PathPilot controlled lathe toolchanger

way back when I mentioned the zbot code. this was incorrect. zbot is for the MILL tool changer.

for lathe it the lathe control board reads a PWM signal where
10% = Tool 1
20% = Tool 2
...
80% = Tool 8
90% = No Tool/Manual Tool

these are the 3 signals it uses from the hal file

# ChrgPump/Tool# 17 7 IOPort PWM 0 PWM (Out) # 500Hz 90 % duty cycle for charge pump / for tool #1 is 10%, 2 is 20%, 8 is 80%, 90% is non-ATC tool
# ATC Reference 7 10 IOPort None 0 Gpio (Out) hm2_[HOSTMOT2](BOARD).0.gpio.010.is_output
# ATC Forward 8 11 IOPort None 0 Gpio (Out) hm2_[HOSTMOT2](BOARD).0.gpio.011.out

on the ATC board its very simple
There is UVW going to the motor
24vdc in
and 9 Optically couple inputs/outputs
which enclude a Encoder, A+/A-.B+/B-,Z+/Z- this accounts for 6 of the 9
theres 2 relays for Forward/Reverse
I havent figured 3 of them out yet since I do not have a tormach tool changer

fyi the ZBOT is controlled via USB and is a HAL Component so you need the source code to see.

Wish I had found this thread sooner, i have been pondering if there are any prerequisites or special considerations to adding an atc hal component. Specifically as pathpilot utilises the pwm signal.

As an added precaution add a absolute encoder to the tool changer I just used a simple 3 bit binary code and an in position bit. I am busy finishing off my mx clone and ATC at the moment. If you need any info I will be glad to help.

Much appreciated, I'm converting an avm cnc lathe with a baruffaldi RH150 6 position electric turret. I have a hal toolchanger component for a similar turret that I can modify but I was wondering if it's as straight forward as with linuxcnc. Are there other hoops to jump through in software/configurations?

Might just start another thread for this, I'd prefer not to hijack this one.

PS. im working with JonnyDeen on his lathe conversion.
I have figured out the turret tool position and cn generate a pwm signal based on 10%, 20% etc up to 60% as jonnys turret is only a 6 tool changer - at some point a change will have to be made in PP to play with a 6 instead of an 8 changer. The plan is to build a breakout board to accept the ribbon cable from the mesa 7i95 and allow for machine wiring to be made to the board. The board will also house an Arduino Nano (not PIC) to control the turret, some steps have been made in that direction. it may have an issue with the PWM matching what PP expects 200ms ? typical pwm. a big issue is understanding the limit switches there is a frequency transmitted to mesa P3 pin 16 Door switch which represents the limit switch ie X limit, Y limit, door etc muxed on to a single pin.
does anyone know what the inputs 00 to 15 represent ie is 00 x, 01 y etc and is a single frequency transmitted when only 1 event is triggered or is it the same principle as BCD where an output is generated by an accumulation of events or is decremented from a fixed freq output. The plan would be to use a second Arduino nano to handle the limit switches and connect its output directly to mesa board P3-pin 16 via the constructed breakout board.

From hal file

what is the defaul frequency with zero triggers
and where are these inputs handled ie a python script/the application code

Much appreciated
J.

You don't need to use the second PWM i got rid of it and used an OR gate, this is my hal file but i don't have a tool changer attached !!