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[02:29:05] <_DJ_> moin
[03:27:31] <kengu> umm.. ncstudio is again winning against me. too bad the system is working properly in other means and thus not a linuxcnc conversion yet. it is just not willing to eat my gcode.
[03:27:40] <kengu> (usually this helps)
[06:22:15] <skunkworks> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IRTwHiC8Dk
[06:43:22] <archivist> I just watched
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yR9rCFavFjU too :)
[07:01:15] <jthornton> what are we watching?
[07:03:22] <archivist> first id a robot arm, the second is the ether cat demo (link on mailing list)
[07:03:42] <archivist> and any other cnc porn
[07:54:25] <jthornton> crap it is 3 degrees C outside
[07:55:18] <archivist> it got down to that indoors last winter
[07:56:07] <jthornton> ouch
[07:57:11] <kengu> it is -2C or likes outside and +22C inside
[07:57:42] <kengu> great chinese router bit did snap
[07:58:15] <archivist> why you must ask yourself
[07:59:37] <archivist> climb cutting, flexible machine, work moved, bite too large, and other assorted errors like a weak bit
[07:59:55] <kengu> i go for the last one. it was not a question to start with
[08:00:29] <archivist> last is probably least likely :)
[09:46:04] <mrsun> hmm, is it wise to put a big cap on a switched voltage source?
[09:51:53] <archivist> if a proper switch mode psu depends, too large and it may struggle to charge it at switch on
[09:53:44] <archivist> ticking is a sign of it going into foldback protection and shutting down then trying again
[10:13:48] <Guest94947> hello
[10:20:49] <smart210> hello
[10:21:47] <skunkworks_> hello!
[11:13:30] <JT_Shop> hello
[11:17:31] <JT_Shop> Houston we have ignition
[12:04:57] <IchGuckLive> Hi all B)
[12:13:13] <ve7it> cool 5 axis wood machine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfMiUrIKmjg
[12:18:56] <IchGuckLive> ve7it: if you got sutch a mashine let it mill better materials then wood
[12:32:55] <IchGuckLive> somenewguy: ? did you get over it
[12:48:35] <IchGuckLive> i did today a nice tutorial on Linuxcnc CRC Sub one tool Different Diameters Rough,Finish
[12:49:27] <IchGuckLive> i try to uplod it this hour
[13:14:30] <IchGuckLive> ;-) its up and will be online short
[13:15:09] <IchGuckLive> whow that wars the fastest on youtube i ever got
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Zw_TIX4ofA
[13:16:02] <IchGuckLive> PLEASE can some check the quality and the audio
[13:17:17] <IchGuckLive> as a special regard Requested by somenewguy
[13:18:09] <IchGuckLive> now tumbnails are also visible so i guess all is ok
[13:18:50] <IchGuckLive> Mono talk today
[13:19:23] <IchGuckLive> <- alone in the CNC heven O.O
[13:30:23] <IchGuckLive> im off BYE
[15:18:17] <andypugh> My lathe is too puny. But the mill looks like it can make a decent lathe:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/tqqRph5lzv1Kvr-l0RrU-NMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink
[15:35:13] <JT_Shop> interesting setup
[16:06:37] <andypugh> Working out the G-code is tying my brain in knots.
[16:07:25] <andypugh> It's a mill setup, but the tool is on the table and the work is in the spindle..
[16:08:09] <andypugh> It's a slight pity that I can't get the over-arm on.
[16:19:34] <false> Hey guys
[16:20:36] <false> quick question, is it possible to limit the count on a software encoder? So when it would pass 25 it will automatically rollover to 0?
[16:21:30] <PCW> I think there's a mod component (or should be)
[16:22:12] <false> I searched but couldn't find it, but if it's there I'll go and try again.
[16:23:01] <alex_joni> false: if all fails you can set up a comp and just reset the encoder count when > 25
[16:23:14] <alex_joni> but it depends how accurate you need the counts
[16:23:22] <false> I thought about doing it from CL, the rate is very very low.
[16:23:41] <false> But I think auto rollover is cleaner solution
[16:24:09] <false> It's from the atc axis and the rate is about 3hz
[16:24:44] <false> alex_joni: I'll keep that in mind
[16:25:46] <alex_joni> doesn't your encoder have a z pulse?
