Originally Posted by mcArch  Much thanks once again too everyone on CNCzone, the info here in the zone is really great & has been a tremendous help in our building this table. Here are some of the first pieces done with the plasma setup, I'm still switching the plasma on by hand with a remote switch I mounted by the computer . . . still trying to figure out how to control it w/ Mach3.
Is anyone using Probotix drivers & controller? I am trying to figure out if I can use one of the pins to control the torch on/off on a plasma setup. I will have 3 axes with 2-motors on the x axis. Motor A will be slaved to the x. Anyone know if there's a way to use one of the home/limit switches(typically an input pin) for an output to control the plasma on/off? Also, how would I do it? with a relay, & how do I figure what specs I need the relay, amps/volts?
On another note, I think I don't quite have enough torque on the x drive with just one motor. When you lose steps, does it sound like a toruqe limiter in a cordless drill? and the motor keeps trying to turn but the rod does not? My solution is to add another motor to the other drive rod & slave it to the x motor. You can see in the one photo if the circle where I lost X-steps, I have to listen to it & when I hear it start "grinding" I give the chain a little pull, I think it's just not enough torque on that axis. Really bites to have to try to re-align it & re-run the program.
Motors: 400oz/in steppers, bipolar parallel, 4 wire. |
I know nothing about Probotix drivers & controller & haven't heard of them.
Typically if you are going to slave a second motor to the same axis, In Mach there is a simple setup to slave the 2 motors together. you need a seperate driver to control the slaved motor & the chain from side to side isn't needed (& probably not desired as it only adds friction to overcome).
Yes if a motor is stalled from not being able to overcome weight/friction it will sound like it's wanting to come apart.
My on off controls are worked through a remote relay (table imput output) card. Mach turns on then off the relay to operate your torch with a MO3 & MO5 command respectively