Linuxcnc not seeing limit switches
- TarHeelTom
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27 Jun 2015 03:12 #60171
by TarHeelTom
Linuxcnc not seeing limit switches was created by TarHeelTom
Have an ancient Bridgeport CNC mill. Removed ALL the electronics and replaced with PC, couple of PMDX bob's, and Gecko's.
This old beast runs fine, when it runs.
But lately, when I ask it to start up and home the three axis, it runs fine, but NEVER finds the limit switches. This prevents it from setting the three axis to zero.
I've been fighting this battle for a while, and I'm stumped.
Has anyone written a good trouble-shooting procedure for tracking down problems like this?
Thanks
Tom
This old beast runs fine, when it runs.
But lately, when I ask it to start up and home the three axis, it runs fine, but NEVER finds the limit switches. This prevents it from setting the three axis to zero.
I've been fighting this battle for a while, and I'm stumped.
Has anyone written a good trouble-shooting procedure for tracking down problems like this?
Thanks
Tom
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- LearningLinuxCNC
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27 Jun 2015 08:52 #60177
by LearningLinuxCNC
Replied by LearningLinuxCNC on topic Linuxcnc not seeing limit switches
What type of limit switch are you using?
Can you manually trip the switch without moving the table? If so open Halmeter and pull up the pin that corresponds to the input where the limit switch is connected. Manually trip the limit switch and see if the state of the pin changes.
If the pin state does not change, make sure the switch physically and electrically works, make sure the connections are made correctly. The diagnostic process here will depend on the type of limit switch you are using.
If the pin state changes then make sure your .ini file is configured for homing properly. Also check that the HAL file has the pin netted properly to the home switch.
Can you manually trip the switch without moving the table? If so open Halmeter and pull up the pin that corresponds to the input where the limit switch is connected. Manually trip the limit switch and see if the state of the pin changes.
If the pin state does not change, make sure the switch physically and electrically works, make sure the connections are made correctly. The diagnostic process here will depend on the type of limit switch you are using.
If the pin state changes then make sure your .ini file is configured for homing properly. Also check that the HAL file has the pin netted properly to the home switch.
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- TarHeelTom
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27 Jun 2015 14:11 #60180
by TarHeelTom
Replied by TarHeelTom on topic Linuxcnc not seeing limit switches
The limit switches are the factory installed Honeywell micro switches, although one of them has been replaced, as the original was getting stiff from age.
I can reach and activate the X & Y switches by hand, but the Z switches are inside a cover.
And this configuration is the same one (I think) that has ben running fine for a couple of years. This is just a new trick its learned.
I have a Hal display (not sure what to call it) on the screen at all times. It's showing the X switch closed, and the Y and Z open.
But I'll go through your process, as what I've been doing has stopped working.
Thanks
Tom
I can reach and activate the X & Y switches by hand, but the Z switches are inside a cover.
And this configuration is the same one (I think) that has ben running fine for a couple of years. This is just a new trick its learned.
I have a Hal display (not sure what to call it) on the screen at all times. It's showing the X switch closed, and the Y and Z open.
But I'll go through your process, as what I've been doing has stopped working.
Thanks
Tom
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- LearningLinuxCNC
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27 Jun 2015 18:59 - 27 Jun 2015 18:59 #60184
by LearningLinuxCNC
Replied by LearningLinuxCNC on topic Linuxcnc not seeing limit switches
Since they are micro-switches you can check for mechanical and electrical function by probing the pin connections on your BOB with a multimeter set to read resistance. It should read open circuit with the switch in one position and closed, zero resistance, in the other position. If this is working at the BOB then it is either somewhere between the BOB and computer or the .ini and Hal files are not configured properly.
Since from your original post I am assuming that none of your home switches are working the I would think it would be something in the .ini and Hal files that changed.
I doubt that all of the switches lost connection at once or physically broke.
That is interesting. Is the one that was replaced the X switch? Why is it different from the others? Are these combined limits and home switches?
Since from your original post I am assuming that none of your home switches are working the I would think it would be something in the .ini and Hal files that changed.
I doubt that all of the switches lost connection at once or physically broke.
I have a Hal display (not sure what to call it) on the screen at all times. It's showing the X switch closed, and the Y and Z open.
That is interesting. Is the one that was replaced the X switch? Why is it different from the others? Are these combined limits and home switches?
Last edit: 27 Jun 2015 18:59 by LearningLinuxCNC.