[16:26:03] <alex_joni> you could use that to autoreset the encoder on each pass
[16:26:15] <false> It's a disc with indents and a proximity sensor so no index
[16:28:58] <_DJ_> gn8
[16:29:05] <false> goodnight
[16:29:37] <false> The disc only has 10 indents, and there are 25 pockets so it makes multiple passes for a complete round of the turret. There is another proximity sensor right near the pockets, and pocket #1 has a small steel bar on it that triggers this. <<< So why don't I use that you ask me? My answer: well I didn't think of it till now :P
[16:31:03] <alex_joni> false: well, now it's obvious why it's there
[16:31:04] <alex_joni> :)
[16:31:26] <alex_joni> I'd still trigger an error if count > 25
[16:32:45] <false> I will definitely do that, can't be to carefull
[16:33:13] <false> I'm already using it for homing the turrent, sometimes it just helps to talk about it (and not to youself)
[16:42:20] <kengu> today i learned that the spindle motor on one mill is water cooled not air cooled
[16:58:58] <alex_joni> false: I often talk to myself
[16:59:06] <alex_joni> sometimes we all need expert advice :)))
[16:59:15] <false> :P
[16:59:16] <alex_joni> j/k
[16:59:43] <false> thanks, back to my whiteboard.
[18:05:31] <andypugh> vey short video of me abusing my milling machine:
http://youtu.be/a_qEwL9vi3g
[18:07:23] <JT_Shop> making a step pulley?
[18:07:58] <Tom_itx> that must be the casting you had done
[18:09:01] <andypugh> Aye, that it be.
[18:09:43] <andypugh> It's the motor-side pulley to drive the Rivett. It needs to be that sort of size to keep the belt clear of the lathe bed
[18:10:41] <andypugh> For the pattern I could just about get away with jacking the headstock up on some nuts, but that wasn't going to work for the casting, and I need to machine a crown into the steps too.
[18:14:02] <andypugh> Note the "Vertical Head of Damocles" :-)
[18:14:10] <kwallace1> andypugh: I like it. You do good work.
[18:14:37] <Tom_itx> are they radiused or flat?
[18:14:58] <Tom_itx> err crown.. nevermind
[18:15:07] <andypugh> Radiused. ("crowned" is the phrase)
[18:15:15] <Tom_itx> i just saw that
[18:16:07] <Tom_itx> are you gonna program a radius or short linear moves?
[18:18:42] <andypugh> G3
[18:19:17] <DrNoboto> crowned pulleys...
[18:19:18] <DrNoboto> aewsome
[18:19:35] <andypugh> It's really tedious G-code, as the vagaries of the casting mean that it cuts a lot of air.
[18:19:47] <kwallace1> I seem to recall mine looking more like the center third crowned (radiusly) with each outer third beveled. I suppose it doesn't matter.
[18:19:51] <DrNoboto> on the plus side, air cuts really well
[18:19:52] <DrNoboto> :)
[18:20:23] <Tom_itx> crowned pulleys is way old school
[18:21:30] <andypugh> The Rivett is way old-school.
[18:21:46] <kwallace1> I wonder if M'sHB has standard flat pulley forms?
[18:22:32] <kwallace1> Oops, I used up a wonder.
[18:22:34] <andypugh> It lists a whole range of opinions :-)
[18:26:12] <andypugh> My 1943 edition says "Different authorities recommend very different amounts of crown" 1/20th diameter for leather, and 1/150th for cotton. Another recommends 1/16" to 1/8" per inch of width.
[18:26:28] <andypugh> So I have gone for 1mm of crown, which looks about right :-)
[18:27:08] <Tom_itx> i wonder if that's even in the Machinist's Handbook
[18:28:18] <andypugh> I just quoted from my 1943 Machinery's Handbook.
[18:28:57] <andypugh> I would prefer an older one still, as I mainly work with teens and twenties tech.
[18:29:29] <Tom_itx> mine's the 25th
[18:29:54] <CaptHindsight> following the logic they use for justifying new textbooks here, that 1943 Handbook is only good for old machines not new ones
[18:30:04] <kwallace1> http://www.wallacecompany.com/old_lathe/dcp_6918-1a.jpg Not much crown here.
