adccommunitymod (AutomationDirect) asked a question.
Created Date: September 19,2014
Created By: fishin_fl
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I wanting to connect a small touchscreen as a remote interface with Artsofts (Mach3 cnc) software. This software acts as a Master and can communicate to slaves. I really would like to design screens with momentary push buttons to move my axis's, turn on zone controls for vacuum and other stuff. Problem is that I don't know how to do this. I have been researching how to connect the modbus. I am currently running modbus with mach3 to my VFD spindle which is great. I adding a link to how the modbus structure is set up. http://www.homanndesigns.com/pdfs/Using_Modbus_with_Mach3.pdf If any one can help this would be greatly appreciated. This basically will be a remote, so I can be at the table where I need to be. Thanks in advance. Brooks Nelson
Created Date: September 19,2014
Created by: plcnut
This software acts as a Master and can communicate to slaves.
The HMI (touchscreen) can only be set up as a MODBUS master.
There can only be one master on a MODBUS network.
There may be workarounds for this (some type of gateway maybe?), but I don't have any experience with trying it.
Created Date: September 19,2014
Created by: ControlsGuy
Try DAQ factory software from Azeotech.com. It's PC based and I normally use it in master mode, but it does support being a Modbus slave.
Not sure if you want two PCs in your system (though you could use an industrial panel PC for the HMI) and you'd have to figure out how to interface it to the other software if it were installed on the same PC.
Created Date: September 19,2014
Created by: Tinker
What plcnut said about master/slave is correct, but considering you said:
"I really would like to design screens with momentary push buttons to move my axis's, turn on zone controls for vacuum and other stuff. "
I can imagine using a low cost PLC (say a CLICK, though you'd be limited to RTU) as either a gateway, Slave to both the CNC software and the touch screens, or to provide discrete outputs "switches " to the CNC system
Created Date: September 24,2014
Created by: kewakl
FYI: Click - Mach3
Click will work with Mach3.
I do not have this setup anymore - it was a demo.
I attached my Modbus Serial setup dialog.
Created Date: September 26,2014
Created by: fishin_fl
Mach3 and c-more
Thank you for the inputs so far. I thought I may have to put something in line between Mach3 and the screen. Just hoped I didn't have to. I do have an Allen-bradley Micrologix 1100 and also a Allen Bradley Compactlogix L23E. I do not have a click plc unfortunately. I did look online and the prices are not to bad. I have to wrap my mind around what I am going to do.
Created Date: September 19,2014
Created by: fishin_fl
I wanting to connect a small touchscreen as a remote interface with Artsofts (Mach3 cnc) software. This software acts as a Master and can communicate to slaves. I really would like to design screens with momentary push buttons to move my axis's, turn on zone controls for vacuum and other stuff.
Problem is that I don't know how to do this. I have been researching how to connect the modbus. I am currently running modbus with mach3 to my VFD spindle which is great.
I adding a link to how the modbus structure is set up.
http://www.homanndesigns.com/pdfs/Using_Modbus_with_Mach3.pdf
If any one can help this would be greatly appreciated.
This basically will be a remote, so I can be at the table where I need to be.
Thanks in advance.
Brooks Nelson