Camsoft Installation help needed...

[Darc]

Would someone be able to explain how the multifunction knob works, I've got 3 valves to control where the coolant comes out, but I'm not too sure how to set the parameters for the multifunction knob.
I've managed to set all the other buttons.e.g cw spindle1 slow,cw spindle1 fast,cw spindle2 slow etc etc.

[Darc]

Also just a quickie with the needle guages, I've got 2 spindles running off the one guage, just with different needle colors, my only question is if I use 1 spindle at a time (either one) the needles work great, but if I use both at the same time and the same speed, when I turn then off (even though I have GAUGE 0:12 in the code for the off switch) it leaves a black line where the needles were, any ideas?

[HuFlungDung]

The multifunction knob really doesn't "do" anything. It simply has a user definable number of "positions of rotation" that it can occupy. For each position of the knob that you command, you then write some logic that should execute. I think the number of positions of the knob are defined in setup.

RE: the black line: I don't know, but sometimes you might get screen overwrites like that if the video card is short of memory. It could be something else entirely, I'm just guessing.

[Darc]

I think I can do the logic to be executed for each position, I'm just a bit unsure where I need to enter the logic for the variable \56?

[intrusion]

HuFlung is absolutely right!

I use the multifunction knob more like a mode selector to raise my Z axis heads. It really doesn't do anything, except store the Nth position of the knob into the variable I assigned to it.

Then when I press a button for which head I want to raise it reads the KNOB variable to determine the current knob position and then in my Button I make a list:

IF \56=1 THEN MACHGO ;;0
IF \56=2 THEN MACHGO ;;;0
IF \56=3 THEN MACHGO ;;;;0

If you wanted to turn on coolant with an I/O relay you would just make a list like mine to check the knob position and use # of the relay number you want to turn on or off.

[Darc]

Thanks guys, I'll try entering the logic into the coolant button logic.
Also on another front I've got the machine homing, using the minus limit switches as home switches, it works great (surprisingly) the only problem I'm having is the rotary tables are rotating to a slightly different point each time.
I'm having them home then rotate around **amount to line up parallel to the table, I tried moving the table 20mm then -20mm and it's spot on, so thankfully it's not losing steps.
Is there a recommended type of switch to use for a home switch? Something a bit more accurate than the switch we have on the machine.

[Al_The_Man]

It is never good practice to use only a switch to home any axis, the preferable way is to use the switch initially and then use the marker pulse on the encoder. If you are using steppers without feedback and using only the switch, it can be unpredictable.
There are various native Galil routines that are specific to homing using a switch and/or an encoder, using a switch alone you should make the switch move off the switch and back on to it with a very reduced feedrate.
Al

[Tarak]

Originally Posted by intrusion HuFlung is absolutely right! I use the multifunction knob more like a mode selector to raise my Z axis heads. It really doesn't do anything, except store the Nth position of the knob into the variable I assigned to it. Then when I press a button for which head I want to raise it reads the KNOB variable to determine the current knob position and then in my Button I make a list: IF \56=1 THEN MACHGO ;;0 IF \56=2 THEN MACHGO ;;;0 IF \56=3 THEN MACHGO ;;;;0 If you wanted to turn on coolant with an I/O relay you would just make a list like mine to check the knob position and use # of the relay number you want to turn on or off.

I removed the coolant on/off button so I can use only the multi function knob, I wrote the logic so in the 1st position the coolant pump is off and all the coolant valves are closed, the 2nd position the coolant pump & 1st valve opens, 3rd position coolant pump & 2nd valve opens, 4th position the coolant pump and the 3rd valve opens, 5th position coolant pump off and all valves closed. Confused yet?
Should I enter this type of code into the timer file? I'm just a bit unsure because I'm not pressing a button that needs to look at the variable \56.
I just want it to activate when the knob is turned.

[HuFlungDung]

The multifunction knob can be programmed "to turn" in response to an I/O event. In general terms, I think you will need at least one real hardware switch to make the simplest input. When I used the multifunction knob, I used the inputs from two momentary contact switches to "turn" the multifunction knob by one detent CW in response to one pushbutton, and the other push button for CCW rotation.

[Tarak]

Oh well, if I can't use just the multifunction knob I may just have to create 3 buttons, one for each valve.
I was hoping I could use only the multifunction knob, but it would obviously need to monitor the condition all the time as opposed to only looking at it when a seperate button is pressed, thanks anyhoo's.