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- TarHeelTom
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01 Jul 2015 07:17 #60298
by TarHeelTom
Replied by TarHeelTom on topic Linuxcnc not seeing limit switches
The Y was replaced with an identical switch, and it has worked since then.
Haven't put an ohmmeter on the switches, but with the whole thing powered, I do go from 0 bolts with the switch closed to around 3 volts or so with the switch open.
Gonna start hunting through the ini files, etc tonight.
Thanks again
Tom
Haven't put an ohmmeter on the switches, but with the whole thing powered, I do go from 0 bolts with the switch closed to around 3 volts or so with the switch open.
Gonna start hunting through the ini files, etc tonight.
Thanks again
Tom
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01 Jul 2015 07:55 #60299
by cmorley
Replied by cmorley on topic Linuxcnc not seeing limit switches
Unless you have changed something in the INI and HAL file - that is the last place In would start looking.
Check with HAL meter if the switches change state when toggled.
I would some of them won't.
Chris M
Check with HAL meter if the switches change state when toggled.
I would some of them won't.
Chris M
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- LearningLinuxCNC
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01 Jul 2015 08:10 #60301
by LearningLinuxCNC
Replied by LearningLinuxCNC on topic Linuxcnc not seeing limit switches
I agree with Chris. The first thing to check is if the HAL pin for the input changes when the switch is manually tripped.
If the HAL pin changes when the switch is manually tripped, then start looking for configuration issues.
If the HAL pin changes when the switch is manually tripped, then start looking for configuration issues.
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01 Jul 2015 08:18 #60302
by TarHeelTom
Replied by TarHeelTom on topic Linuxcnc not seeing limit switches
I haven't changed anything in the ini files
BUT
I've had hard drives crash on two different computers at the same time. I THOUGHT that I had stored the working ini files on a thumb drive, but there's no way to verifiy that.
Looks like I need to get my pipe and my Sherlock Holmes hat out and do lots of sleuthing.
Thanks
Tom
BUT
I've had hard drives crash on two different computers at the same time. I THOUGHT that I had stored the working ini files on a thumb drive, but there's no way to verifiy that.
Looks like I need to get my pipe and my Sherlock Holmes hat out and do lots of sleuthing.
Thanks
Tom
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10 Dec 2015 23:21 #66774
by TarHeelTom
Replied by TarHeelTom on topic Linuxcnc not seeing limit switches
It occurs to me that not only have I changed the hard drives and motherboard (old rig was IDE, new is SATA) but I've also changed the parallel port card.
Ran the lspci utility, but I'm not able to identify the port addresses. This appears to be the applicable section, but I could be wrong...
04:00.0 Memory controller: NetMos Technology PCI 1 port parallel adapter (rev 01)
Subsystem: LSI Logic / Symbios Logic Device 0010
Control: I/O+ Mem- BusMaster- SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
Status: Cap- 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR+ INTx-
Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 17
Region 0: I/O ports at 1010
Region 1: I/O ports at 1018
Region 2: I/O ports at 1020
Region 3: I/O ports at 1028
Region 4: I/O ports at 1030
Region 5: I/O ports at 1000
Kernel modules: parport_pc
Attached is the complete file.
Can someone help me decipher the actual port addresses for both parallel ports?
Thanks
Tom
Ran the lspci utility, but I'm not able to identify the port addresses. This appears to be the applicable section, but I could be wrong...
04:00.0 Memory controller: NetMos Technology PCI 1 port parallel adapter (rev 01)
Subsystem: LSI Logic / Symbios Logic Device 0010
Control: I/O+ Mem- BusMaster- SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
Status: Cap- 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR+ INTx-
Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 17
Region 0: I/O ports at 1010
Region 1: I/O ports at 1018
Region 2: I/O ports at 1020
Region 3: I/O ports at 1028
Region 4: I/O ports at 1030
Region 5: I/O ports at 1000
Kernel modules: parport_pc
Attached is the complete file.
Can someone help me decipher the actual port addresses for both parallel ports?
Thanks
Tom
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- tommylight
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10 Dec 2015 23:36 #66775
by tommylight
Replied by tommylight on topic Linuxcnc not seeing limit switches
Net mos usually have the third memory bank assigned to parallel port, have plenty of them in use and all have the third.
In your case the 1020 so you will have to add that in your stepconfig or hal file.
Regards,
Tom
In your case the 1020 so you will have to add that in your stepconfig or hal file.
Regards,
Tom
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