Getting started with PnCConf and my new 5i25 board

OK installed my Mesa 5i25 board and connected the 7i76 daughter board fired up the PnCConf wizard
and created a basic XYZA configuration. So far so good, looked at the config files like Hal & Ini they
appear mostly like I would expect every thing seems correct except I do not get a LinuxCNC launch icon.
How do I launch LinuxCNC ???

I have LinuxCNC2.6 installed and have been testing with Par ports configured via the Stepconf wizard
which creates a LinuxCNC launch icon, this all works.

do you not get a 'cnc' title in the Applications menu?

You can also open a terminal and enter 'linuxcnc'

Chris M

OK found the check box to create the desktop launch icon. Created a generic configuration and it runs.

The 5i25 board is installed, the 7i76 is connected and the yellow LED is illuminated

The first problem is a Linuxcnc error which appearer after I add a home switch as fallows.

Configuration page: 5i25 firmware : 7i76x1
I/O connector 3 page: 7i76 Mode 0 I?O Card
Smart serial 0 page: 7i76-I/O TR6 num 00 pin = X Home

The error output looks like this.

Debug file information:
Can not find -sec MOT -var MOT -num 1
Can not find -sec IO -var IO -num 1
Can not find -sec LINUXCNC -var NML_FILE -num 1
Can not find -sec EMC -var NML_FILE -num 1
my_LinuxCNC_machine.hal:31: Pin 'hm2_5i25.0.7i76.0.0.input-00' does not exist
3568

When I set Smart serial 0 page: 7i76-I/O TR6 num 00 pin = Unused
No errors occur ???


Also I have been experimenting with PnCConf set up process. There are several things I find confusing
when I look at the read me file, the HAL file and the 7i76 man.

The read me file tells me the XYZA stepgen-step, stepgen-dir outputs and spindle encoder
are on the P3 connector of the 5i25 card not the 7i76 card as the 7i76 man indicates.

I assume I simply ignore read me file and connect my drives and encoder as shown in the 7i76
man directions.

Also how the physical i/o pins are netted in the HAL are not as explicit as when using a Parport
are there some HAL manual updates to help me when using Mesa boards?

Pin 'hm2_5i25.0.7i76.0.0.input-00' does not exist

Most likely means that you are not supplying field power or 5V power to the 7I76. Both yellow LEDs (CR1 and CR2) on the top edge of the 7I76 must be illuminated or you will not have access to the field I/O.

5V power for the 7I76 is normally supplied from the 5I25 card (7I76 W2 left and 5I25 W2 up)

7I76 field power is supplied on the 7I76's TB1

OK just to make sure I have this right. The TB1 Vfield power system is completely independent
of the W2 5i25 TB3 power system. At the moment the 5i25 & 7i76 are configured for host card
power LED CR1 is illuminated. No power is applied to Vfield LED CR2 is not illuminated.

All that is needed is to have W1 set to the left position and apply 8-32 volts DC to TB1 thus
providing power to the field logic and field power. LED CR2 will then illuminate.

Yep

Thanks for the help with the 5I25 & 7I76 hardware.

OK hardware is up and running. I am now editing the HAL file. I am having trouble finding
the names for some physical pins. I have two encoders, I found the physical pins listed

[23715.131253] hm2/hm2_5i25.0: IO Pin 031 (P2-11): Encoder #1, pin Index (Input)
[23715.131257] hm2/hm2_5i25.0: IO Pin 032 (P2-12): Encoder #1, pin B (Input)
[23715.131260] hm2/hm2_5i25.0: IO Pin 033 (P2-13): Encoder #1, pin A (Input)

But I have not figured out how to access these pins in HAL When I was using parports
it was easy to find the physical pins and rearrange things.

How would I net IO Pin 031 (P2-11): Encoder #1, pin Index to a signal?

You dont need (or want) to connect to the hardware encoder GPIO pins
The encoder hal pins are all higher level.

type man hostmot2

in a terminal window and scroll down to the encoder section
to see the available encoder pins,parameters and functions