FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
| 1. | What is Mach3 program and how does it work? - useful tips |
| Mach3 software by ArtSoft® has developed over many years and during these years, it gathered many users. For relatively low price (~170USD) we get complete solution for multi-axis CNC machining. Key benefits of the program are: Flexibility - Ability to create own user interfaces, transparent and suited to specific machine applications. There is a special visual editor where you can create the Mach3 interface design from the beginning or use already existing project. On the internet, there are many ready solutions. Below – one of the most visually attractive interfaces available on www.machmotion.com. - Ability to self-extend the functionality of the program through macros, written in simple and known by many people - VisualBasic®. It allows you to implement a variety of measurement probes, automatic tool length measurement, automatic storage of tools in many variants etc. - Plug-ins support, which further extend functions of the program and allows for cooperation with outside motion controllers. Connection with CSMIO/IP-S controller is made by that plug-in, made by our company. Easy to use - Those, who are already little familiar with CNC machines are able to learn all the general functions and rules of using the Mach3 program – within one day. - Configuration of the key parameters is transparent and intuitive, so they can be quickly adjusted to the requirements of a specific machine. Dynamic analysis of the trajectory - CNC program is analyzed in advance, so it allows for optimal adjustment of motion speed at every point of trajectory. Thus, the program is done quickly, but with full smoothness of the motion. The CS-Lab company is an authorized distributor of the Mach3 program in Poland. If you would like to buy the license, please contact us: biuro@cs-lab.eu. | |
| 2. | What are pros and cons of servodrives? |
| Selection of the appropriate motors to the machine is very individual. Designer practice shows there is a dilemma – what solution should be chosen. Not so long ago – because of high prices of servo drives, in the simpler machines usually the stepper motors were used. Today, the technological progress and the dissemination of the servo technology causes that building a machine – even like a hobby – it’s worth to consider servo drives. The most common mistake while decision-making is the power selection (and torque) of the servo drive. It happens because we are suggested by torque and holding torque. The first parameter is usually given with the servo drives and the second with the stepper motors. Both are usually in the same unit Nm (Newton – meter). Do not compare these parameters when you are choosing servo drive power. Holding torque in the stepper motors is a power that the shaft of the powered motor in standby mode is held in position. When the revs are very low – something about 200 rpm - the torque is almost the same, but with increasing revs the torque, (actually the power on the motor shaft), decreases drastically. It decreases to such low values that sometimes happens that at 1000 rpm. the motor has no power to work itself, not saying about propelling the machine. In the simple words: the 3Nm stepper motor, reaches 3Nm torque on very low (200 rpm.) revs, when the revs increase its power decreases to zero. It is completely different in the servomotors. First, the torque and the rev speed are nominal. Therefore, the 1Nm/ 2000 rpm motor can operate continuously with revs: 2000 rpm. and at this speed provides 1Nm of the torque on the shaft. Besides the servomotors have another one important feature: they can be temporarily overloaded. What does it mean? That the 1Nm motor can temporarily deliver even 2,5-4Nm (it depends on the type). If we use the motion controller with fast STEP outputs like CSMIO/IP-S, the important parameter of the motor drive is maximum frequency of the steps. Controllers with higher frequency limit of STEP signal allow you to use higher stepper division (for the stepper motors) or encoders with larger pulses number per rev (servo). However, everything has its pros and cons. So what are the disadvantages of servo drives? They are certainly more expensive - how much, it depends what kind of stepper and servo drives you compare. There are e.g. stepper motors controllers that cost 800 USD and there are some other that cost 40 USD (with the same power!). Generally we can conclude that the servo motor + drive package is more expensive. Other disadvantage of the servo drives is necessity for PID controllers tuning and wiring that is more complicated. That will be the end of the disadvantages. Great advantage of the servo drives is that - thanks to the feedback - the servo drive indicates the overload and positioning error. When the CSMIO/IP-S receives this