Control System for Multiple Stepper Motors
About the 4Axes.ini File

Manual for installing or upgrading the control system software
Click on the image to open the book to open it

The 4Axes.ini file is used to set the initial settings for the system. These are the starting values, and re-loading this file will over-ride many settings you have in your system.

The contents of the file changes sometimes with new releases, so it is a good practice to get the latest copy and compare it to your current copy. You can get one from the MDF Rose Engine Lathe 2.0 Library, or by opening the book shown by the picture to the right.

When loading the 4Axes.ini file, check to ensure that each of the keys in your file gets loaded. You can watch the screen in the area noted in red in the picture to the left.

Watch the Key field on that screen as the values are loaded to ensure each of the following are loaded. If one or more is not, those values will not be set, and the system will probably not work correctly.

  1. Setup
  2. Limits
  3. Returns
  4. Main
  1. One
  2. Index
  3. Move
  4. BE (optional)
  1. Sync
  2. Recip
  3. GreekKey
  4. Rose

Some comments about the Keys and some of the key Settings are below.

Key Setting Comments
[Setup] These are the general settings
BoardType This is the splash screen at the startup.
  • BoardType 3 is used to display the MDF Rose Engine 2.0
  • BoardType 4 is used to display the original splash screen (this is Ed French's rose engine lathe as modeled in Fusion 360)
  • BoardType 5 used is to display the Armbruster Mark II
KeepSteppersEnabled With DM542T drives, this needs to be 1 (enabled) for indexing, among other things.
DistancePer360_Z This is the distance the linear slide moves for each revolution of the stepper motor when using the Z axis for movement.
DistancePer360_X This is the distance the linear slide moves for each revolution of the stepper motor when using the X axis for movement.
DistancePer360_Z This is the distance the linear slide moves for each revolution of the stepper motor when using the alternate X axis for movement.
DistancePer360_B This is the distance the linear slide moves for each revolution of the stepper motor when using the B axis for movement.
[Limits] These are used for setting the limit switches.
Min_Z

Axis = Z   |   Direction of Movement = Towards headstock

Maz_Z

Axis = Z   |   Direction of Movement = Away from headstock

Home_Z

N/A - Homing not implemented at this time.

Min_X

Axis = X   |   Direction of Movement = Towards the far side

Maz_X

Axis = X   |   Direction of Movement = Towards the near side

Home_X

N/A - Homing not implemented at this time.

Min_B

Axis = B   |   Direction of Movement = Counter-Clockwise Rotation

Maz_B

Axis = B   |   Direction of Movement = Clockwise Rotation

Home_B

N/A - Homing not implemented at this time.

StopSpindle Stop the spindle when the limit switch has been engaged (along with the other axis movement).

0 = Stop spindle when limit hit

1 = Leave spindle running when limit hit

Stop Pin to use for quick-stop; stops all but the overhead drive.
NC-NO Limit switch type

0 = Normally Closed; momentary open

1 = Normally Open; momentary close

[Returns] Speed for return functions. All speeds and accelerations are in steps per second.
[Main] Default settings for the Main function.
[One] Default settings for the One function.
[Ind] This is a deprecated key which is no longer used, starting with version 25. Use [Index] instead.
[Index] Default settings for the Index function.
[Mov] This is a deprecated key which is no longer used, starting with version 25. Use [Move] instead.
[Move] Default settings for the Move function.
[BE] Default settings for the BE function.
[Sync] Default settings for the Sync function.
[Rec] This is a deprecated key which is no longer used, starting with version 25. Use [Recip] instead.
[Recip] Default settings for the Recip function.
[Grk] This is a deprecated key which is no longer used, starting with version 25. Use [GreekKey] instead.
[GreekKey] Default settings for the Greek Key function.
[Geo] This is a deprecated key which is no longer used, starting with version 25. Use [Rose] instead.
[Rose] Default settings for the Rose function.
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