Can I get a little help with 2 macros? <Resolved>

[fusion]

Hello,
I am building a lathe, and I would like to use my Shuttle Express with it. I like the way the jog ring works in a progressive speed for manual machining.

The macros I am trying to make will be activated by AUX1 and AUX2 buttons mapped on the shuttle. M51 and M52.
One will start the spindle at 1000 rpm, and the other will stop the spindle.
I did my best, but they don't seem to work. When I press the button, you can hear a relay click to start the spindle but then nothing happens.
Do I have to be in some specific mode for them to function as I intend?
Is there a better way to have the AUX1 start the spindle and AUX2 turn it off?

Thanks for any help.

Mike

[cncsnw]

When you run a CNC macro from an Aux key or keyboard key, it runs like a mini CNC job.

When you start the spindle with M3 or M4, in Auto spindle mode, it runs as long as the M3 or M4 request is maintained.

At the end of any CNC job, both CNC12 and the PLC program turn off any M3 or M4 requests. That is why the spindle relay immediately turns back off again as soon as your M51 macro is done running.

If you have keys that you want to have function as "spindle start" and "spindle stop", independent of any CNC job cycle that may start or stop, then you need to switch to Manual spindle mode, and you need to make the PLC program treat those keys the same as the VCP and jog panel "spindle start" and "spindle stop" keys.

The keyboard jog panel equivalents for spindle start and spindle stop are usually Ctrl-S and Ctrl-Q. However, those probably don't work unless you have pressed Alt-J to activate the keyboard jog panel.

You will probably have to edit your PLC program to do what you are wanting to do. That way you can bypass the keyboard jog panel limitations, and can also fiddle the spindle speed override percentage when you press your spindle-start key, to set your 1000 RPM level.

[Ken Rychlik]

In your M3 macro M94 /1 starts the spindle and In the M5 macro M95 /1 turns it off. I have not tried it, but those may work in your custom macros? You might have to also give a speed command for it to function if the vfd needs that.

Another way, if you have a spare relay would be to use your macro to turn on a different relay and tag your wires over to that one from your spindle on relay.

Someone else may have a better idea but one of these approaches may work.

[fusion]

Thank you both very much!
I think the manual mode set on the VCP and then keyboard shortcuts for start and stop could work perfectly for me. I’ll give it a try.
Thanks again.
Mike

[fusion]

I tested the Ctrl S, and Q, and that worked perfectly!
Thank you!