signal immediately stops the axes. In the stepper motors there is no feedback like this one, so even if one of the axis because of e.g. overload will not keep the set trajectory, the machine will continue the work – breaking the same entire processed detail. In sum – we recommend the servo drives. Their disadvantages are negligible in comparison to the benefits they offer. Please note that the servo drive can have much lower nominal torque than holding torque of the stepper motor. When we compare the 3Nm stepper drive and 3Nm servo drive – the price difference may be significant. However, if we compare the 3Nm stepper drive with the 1Nm servo drive, the price distance is not so big. Practice shows that sometimes - mechanically identical machines are sold in two versions, with 3Nm stepper and 1Nm servo drives. The machine with the stepper motor reaches max 7,5m/min feed rate and 0,1g. acceleration. The machine with the servo drive reaches 20m/min feed rate and 0,4g. acceleration. If we add the feedback, which was mentioned before, further comparing is pointless. The choice is in your hands of course, in some solutions the stepper motors are adequate and work very well. Thanks to perfectly precise STEP signal timing of the CSMIO/IP-S controller the stepper motors behave much better then while controlling from e.g. the LPT port. We can use a higher stepper division, so the motors will work quieter, smoother and they get higher revs by reducing the resonance. | |
| 3. | What are VisualBasic macros for? |
| On the website: www.cs-lab.eu you can download standard scripts for handling automatic measurement of tool-length and for automatic tool replacement. These are usually the most desirable functions and make the work easier. For advanced users we invite to learn more about macros, which provide great opportunities for self-expanding functionality of Mach3 program. | |
| 4. | How to connect the E-Stop signal to the controller? |
| The simple example here: http://www.cs-lab.eu/en/upload/pdf/Example.pdf - shows the E-Stop signal connection to the CSMIO/IP-S controller and to the axis drives, using Pilz company safety relay (PNOZ X7 24V symbol). S1 is a reset button (safety relay switching on), S2 is an emergency stop. This module has one input, and due to it, all the alarm sources are connected to this input (A1). In addition to the mentioned emergency stop (S2) there are NC contacts - NC1 and NC2, which may be, i.e. opening sensors for the cover and the control cabinet. Moreover, there are drives’ FAULT signals connected in series. Two outputs of the safety relay were used as an E-Stop signal for the CSMIO/IP-S controller and axis drives. This combination assures the machine stops in case of failure on any axis (FAULT signals of the drives), by pressing emergency stop mushroom and opening of the cabinet or cover. Separation of the safety relay output channels gives double protection for the system and significantly increases the reliability of the entire system. | |
| 5. | What machines are CS-lab products for? |
| CSMIO-family products by CS-Lab are for various types of CNC machines (engravers, milling machines, lathes, plasma cutters and more...), either for new machines and these that requires modernization. | |
| 6. | Where can I find the technical support? |
| CS-Lab technical support team will answer any further questions, you can also count on our technical advisory in case of doubts while connecting, configuring, launching and using CS-Lab devices. | |
| 7. | "A) Are there any plans to synchronise Z Axis to spindle encoder for such things as rigid tapping? B) Are there plans for encoder interface to update position such as using glass scales on the axis?" (USA) |
| A)We are planning to synchronize Z axis to spindle encoder by additional CanOpen module. Hopefully we will make it within next few months. It’s one of our priorities. B)There will be such a possibility. We have a new version of CSMIO, namely: CSMIO/IP-A analog control +/- 10V. That version has encoder inputs, so there will be no problem to connect the scales. | |
| 8. | "Where to connect optical encoder for closed loop servo control. How to control PID. We would like to connect device to mach3 controller" (Slovenia) |