[18:30:58] <roycroft> machinery's handbook has not grown in size over the years
[18:31:12] <Tom_itx> not very much
[18:31:14] <roycroft> in newer editions, in order to add new material they have to remove some material
[18:31:17] <roycroft> no, not really at all
[18:31:28] <roycroft> it still has to fit in the middle drawer of a kennedy toolbox
[18:31:34] <roycroft> and that drawer has not grown over the years :)
[18:31:36] <Tom_itx> true
[18:32:01] <roycroft> i have a 20th edition and a 38th edition, and there are quite a few differences
[18:32:19] <andypugh> Ooh, do I want the tatty 5th edition on eBay? (1915)
[18:32:20] <roycroft> iirc, some of the math tables are left out of the newer editions, which is no big deal
[18:32:48] <roycroft> i do recall there were some other significant omissions in the newer version, though
[18:33:17] <roycroft> i believe some of the older threading specifications are left out of the modern editions
[18:33:43] <roycroft> i can't recall other differences off-hand, and i can't be bothered to go compare them right now
[18:34:07] <roycroft> but i can say with confidence that it is useful to have older editions, even though you might refer to a current one 98% of the time
[18:34:25] <roycroft> and from a practical point of view, not just because one might be a collector
[18:34:43] <roycroft> and if that tatty 5th edition is cheap enough i'd get it :)
[18:35:29] <roycroft> oh, sorry, my older one is a 12th edition not 20th
[18:35:32] <roycroft> it's from the war
[18:35:48] <roycroft> and i wonder if the reason so many of that edition are available is because of the war
[18:36:09] <andypugh> I have a 12th, which is very handy.
[18:36:26] <roycroft> and my newer one is a 28th edition
[18:36:27] <andypugh> You can buy a re-printed first edition (1914) for £33.
[18:36:30] <roycroft> 38th hasn't come out yet :)
[18:36:34] <Tom_itx> the machinists' ready reference is another good one to have
[18:36:40] <Tom_itx> spiral bound
[18:38:13] <andypugh> Also handy:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Zeus-Precision-Engineers-Metric-Data-Book-Charts-Reference-Tables-Drill-Tap-Size-/190580021532
[18:39:36] <andypugh> Night all.
[18:39:46] <Tom_itx> later andy
[19:15:17] <DrNoboto> that zeus precision book even has a g-code reference
[19:15:18] <DrNoboto> nifty
[20:07:03] <jdh> http://raleigh.craigslist.org/tls/4139237077.html
[20:36:39] <kwallace2> jdh: I have an older version:
http://www.wallacecompany.com/machine_shop/Craftsman_AA_109/
[20:39:37] <Tom_itx> that looks similar to my craftsman atlas
[20:40:31] <Tom_itx> doesn't have the end crank
[20:42:17] <kwallace2> This one is really just a bit above a toy, but could be fun for getting started.
[20:43:37] <kwallace2> It got passed to me from someone that had a machinist friend that passed away.
[20:46:11] <jdh> if it were closer, I'd buy it anyway.
[20:48:19] <kwallace2> A cheap HF lathe would be better, but not as classy as the CL machine.
[20:50:51] <jdh> I have a cheap HF one, but it isn't as pretty.
[20:53:05] <kwallace2> A little engine turning could go a long way.
http://www.cs.ucr.edu/~eamonn/et/et.htm
[21:07:57] <NickParker> sorry to ask a question twice, but I missed the answer last time because I had to run off. how do I set up my 6i25 with pncconf? I don't have an option for 6i25 or even 5i25 under I/O card
[21:09:29] <pcw_home> For 6I25 you use the 5I25 options
[21:09:30] <pcw_home> (you will need the latest xml files )
[21:11:37] <NickParker> where do I find those? Not having much luck searching linuxcnc.org.
[21:12:21] <pcw_home> http://www.linuxcnc.org/index.php/english/forum/39-pncconf/21670-5i25-firmware-xml-files-for-pncconf
[21:12:54] <NickParker> ty pcw_home
[21:20:02] <PetefromTn> Hi folks..
[21:29:56] <pcw_home> Hi PetefromTn
[21:30:14] <PetefromTn> pcw_home: Hey man howsitgoin?
[21:30:41] <pcw_home> Thought you were going to be PetefromSomewhereElse
[21:31:01] <PetefromTn> LOL tryin to be. Got our house up for sale now. Had one or three folks look thru it so far.
[21:31:04] <pcw_home> Its going, not sure how or why
[21:31:21] <PetefromTn> Right now tore up the floors in the laundry room and bathroom downstairs and I am installing some nice tile.
[21:31:30] <PetefromTn> or where LOL
[21:32:12] <PetefromTn> Mesa cards and the Cincinatti Arrow 500 are still working great.
[21:32:35] <PetefromTn> Still have not gotten around to installing the spindle encoder so I can work the toolchanger yet.
[21:33:08] <pcw_home> Is it difficult?
[21:34:05] <PetefromTn> Honestly not sure but I have to make a metal mount for it. Started designing it and then got a large kitchen cabinet job to build here so have not done squat with the VMC for about two months.
[21:34:33] <PetefromTn> Been desperately trying to find work for the machine to pay myself back for all the money I invested in it.
[21:35:02] <PetefromTn> Luckily I MAY have finally found a customer who has a sweet part he wants made in quantity locally.
