Config Mach3 for coolant

[BrassBuilder]

Hey All,
I am trying to get Mach3 to run my coolant. Here is what I have done so far:

I built this relay setup to run the coolant:
http://www.cartertools.com/tbbrb.html

I have a C10 breakout board.
http://www.cnc4pc.com/Bidirectional_Breakout_Board.htm

I hooked up the negative wire from the relay to the GRD on the output side of the C10 board (the smaller terminal on the end marked OUTPUT). I hooked up the positive wire from the relay to the #17 terminal (again, on the smaller output terminal side of the C10 board). I went into Mach3 under "Ports and Pins" and then clicked on the "Spindle Setup" tab. Under Flood Mist Control, I unchecked the "Disable Flood/Mist Relays" button. There is a field for the "Output #." Here might be part of the problem: Mach3 only wants Output Numbers 1-6 entered. I am running on output #17.

When I first turn on my computer from a cold start, the coolant turns on until the computer starts its boot sequence. I do not know if that is normal...However, I am taking that as a good sign as something is sort of working.

And last...I have not tried to turn the coolant on with G-code yet. I am just clicking the "Flood/Crl-F" button on the main Mach3 screen. The light next to the button will flash blue if that is good.

I am stumped. What do I do now?
Thanks
Mike

[BrassBuilder]

I figured it out and I about wet myself when it worked the first time. LOL

I did not configure a port in the Outputs tab of the Ports and Pins config screen. I set up Output 2 as pin 17 and put a 2 in the Flood M7 Output field and away it went.

The answer was on page 10 of this tutorial:
http://www.machsupport.com/documenta...20Tutorial.pdf

I am leaving the thread up in case anyone else has this problem.

Mike

[skmetal7]

im thinking of going with flood coolant on my mill. 2 questions what coolant are you using? I think I might use koolmist 77 and use it as a flood coolant. or valcool, but I cant find where to buy it... enco doesn't sell it anymore.

and how long does it take to pump the coolant to the spindle? a couple seconds? is there a way to set up a dwell for the flood coolant? or do you just use the spindle dwell?

[hoss2006]

I've been using Syn-Kool and it's great stuff. Pretty cheap, odorless and goes a long way.
My pump takes a few seconds to start the coolant flowing but it has a long way to go.
You can add a delay to the M8 (and M7) if you want more time under Config/Ports and Pins/Spindle Setup - Flood Mist Control.
Hoss

[BrassBuilder]

I'm using the same coolant and pump as Hoss. I pretty much copied his set up. There is a very short delay before the coolant makes it through the tubing, but I have a fairly long stretch too. I would say a couple of seconds. But the machines axis don't start moving until the coolant gets to the part anyway.

The only thing that is a little strange on mine, when I first turn the power strip that controlls all the electronics for the mill on, the pump starts pumping coolant until the computer starts booting up. Not sure what is up with that. It only pumps for about five seconds.

Mike