Mach3 control over exsternal equipment?

[vavido]

Hi, I´m planning a plasmacutter with an automatic sheet-loading/ unloading system.

See animation --- > "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Wty3D8c4cE"]YouTube - plasmacutter cheetah3d


Can Mach3 be used to controll other things in a machine exept from the axis? (relay for pneumatics etc.). Is it possible to program this cycle in G code?

[H.O]

Yes, I don't see why it shouldn't be doable. Mach3 can run 6 axis of coordinated motion and control the I/O's for the solenoids etc. If two LPT-ports doesn't give you enough I/O then you expand with a MODBUS enabled PLC etc.

The discrete outputs (and inputs) can easly be controlled by M-codes that you call from your G-code program or you can write an M-code that does the whole sheet loading cycle.

Or you can program a PLC to do the sheetloading/unloading and just signal it from Mach - lots of different ways.... ;-)

Cool animation by the way!

/Henrik.