Fitting an encoder on a Tormach 1100

smgvbest wrote: keep your leads as short as you can and use twisted pair wires for the A/B phases. a feritte core might help too.
depends on how electrically noisy your environment is.
I believe the default behavior is for 1 encoder per channel on the 5i25 so that's 2 total.

Tnx Sandra. Yes I understand the reasons for the twisted pairs and ferittes etc. I have two projects on the go, one with the 1100 and the other with my Warco converted mill that I already have running with Linuxcnc with a 5i25/7i76 combo with mpg's on pins 1-4 TB5.
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What I wanting to achieve first is the 1100 and the best way to use the second port on the 5i25 (I don't want to use Rapidturn) I believe that Peter (PCW) would be willing to make a bit file to use the second port.

Ideally I would like three Mpg's and the spindle encoder (that I have physically fitted) what are my options re cards to come off the 5i25.

thanks for posting.

Clive s wrote: So If I used my 7i76 Would I have enough encoder inputs to have 3 mpg's plus the spindle encoder (if I put 2 mpg's on TB5 pins 1-4)?

I don't think so.

The 7i76 has a dedicated spindle encoder interface (TB3 pins 7 to 15) and optionally two MPG counters (TB5 pins 1 to 4)

You can probably connect one more MPG with GPIO and count it with the software HAL encoder module.

You can add more GPIO and MPG counters (and possibly very much simplify your panel wiring) by adding a 7i73 via the 7i76 smart-serial expansion port. The 7i73 supports 4 MPG counters.

And the second connector on the 5i25 remains a good bet.

Thank you Andy for the advise I will look back into it in the near future.

andypugh wrote: And the second connector on the 5i25 remains a good bet.

Ok I am going to have another crack at this. If I understand correctly I can connect a simple bob to the second port on the 5i25 and use the fast encoder A,B Z on the 5i25 P2.

I don't need rapid turn. So will I need a bit file made for the P2 port for it to be used? if so will this affect the the general outputs driving the Tormachs pcnc 1100 BOB connected to the 5i25 DB25 port.

If the above is correct would Peter (PCW) kindly make me a bit file to suit when he has the time.Thanks

I have a standard Tormach bit file with encoder options on P2 and P3, this should work.
Note that if you use a standard BOB on P2 you may have troubles with slow inputs
so you need to find a BOB with decently fast inputs if you have a high resolution encoder
or use the bare 5I25 pins (carefully) or a Mesa 7I75

I think the next issue you need to solve is that Tormachs startup script will re-write
the firmware on startup if its not what it expected so this function needs to be disabled or modified to write the correct firmware.
(some PathPilot savvy people have this figured out so maybe they can chime in on how this is done)

Thank you Peter that is very helpful. I understand that I have to stop PP re writing the bit file back again I have done a lot of reading on this and think I have a reasonable idea now how it is done.

I will test it out with a standard BOB first, if that fails I will get the 7i75 like you suggested . I do have a 7i73 but do not have a way to connect that without my 7i76 that I need for another project. Looking forward for the bit file

The bit file that it seems to load now is tormach_mill3.bit.