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Help setting up mist coolant

Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2025 6:22 pm
by meskin
Hi, I've got an old Millport Smartlathez machine with a Servo3IO controller. I attached the report.zip. I was hoping to set up mist coolant on it since there is a button for it on the console. I found this thread which explains how to wire the relay: viewtopic.php?f=64&t=1072&p=5270&hilit= ... tput#p5270

I tried this and it didn't work. Just now, when preparing the report, I found that there is some code for the mist key which is commented out in T40015CP.SRC:

;IF Mist_key THEN (MK_1Shot)
;IF (ManMist ^ (!Auto_Coolant_Mode & MK_1Shot)) &
; !ATM_1Shot AND ! Stop THEN (ManMist)
;IF !Stop & ((M7 & Auto_Coolant_Mode) | (ManMist & !Auto_Coolant_Mode))
; THEN (Mist)

Perhaps this is why the button doesn't work? Is there any reason why this would be commented out, and how could I uncomment it to enable the mist functionality?

Re: Help setting up mist coolant

Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2025 6:35 pm
by cncsnw
Your PLC program uses OUT1, OUT4, OUT6 and OUT7 for an automatic tool changer. Therefore there is no physical output assigned for Mist coolant (which would ordinarily be OUT1).

Does your machine actually have an automatic tool changer? Is there anything wired to the OUT1, OUT4, OUT6 and/or OUT7 terminals on your SERVO3IO?

If not, then you can just delete the ATC code (anything that references "BCD" or "ATC", uncomment the old "Mist" code, and recompile.

Re: Help setting up mist coolant

Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2025 7:24 pm
by meskin
No, we don't have a tool changer.

I see in T40015CP.SRC it says Mist IS OUT1 and in T40015PC.SRC it says BCD01 IS OUT1. How do these files interact? Should I replace all of the IOs defined for ATC in the PC file with the values in the CP file?

What's the best place to look for how to recompile the PLC code? Will it cause any settings such as tool offsets or axis parameters to be reset?

Thanks.

Re: Help setting up mist coolant

Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2025 12:31 am
by cncsnw
On a DOS CNC7 system that uses a two-part PLC program:
1) The "CPU" PLC program, for which your source file is "T40015CP.SRC", is compiled with PLCCOMP.
2) The "PC" PLC program, for which your source file is "T40015PC.SRC", is compiled with XPLCCOMP.
3) Both source files, and the compilers, are located in the C:\PLC directory.
4) The compiled CPU PLC program needs to be copied over to the C:\CNC7T directory (or C:\CNC7 if this were a Mill control), and needs to be named CNC7.PLC.
5) The compiled PC PLC program remains in the C:\PLC directory, and needs to be named PC.PLC.

It is a good idea to make sure that the I/O definitions are the same in the two program files.

Note that your CPU PLC program, T40015CP.SRC, assigns the name "Mist" to OUT1, but then doesn't do anything with it except to light up the LED in the "Mist" key whenever that output is on. The logic that actually turns OUT1 on and off is in the PC PLC program.

To compile and install both programs, assuming you have already made any necessary changes, and have not changed the file names, you would press CTRL-ALT-X to exit CNC7 to a DOS prompt. Then:

Code: Select all

C:\CNC7T> CD  \PLC
C:\PLC> PLCCOMP  T40015CP.SRC  T40015CP.PLC
C:\PLC> COPY  T40015CP.PLC  \CNC7T\CNC7.PLC
C:\PLC> XPLCCOMP T40015PC.SRC  T40015PC.PLC
C:\PLC> COPY  T40015PC.PLC  PC.PLC
C:\PLC> CNC7M4
Some of that could be shorter, but typing it as above is perhaps more clear.

You might need to shut down and restart in order for the changes to the PC PLC program to take effect.

Re: Help setting up mist coolant

Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2025 4:15 pm
by meskin
Finally got around to doing this. Looks like at least the button is working, thanks!