| Here: http://www.cs-lab.eu/en/upload/pub/Analog_servo_control.jpg and http://www.cs-lab.eu/en/upload/pub/Digital_STEP_DIR_servo_control.jpg – you will find block diagrams explaining how the cooperation of various types of servo controls is conducted. Most modern servo-drives have the ability to control via step/dir, some of them have also the additional feedback e.g. scales (linear encoders). The step/dir digital signal carries two pieces of information: current axis position (pulses number) and movement speed (STEP signal frequency). The servo-drive counts the impulses and measures the signal frequency. All PID controllers are tuned in the drive and the drive ensures that the axis is always in desired position. If- because of e.g. overload – servo is unable to maintain to keep the position precisely enough – then it reports an error to the CNC controller and a machine work is stopped. The CSMIO/IP-S controller works with these drives. For an example – our clients are using drives such as Kollmorgen (S600), Yaskawa, Delta Electric. For classical control system purpose and for the possibility to connect some old-type (+/- 10 V) servo-drives there is another new controller under construction - CSMIO/IP-A. In this CNC controller the regulation is divided – current and speed part is realized in the drive and the position – in the CNC controller. In such a solution there is necessity to connect an encoder to the controller and tune the position PID controller. As shown in the drawings, both solutions have the same components, different is just the division of tasks made by system components. Step/dir control type has the advantage that the control signal is transmitted digitally and all motor control loops are in the drive, synchronized with each other, making this system work more precisely. However- analog control allows you to connect some old servo-drives, which can be a great advantage for people who want to modernize their control system on old-type tool machine. | |
| 9. | "Our customers need complete solutions in motion and They always ask us about controllers. They will mount some machine like 4 axis CNC with Mach3; 3 axis will be to XYZ motion and other axis will be electronic cam. Can we use your equipment?" (Brazil) |
| Sure, you can. The device that you need is CSMIO/IP-S - Ethernet Motion Controller - CNC drive system for professionals (STEP/DIR signals) | |
| 10. | "A) CSMIO/IP-S - is it generating 4MHz signals for all 6 axis simultaneously? B) what hardware/PC is needed? C) is it possible to regulate spindle speed and direction? D) what do I need to connect a jog wheel?" (Czech Rep.) |
| A) Yes, it is. B) You need PC with an ethernet LAN port and 32-bit Windows system (the 64-bit platform wasn't tested yet). 24V DC power supply. C) Yes, it is. Please look at the" 10.6 Configuration of spindle and cooling controlling" chapter in CSMIO IP/S manual: http://www.cs-lab.eu/en/artykul-21-CSMIOIPS_Download.html D) We have MPG module in our offer too. This is the only way to connect jog wheel to our controller. You can buy just only CSMIO-MPG module or MPGKit (CSMIO module + handheld rotary encoder). | |
| 11. | "A) Does the CSMIO support threading? B) Are there any G codes and M codes you do not support at the present? C) I have read something about toolchange macro for mach3, is it available?" (Czech Rep.) |
| A) Threading will be possible with additional module for spindle encoder connection CSMIO-ENC. It will be available within next few months. B) Every G and M code supported by Mach3, should work with CSMIO/IP-S. C) The Toolchange works without any problems, e.g. you can look at this movie: http://sellen.csmio.com/profisystem/Foto2011-09-20/MVI_8128.avi We have example macro for it. | |
| 12. | "I have allen bradley ultra 100 drives that take a differential step a direction signal - step+, step- & dir+, dir-. Will the CSMIO/IP-S work with my drives?" (USA) |
| The CSMIO/IP-S device will definitely work with your drives. Our Technical Support is at your disposal to advise you during product installation, configuration and usage. | |
| 13. | Does the mach3 need some plugin to work with CSMIO/IP-S controller? (Portygal) |
| Mach3 needs plugin which you will get with your order in the package (CD) or you can download it from our website (DOWNLOAD - CSMIO/IP-S - Release) | |
| 14. | Are there any known bugs, or unsolved functions/problems when using csmio/IP? (Germany) |
| In the CSMIO/IP-S controller there were some things to improve in previous versions, currently V2 version that was carefully tested is in sale and works without any bugs in many machines. Of course there always can be found something to improve. If we get information about some unforeseen problem our reaction is immediate and new version of Firmware can be downloaded from our website, it takes only 30 sec. | |
| 15. | Are there any known bugs, or unsolved functions/problems when using csmio/IP? (Germany) |
| In the CSMIO/IP-S controller there were some things to improve in previous versions, currently V2 version that was carefully tested is in sale and works without any bugs. Of course there always can be found something to improve. If we get information about some unforeseen problem our reaction is immediate and new version of Firmware can be downloaded from our website, it takes only 30 sec. | |
| 16. | Can I use other pendants with your MPG module? (Canada) |
| Yes you can use other pendant. You will find all information and schemes in CSMIO-MPG User Manual. | |
