You may need to add the m7 or m8 code to turn on the coolant or mist and m9 to turn it off. I will look further into this to see if mach3 can turn on the coolant when the spindle is turned off. I believe the coolant is a separate function from the spindle control since you may not need coolant for every material that you will be milling.

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I have tried typing M7 and M8 into the MDI with no success. I can toggle the coolant on and off using the flood control button. Water flows and the LED lights on the diagnostic page. I followed the setup instructions in the video on the Pokeys57CNC page, which includes the spindle setup page. Those videos are very helpful.

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To close this question - The M7 M8 commands did start working. I never figured out why they would not work before. I still cannot get the coolant to turn on with the spindle from the Mach3 set up. I have given up and just make sure the M command is in the g code.

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I can turn the flood coolant on using the toogle in Mach3 so Mach3 is talking to the PokeysCNC board (using output3). In spindle setup, Output3 is assigned to flood and the disable box is not checked. Output 3 is enabled and assigned to the correct relay. However, coolant does not come on when the spindle is turned on. Any suggestions about what I am doing wrong would be appreciated.

This controller does not have an encoder input to determine the speed of a lathe spindle. The Pokeys57CNC does have an available encoder input.
https://www.buildyourcnc.com/item/electronicsAndMotors-electronic-component-breakout-Mach4-mach3-USB-ethernet-Board

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[575] how do i connect a lathe spindle speed encoder to this usb breakout board controller so i can set up for thread cutting on my lathe and on the mill for threading

Have you tried a different input pin?

Customer response:
I've tried all pins: 10, 11, 12, and 13. I get the same non-response in each case.

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There may be a problem with the board. If you are using our parallel breakout board, we can ship you a replacement (call us), otherwise, you will need to determine the problem with the vendor of the breakout board you are using.

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I have tried 3 different breakout boards from 3 different providers and they all do the same thing My limit switches are microswitches wired NC with each axis wired to the BO Board. I have checked each circuit and all is OK to the BO board. each circuit has continuity at the board and when any switch is pressed the circuit breaks. Mach 3 does not recognise that the switches are even there. They are configured as active low Do you have a suggestion.

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I'm having trouble getting Mach3 to recognize my limit switches. I've eliminated everything back to the breakout board. I can directly connect Input 10 to GND on the breakout board while Mach3 is in autorecognize mode and Mach3 doesn't acknowledge anything.

Do both motors, the main and slave work correctly when using the arrow keys?

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How do you slave an axis with mach3 and pokeys57cnc? My slave axis is only going one direction as a slave and goes correctly in both directions when I direct it with an xbox controller.

The diagram for wiring the USB interface board is located here: https://buildyourcnc.com/item/electronicsAndMotors-electronic-component-USB-Controller-Breakout#prettyPhoto/2/

Under the board illustration, there are three smaller diagrams of limit switch wiring. On each, there are two connections, the GND and the pin which are labeled at the ends of the circuit on the diagrams. The pin side would go to the axis label ++ or -- terminal (i.e. X++, or X--). The other end, labeled GND would connect to any ground terminal on the board.

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I am using 5 limit switches on my 3 axis machine. I am using the usb controller for planet cnc. I would like to know where all the wires related to the limit switches get connected? A diagram would be helpful.

There are many ways to wire an emergency stop switch. The simplest, and arguably the most certain, way is to wire the switch into the incoming power so that throwing the switch kills all power to every part of the machine. Here is a diagram showing how a customer wired such a switch on their blackTooth laser which you could adapt to your needs. http://www.buildyourtools.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=4872

Alternatively, you could use an input pin on your USB board. The wiring would depend on whether and how you might be using limit switches (single or multiple switches; normally open or normally closed). Our website datasheet for the USB board is at https://buildyourcnc.com/item/electronicsAndMotors-electronic-component-USB-Controller-Breakout#prettyPhoto/2/ and shows how to configure the switches for each set up. If you use this method, you'd essentially wire the e-stop as a limit switch.

