Thor, or should that be Zeus?

[Neale]

IP/whatever only works with Mach3/4, so Mach3 must be able to handle all the I/O. However, it's certainly not obvious first time round exactly how you refer to the connections. Took me a while to figure it out from the manuals. Post the screen shot and I'm sure someone can talk you through it. Is one of those things that's obvious, but only after you've done it the first time!

[Chaz]

IP/whatever only works with Mach3/4, so Mach3 must be able to handle all the I/O. However, it's certainly not obvious first time round exactly how you refer to the connections. Took me a while to figure it out from the manuals. Post the screen shot and I'm sure someone can talk you through it. Is one of those things that's obvious, but only after you've done it the first time!

Thanks Neale, I understand how the inputs / mapping work. Ive setup a few machines on CS Labs kit. Ill find the image / reference to why I believe Mach 3 is the problem here with limit inputs specifically.

[Desertboy]

Thanks Neale, I understand how the inputs / mapping work. Ive setup a few machines on CS Labs kit. Ill find the image / reference to why I believe Mach 3 is the problem here with limit inputs specifically.

My only experience with microswitches and CNC style controllers are Arduino based but I do know the Arduino has internal pullup resistors so that microswitchs work from 2 wires (Unpowered) but when you use inductive sensors they need to be powered so you have to turn the internal pullup resistors off in the firmware (You also need to wire some resistors to drop the voltage from 12v to 5v so it doesn't fry the Arduino.) and make sure you have the correct firmware setting for NO/NC. I wonder if this could be related?

I have an inductive sensor for auto levelling my 3d printer bed and an aluminium print bed and fried 1 Arduino before I found this out.

[Chaz]

My only experience with microswitches and CNC style controllers are Arduino based but I do know the Arduino has internal pullup resistors so that microswitchs work from 2 wires (Unpowered) but when you use inductive sensors they need to be powered so you have to turn the internal pullup resistors off in the firmware (You also need to wire some resistors to drop the voltage from 12v to 5v so it doesn't fry the Arduino.) and make sure you have the correct firmware setting for NO/NC. I wonder if this could be related?

I have an inductive sensor for auto levelling my 3d printer bed and an aluminium print bed and fried 1 Arduino before I found this out.

Getting them to work as single NC switches is fairly easy on the CS Labs / Mach 3 setup.

Im trying to work out how to wire them in series and how to mix between limit / home options.

Another way is to wire something via the E Stop circuit for limit switches and not actually use the 'limit switch' pins available to Mach 3.

[Desertboy]

Getting them to work as single NC switches is fairly easy on the CS Labs / Mach 3 setup.

Im trying to work out how to wire them in series and how to mix between limit / home options.

Another way is to wire something via the E Stop circuit for limit switches and not actually use the 'limit switch' pins available to Mach 3.

You should be fine to wire them in series no problems but only if you use them as Normally Closed, if you use them Normally open they won't trigger! Normally closed the circuits is flowing and your detecting a break it doesn't matter which one triggers. Normally open the circuit is closed and unless you trigger both microswitches at the same time (Which can never happen in real world use) the circuit can't complete.

There's no real power going through them so wire from one to the other so should be no need for anything else.

If I were you I would wire a 2nd set of limits to the Estop regardless as it seems more reliable than relying on the software and you really can't afford a crash.

[Chaz]

This is the limitation (for limit switches).


'Only 5 of these inputs blah blah' ....

Ive actually crashed Mach 3 before by trying to use other inputs than those (for limit switches, I must stress). No problem using them for ATC switches etc.

[Clive S]

This is the limitation (for limit switches).


'Only 5 of these inputs blah blah' ....

Ive actually crashed Mach 3 before by trying to use other inputs than those (for limit switches, I must stress). No problem using them for ATC switches etc.

Chas I have not used the IP/A but doesn't the controller use its own plugin with Mach and it states on the website 24 inputs at 24V I don't think it uses the Mach screen to set them up. I could be wrong.

[Chaz]

Chas I have not used the IP/A but doesn't the controller use its own plugin with Mach and it states on the website 24 inputs at 24V I don't think it uses the Mach screen to set them up. I could be wrong.

Clive, yes, I need to check. All I recall is 'killing' Mach 3 when I inadvertently used the inputs outside of Mach 3's range. Maybe coincident but its all I could relate to making Mach 3 crash.

[Clive S]

Chaz It is in the manual about page 37 and it clearly shows how they are connected. so the data is going via the cat5 cable so you are not limited by the 5 inputs on a PP