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Dynomotion wiki

Welcome to our wiki where you can find and share knowledge on Dynomotion's systems.  To begin adding information to this wiki, simply create an account, verify your email, and start editing (click pencil icon). To make editing pages easier for everyone, we have installed a visual editor by default.  This visual editor allows you to edit a wiki page much like you would a standard word processing document.  For the seasoned wiki editors, standard MediaWiki editing may also be used.

Warning: Use at your own risk.  Information is for example purposes only and may contain errors.  It is up to the User to verify the information is correct and is safe to use. In no case will any contributor or Dynomotion be liable for incorrect information.  Dynomotion reserves the right to modify or delete any contributions.

Thanks for Contributing!

Official Dynomotion Site

Editing and Creating Wiki Pages

Unintuitively, you first create a link to the page you want to make before you can make the page.  To make a new page: while editing, right-click where you want your link to be, insert a link with a descriptive title and link text, save the page, click on the link you created, then click on "Empty Page" to begin editing your new page.

Here are a few other quick tips:

• You can insert links or images by Right-Clicking with the mouse on the line where you want the link or image to appear.
• For Spell Correction you can use Ctrl-Right-Click. 
• To insert a YouTube Video use an EmbedVideo command such as  {{#ev:youtube|xxxxx}} with xxxxx changed to the Video ID.
• Choose a descriptive page name and link text when creating a new page: e.g. Not "My Machine", but rather "Brand X Three Axis Milling Machine Retrofit"
• Create pages in an organized manner: Describe what the page is about, create clear sections that flow

For more information:

How to create a new wiki page

How to Edit and insert Media into your wiki pages

Dynomotion Software Topics

Installation Topics

• Latest Production Release: Full release download page (includes link to signed Windows Drivers)
• Latest Test Release: Released 08/29/2015: KMotion.exe V4.33q, See the release notes for this test version here: V4.33q release notes (pdf)
• How to install KMotion.exe and KMotionCNC
• Preparing Windows 10 for driver installation
• How to update KFLOP Firmware - whenever a new version of software is installed, the firmware within KFLOP must be updated to match the new version

KMotion.exe Executive Software Topics

KMotion.exe is the main program that is used to configure settings in KFLOP, initialize axes, and to write C programs to configure and setup KFLOP to control your system. In this program you can plot step response, test movement, view Bode plots, monitor I/O, set filter parameters, and generally set the pertinent parameters.

• General software information from the manuals
• Insert pages for other KMotion.exe-related topics here

Configuration Topics

Channels, Channels, Channels what are they?

Read Article Here

How to Setup Backlash Compensation

Read Article Here

KMotionCNC Software Topics

KMotionCNC is Dynomotion's CNC program used as a graphical user interface to your KFLOP-enabled machine tool. KMotionCNC has all of the basic functionality you need to run a machine of up to 6 axes, in addition to spindle control.

• Insert pages for other KMotionCNC-related general topics here

Using KMotionCNC

• Homing discussion - page to be created
• Insert other KMotionCNC use pages here

Known KMotionCNC CAD/CAM Post Processors

Customize KMotionCNC

KMotionCNC is written as a Windows C++ MFC (Microsoft Foundation Classes) program developed in Visual Studio.  Source code is provided and may be customized using Visual Studio.  MFC Support is a requirement. 

General Information

Compiling KMotionCNC

The KMotionCNC's Visual Studio Project Solution (\PC VC Programs\KMotionCNC\KMotionCNC.sln) is currently written for Visual Studio 2008 Standard.  This version can be used for the simplest compatibility.  Projects can be upgraded to newer version of VS with minimal effort.  Including Microsoft's Free Visual Studio 2013 Community.  More info on PC Example Applications.

KMotionCNC Customization Examples and Applications

Links to examples of projects that explain KMotionCNC customizations

Troy (tmday7) created some helpful documents listed on the Yahoo Group Files Section here.

PC Example Applications

A number of PC Applications using the KMotion Libraries are available in the Software download.  Visual Studio should be used to modify/compile the applications. 

Currently the projects are compatible with VS 2008 Standard but later Versions can upgrade the projects and can be used including the free Microsoft Version of VS 2013 Community.  In some cases MFC capability needs to be added as a separate download.

More information.

KMotion Libraries - GCode Interpreter - Trajectory Planner - Coordinated Motion - .NET

The KMotion Libraries are a series of DLLs (Dynamic Link Libraries) that reside on the PC that contain the common core motion control, I/O, and communication functionality for KFLOP.  These libraries permit PC Applications to be built using high level control without being concerned with the underlying details of Interpreting GCode, Trajectory Planning, Coordinated Motion, Motion Buffering, USB Communication, etc.

More information.

