Need Help!- Adding MPG and limit switches to Mach 3

[Charles2]

I have a CNC Bridgeport (was Boss 6) with steppers, Hillbilly BOB, and Mach 3. I want to connect the limit switches and add an MPG with increment switch and axis switch. What are my options?

[leggazoid]

http://www.littlemachineshop.com/pro...3414&category=

http://www.mpja.com/products.asp?dept=64

cheers

[Charles2]

Thanks for the reply. The MPG is very interesting. I should clarify that I would like to hook up the existing limit switches and an MPG that I already have (from another machine). My question really is what are my options to hook all this up, with the limited IO pins available. Should I install another parallel port and breakout board. If so, which one?

[Hood]

You will require 3 inputs for MPG and Limits (if wiring limits in series) So depends what Inputs you have spare as to whether you need a second port.
Hood

[Charles2]

Thanks for replying, Hood. Could you share the wiring diagram for the MPG and for the limits.
Charles

[Hood]

Dont really need a diagram, limits would just be 5v from breakout to one wire on first switch, second wire on switch would then go to first wire on second and so on then back to an input on the breakout.
MPG would just be powered from 5v and 0v from breakout and A and B would go to 2 inputs on breakout.


Hood

[Hood]

Oh Limits have to be normally closed type for wiring that way but that is preferable anyway for a limit as if a wire breaks then it will fault the machine. If they were normally open and a wire broke the first you would know was when it didnt work when you needed it.
Hood

[Charles2]

Thanks Hood. I follow you so far, but how do I select axis and increment for the MPG. I assume they could be selected from the Mach 3 screen. It would be great to be able to use the axis and increment switches on the MPG handbox. I also have an E-stop button on the handbox.
Charles

[Hood]

That will all depend on what kind of interface the handheld pendant has. Do you have any info on it?
Hood

[Charles2]

The pendant contains a Micronor ESM74.4.100.5.D.R encoder, a rotary 3 axis switch (with 4 wires), a rotary increment switch (with 4 wires), and a push button E-stop switch with 2 wires.
Charles

[Charles2]

Also, I do not have any kind of interface with the pendant.
Charles

[Hood]

You will definitely need a second port for that. Getting it to work will be simple enough, just a simple Brain will do the rotary switches. I like external switches on my panels but I have them via my PLC and Modbus.

Hood