Has anyone attempted to install Tower Signal Lights

[Bosaru]

I was wondering what outputs on the main board I could use to connect a tower signal light (or sometimes called Stack Lights). Green would show the CNC is running. Yellow would show the CNC is idle and Red would show the controller is in an alarm state. Most of these lights run on 24v so a relay would have to be used.

Thank you

[cncsnw]

I don't see any stack light logic in the standard Acorn PLC program.

There is no reason you could not add your own stack light controls to your PLC program, using any available outputs. It doesn't make any difference what outputs you use, as long as they aren't assigned to any other use at the moment.

If you cannot find any other reference, you could look at http://www.cncsnw.com/OakUnifiedPLCHowTo.htm

The stack light logic itself in that program looks like this:

Code: Select all

; Status Lights:
;   - Red Light for all stop / error conditions
;   - Amber Light when not running a job, or when waiting for operator action
;   - Green Light when running a job normally

; Red Light:
IF SV_STOP THEN (RedLightOut)
; Amber Light:
IF (ManWait || !SV_PROGRAM_RUNNING) && !RedLightOut THEN (AmberLightOut)
; Green Light:
IF SV_PROGRAM_RUNNING && !RedLightOut && !AmberLightOut THEN (GreenLightOut)

"ManWait" is an M function flag (M94/M95) which is used in M0, M1 and M6 macros to inform the PLC when the CNC program is sitting and waiting for operator intervention.

[EricMack]

Any progress on this? I was thinking of something like a color to let me know machine is running and another color when Acorn is waiting for operator - e.g. a tool change.

Ideally, I prefer not to modify the PLC or create custom software. Hopefully, some of these events are standard events.

In my case, I'm converting a few small bench top machines that have an unused panel area next to them. I was thinking of converting to indicator lights for various aspects of machine operation. The idea for a light tower is not urgent, but it would be useful.

Has anyone ventured into playing with visual/audible indicators? What did you do, and how did that work out? (Photos/tips encouraged)

[Nigelo]

How about assigning SpinFwd to one of your free outputs ( e.g Output 4) in the Wizard. Relay no:4 on the standard 8 way relay could then be used to do both - the NC relay terminal switching your Green light and its NO terminal your Red. Of course, the Red would always be on until the spindle runs CW

HTH

[EricMack]

I like that idea. Or even toggle between Green and yellow. I'm a hobbyist with limited experience so I may not know what I do not know here.

I stay at the machine until I've run a part enough times to prove it. From there, in my small garage, the indicators that I think would be useful to me are

1. Operator Attention (namely, Tool change) required - a color and perhaps a beep. (Yellow?)
2. Running (green?)
2. Error (Red?)

While I am attracted to many lights, to be honest, those are the ones and really just the first one that I think would be most useful to me.

I like your idea of using SpindleFwd. I am floating this to see what others think and perhaps encourage Centroid to consider adding an output to the wizard for the "Operator Attention Needed"

[tblough]

I added some Banner T30GRYB4PQ indicators to my mill and lathe. These are 10-30VDC Red, Green, Yellow, Blue solid, flashing, or combined color indicators depending on which of the 4 inputs are pulled high. I currently have them set up to show flashing red when the machine is e-stopped or faulted and green when everything is good to go.

[EricMack]

...I currently have them set up to show flashing red when the machine is e-stopped or faulted and green when everything is good to go.

That's a nice looking indicator light.
I'm curious to know how you are handling the software interface for these two signals? What are you monitoring?

[tblough]

The wiring for the light really made it easy. It was all controlled by 24V sources already available and didn't need any controller outputs or PLC changes. Looking at the "truth table" for that light, you'll see that solid green requires power on pin 4, and flashing red requires power on pin 4 and pin 1. So, to signal power to the machine, but not ready to run, pin 4 was connected to my 24V power supply which turns on when the machine is powered up. Pin 1 was routed to 24V through the NC contacts of my e-stop relay. That way, when powered up and e-stopped, or faulted, 24V is on both pin 1 and Pin 4 and I get a flashing red light.

Once the e-stop is cleared and the relay pulls in, I'm left with only 24V on pin 4 and a green light signaling good to go.

[EricMack]

That's clever. Now, just need to determine the optimal way to indicate operator attention required (different from e-stop of fail condition).

I'm sure the tool change macro could be modified to add code to turn on & off a relay, but if Acorn has a way of trapping this event (live when a machine a door is automatically opened to allow operator to change a tool) then perhaps this can be automated without programming as cleverly as you have done.

[Gary Campbell]

Add a simple signal (relay on or change of state) to any macro or operation where you desire the signal to change