[21:35:15] <PetefromTn> I am supposed to meet with him on wednesday afternoon again.
[21:35:36] <PetefromTn> With any luck we can make a deal and I can start making some parts for money that are more than just onesy twosy.....
[21:36:20] <PetefromTn> The Cincinatti fires up and runs great still and I have made a few things with it since it has been working.
[21:36:30] <pcw_home> That sounds good, it alway takes a while when starting from scratch
[21:36:35] <PetefromTn> I am still getting that funky error when I fire up the spindle.
[21:36:50] <pcw_home> which error was that?
[21:37:00] <PetefromTn> I need to figure out what is causing it but it happens every time I fire up the spindle.
[21:37:10] <PetefromTn> I cannot remember offhand the actual error wording.
[21:37:29] <PetefromTn> It basically does it IMMEDIATELY every time I fire up the spindle.
[21:37:53] <PetefromTn> The spindle works as it should and the machine cuts good but it gives that error every time.
[21:38:59] <PetefromTn> Hopefully I can make an agreement on price for these customers parts and start making some of them and maybe I can afford to put more time into getting the little bugs worked out of the system and get the rest of the toolchanger working.
[21:39:24] <PetefromTn> It sure is nice to be able to change tools with the power drawbar tho but there is no substiture for the toolchanger LOL
[21:39:43] <pcw_home> Assuming it was a ground loop issue I was going to send you that
[21:39:45] <pcw_home> 7i77isol but got sidetracked when I realized it needs a feature added
[21:39:46] <pcw_home> to the encoder firmware. That may eventually be a good solution
[21:40:39] <PetefromTn> Oh yeah that is right I forgot about that. What is holding it up? I would love to try it. Perhaps we can work together on a cure LOL..
[21:40:53] <pcw_home> Next time you see the error, write it down...
[21:41:11] <pcw_home> (or screen capture)
[21:41:28] <PetefromTn> Willdo. I plan to fire it up tomorrow after lunch. Got a meeting with a potential cabinetry customer in the morning tho.
[21:42:21] <PetefromTn> I was just getting acquainted with LCNC before I got that big Kitchen job and now I have not run the machine for two months and I cannot even remember how to set the TLO's LOL
[21:42:49] <pcw_home> To use the isolator, some work on the encoder section of the HostMot2 driver is needed
[21:43:07] <pcw_home> well good to have the work anyway
[21:43:22] <PetefromTn> Aah hell I can go out there now and fire it up and write down the error. It is pretty consistent. I am just sitting on my ass holding down the couch right now.
[21:43:41] <PetefromTn> would that affect my current settings somehow?
[21:44:20] <PetefromTn> Been listening to Pandora on my Stereo on the Vangelis channel, always chills me out LOL
[21:44:50] <PetefromTn> Standby I will go and fire it up and see what the errors are...BRB.
[21:44:51] <pcw_home> no but there needs to be a new hal pin setting (MuxedEncoderDeskew_nS)
[21:45:12] <PetefromTn> That is simple to do no?
[21:46:23] <PetefromTn> I sure hope I can get this product gig so I can run this machine thru some real parts. These parts are all gonna be plastic, looks like delrin so like a hot knife thru butter..
[21:47:34] <pcw_home> yeah for the 7I77isol MuxedEncoderDeskew_nS is 60+cable_ft*3
[21:48:25] <micges> pcw_home: what is default value for MuxedEncoderDeskew_nS ?
[21:49:01] <pcw_home> 0
[21:52:38] <pcw_home> That is, the current timing samples the muxed encoder data just as the mux signal changes
[21:52:39] <pcw_home> but if you have long cables and or a isolation circuit, you may want do delay the sample point
[21:52:40] <pcw_home> to accommodate the propagation delay
[21:53:19] <PetefromTn> OKay here are the errors I am getting. standby while I type this all.
[21:57:07] <PetefromTn> you may see this error if the FPGA cars read thread is not running will not repeat
[21:57:25] <PetefromTn> Hm2/hm2_5i25.0:Smart serial Error port 0 channel 0
[21:57:39] <PetefromTn> you may see this error if the FPGA cars read thread is not running will not repeat
[21:58:02] <PetefromTn> Hm2_5i25.0.7i77.0.0 Error= (13) Communications error
[21:58:32] <PetefromTn> Hm2/hm2_5i25.0 Smart Serial Card
[21:59:01] <PetefromTn> Hm2_5i25.0.7i77.0.0 error=(4) Extra Charachter
[21:59:26] <pcw_home> OK sserial errors. You must have enough of a ground loop to generate more than 1V or so from the 7I77s gnd to the 5I25s gnd
[21:59:35] <PetefromTn> Not entirely sure the errors is exactly the same each time but I think it is.
