[Edited Message Follows]

It sounds like the parts you are talking about are not using the 4th axis A. If you set A to zero at the start of your loop you can have a counter that increases by 1 at the end of the loop and moves A to that value. The A axis DRO will then act as a visible loop count.

Here is what I expect it to have added to the code:-

#111=[0] ; pick a suitable number for the subroutine counter
G0 A 0 ; set A to zero, if necessary you can put an M1 pause here to remind you if A has a large value to set zero and restart.

; call the subroutine

; end program

;? subroutine

#111=[#111 + 1]
G0 A [#111]

; return from subroutine

If you have not got the A axis set up then it should not be hard to set it up with a high speed to simulate it as required for this process.? If you are using A and are willing to modify the screen then use axis B and add the B axis DRO somewhere.

Martin

If you use the b axis you can see the count on the diagnostics screen. No need to add the DRO to a screen then.

Martin

that looks like an easy solution. i am using the A axis. i should post a video some day. the machine is pretty neat but still full of bugs after just 7 years working on it.?

i would like to add a B axis dro to the screen but might need to do some searching to find a computer that will run the screen editor. most of my computers are running win 10 now and i am almost certain that the screen editor does not work anymore. i looked at it briefly and could not get anything to work.

i do have an xp machine running the router so i can probably do it there.

any suggestions on the best way (which program etc) to edit a screen, possibly on a win 10 computer?

?

?

Best regards, Spencer Chase
67550 Bell Springs Rd.
Garberville, CA 95542 Postal service only.
Laytonville, CA 95454 UPS only.
Spencer@...
Spencer@...
Spencer@...


(425) 791-0309
(707) 223-8212

------ Original Message ------

From: "Martin Connelly" <martin.at.leasingham@...>

To: MachCNC@groups.io

Sent: 2/15/2020 1:23:12 AM

Subject: Re: [MachCNC] parts counter

[Edited Message Follows]

It sounds like the parts you are talking about are not using the 4th axis A. If you set A to zero at the start of your loop you can have a counter that increases by 1 at the end of the loop and moves A to that value. The A axis DRO will then act as a visible loop count.

Here is what I expect it to have added to the code:-

#111=[0] ; pick a suitable number for the subroutine counter
G0 A 0 ; set A to zero, if necessary you can put an M1 pause here to remind you if A has a large value to set zero and restart.

; call the subroutine

; end program

;? subroutine

#111=[#111 + 1]
G0 A [#111]

; return from subroutine

If you have not got the A axis set up then it should not be hard to set it up with a high speed to simulate it as required for this process.? If you are using A and are willing to modify the screen then use axis B and add the B axis DRO somewhere.

Martin

[Edited Message Follows]

It sounds like the parts you are talking about are not using the 4th axis A. If you set A to zero at the start of your loop you can have a counter that increases by 1 at the end of the loop and moves A to that value. The A axis DRO will then act as a visible loop count.

Here is what I expect it to have added to the code:-

#111=[0] ; pick a suitable number for the subroutine counter
G0 A 0 ; set A to zero, if necessary you can put an M1 pause here to remind you if A has a large value to set zero and restart.

; call the subroutine

; end program

;? subroutine

#111=[#111 + 1]
G0 A [#111]

; return from subroutine

If you have not got the A axis set up then it should not be hard to set it up with a high speed to simulate it as required for this process.? If you are using A and are willing to modify the screen then use axis B and add the B axis DRO somewhere.

Martin

“I just thought of something that might work but it will not allow for decrementing. I could keep all the bad parts until I finish the job and then count them separately.”

?

What about two bins one bin for good parts, one bin for bad parts and a set of weighing scales.

I looked in the forums and did find "answers" to? this but nothing that did not seem like a lot of work and beyond my current understanding of how mach 3 works and how to hack it. So, the question is, is it possible to add a parts counter that keeps track of how many times a gcode is run? I can probably edit my screen as I have done it in the past and can probably re-figure out how the editor works.

?

I would like to have an on screen counter either in the main program space or elsewhere and ideally would like to be able to decrement the counter in case a part was rejected. I am making a lot of little wooden parts and even if the job runs properly some parts are not good enough to keep because of things like out of square stock that was not noticed or excessive damage caused by crazy grain.?

?

I have various electrical counters that i can use as a switch so if this will be a big project the simple electrical switch would be easier. I am currently using a counter app on my phone but the environment is too messy for the phone and I am not good at remembering to increment manually.?

