Can't jog


Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 25

Thread: Can't jog

  1. #1
    Member greybeard's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    1425
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0

    Default Can't jog

    No, it's not my age that's the problem, it's my machine.
    I've set up turbo on my desktop, and can open the programme in dos ok.
    At present it doesn't recognise my mouse, even though another dos based cnc programme does(Supercam), but I'm assuming that's another problem to be sorted out later.
    (The Supercam prog works ok and successfully drives the m/c.)
    A friend has sent me a config.ini file based on my m/c setup, and that is in the file ok, and seems to have set the step size/limits/ etc., as expected.
    However, the keyboard arrow keys produce no effect whatever.

    I've printed out the whole 97+ pages of the manual, and read it numerous times, but can find no clue there.

    Any suggestions welcomed.

    John

    It's like doing jigsaw puzzles in the dark.
    Enjoy today's problems, for tomorrow's may be worse.


  2. #2
    Member ger21's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Shelby Township
    Posts
    35538
    Downloads
    1
    Uploads
    0

    Default

    Are you running it under XP in a DOS window?

    Gerry

    UCCNC 2017 Screenset
    [URL]http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2017.html[/URL]

    Mach3 2010 Screenset
    [URL]http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html[/URL]

    JointCAM - CNC Dovetails & Box Joints
    [URL]http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html[/URL]

    (Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)


  3. #3
    Member greybeard's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    1425
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0

    Default

    Hi Jerry.
    No, I boot up in dos.
    I've got win98se as my installed os on this desktop, but know of the timer issues with windows, so I boot direct to dos
    John

    It's like doing jigsaw puzzles in the dark.
    Enjoy today's problems, for tomorrow's may be worse.


  4. #4
    Member Bubba's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    lagrange
    Posts
    1804
    Downloads
    27
    Uploads
    0

    Default

    John,
    Ok, easy one first. To use the mouse, you have to have something like mouse.com in your autoexec.bat file. Having said that be sure NEVER to use the mouse when the machine is moving as it will generate an interrupt and mess up the pulse flow.

    Have you double checked the ini file to be sure it references the correct parallel port? By anychance, is the ini file named anything other than turbocnc.ini? Also, is it in the same directory as turbocnc.exe?

    Another stupid question, have you verified the pinout on the port is properly connected to your drivers? Are you using a bob or direct wiring to the parallel port?

    As the movie says, "Need Input":})

    Art
    AKA Country Bubba (Older Than Dirt)


  5. #5
    Member greybeard's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    1425
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Bubba View Post
    John,
    Ok, easy one first. To use the mouse, you have to have something like mouse.com in your autoexec.bat file. Having said that be sure NEVER to use the mouse when the machine is moving as it will generate an interrupt and mess up the pulse flow.
    Hi Bubba.
    I've tried to follow the instructions in the manual re getting the mouse.com in, and all the other things for booting directly into dos, but a few things didn't seem to go as planned, so I've put that particular problem on hold, and put everything back to starting position.

    Quote Originally Posted by Bubba View Post
    ........Have you double checked the ini file to be sure it references the correct parallel port? By anychance, is the ini file named anything other than turbocnc.ini? Also, is it in the same directory as turbocnc.exe?
    Yes, that's AOK.

    Quote Originally Posted by Bubba View Post
    .......
    Another stupid question, have you verified the pinout on the port is properly connected to your drivers? Are you using a bob or direct wiring to the parallel port?
    The controller I'm using is an EMC-XYYZB built for the SuperCam setup, and works ok using their own software designed to run directly from the printer port, but with minimum G code support.
    Since I wanted to move on from 2.5D to 3D, I decided to give the turbo prog a look.

    Symptom Update.

    Re-booting, I now notice that the xyz coordinates in the status window do follow the keyboard input of using the arrow keys, with or without the ALT key.
    However, no corresponding movement of the motors.
    I also see that if I try to change the jog increment using the ALT + (1-8),
    there is no effect in the setup/jog mode.
    I assumed that pressing Alt + 5 would change the Active Axis entry to [5] X, but it has no effect.

    Is this right ?
    Regards
    John

    It's like doing jigsaw puzzles in the dark.
    Enjoy today's problems, for tomorrow's may be worse.