[21:59:53] <PetefromTn> Is that terrible?
[22:00:04] <pcw_home> Yes
[22:00:11] <PetefromTn> oh shit..
[22:01:04] <pcw_home> you may be able to fix it with a common mode choke on the analog signals going to the spindle
[22:01:36] <pcw_home> the 7I77ISOL should fix it as well
[22:02:12] <PetefromTn> I need to try to fix it in the hardware of course but it would be nice to do both.
[22:02:32] <PetefromTn> I actually have some chokes here I tried but not sure which lines to put them on.
[22:02:39] <pcw_home> I think Ive asked this before, but does the spindle drive have a line filter?
[22:02:59] <PetefromTn> No it does not currently and it probably needs one.
[22:04:34] <PetefromTn> The spindle drive power lines come directly off the interrupt on the machine it is the only power in the machine that is not on the estop. I was told to do it that way to avoid problems by the supplier. Software shuts it off in an estop condition. Or I can just flip the big switch.
[22:06:48] <pcw_home> one thing to try with a big ferrite bead is wind the analog signal(the whole cable)
[22:06:50] <pcw_home> to the VFD a couple turns through the bead.
[22:06:51] <pcw_home> somehow high frequency ground current is flowing through the 7I77/5I25 cable
[22:07:09] <PetefromTn> Everything else is dead upon estop even the hard limits are wired for total shutdown and I use an physical override switch to get back off in case of an accidental limit trip which thanks to LinuxCNC's soft limit and general architecture that should never happen.
[22:08:34] <PetefromTn> I don't see how the cable between the boards does not go anywhere near the spindle drive lines. I think it is more likely having something to do with the low voltage control lines that come from the 7i77 and go to the face of the Hitachi spindle drive somehow.
[22:08:44] <pcw_home> is this happening when you operate the spindle primary switch, not just enable the spindle?
[22:10:55] <PetefromTn> Well not running a program right now that uses the spindle I went out and homed the machine after startup and then clicked the little fwd spindle button. Then when I hit the increase button to start it spinning is when the error occurs. Sometimes it works without an error but it then happens when I turn off the spindle in the same fashion.
[22:12:00] <PetefromTn> Spindle speed is constant and the responses seem correct as does the speeds which I verified with a laser tacho but I still get this error.
[22:12:12] <PetefromTn> What would that board do to combat this issue?
[22:12:24] <pcw_home> I dont think it is inductive pick up (a cable routing issue)
[22:12:25] <pcw_home> I think one of the ground connections (possible to the spindle drive)
[22:12:27] <pcw_home> is returning significant HF noise current
[22:13:15] <pcw_home> thats is why putting a common mode choke on all wire going to the spindle drive may help
[22:13:22] <pcw_home> all wires
[22:13:38] <PetefromTn> Just the ferrite choke type?
[22:13:58] <PetefromTn> I know they sell large input power chokes made for this application and I may need to ante up for one of them at some point.
[22:14:32] <pcw_home> Yes, the ones we use on drives are about 1" OD and 1/2" ID
[22:17:24] <pcw_home> Other possibilities are grounding the 7I77 logic GND to the chassis gnd at the 7I77
[22:17:26] <pcw_home> (to see if you can shunt some of the noise current returning up the cable to the chassis gnd)
[22:20:23] <pcw_home> If nothing else works, the 7I77ISOL should (since it breaks the GND connection between the 7I77 and the 5I25 so
[22:20:25] <pcw_home> theres no ground loop possible anymore)
[22:22:31] <PetefromTn> That 7i77 Isol sounds like the solution to me man. I am DEFINITELY going to try to get the chokes installed on everything and I am gonna investigate the 7i77 logiv gnd to chassis gnd idea. Not sure if I have that on there or not. gotta look at it.
[22:24:36] <pcw_home> sometimes a line filter on the PC helps as well
[22:24:38] <pcw_home> (VFDs make a lot of noise)
[22:26:55] <PetefromTn> yeah I know I ran into noise issues with my RF45 build VFD as well. Both of these VFD's were installed in the electronics enclosure with the control system. I guess I am a stubborn SOB. I know the original control had it in there and most all machines I have seen do the same thing so there must be a way to quite it down.
[22:27:04] <PetefromTn> quiet
[22:28:20] <pcw_home> and a lot of it is ground bumping, so making sure the VFD chassis gnd is solid is important as well
[22:29:36] <PetefromTn> This is pretty cool. I was just perusing the Airgun CLassified ads and happened upon a GORGEOUS FWB p70 rifle and then noticed that it wears a custom sidewheel I machined for that guy a couple years ago on it. I remember milling that wheel on my RF45 and then turning the contour on the lathe. Here is a link....
