Hi I have posted a similar enquiry on the Artsoft Forums so perhaps you will see it there. My problem is that using Mach 3 and MSM I have finally got my mill up and moving everything seems ok. My problem is with connecting inputs, merely enabling one in ports and pins gets it to light up no wires involved and then I have to switch it off for the light to go out.
I have reinstalled Mach 3 after attempting to uninstall but not sure how effective.
As the mill moves well I am not sure if the problem is solely in Mach 3 as that's where the inputs are located. I have had auto setting of the inputs a good while ago but not sure if the files are corrupted as now I get no response from autoset.
Regards Bob.
Input problem
Re: Input problem
HI,
You didn't say what type of motion device you are using - I'm going to assume a parallel port in this reply.
For a PP, MSM provides some helpful pages where you can see the PP inputs. Got the Hardware page of MSM, PP driver tab.
on that page you will see a display of all the pins of 1 or 2 ports. This display is driven by a background process that is looping and looking at the PP input registers directly - so you will see the LEDs for the pin change as you change a signal on an input pin.
You can use this to see if the pin is working as expected.
If you are changing the input pin state and the PP display is not changing, then mach can't see the input (as the mach PP driver reads these same registers at the low lever) and the problem is between the input pin and the PP itself - so then it's time to start trouble shooting the Breakout board and cables.
The other tab (Signals) is the next layer up in the mach stack - it shows you the state of the mach signals. Once you know an input pin is working, you can use this page to verify that the signal you think is mapped to the pin is also changing state when the pin does. It is is not, then it;s time to go back and check the port&Pins dialog which sets pin to signal mappings.
AS the the auto set up of pins that Mach can try to do.... I've never found a good explanation of what that is looking at to decide how it will set things up. I've never let mach do that. I prefer to set the pin/signal mappings myself so that I know how the system is set up.
Dave
You didn't say what type of motion device you are using - I'm going to assume a parallel port in this reply.
For a PP, MSM provides some helpful pages where you can see the PP inputs. Got the Hardware page of MSM, PP driver tab.
on that page you will see a display of all the pins of 1 or 2 ports. This display is driven by a background process that is looping and looking at the PP input registers directly - so you will see the LEDs for the pin change as you change a signal on an input pin.
You can use this to see if the pin is working as expected.
If you are changing the input pin state and the PP display is not changing, then mach can't see the input (as the mach PP driver reads these same registers at the low lever) and the problem is between the input pin and the PP itself - so then it's time to start trouble shooting the Breakout board and cables.
The other tab (Signals) is the next layer up in the mach stack - it shows you the state of the mach signals. Once you know an input pin is working, you can use this page to verify that the signal you think is mapped to the pin is also changing state when the pin does. It is is not, then it;s time to go back and check the port&Pins dialog which sets pin to signal mappings.
AS the the auto set up of pins that Mach can try to do.... I've never found a good explanation of what that is looking at to decide how it will set things up. I've never let mach do that. I prefer to set the pin/signal mappings myself so that I know how the system is set up.
Dave
Productivity Software for Personal CNC Machinists
http://www.CalypsoVentures.com
http://www.CalypsoVentures.com
Re: Input problem
Thanks Dave I managed to move on slightly, don't know what I did but everything seems to be working fine. I am setting up the inputs specifically but it's very reassuring when you can trigger a response by the Autoset. Just got to get the home switches at least sorted and then try to risk some actual cutting.
Regards Bob.
Regards Bob.