KFLOP C Programs

C Programs provide a powerful and flexible capability to perform almost any sequence of operations within KFLOP.   In most cases after you have tested and tuned all your hardware using the KMotion.exe setup program all the settings and initialization steps required for your system can be placed into an Initialization C Program so that your system can be fully initialized simply by executing the Initialization program.

More Information

ModBus

Modbus can be connected to the PC or directly to KFLOP.  A PC connection will not be deterministically real-time but may work for basic speed control and on/off.  Here is a related Thread for interfacing KMotionCNC to Modbus using a free utility.

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/DynoMotion/conversations/topics/7941

To connect Modbus directly to KFLOP's UART see the C Examples in \C Programs\RS232\ModBus\

Dynomotion Hardware Topics

General Hardware Information

KFLOP Hardware Info

KStep Hardware Info

Kanalog Hardware Info

SnapAmp Hardware Info

Konnect Hardware Info

Wiring Diagrams

Basic Kanalog DAC and Encoder Connections 3 Axis

Basic Kanalog DAC and Encoder Connections 3 Axis #2

KFLOP+SnapAmp DC Brush Motors with MPG

KFLOP JP5 Open Collector Step/Dir Connections to Power Step PSD5042-2P Drives

Wiring Topics

Place links to pages on wiring inputs and outputs specific to your experiences and projects.  Be descriptive with page titles and links.

MPG Wiring and Interface

MPGs (Manual Pulse Generators) should be connected directly to KFLOP for guaranteed real-time response (not USB based or connected to the PC).  MPGs are handled by a C Program that monitors the MPG and creates motion based on the MPG Encoder changes and switch selections for axis, speed, and so forth.  See the MPG C Program Examples.  Here is a Discussion with other links.

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/DynoMotion/conversations/messages/12287

Axes Servo Tuning and Trajectory Planner

Velocity, Acceleration, and Jerk

The Velocity, Acceleration, and Jerk in the Step Response Screen (KFLOP parameter settings) and the Acceleration and Velocity in the KMotionCNC | Tool Setup | Trajectory Planner | Axis Parameters are both used for different things.  The two sets of parameters are independent. 

 

The KFLOP parameters are used for 3rd order motions.   These include things like:  Jogging, Homing, and GCode Rapids (G0).  The units in KFLOP are in counts or steps.

The KMotionCNC parameters are used for 2nd order (infinite Jerk) coordinated motion paths.  These are GCode G1,G2,G3 continuous paths.  The units are in Inches (or in some cases degrees).

Tests to find and verify optimal settings for both types of moves should be made using the Step Response Screen.  Optimal settings are usually determined by experimentation.  Although it might be possible to calculate the settings based on motor torque gains, back-emf, amplifier voltage/current, mass, moments of inertia, friction, encoder resolution, leadscrew pitch, required following accuracy, etc... It is often too complicated and with too many unknowns to be practical.  So experimental moves can be tested at ever increasing Velocities, Accelerations, and Jerks until the system is unable to follow the trajectory without having too much error or shock to the system.  After absolute limits of the system are determined then the settings should be backed off by some amount to provide operating margins (ie 20%).

It is usually best to first determine max possible velocity using a relatively low acceleration. Maximum power is usually required at the point of the trajectory where velocity is high and still accelerating.  Supply Voltage limitations tend to limit velocity.  Current limitations tend to limit acceleration.

The Step Response Screen always performs 3rd order motion but 2nd order motion can be simulated by temporarily setting the Jerk to a huge value (1000X the acceleration value).  In general reducing the Jerk value will result in longer times to perform motions, but often the improved smoothness will permit higher maximum accelerations and velocities to be used resulting in overall shorter motion times.  An analogy might be how you might stop more quickly in a car, without skidding or spilling your coffee, by applying the brakes harder in a more gradual manner rather than slamming on the brakes.

Make sure when testing the size of move is long enough for full acceleration and velocity are achieved.  As a common mistake is to have Acceleration or Velocity Settings set to too high for your system but when testing a short move there is no indication of a problem.  The plot mode of Velocity Output  vs Time can be helpful to verify full Velocity is being achieved.

Noisy GCode - Trajectory Planner Smoothing

An analysis of Quantization Noise in GCode and Trajectory Planner Settings to generate smooth motion.

See Analysis and Solution

Problems and Resolutions

General

• Dealing with noise on inputs.  If you experience issues with inputs misreading, the issue may be noise.  This page provides examples on what might be causing noise issues and examples of how to possibly deal with noise.
• Other

Software-Specific Problems and Resolutions

• Place links to pages explaining resolutions to problems that are largely software-related here

Hardware-Specific Problems and Resolutions

• Place links to pages explaining resolutions to problems that are largely hardware-related

Applications and Projects

• Place links to pages that explain how you accomplished your particular project.  Write clear explanations that provide background on what you did and how you did it.

Tool Changer - router linear 4 Tools - C Program

Part Zero & Tool Height Touch Plate

International and other Languages

Russian