[22:29:41] <PetefromTn> http://www.network54.com/Forum/79574/thread/1382390573/FWB+P70FT+Rifle+and+scope+now+selling+separately+or+as+package
[22:30:48] <PetefromTn> I need to get back in there and check all the grounds. I do know that all the grounds in the box run to this large screw terminal ground strip near the top and it is all green or green and white wires. That includes the VFD power input ground.
[22:32:01] <pcw_home> Nice to see your stuff out there
[22:32:12] <PetefromTn> The ground strip is attached to the electronics enclosure case and the VFD itself is screwed into the case albeit in a different area of the box.
[22:32:43] <PetefromTn> Yeah it was a pleasant surprise to see it. That one was for a Leupold Competition sidewheel focus scope. NICE glass and not cheap.
[22:33:39] <PetefromTn> I actually built a FT rifle like that or at least similar to that from scratch but I had to sell it when I had to undergo Lung Surgery about two years ago.
[22:34:11] <PetefromTn> Now I want to build another one using the VMC to do the machining.
[22:34:14] <KimK> Hi Pete, nice wheel, I presume engraved (numbers) too? Too bad no detail photos. Also blue anodized where the numbers are and not anodized on the other 180? Nice.
[22:34:21] <pcw_home> That must have been a fair amount of work
[22:37:02] <PetefromTn> Kim, actually no there was no engraving the numbers are kinda random depending on the shooters eyesight and the build of the scope. Also that is not anodizing it is a special waterproof blue tape that the shooter scribes the yardages into
[22:37:39] <PetefromTn> yeah it is actually but I got paid decent for it. the hardest part is the lathe work actually, I made two different radius turning attachments for my lathe to do that.
[22:40:04] <PetefromTn> Need to CNC that damn thing sometime too I guess LOL. Would sure make that easier to do I suppose. Altho the cutters need crazy back reliefs and such to not hit parts you don't want removed.
[22:42:31] <KimK> Interesting, thanks, good to know. BTW, as a quick test for DAC command noise or lack of isolation or whatever problem, you might try (if your drive supports it, most do) temporarily wiring instead of DAC try the 0-10 pot config, but with the pot at the far end, maybe near the Mesa DAC card, as if the pot is the DAC. See what that does to your noise. (Pot must be floating, wired as per drive manual, not tied to Mesa card.)
[22:43:48] <PetefromTn_> Whazzat...
[22:43:59] <pcw_home> KimK: thats a good suggestion...
[22:45:25] <KimK> PetefromTn: Oops, you just rejoined, but I didn't see you drop off. Did you get my last, starting with "Interesting, ..."
[22:46:11] <PetefromTn__> Hello
[22:46:24] <KimK> PetefromTn: Having connect trouble? Changing units?
[22:46:29] <NickParker> could somebody help me a bit more with pncconf? I used the bash script from here:
http://www.linuxcnc.org/index.php/english/forum/39-pncconf/21670-5i25-firmware-xml-files-for-pncconf
[22:46:51] <KimK> pcw_home: Thanks
[22:46:52] <PetefromTn__> Dunno been getting kicked off once in awhile tonight on our internet.
[22:46:59] <NickParker> but i still don't have 5i25 as an option. the script seems to have run right, I have the hostmot2-firmware-5i25 folder now
[22:47:02] <PetefromTn__> What'd I miss.
[22:47:15] <NickParker> although curiously i can't cd into it now and get a permission denied
[22:47:35] <KimK> PetefromTn__: I sent you this...
[22:47:45] <KimK> Interesting, thanks, good to know. BTW, as a quick test for DAC command noise or lack of isolation or whatever problem, you might try (if your drive supports it, most do) temporarily wiring instead of DAC try the 0-10 pot config, but with the pot at the far end, maybe near the Mesa DAC card, as if the pot is the DAC. See what that does to your noise. (Pot must be floating, wired as per drive manual, not tied to Mesa card.)
[22:49:16] <KimK> PetefromTn__: And I guess I should have added shields connected as they were when you were running DAC.
[22:49:39] <PetefromTn__> Not sure I understand you, The drive is a Hitachi WJ200R and it has onboard 0-10v control inputs etc.
[22:50:54] <PetefromTn__> The drive has the heavy gauge power inputs on the bottom and there is a small square removable panel on the face where the logic inputs and outputs go. Those are wired directly into the I/O on the 7i77 for the spindle.