  6. #6
    Member greybeard's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    1425
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0

    Default

    By the way, I'm only planning to use the mouse for the set up, and until I find my way around the prog.
    Only too aware of the dust in the workshop

    It's like doing jigsaw puzzles in the dark.
    Enjoy today's problems, for tomorrow's may be worse.


  7. #7
    Member Bubba's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    lagrange
    Posts
    1804
    Downloads
    27
    Uploads
    0

    Default

    John,
    sent you a PM and we will see what we can figure out.

    Also, its not the dust that is the primary problem but a "feature" in the program. Also, what version are you using?

    Art
    AKA Country Bubba (Older Than Dirt)


  8. #8
    Member greybeard's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    1425
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0

    Default

    Update.
    My comment about the lack of response in the setup/jog mode is my lack of understanding, not a software problem
    It works as designed, but still no effect on the motors.
    John

    It's like doing jigsaw puzzles in the dark.
    Enjoy today's problems, for tomorrow's may be worse.


  9. #9
    Member greybeard's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    1425
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0

    Default

    Bubba,
    I've just noticed that the ini prog I have installed has major differences in the true/false settings for the step/dir pin entries compared with the ini file as supplied with the 4.01 download.
    This would seem to indicate a likely cause of the problems I have.
    Any thoughts ?
    John

    It's like doing jigsaw puzzles in the dark.
    Enjoy today's problems, for tomorrow's may be worse.


  10. #10
    Member Bubba's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    lagrange
    Posts
    1804
    Downloads
    27
    Uploads
    0

    Default

    John,
    Just walked in the door and will be looking into it in a few minutes!

    Art
    AKA Country Bubba (Older Than Dirt)


  11. #11
    Member greybeard's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    1425
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0

    Default

    Bubba, thanks for the PM's.
    You were right in your gut feeling. I loaded the original ini file, then used the config I/O lines to enable the drives on pin 14 of the printer port.
    Sure enough, the jogging then worked, albeit on the wrong axis, because I hadn't yet reconfigured them.
    So I went back to notepad and edited the config file to give it my pin arrangement, but then it didn't jog.
    So back to the original file again, but now that doesn't work either, so I'm now going quietly mad.

    I've checked each time that the ports have been reset after I've made any alteration, and I can see that the enabling has appeared in the config file as a new entry, but I'm darned if I can see what I'm not doing this time that I did before.

    After a meal, I'll delete all the various turbcnc.ini files(old/prev etc) and copy the original one from my original download, and start again.
    At least I know it's possible to move my m/c with turbo, I just have to keep trying
    John

    It's like doing jigsaw puzzles in the dark.
    Enjoy today's problems, for tomorrow's may be worse.


  12. #12
    Member Bubba's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    lagrange
    Posts
    1804
    Downloads
    27
    Uploads
    0

    Default

    After you reset the ports etc, you may have to "Enable Drive" from the setup menu as shown below. I also looked in my testing ini file and this is added as a separate enity.

    [DRIVE_ENABLE_1_(OUTPUT)]
    Enabled=True
    Pin=14
    PortAddress=$378
    ActiveHigh=NO

    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Can't jog-enable-jpg  
    Last edited by Bubba; 06-12-2009 at 12:53 PM. Reason: Additional Info
    Art
    AKA Country Bubba (Older Than Dirt)


  13. #13
    Member greybeard's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    1425
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0

    Default

    Bubba -I've just sent you a pm before reading your #12.
    I now wonder if that is what I did the one time it worked
    I'll give it a try in the morning.
    Thanks
    John

    It's like doing jigsaw puzzles in the dark.
    Enjoy today's problems, for tomorrow's may be worse.


  14. #14
    Member Bubba's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    lagrange
    Posts
    1804
    Downloads
    27
    Uploads
    0

    Default

    Sent you one back before reading this one!


    Good luck

    Art
    AKA Country Bubba (Older Than Dirt)


  15. #15
    Registered Torsten's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    U.S.A.
    Posts
    260
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by greybeard View Post
    No, it's not my age that's the problem, it's my machine.
    I've set up turbo on my desktop, and can open the programme in dos ok.
    At present it doesn't recognise my mouse, even though another dos based cnc programme does(Supercam), but I'm assuming that's another problem to be sorted out later.
    (The Supercam prog works ok and successfully drives the m/c.)
    A friend has sent me a config.ini file based on my m/c setup, and that is in the file ok, and seems to have set the step size/limits/ etc., as expected.
    However, the keyboard arrow keys produce no effect whatever.

