Spindle control for a 2nd spindle

I have a machine that has 2 spindles (DC variable speed)

Is it possible to add a second spindle meter and on/off buttons in Axis?

Or am I going to have to add something in Py and have a separate "window"

Thanks

I was afraid of that.

I have a second computer that I just use for making changes and testing them before loading them up in the dedicated one.

I will give it a try.

Thanks

OK...I have another question for you Andy (or anyone that can help)

I have evaluated my setup and may be able to get something to work but I have a coupe questions.

This machine has a spindle and a laser that bores sub .001" holes. Right now I have a speed programmable spindle and a laser power supple that needs a PWM input for power setting. I use a relay controlled by M8 and M9 to open and close the laser shutter.

My spindle doesn't need to be programmable but the laser is a must and it requires a continuous PWM signal.

If I turn the spindle on and off (M3 and M5) I can use a potentiometer to set the speed and forget it and use M8 and M9 for the laser shutter.

So my question to you is if do the above and I use the S**** command (spindle speed) for laser power supply is that a continuous out put, or is the PWM spindle output signal in Linux "toggled" on and off with M3 and M5 as well as the relay???

I do realize that it will require an initial S**** value to be activated. I just need it to remain active until an S0 is read regardless of the state of the M3/M5 output.

Thanks for your help,
Kent

For you multiple spindle question.
Would it possibly work for you to have a few custom M codes (M1xx) to connect and disconnect the hal pins for your first and second spindles to that the regular M and S codes control either one or both of the spindles?

For example M103 would connect your 1st spindle, M113 the second, M123 both at the same time, and M105,115 and 125 would disconncet them. Then issuing
M123
M3 S18000
Would start both spindles together or

I do not know what the effect of issuing one of these new M codes would be while a spindle were running. (or if any of this is even possible) Some experrimentaion would be called for.

I also have some multi spindle machines I have been pondering about, but I have not gotten to the point of actually trying any of this.

andypugh wrote:

ie, connect motion.analog-out-00 to your PWM generator in HAL, and then set the duty cycle with
M68 E0 Q50 (for example)

Thanks Andy.

I still need a little assistance if you don't mind.

I am fairly good at modifying HAL but when when it comes to entering something from scratch I am still a little lost. The manuals are fairly in depth and accurate but not the best for training.

M68 is what I want...so what are all the lines necessary to add to HAL to make this work?

For instance if I wanted to use parport 0 and pin 16 on the parport cable for the PWM signal.

Thanks

Thanks Andy.

I still need a little assistance if you don't mind.

I am fairly good at modifying HAL but when when it comes to entering something from scratch I am still a little lost. The manuals are fairly in depth and accurate but not the best for training.

M68 is what I want...so what are all the lines necessary to add to HAL to make this work?

For instance if I wanted to use parport 0 and pin 16 on the parport cable for the PWM signal.

Thanks

Ok Andy I have the M68 code working. Thank you so much.

I think with that it is possible to use M68 for the laser and still use the spindle control.

Right now I can use one or the other. How can I create a second PWM generator and link it that I can use both?

I put the laser code and the spindle code back into hal and it says "Pin 'pwmgen.0.value' (laser) was already linked to signal 'spindle-cmd'

I know it is because it is using the pwm generator for both and the code for the spindle cam first in the hal file so how do i correct this?

Thanks again