?

I just thought of something that might work but it will not allow for decrementing. I could keep all the bad parts until I finish the job and then count them separately. I have a foot switch that starts the program. I think it might have two internal switches so one could operate the counter.

?

I also like programming Arduinos and might have something thrown together that I can convert to some sort of smart counter but I am running out of time for projects. Need to just get some work done and spend less time with distractions.

?

Still a hopefully simple computer bed solution would be best.

?

?

??? ??? 10-4

??? ??? animal

On 2/11/2020 6:34 PM, spencer@... wrote:

what are you talking about? i was joking. you very gracefully said never mind. i was kidding? i was just suggesting that we can overthink this shit and need to not be too serious about it.

?

?

Best regards, Spencer Chase
67550 Bell Springs Rd.
Garberville, CA 95542 Postal service only.
Laytonville, CA 95454 UPS only.
Spencer@...
Spencer@...
Spencer@...


(425) 791-0309
(707) 223-8212

------ Original Message ------

From: "mike allen" <animal@...>

To: MachCNC@groups.io

Sent: 2/11/2020 6:23:42 PM

Subject: Re: [MachCNC] changing direction

??? ??? ??? ??? has anyone ever told you your a "dick" ? , just wonderin . you should go back & look at some of your post's & your reply's .. if your so much better then everyone else why are you here?

??? ??? animal

On 2/11/2020 6:18 PM, spencer@... wrote:

Yes turn off the mind and we would all be ok why do we insist on making the mind things work. Machines are the answer.

On February 11, 2020 5:29:56 PM PST, mike allen <animal@...> wrote:

??? ??? ??? ??? never mind

??? ??? animal

On 2/11/2020 5:28 PM, spencer@... wrote:

I could change motor direction with a relay. It would have to swap both the motor power wires and also the encoder phase pins. This is what I did manually. So a relay, probably something like a four pole double throw. Basically two relays set up the way you do DC motor reversing. And the brain just started working. Two double pole double throw would do it but why?

I wrote a tiny z axis Goode goes up and down 50 times at max speed also turned the 3 phase spindle on and off each cycle to be sure it was not a noise issue. Worked perfectly 0.000 each time it hit the dial indicator. Then I made a few parts and checked 0 at the end. Perfect again. I think the dampness in the shop had corroded the pin for direction on the gecko. I replaced that connector and lined them all with PPE contact lube. This stuff has fixed many problems over the years. Should have used it a long time ago

On February 11, 2020 5:13:58 PM PST, mike allen <animal@...> wrote:

??? ??? ya can't change motor sirection with a relay? just like ya can with a switch ?

??? ??? animal

On 2/11/2020 12:29 PM, spencer@... wrote:

i don't think it is a problem with the encoder. there was a problem with the connector which i think was fixed with some contact cleaner. the encoder is a cui which is not optical so it does not have problems caused by dirt etc. if the cable gets loose or anything of that sort the drive faults and does not move anything.?

i am currently not getting encoder errors, that is not an issue at the moment. i just had loss of direction signal which i verified. if i disconnect the direction wire and let it go to the default which i believe is low, the motor only moves down.

i have a list of things to check if i keep getting loss of direction:

pulse duration in mach3, all wires and connectors, might be more that i forget

all i want to do is to reverse the direction of the direction signal so the default is to go up instead of down. this will make it possible to recover from a loss of signal without ruining a part or damaging a fixture. i am going to try swapping motor leads and or A and B wires. maybe that is all i need to do and then change the active from low to high or high to low in mach 3

checking this now, hopefully it will be simple.

re the other reply, i don't understand how a relay would help anything??

?

?

Best regards, Spencer Chase
67550 Bell Springs Rd.
Garberville, CA 95542 Postal service only.
Laytonville, CA 95454 UPS only.
Spencer@...
Spencer@...
Spencer@...


(425) 791-0309
(707) 223-8212

------ Original Message ------

From: "Dan Mauch" <dmauch@...>

To: MachCNC@groups.io

Sent: 2/11/2020 10:43:00 AM

Subject: Re: [MachCNC] changing direction

What kind of make of encoder? do you have on the Z axis?. The type matters because the G 320X has a feature that will fault if the encoder connection is lost. If its HED see the G320X PDF Page 2? "HEDS
SW6 “OFF” = Default
SW6 “ON” = Turned on if using encoders with HEDS optical heads or open collector encoders. Disables
encoder failure detection allowing user to run encoders that don’t have line drivers or active pullup."