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Mach3 doesn't take MPG input from USB RnRMotion board. While running Mach3 "Manage plugins">"RnRMtion control panel. I can see the signals from the hand controller changing, Mach3 diagnostics show nothing.

Yes, here is the URL for the parallel breakout board that we sell:

https://www.buildyourcnc.com/item/electronicsAndMotors-parallel-breakout-relay

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can I purchase just the parallel controller board? I purchased the usb option 4 axis combo and would like to also try the system with my parallel port computer. Any help with this will be greatly appreciated; my goal is to implement mach4.

BYCNC Response:
This is correct. You will need to use a method appropriate for the software you are using. Also remember that NC switches are typically wired in series, while NO switches are normally wired in parallel.

User Response:
I am using the cnc planet software for your USB board. Are the limit configurations in this software?

BYCNC Response:
Yes, Planet CNC software is compatible with the use of limit switches. Configuration information will depend on your specific application. You can view Planet CNC's information here: http://www.planet-cnc.com/files/CNCUSBController.pdf

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LIMIT SWITCHES FOR AXIS. THE PRINT SHOWS THAT YOU CAN WIRE LIMITS EITHER N.O. OR N.C. SO IF THIS IS CORRECT I WOULD NEED TO TELL BOARD IN SOFTWARE HOW LOOK AT THESE LIMITS, I'M GOING GET AN INPUT LOOSE DEPEND ON IT.

The Mach3 USB controller can only output pulses and direction signals (5V logic signals).

To connect your Mach3 USB controller RNR controller with a servo AC that has a 24V open collector, you will need to use a level shifter circuit to convert the 5V pulses from the controller to 24V pulses that the servo can accept.

One way to do this is to use a simple transistor-based level shifter circuit. Here are the steps to connect your Mach3 USB controller RNR controller with a servo AC using a level shifter circuit:

Connect the 5V output signals from the Mach3 USB controller RNR controller to the base of the NPN transistor in the level shifter circuit.

Connect the collector of the NPN transistor to the 24V power supply.

Connect the open collector output of the servo AC to the emitter of the NPN transistor.

Finally, connect the ground of the Mach3 USB controller RNR controller and the servo AC to the ground of the 24V power supply.

The level shifter circuit will act as a switch, allowing the 24V power to flow to the servo AC when the 5V signal from the controller is present.

Remember that the MAch3 USB controller only outputs pulses for steps per rotation of a motor. If the servo requires a different method of motor rotation, this will not work.

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[575] Hello. I have rnr controller. My problem is connection with servo ac. My servopack have logic Voltage 24v open collector. How Connect and what i need to Connect rnr with servo if rnr have 5v logic. Thx

Polabs prepared step by step user guide for PoKeys57CNC and Mach4 to try answering such questions. It is available in our downloads section: https://www.poscope.com/wp-content/uploads/downloads/Pokeys/LibrariesAndPlugins/Mach4 and PoKeys57CNC - step by step guide.pdf

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I need your assistance... I have two items left to setup on my Pokey57CNC and Mach4, Home switches and Spindle Speed. I have watched the videos, but they are for Mach3 and the screens are different in Mach4. Can someone please explain the setup of these two items in Mach4?

You will want to connect the homing switches (which may also serve as your near limit switches) to different input terminals. It's ok to add more limit switches with the home switches, but each home should be on independent inputs. For example, connect home X and any other limit switch to IN1, connect home Y and any other limit switch to IN2, and so on. This will allow you to properly use the "ref all home" button in Mach3.

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In the instructions (diagram 1) you show all the home switches connected in parallel? But here you say they need to each have their own inputs. "You will want to connect the homing switches (which may also serve as your near limit switches) to different input terminals." I dont see how the second and third axis can go home if the first axis has already closed the parallel circuit unless they back off a bit until the switch opens up again before the next axis goes to home? My machine has no limit switches so I assume they are home switches.

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[575] I have finally got my limit switches wired and working - thank you. Can they also used as homing switches and if so it it just a question of looping the two inputs on the board i.e. the limit and home terminals IN2 to IN3

Make sure the input port is set to port 3.