    I've printed out the whole 97+ pages of the manual, and read it numerous times, but can find no clue there.

    Any suggestions welcomed.

    John
    First thought I had was, did you try it with the NumLock Key on or of?
    I think it has to be off.



  16. #16
    Member Bubba's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    lagrange
    Posts
    1804
    Downloads
    27
    Uploads
    0

    Default

    Torsten,
    The biggest problem he has is the control box that connects to the parallel port has a drive enable pin. This was not configured. He was able to configure that and got motion then some other problems have crept in. Mainly with saving configuration changes. I think based on mails that we have had that he is forgetting to save the config.ini and therefore the changes are not taking place. We should know more tomorrow.

    Art
    AKA Country Bubba (Older Than Dirt)


  17. #17
    Registered
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    742
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0

    Default

    Greybeard,

    Also remember to save the new configuration file from the Turbocnc menu option after changes. If you are in EDIT mode with a word processor, saving the file through the word processor does not always have the info that was updated, the next time TCNC is booted up. Why? Who Knows? This is a problem that I have experienced with TCNC4.01.

    Am patiently waiting for the new upgrade of TCNC.

    Jerry



  18. #18
    Member greybeard's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    1425
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0

    Default

    Hi Guys
    Thanks for all your good inputs .
    Torsten - good point. Generally I automatically turn num lock off when I first boot up, but I've a suspicion that sometimes the thought isn't the deed, and that would certainly explain an inconsistency in behaviour.
    Jerry -nice to hear from you. Hope all is well. I think your point re saving, along with Bubba on the same topic, both point to another "senior moment" I tend to get.
    OK, I might have saved it, but where the H### did I put it.
    I have enough problems with the car keys. Why should files be any different.

    Well, the sun's up, so it's out to the workshop for another go, and I've got about 5 hours head start on you guys to get it sorted.
    John

    It's like doing jigsaw puzzles in the dark.
    Enjoy today's problems, for tomorrow's may be worse.


  19. #19
    Member greybeard's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    1425
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0

    Default

    OK guys, it took me half an hour, and it's working yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaa.

    Checked Num Lock was off, reset my pins, set pin 14 to enable, saved config, reset ports, saved again as turbocnc.ini, then tried jogging.....nothing
    Went back to the config I/O and looked at the Active High/low setting which was on High, so I set that Low(I think that's a bit counterintuitive, but there you go), and reset ports, saved etc, and it NOW WORKS.


    All I need now is a couple more bits and I'm in business.

    Thanks everyone.
    John

    It's like doing jigsaw puzzles in the dark.
    Enjoy today's problems, for tomorrow's may be worse.


  20. #20
    Member greybeard's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    1425
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0

    Default

    OK, so it's a couple of hours later, closed and then rebooted a couple of times, and it still works


    However, going through the user guide again, I've just come across an interesting bit of information.
    It may have been alluded to already, but I didn't realise till now just how important it is in this situation.

    Although the configuration file can be edited using any text editor, including the file editor built into TurboCNC this is not recommended. The menu system should be used to modify the configuration file. If the currently loaded configuration file is edited, new configuration must be loaded using the menu item 'Configure / Load New Configuration', before exiting or the new values will be overwritten.

    Now to me that is a bit ambiguous.

    ........ If the currently loaded configuration file is edited, new configuration must be loaded using the menu item 'Configure / Load New Configuration', before exiting or the new values will be overwritten.....

    Edited in what - "any text editor", the built-in file editor, or using the menu system ?
    I suspect the latter, but do you need to save before you "Load New Configuration"?
    Again, it may become obvious when you have the window open in front of you, but as a guide, I don't find that paragraph very clear .

    John

    It's like doing jigsaw puzzles in the dark.
    Enjoy today's problems, for tomorrow's may be worse.


Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  


About CNCzone.com

    We are the largest and most active discussion forum for manufacturing industry. The site is 100% free to join and use, so join today!

Follow us on


Our Brands

Can't jog

Can't jog