On My us digital encoders I had to add a line driver from US Digital PC4-FH5? $16 to correct what I wanted which was that if an encoder line becomes? disconnected the drives would fault. I have all of my err/res line tied together so if one encoder/cable fails it shuts all the drives down.

You may also have a problem with your encoder. Some encoders are really fussy about the encoder disk to read head alignment and or if it is loose on the shaft, Last if there is exceesive backlash in the servo motor itself.

Dan Mauch

--
Sent from my Android device with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.

--
Sent from my Android device with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.

??? ??? ??? ??? has anyone ever told you your a "dick" ? , just wonderin . you should go back & look at some of your post's & your reply's .. if your so much better then everyone else why are you here?

??? ??? animal

On 2/11/2020 6:18 PM, spencer@... wrote:

Yes turn off the mind and we would all be ok why do we insist on making the mind things work. Machines are the answer.

On February 11, 2020 5:29:56 PM PST, mike allen <animal@...> wrote:

??? ??? ??? ??? never mind

??? ??? animal

On 2/11/2020 5:28 PM, spencer@... wrote:

I could change motor direction with a relay. It would have to swap both the motor power wires and also the encoder phase pins. This is what I did manually. So a relay, probably something like a four pole double throw. Basically two relays set up the way you do DC motor reversing. And the brain just started working. Two double pole double throw would do it but why?

I wrote a tiny z axis Goode goes up and down 50 times at max speed also turned the 3 phase spindle on and off each cycle to be sure it was not a noise issue. Worked perfectly 0.000 each time it hit the dial indicator. Then I made a few parts and checked 0 at the end. Perfect again. I think the dampness in the shop had corroded the pin for direction on the gecko. I replaced that connector and lined them all with PPE contact lube. This stuff has fixed many problems over the years. Should have used it a long time ago

On February 11, 2020 5:13:58 PM PST, mike allen <animal@...> wrote:

??? ??? ya can't change motor sirection with a relay? just like ya can with a switch ?

??? ??? animal

On 2/11/2020 12:29 PM, spencer@... wrote:

i don't think it is a problem with the encoder. there was a problem with the connector which i think was fixed with some contact cleaner. the encoder is a cui which is not optical so it does not have problems caused by dirt etc. if the cable gets loose or anything of that sort the drive faults and does not move anything.?

i am currently not getting encoder errors, that is not an issue at the moment. i just had loss of direction signal which i verified. if i disconnect the direction wire and let it go to the default which i believe is low, the motor only moves down.

i have a list of things to check if i keep getting loss of direction:

pulse duration in mach3, all wires and connectors, might be more that i forget

all i want to do is to reverse the direction of the direction signal so the default is to go up instead of down. this will make it possible to recover from a loss of signal without ruining a part or damaging a fixture. i am going to try swapping motor leads and or A and B wires. maybe that is all i need to do and then change the active from low to high or high to low in mach 3

checking this now, hopefully it will be simple.

re the other reply, i don't understand how a relay would help anything??

?

?

Best regards, Spencer Chase
67550 Bell Springs Rd.
Garberville, CA 95542 Postal service only.
Laytonville, CA 95454 UPS only.
Spencer@...
Spencer@...
Spencer@...


(425) 791-0309
(707) 223-8212

------ Original Message ------

From: "Dan Mauch" <dmauch@...>

To: MachCNC@groups.io

Sent: 2/11/2020 10:43:00 AM

Subject: Re: [MachCNC] changing direction

What kind of make of encoder? do you have on the Z axis?. The type matters because the G 320X has a feature that will fault if the encoder connection is lost. If its HED see the G320X PDF Page 2? "HEDS
SW6 “OFF” = Default
SW6 “ON” = Turned on if using encoders with HEDS optical heads or open collector encoders. Disables
encoder failure detection allowing user to run encoders that don’t have line drivers or active pullup."

On My us digital encoders I had to add a line driver from US Digital PC4-FH5? $16 to correct what I wanted which was that if an encoder line becomes? disconnected the drives would fault. I have all of my err/res line tied together so if one encoder/cable fails it shuts all the drives down.

You may also have a problem with your encoder. Some encoders are really fussy about the encoder disk to read head alignment and or if it is loose on the shaft, Last if there is exceesive backlash in the servo motor itself.

Dan Mauch

--
Sent from my Android device with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.

--
Sent from my Android device with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.