win up to $100,000 in prizes! For a limited time, vendors submitting new applications to BlackBerry App World(TM) will have the opportunity to enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge. See full prize details at: http://p.sf.net/sfu/Challenge ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Servo tuning
Hi Jon, 8 counts is 0.0098mm or 0.00038. Steady state is within 1 count (0.00122mm). I'm happy with that. Les Jon Elson wrote: Well, what is 8 counts in real units? If you have coarse encoders, it could be a lot, if your encoders have very fine resolution, then that is wonderful! Jon -- Enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge This is your chance to win up to $100,000 in prizes! For a limited time, vendors submitting new applications to BlackBerry App World(TM) will have the opportunity to enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge. See full prize details at: http://p.sf.net/sfu/Challenge ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Servo tuning
Hi Peter, I have a lot more work to do on the machine and jobs queued up for it so that will have to do for the time being. If I change the servo thread frequency I'll have to re-do all of the tuning and I don't have time. When I get a bit more time I'll have a go. Thanks, Les Peter C. Wallace wrote: Depending on the mechanical frequency response of your system, you may be able to get a little better performance by speeding up the servo thread. This will improve the phase margins of the system, possibly allowing a bit more gain (and damping to go with it). A very rough rule of thumb is to have the sample rate (servo thread rate in this case) 10 to 30 times the mechanical frequency response. -- Enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge This is your chance to win up to $100,000 in prizes! For a limited time, vendors submitting new applications to BlackBerry App World(TM) will have the opportunity to enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge. See full prize details at: http://p.sf.net/sfu/Challenge ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Hostmot2 homing
Basically it is ignoring the index signal. If I press home and manually operate the home switch I can get it to home anywhere. Doing this it should only home to an integer multiple of the screw pitch. I just tried homing with HOME_SEARCH_VEL = 0 and that works correctly. It sees the index and homes to it. The problem only seems to occur when it uses the home switch. By the way, for some reason I have a following error problem when homing. Just after the home switch/index releases I can hear the machine thump and get a joint following error unless I turn the limits way high. (1mm instead of 0.05). Normally with jogging/G0 moves etc the following error is well below 0.05mm. Les This was my first guess as well. Les, can you tell us what part of this behavior you think is wrong? -- Enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge This is your chance to win up to $100,000 in prizes! For a limited time, vendors submitting new applications to BlackBerry App World(TM) will have the opportunity to enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge. See full prize details at: http://p.sf.net/sfu/Challenge ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Hostmot2 homing
That was one of the first things I tried. I have now found the problem. encoder.nn.index-invert does not work. Setting it to 1 or 0 makes no difference (at least for encoder 05). Inverting the index pulse by physically swapping the encoder outputs sorted the problem. Les Did you try index invert? Homing anywhere is a sign that index needs to be inverted -- Enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge This is your chance to win up to $100,000 in prizes! For a limited time, vendors submitting new applications to BlackBerry App World(TM) will have the opportunity to enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge. See full prize details at: http://p.sf.net/sfu/Challenge ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Hostmot2 homing
Hi Chris, You may regret asking that :-). Here we go: ini http://pastebin.ca/1490014 Hal is broken into a number of files load.hal - loads modules http://pastebin.ca/1490015 motion.hal - motion control If the spindle code looks complicated it is because of the three speed electromechanical gear change. There is loads of ClassicLadder stuff controlling it as well. http://pastebin.ca/1490017 io.hal - inputs and outputs http://pastebin.ca/1490018 mpg.hal http://pastebin.ca/1490020 These aren't finished. I have a whole raft of front panel controls still to connect up. Also there is a rotary axis that is not yet implemented. Les Chris Radek wrote: This is another sign of threads being out of order. There was a bug that caused it, but Seb fixed it quite a while back. I don't remember if it was released, or just on trunk for a while. Please pastebin your current hal and ini files. -- Enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge This is your chance to win up to $100,000 in prizes! For a limited time, vendors submitting new applications to BlackBerry App World(TM) will have the opportunity to enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge. See full prize details at: http://p.sf.net/sfu/Challenge ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Hostmot2 homing
Here you go... http://pastebin.ca/1490066 Les John Kasunich wrote: To be honest, one of the best ways to share your HAL config is to start EMC, and then (in another shell) run halcmd show all, redirect the output to a file, and post that. The show all command will show you every pin, parameter, and signal in your system, as well as your threads, etc. The HAL files describe what you want. The show all command describes what you have. Both can be useful. -- Enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge This is your chance to win up to $100,000 in prizes! For a limited time, vendors submitting new applications to BlackBerry App World(TM) will have the opportunity to enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge. See full prize details at: http://p.sf.net/sfu/Challenge ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] OpenGL on EMC2? + 7i43
I just looked back though al of your posts in this thread. They are all about problems with the operating system, not EMC. Why are you blaming the EMC guys? If you bought some Windows software then found Windows didn't like your computer, would you blame the suppliers of the software? FWIW I recently purchased a 7i20 for my lathe and it is running fine. Yes I did have to spend some time trawling the linuxcnc website for the relevant info but apart from that it pretty much works as described. Les Richard Acosta wrote: I have bough a board, directed by EMC people. I am not dissapointed with MEsa, i'm dissapointed with the people who advised me. -- Enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge This is your chance to win up to $100,000 in prizes! For a limited time, vendors submitting new applications to BlackBerry App World(TM) will have the opportunity to enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge. See full prize details at: http://p.sf.net/sfu/Challenge ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Servo tuning
I have just got the lathe on the internet so I uploaded a screen shot of the I weirdness http://imagebin.ca/view/Yh4hGxr.html. It shows a long move followed by the term returning the axis to position. The big spikes are accel/decel. Here is a shot with the I term turned down to 0 but everything else the same http://imagebin.ca/view/3Uj1P_1.html. I still need to play around with the tuning to get rid of those acceleration spikes. The accel is set very high at the moment for testing purposes. Les -- Enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge This is your chance to win up to $100,000 in prizes! For a limited time, vendors submitting new applications to BlackBerry App World(TM) will have the opportunity to enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge. See full prize details at: http://p.sf.net/sfu/Challenge ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Servo tuning
Hi Peter, One division = 0.01mm. Which screenshot are you looking at? The shot without I shows a very small static error (around 1 - 2 counts). The end of the plot in the first shot is not static error. The plot simply ran out of time before the system reached steady state. P and D are about as high as they will go. Any more and I get oscillation. Les Also looking more carefully at the plot, you have a large static error (maybe huge: is 10m 10 mills?) This means you dont have enough P -- Enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge This is your chance to win up to $100,000 in prizes! For a limited time, vendors submitting new applications to BlackBerry App World(TM) will have the opportunity to enter the BlackBerry Developer Challenge. See full prize details at: http://p.sf.net/sfu/Challenge ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