[22:51:52] <KimK> Right. But to test to see if you're suffering from induced noise pickup, or trouble due to non-isolated DAC issues, connecting the 0-10v pot method would check your DAC cable and shield connections for "motor and drive noise protection" or whatever you want to call it.
[22:52:23] <KimK> Plus give you a floating/isolated command signal.
[22:52:32] <KimK> Even if it is just a pot.
[22:53:12] <KimK> It's just a quick test using materials you have available.
[22:53:56] <PetefromTn__> So you are saying connect a pot directly to the inputs and hookup a battery or something to test?
[22:54:41] <KimK> Well, usually the drive supplies the +10v to the high side of the pot, but as always, "consult your drive manual".
[22:54:44] <PetefromTn__> Please forgive my electronics Ignorance I am a NOOB to this stuff for the most part.
[22:56:05] <PetefromTn__> Okay if that is the case (again not sure) I can just use a long wire and a pot to adjust the speed. If it works without errors then I am getting the noise thru the board. Good medicine here LOL.
[22:56:28] <PetefromTn__> I thought I put chokes on all of the wires coming out of the Hitachi awhile back gotta check. BRB>
[22:57:35] <KimK> No problem. Usually the drive (for "pot" mode) has three terminals: High side (+10v), "Middle/tap/wiper" (the 0 to +10v command signal), and Low side (circuit common/sometimes erroneously called "ground". Lots of things are (in shorthand) called "ground", be sure that you know which ones they are referring to.)
[22:58:22] <KimK> The Britishism "earth" is sometimes helpful here.
[22:59:16] <KimK> (Ha, maybe the British (for clarification) use the Americanism "ground"? That would be a hoot.)
[22:59:54] <roycroft> "britishism?"
[23:00:20] <KimK> Ha, no offense (offence?) intended.
[23:00:23] <roycroft> wasn't the english language around in england a lot earlier than it was used in any other part of the world? :)
[23:00:38] * roycroft is from the us, but knows his history :P
[23:01:49] <roycroft> i have to say, though, that if i were deploying an electronic circuit on mars i'd find it much easier to ground it than to earth it
[23:01:58] <KimK> Well, I only say Britishism because you will rarely hear an American electrician talk about connecting an "earthing" wire.
[23:02:49] <KimK> roycroft: Ha, yes! A "Marsing" wire?
[23:03:34] <roycroft> maybe that's why the mars rover came from the us and not england
[23:04:09] <KimK> "Yes, I'd like 60 Foogtals of Marsing wire. And one of those "Earth" bars (chocolate). "
[23:06:26] <KimK> Back in a bit.
[23:06:30] <PetefromTn__> Hey guess what I think I just had a breakthru. I went out there to see about the noise issue and look at the Hitachi and the grounds. I was inspecting the ground strip which is rather large and checking each wire. I happened across a wire that was not hooked up. I traced it back to ensure it was a ground wire even tho they all are blue or green as per my diagram. SO I checked it out and hooked it back into the ground strip.
[23:06:30] <PetefromTn__> I then
[23:07:19] <PetefromTn__> went up front and fired up the machine again and believe it or not I messed with the spindle on and off and on and off and reversing from speed a bunch of times and got NO ERRORS!!
[23:11:43] <NickParker> ok i got pncconf to see my 5i25 option.
[23:11:55] <NickParker> now i'm off down the rabbit hole of the integrator's manual to find out how to drive my steppers.
[23:14:16] <PetefromTn__> Congrats dude... Now the fun begins!!
[23:19:21] <NickParker> yeah, especially because i'm using 4 phase steppers
[23:19:44] <NickParker> honestly i should probably just use 3 crapduinos as step/dir interpreters
[23:21:49] <NickParker> uhhh why does clicking wiki on linuxcnc.org take me here?
http://tabsnoprescription.com/buy-zestril-usa.html
[23:22:17] <NickParker> seems I have a virus?
[23:22:46] <PetefromTn__> Dunno man maybeso...
[23:23:14] <NickParker> could somebody else try it?
[23:23:40] <PetefromTn__> I cannot believe it, I have been annoyed by that damn set of errors I was getting whenever I fired up the spindle for a long time now and I find a silly stupid ground wire loose and fix it and it SEEMS like the problem is gone now!!
[23:24:15] <PetefromTn__> I just went out there again and ran the spindle thru several cycles of on and off and back on again adjusting the speed etc and it has not given me a single error message.
[23:24:31] <kwallace> http://wiki.linuxcnc.org/cgi-bin/wiki.pl works fine for me.
[23:24:54] <NickParker> yeah i can get to it by typing in the url
[23:25:03] <NickParker> but the link at the top of linuxcnc.org takes me to the pills page
[23:25:10] <PetefromTn__> yup just checked it works fine for me too..
