M5 command in Mach 3

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adbuch
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Re: M5 command in Mach 3

Post by adbuch »

You are welcome! Let us know how everything works out. I hope you will have continued success.
David
stepper
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Re: M5 command in Mach 3

Post by stepper »

Hi again guys
Following my disappointment with the issues above caused by my inappropriate purchase of a Chinese motion controller and the problems that came with it, I have made the decision to replace with a well known and proven interface. I have purchased a Warp9 ESS Smooth Stepper but I am struggling with making the right decision regarding the BOB, there are so many out there and I do not want to get it wrong again.
My requirements at present are as follows: -
4 axis drives, 1 with a floating head
4 home switches (PNP), could change to NPN if needed.
3 limit switches
Obligatory E/S
1 or more NO-NC relays for the torch firing
Potential for expansion at a later date for a THC
Potential at a later date for an MPG
connections would be ideally opto-isolated

My plasma is a Hypertherm 45XP fitted with a machine torch and CPC connector for future THC connection

I know each of you will have a favourite BOB and I will look at all recommendations before making my decision, reliability, support and availability is of course important, please bear in mind I am situated in the UK which following Brexit means any purchase will be subject to additional import duty etc.

I did lean towards the CNC Room MB3 but they cannot despatch until April 15th, then it will take 3 weeks and the customs duty would make it an expensive purchase, maybe it was overkill anyway for my needs.

Thank you
Andy
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Re: M5 command in Mach 3

Post by robertspark »

the ESS has three ports on it, each have a 26 pin IDE connector.

from memory (you will need to read the manual!!!)
https://warp9td.com/index.php/documentation/doc-ess
there are 2x fixed ports and one is a bi-directional and changeable port (so it can have pins 2-9 as outputs (std lpt / printer port) or it can have pins 2-9 as inputs (ecp )

make sure you set them correctly before plugging it into a device (Bob) requiring the opposite configuration.

you could use 2 X very cheap bobs .... and set it up as 2x lpt port configuration..... the problem is you will get 10 inputs, and a lot of low voltage outputs (only 2 with a relay on them ) which is fine as all you need is 1 relay to fire the torch.

also you could buy 1 cheap Bob and a miniTHC which will plug straight in to your second port and take care of thc, floating and ohmic and firing the torch and comes with a plugin module for the pmx

cheap Bob =
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/USB-Interfac ... 890.l49286

available from many places (Amazon will probably do next day)

there are also lots of expensive ESS bobs too
https://www.cncroom.com/interface-cards/ess-mb3

I think pmdx does one too, and obviously cnc4pc do a load of others.

my suggestion to you is draw up a list (table) of your Io requirements listing all inputs and outputs you will require and choose your solution accordingly.... then assign pin numbers to them on the ESS
Last edited by robertspark on Tue Apr 06, 2021 2:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.
robertspark
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Re: M5 command in Mach 3

Post by robertspark »

also read the warp9 forum too.

https://warp9td.com/index.php/bob-vendors

it has improved a lot since when I started out.

I would suggest choosing wisely and maybe ask for users who no longer use ESS hardware why they no longer use it and what they use now.

for me, it was the development time, to get anything fixed or added took years (I'll bet there are still things listed on the forum asked for and stated that they would be sorted shortly..... and never have been)... development is not at warp speed, at least they now (it seems) have the mach 4 plugin sorted out for plasma with THC.

join the forum, ask questions, read the threads, see what works and what does not.
https://warp9td.com/index.php/kunena/index

Same thing, as you intend to run Mach3/4, join the Machforum and ask questions, and read the posts.
https://www.machsupport.com/forum/index ... board=65.0

There are a lot more users of cnc machines today than there were when I started out and Warp9 was one of the few (cost effective) solutions available when I bought a USB SS in about 2006?

andy on the Warp9 forum is a great guy and very helpful, a lot of progress has been made with him
stepper
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Re: M5 command in Mach 3

Post by stepper »

Thank you for your prompt response, I will certainly investigate your suggestions.
Andy
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