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Make sure the input port is set to port 3.

Additional Information:
Make sure the input port is set to port 3.

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I can not get my limit switches to work properly on my Mach3 USB controller. I know I have it wired correctly. I can not reset mach3 by either the reset button or the squealy line button below the exap button without unplugging the 24 volt power supply. I have watched the youtube videos at least 20 times and verified and triple verified the wiring. I can send photos to an email address.

Are you able to install a newer version of Mach3? If you are worried that your configuration will be lost, you can save the configuration by copying all of the XML files from the Mach folder. The XML files contain all of the settings that you applied in Mach3. Just in case the XML files are not compatible with the new version, make sure not to erase the current Mach3 that you have on the machine.

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[575] Hi, I have an old version of MACH3 V1.84 - Can someone tell me where to place the USB motion drive as there is no plugin folder in this version.

Did you set them up as limit switches or home switches?

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Not sure where do I check that?

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Go to config, then ports and pins, then input signals.

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The limits are labeled x++, x— for example.

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I'm using Mach3. I have 2 limit switches on X, 2 on Y and 1on Z for retracted/home. I can go to diagnostics and see the switches/inputs working. But when I move with jog or gcode they have no effect. Also I can go right past the soft limits. I must have something turn off but I don't know what.

Yes, you can connect a THC, Torch Height Controller, with the Mach3 USB controller. The THC uses the inputs to determine if the z axis needs to move up or down according to the arc of the plasma torch. The THC connects its outputs to the inputs of the controller so the controller will be informed of the states of the plasma torch.

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I am interested in using the Mach3 USB interface board. I was wondering if there was a way to run a torch height controller with this board for use with a plasma cutter, and if so do you know of any THCs that will work. Thank you.

Yes, you can connect a THC, Torch Height Controller, with the Mach3 USB controller. The THC uses the inputs to determine if the z axis needs to move up or down according to the arc of the plasma torch. The THC connects its outputs to the inputs of the controller so the controller will be informed of the states of the plasma torch.

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Mach3 doesn't take MPG input from USB RnRMotion board. While running Mach3 "Manage plugins">"RnRMtion control panel. I can see the signals from the hand controller changing, Mach3 diagnostics show nothing. Motors are controlable when i run G-code.

Make sure to wire the limit as normally open.

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[575] I had limit switches working and on input 2. Now looking at Mach 3 diagnostics, Input 2 is continuously on and triggers limit stop. I removed all input 2 so the machine can run. Rebooted all. Anyway to reset Input on card?

This sounds like a problem with the step (pulse) signal. The driver motors receive two signals from the computer via the board -- one is high or low and tells the motors which direction to turn, one is a square wave pulsed signal(quick that tells the motor to turn or a constant high signal that tells the motor to maintain its position. With an oscilliscope you can check for proper signal at the board. If you bought the board from us, please contact us to arrange a return authorization.

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Y axis on usb controller not working. The motor gets power and holds but will not turn. I tried switching the same wires, driver, and motor over to the A axis on the controller and it works fine like that. I have double, and triple checked the wiring

It's generally acceptable to use one pin for all of your limit switches wired Normally Closed (NC), and another separate pin for a Z probe that is Normally Open (NO). LinuxCNC is quite flexible and allows for mixed configurations of NC and NO switches.

Just ensure you configure LinuxCNC correctly to recognize each pin's logic (Active low or active high). And perhaps run a few tests before running the machine.

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It's generally acceptable to use one pin for all of your limit switches wired Normally Closed (NC), and another separate pin for a Z probe that is Normally Open (NO). LinuxCNC is quite flexible and allows for mixed configurations of NC and NO switches.

Just ensure you configure LinuxCNC correctly to recognize each pin's logic (Active low or active high). And perhaps run a few tests before running the machine.

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[59] is it ok to use one pin for all of the limit switches wired NC and another pin for a z probe that is NO, or do all input pins need to be the same (NC or NO)? I would like to use LinuxCNC but will use Mach3 if necessary. a thanks!