[23:25:17] <NickParker> welp that'll be fun to fix..
[23:25:34] <NickParker> anyway, can i use stepgen with a mesa card?
[23:26:34] <kwallace> If I recall you are using unipolar steppers?
[23:26:37] <PetefromTn__> I am sure you can not sure offhand which card tho. Mesa Cards ROCK!!
[23:26:38] <NickParker> yep
[23:26:47] <NickParker> same stuff as your shizuoka
[23:27:08] <PetefromTn__> Always liked the looks of the shiz..
[23:27:54] <kwallace> I think Mesa only has step/dir and is not what you need.
[23:28:29] <NickParker> mesa daughtercards or the 6i25 itself?
[23:29:07] <NickParker> I guess maybe I will have to use an arduino to interpret step/dir for me.
[23:30:12] <kwallace> The firmware only has step/dir whereas the software stepper has many types. You might be able to talk PCW into making Type 9 stepping option.
[23:31:54] <kwallace> Here is another beauty:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/400588594695
[23:32:25] <NickParker> hmmm... well the "drivers" in the shiz are basically just isolated transistors on each phase, so I think I'll try to drive some tiny 4 phase steppers i have with an arduino interpreting step/dir
[23:32:31] <NickParker> see if i can make that reliable and quick
[23:33:00] <NickParker> and some FETs standing in for the drivers
[23:33:50] <kwallace> Software stepping works well for me with some speed to spare.
[23:34:04] <NickParker> with what latency?
[23:34:14] <NickParker> i have 20-30k which isn't great
[23:35:08] <kwallace> 28000us I think. Athlon of some type.
[23:35:33] <NickParker> oh well then, maybe i should be using software stepping. aren't you also using a mesa card though? Thought I saw one on your site
[23:37:09] <kwallace> Not on the Shiz. I have a 6i25 for development, and a 5i25 in the Tormach 770.
[23:37:58] <kwallace> I have a couple of Pico UPC boards too.
[23:40:09] <kwallace> I just remembered, I have a Pluto-P in the Shiz for PWM to the VFD.
[23:40:22] <PetefromTn__> That shiz is nice but I like the larger square looking Shiz's and honestly that price is CRAZY!!
[23:41:23] <NickParker> kwallace: Mine's got a DC spindle that takes analog input through a DAC
[23:41:35] <NickParker> a very silly DAC that uses 8 bits to convey values 0-99 lol
[23:43:15] <PetefromTn__> What machine?
[23:43:41] <kwallace> You'll need a fast signal generator for that. That is why I have the Pluto-P there.
[23:45:10] <NickParker> kwallace: nah it just takes 8 inputs at TTL level. no pwming involved.
[23:45:17] <PetefromTn__> Damn I am excited I may have finally fixed my spindle noise error problem here. It has been buggin me for awhile now.
[23:45:41] <PetefromTn__> Gonna be running her over the next few days and hopefully I don't get any more errors.
[23:46:12] <kwallace> NickParker: I was thinking if you wanted to replace the 8-bit DAC.
[23:46:53] <NickParker> Oh nah. If I need to save some pins I can do something kludgy with an arduino
[23:47:18] <NickParker> take a nice low frequency pwm into the arduion to drive the DAC maybe.
[23:48:19] <kwallace> I tried this:
http://www.wallacecompany.com/machine_shop/EMC2/serial_dac/
[23:52:35] <NickParker> hmmm.. well i mean i have a 6i25 and nothing else that deserves it, that would generate fast enough signals to replace my DAC no?
[23:52:35] <kwallace> I'm thinking of using a teensy for a Modbus to VFD project, if I can find the time.
http://wiki.linuxcnc.org/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?AVR
[23:53:47] <kwallace> Yeah, except for the stepping of the axes, which should be fine.
[23:54:29] <NickParker> are you saying replacing the DAC would take up too much time and I would have stepping issues, or just that i can't drive my motors off the 6i25?
[23:55:02] <kwallace> I think you could even run the software stepper through the 6i25 GPIO, but I'd have to double check that.
[23:55:58] <NickParker> my mobo has a parport and i have 2 breadboard headers for parports so there's no need for that
[23:56:00] <kwallace> The 6i25 doesn't have Type 9 stepping for your unipolar drives.
[23:56:39] <NickParker> yeah i get that. so i could do software stepping with type 9 and spindle control on my 6i25?
[23:58:45] <kwallace> Only if you can send software stepping through the 6i25's pins as GPIO for the Type 9. For the spindle, I'd have to think more about how that can be done.
