Hi all,

I am excited to have a new ATC and spindle control all hooked up on my 24" x 24" Techno CNC!  However, before I can get started I have to sort out this funky minor issue:

m3 will start the spindle via the Gecko G540 (Port 1 Pins 14 & 1).  m5 stops it.
m101 activates Output 1 (Port 2 Pin3)  M102 de-activates Output 1.
m103 activates Output 2 (Port 2 Pin1)  M104 de-activates Output 2.

However, for some reason, M5 also de-activates both outputs.  Output 1 re-activates after a moment, Output 2 remains deactivated.  

I had a similar problem when I was making my solenoid bank and a diode on each helped eliminate feedback through the ground when the solenoid discharged.  Since there is now a diode on each solenoid - and more importantly, since the spindle is being fed from the G540 directly (not the solenoid bank) I'm confused about where the cross-feed is....

Any ideas?

dh

What am I missing?

Additional info:

M5 doesn't de-activate inputs if the spindle isn't already running.  For example: 

Activate output 1, enter m5 = Out1 is still activated. 
Activate output 1, enter m3, enter m5 = out1 is deactivated. 

So that made me think the motor is feeding juice through the ground to the rest of the system, but a) the G540's spindle outputs are opto-isolated and b) even Mach3's diagnostics screen shows the outputs being deactivated (it's not an electromechanical thing).

dh

Can you attach your xml and macros and I will test it out, also what version of Mach are you suing so I can test with the same version.
Hood

XML Attached. 

Thanks!

Theres seems to be some strange things happening here with your xml, not sure why.
Will try and look a bit more and see if I can work out whats wrong.
Hood

Ok got the issue sorted that I was having with the VB editor, got Brett to open it on his dual screen and drag it back to the main screen and send me the new xml.
I have tried activating output 1 and then M3 and M5 and it is fine here, I dont have a ESS here so I am only testing with a SS.
I am wondering if it is something to do with the ESS, will see if I can test tomorrow on the big lathe as it has the ESS on it.
Hood

Can you send me your "new" xml?

dh

Here it is, be careful in case some other things have changed.
Can you attach the macros you are using for the outputs.
Hood

Hi Hood,

Thanks for taking the time to help with this - I'm nearly at my wit's end...

I checked your xml and the same thing is happening:  Activate outputs 1 & 2, start spindle.  When m5 is entered, output 2 deactivates (but not #1).

I thought maybe the ESS was ignoring Port #, which would cause a problem with output 2, as it is on pin 1 of Port 2 (the spindle uses pin 1 of Port1).  So I re-wired Output to Port2 Pin2.  ....Same problem....   

ok... I "fixed" the problem....  Not sure why this works, but I changed my ActivateSignal (Output2) macro to ActivateSignal (Output3).  Then I configured Output3 to be EXACTLY the same as Output2 and disabled Output2.

So, M5 seems to disable Output2 regardless of port/pin setting?  I tried several different pins for output2 while stabbing in the dark and nothing seemed to protect it from M5. 

?