G540 E-stop and Mach3

[Astroguy]

How do I get Mach3 to know when I trip the e-stop on the G540?
I may already know but I was hoping I would not have to install a breakout board.

Fred

[Mariss Freimanis]

It is available on DB25 pin 15.

Mariss

[LaserImage]

The 540 has an integrated bob, you don't need another one. Configure your e-stop in mach to use the pin Mariss indicated.

[Astroguy]

Originally Posted by LaserImage The 540 has an integrated bob, you don't need another one. Configure your e-stop in mach to use the pin Mariss indicated.

I tried that and it does not work. As far as I can tell the G540 does not send a signal to any pin at all.

[ger21]

How is your E-stop wired to the G540? And in Mach3, is it set to port 1, pin 15? Active high or active low?

[Astroguy]

Originally Posted by ger21 How is your E-stop wired to the G540? And in Mach3, is it set to port 1, pin 15? Active high or active low?

It is wired to pins 10 and 12 on the G540. Yes Mach3 is set to port 1, pin 15 and I have tried active high and low with no luck. In Mach3 Diagnoses there is no signal detected on any pin when the e-stop is tripped. Are you saying that pin 10 on the G540 corresponds to pin 15 in Mach3?

[Crevice Reamer]

You have it wired correctly:

From G540 manual:

7) E-STOP SWITCH: Connect a single pole, single throw (SPST) switch to the DISABLE input Pos 10 on the MAIN
TERMINAL BLOCK. The other end of the switch goes to Pos 12 on the terminal block. Opening the switch disables
the G540 and closing the switch enables it. While disabled, the motors freewheel (zero torque) and the OUTPUT
terminals shut off.

See wiring diagram:

http://geckodrive.com/upload/G540%20REV3%20MANUAL.pdf

Setup guide:

http://geckodrive.com/upload/G540InitialSetup.pdf

Make sure your parallel port is working and your parallel cable is "straight thru"

CR

[Astroguy]

Originally Posted by Crevice Reamer You have it wired correctly: From G540 manual: 7) E-STOP SWITCH: Connect a single pole, single throw (SPST) switch to the DISABLE input Pos 10 on the MAIN TERMINAL BLOCK. The other end of the switch goes to Pos 12 on the terminal block. Opening the switch disables the G540 and closing the switch enables it. While disabled, the motors freewheel (zero torque) and the OUTPUT terminals shut off. See wiring diagram: http://geckodrive.com/upload/G540%20REV3%20MANUAL.pdf Setup guide: http://geckodrive.com/upload/G540InitialSetup.pdf Make sure your parallel port is working and your parallel cable is "straight thru" CR

The G540 works fine and shuts down fine with the e-stop, it just does not tell Mach3 the e-stop has been tripped and the program keeps running. It worked fine before when I had a break-out board for the e-stop but I wanted to get rid of the extra wiring and break-out board and wire it thru the G540 and now it does not shut down Mach3. If the G540 sends a signal to pin 15 is it high or low. I am using the same cable now as I did with the break-out board.

[Mariss Freimanis]

Here is a sure-fire test for the E-stop to Mach3 feedback.

1) Remove all DB9 and DB25 cables from the G540.
2) Set the slide switch to IGNORE CHARGE PUMP.
3) Jumper DISABLE term 10 to terminal 12.
4) Connect power supply to terminals 11 and 12. You should get a green LED.
5) Measure the voltage on DB15 to DB25 gnd. It should be 0VDC.
6) Disconnect DISABLE jumper. You should get a red LED.
7) Measure the voltage on DB15 to DB25 gnd. It should be 3.3VDC or more.

If you get those results then the G540 is sending an E-stop signal back to Mach3.

Mariss

[Astroguy]

Originally Posted by Mariss Freimanis Here is a sure-fire test for the E-stop to Mach3 feedback. 1) Remove all DB9 and DB25 cables from the G540. 2) Set the slide switch to IGNORE CHARGE PUMP. 3) Jumper DISABLE term 10 to terminal 12. 4) Connect power supply to terminals 11 and 12. You should get a green LED. 5) Measure the voltage on DB15 to DB25 gnd. It should be 0VDC. 6) Disconnect DISABLE jumper. You should get a red LED. 7) Measure the voltage on DB15 to DB25 gnd. It should be 3.3VDC or more. If you get those results then the G540 is sending an E-stop signal back to Mach3. Mariss

Thanks, I will try that as soon as I can and report back.

[Richards]

The problem seems to be with Mach 3. (I'm running an older version - 2.41.)

I had the same problem. I connected a N/C switch between Main Terminal Block Position 10 (Disable) and Position 12 (Gnd). In Mach 3 Config -> Ports and Pins -> Input Signals -> E-Stop, Enabled (Green chk mark), Port 1, Pin 15, Active Low NOT checked (Red X), Emulated NOT checked (Red X). When I clicked the Reset button in Mach 3, the G540 status LED flashed Red -> Green -> Red. On the Diagnostic's screen, the Emergency LED continuously flashed.

The solution was to check-mark the "ChargePump ON in E-stop under General Config:

Config -> General Config -> Check mark the box [ChargePump On in E-stop] under General Config sub-section.

After making that change, the Mach 3 reset button works properly and the G540 is enabled (Green LED ON). When the E-stop on the G540 is opened (change from N/C to N/O), the G540's status changes to RED and Mach 3 receives the E-stop signal causing Mach 3 to properly stop. However, pressing the Mach 3 Reset button multiple times only toggles the E-stop on Mach 3; the G540 stays enabled. (I'm assuming that that is exactly what is supposed to happen, i.e., the G540's E-stop should disable the G540 and send an E-stop signal to Mach 3, but when Mach 3's Reset button is pressed, only Mach 3 stops and G540 is able to continue to send power to the stepper motors.)

[Astroguy]

Originally Posted by Mariss Freimanis Here is a sure-fire test for the E-stop to Mach3 feedback. 1) Remove all DB9 and DB25 cables from the G540. 2) Set the slide switch to IGNORE CHARGE PUMP. 3) Jumper DISABLE term 10 to terminal 12. 4) Connect power supply to terminals 11 and 12. You should get a green LED. 5) Measure the voltage on DB15 to DB25 gnd. It should be 0VDC. 6) Disconnect DISABLE jumper. You should get a red LED. 7) Measure the voltage on DB15 to DB25 gnd. It should be 3.3VDC or more. If you get those results then the G540 is sending an E-stop signal back to Mach3. Mariss

I checked all the steps above and when the e-stop is not pressed I got 0 volts when I trip the e-stop I only get 0.11 Volts?????