Difference between revisions of "Mach4 SimpleMotion drive plugin"

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(Requirements)
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==== '''Mach4 installation''' ====
 
==== '''Mach4 installation''' ====
 
* Download and install Mach4
 
* Download and install Mach4
* Download the plugin files to the plugin folder TODO: Mistä?
+
* Download the plugin files to the Mach4 plugin folder
 
* Launch Mach4
 
* Launch Mach4
 
* Select the SimpleMotion driver plugin from Mach4 settings
 
* Select the SimpleMotion driver plugin from Mach4 settings
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** Counts/unit, velocity, acceleration, reverse
 
** Counts/unit, velocity, acceleration, reverse
 
* Axis mapping
 
* Axis mapping
** Select motors. Numbers are different here compared to driver numbers!
+
** Select motors. The motor index numbers in Mach4 are one smaller than the motor driver numbers in the SimpleMotion bus. For example, Motor0 in Mach4 controls the motor driver 1.
** One OB axis can be selected for being used as a velocity or position controlled spindle
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** One OB (Out-of-Band) axis can be selected for being used as a velocity or position controlled spindle
 
** Do not enable axes without motors
 
** Do not enable axes without motors
 
* Homing/SoftLimits
 
* Homing/SoftLimits
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== Other ==
 
== Other ==
  
==== '''Version list''' ====
+
==== '''Versions''' ====
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
!Version
 
!Version
 
!Comments
 
!Comments
 +
!Download
 
|-
 
|-
 
|0.1
 
|0.1
 
|The first beta release
 
|The first beta release
 +
|
 
|}
 
|}
  

Revision as of 16:18, 10 January 2018

Mach4 is a CNC motion control software developed by Newfangled Solutions. The Mach4 SimpleMotion drive plugin is needed to run motor drivers connected to SimpleMotion bus with Mach4.

Requirements

The following things are needed for building a CNC machine using Mach4 and motor drivers connected with SimpleMotion bus:

  • Atomi, IONI or Argon-based motion system, e.g. CNC mill, connected with SimpleMotion bus
  • Windows PC
  • Mach4 software + license
  • SimpleMotion adapter depending on selected motor drivers

Motor driver configuration

Configure the motor drivers with Granity software:

  • Motor specific settings
  • Set position mode for every driver except for possible velocity-controlled spindle motor
  • Set suitable max. speed
  • Configure homing for all possible axes to ensure the positioning accuracy
  • Set soft travel limits

Mach4 installation

  • Download and install Mach4
  • Download the plugin files to the Mach4 plugin folder
  • Launch Mach4
  • Select the SimpleMotion driver plugin from Mach4 settings
  • Restart Mach4
  • Select the plugin as motion control device

Configuration

Mach4 configuration

  • Plugins
    • Simplemotion drive plugin must be checked
  • Motors
    • Counts/unit, velocity, acceleration, reverse
  • Axis mapping
    • Select motors. The motor index numbers in Mach4 are one smaller than the motor driver numbers in the SimpleMotion bus. For example, Motor0 in Mach4 controls the motor driver 1.
    • One OB (Out-of-Band) axis can be selected for being used as a velocity or position controlled spindle
    • Do not enable axes without motors
  • Homing/SoftLimits
    • Set home order
    • Home dir is selected in Granity software
    • Set home in place if needed
    • Set soft travel limits
  • Spindle
    • Min. and Max. RPM
    • A position controlled spindle can be selected here if it's enabled in motors

Plugin configuration

  • FTDI port number
  • Buffer max fill percentage
  • Spindle settings
    • Position-controlled spindle
      • Select from Mach4 settings
    • Velocity-controlled spindle
      • Select OOB axis from Mach4 settings and the same axis from the plugin configuration dialog

Other

Versions

Version Comments Download
0.1 The first beta release

Known issues

  • A small bump after disabling or stopping motion is possible