I'm now in the process of building/designing the wire EDM and probably will use Mach3 to control it. I do though have some problems that I'm not exactly sure of how to deal with, as I haven't found answers to these on the forum or the internet in general.

1. I know that I can wire an input and in Mach3 instruct that this and this input should act like a button, but how is it done at Mach3's end? I would like to include feed hold and reverse run buttons.

2. Does the Mach3 reverse run from a feed hold situation or without feed holding?

3. Is reverse run possible in G41/G42 mode or G40 mode or in both?

4. Is the reverse run available in the demo version of Mach3?

5. For feed hold and reverse run signals, what would you recommend? Measure the gap voltage and if it is too high, feed. If it is too low (short), reverse run and if it is between the extremes, feed hold? As I remember that Mach3 doesn't do variable feed rate based on an input or does it? If there is variable feedrate possible, meaning I can input a 0-10 V signal or something to Mach3 to control the feedrate, how to do it?

I really would like to get it process controlled and not waste wire by running the machine "slow enough so it won't short"

Anyone, please? I'm sure others have used the reverse code feature and know how it works.

Push feedhold , when it stops push reverse run, when you want to stop push feedhold to return to normal push Cycle start.

(;-) TP

Ah okay, this makes it quite easy then. The circuitry monitors the gap voltage and if it is betwen upper and lower limits, it is sending a feedhold signal. If the voltage drops too much, it sends a reverse run signal, so it should work as Mach3 first gets a feedhold signal and after that a reverse run signal. When the gap voltage rises again, reverse run signal disappears first and when the vvoltage reaches open circuit voltage the feedhold signal disappears and thus Mach3 should continue with the code.

However, does the Mach3 need a single impulse signal to activate functions or will an active/deactive (binary) signal be enough? If only a single pulse (rises&falls), then how long pulse width is required for proper operation?

Or do you really need to push cycle start after feedhold?

You will have to bring in the control signals to MAch through input pins then create a monitor (either a macropump or a brain) to make use of those signals to control the reverse and forward run. The cyclestart and feedhold and reverse run can be called from the macropump or brain.

I would suggest doing some reading up on macros ,brains and CB coding.

(;-) TP

Thanks, i'll try to dig in to the control logic programming when I have more time than now