RE: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: stepper vs servo

Not sure on original MACH1, but there are certainly parallel port input
pins available for E-Stop and limit switches in MACH2 version which could
provide this capability. This in turn can activate (or deactivate) "Enable"
output pins on the parallel port which in turn can control your relay coil
circuits, motor voltage, etc.

Something I notice in MACH2 version is if you have a pin set up to send an
activation pulse and also use the pin as an E-Stop, an E-Stop will not
properly control the Enable pin. If your problem is the above, try
assigning the activate pulse function to pin 0 or an unused pin and it could
solve your problem. (Issue has been forwarded to Art at Mach1 for his
evaluation).

Regards,
Jeff


-----Original Message-----
From: Jon Elson [mailto:elson@...]
Sent: Sunday, March 23, 2003 8:21 PM
To: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: stepper vs servo



Monte Westlund wrote:

>--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, Jon Elson <elson@p...> wrote:
>
>
>>Now, let me clarify:
>>
>>With the Gecko, the signals going between the computer and Gecko
>>
>>
>are
>
>
>>one-way:
>> From the computer to the Gecko drive. The only indication the
>>
>>
>computer
>
>
>>gets is
>>that a fault has or has not occured. If the drive faults, then the
>>computer had so
>>idea of actual position.
>>
>>
>
>Can the computer really get any notification of a fault? Mine
>doesn't. I'm running Mach1 and if my 320's fault Mach1 keeps merrilly
>chugging along.
>
>Am I missing something in my controller?
>
>

Maybe. EMC definitely can monitor one of the port input pins to detect a
fault. there is a board that someone designed to or the fault outputs
of the
Gecko drives together, and if any one faults, it trips them all to stop
motion
on all axes, and notifies the computer, too. Is there a parallel port
pin that
can detect an e-stop or fault condition?

Jon