MDF Rose Engine Lathe 2.0

Control System for Multiple Stepper Motors
About the RE30.ini File

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

The RE30.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.

One key change with version 3.0 is the ability to have multiple INI files. This allows the turner to have a base file for setting up the system, and more specific files for each piece of equipment.

When loading the RE30.ini file, check to ensure that each of the keys in your file gets loaded. 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, or at least as expected.

The key in red below is needed for setup and should have its values set. The others are not as critical.

Preferences
Limits
Returns
Main

One_Multi
Index
Move

Shared
Sync
Recip

GreekKey
Program
Rose

Some comments about the Keys and some of the key Settings are below. Settings typically used on the MDF Rose Engine Lathe 2.0 are highlighted in light blue.

Key

Setting

Comments

[Preferences]

These are the general settings

VendorId

Value	Purpose
3	MDF Rose Engine 2.0
4	Ed French's rose engine lathe, as modeled in Fusion 360
5	Armbruster Mark II

This is used to set the splash screen seen at startup.

Prior to v3.0, this was "BoardType".

No one seems to remember what 1 and 2 were used for.

Note: This value cannot be set via the menus; the ini file is the only option for setting it.

MotorCount

Motor
Count

Axes Enabled

✓

This identifies if the M3 and/or M4 axes are available. The value is typically 4, but may be 5 if the v3.0 printed circuit board (PCB) is being used.

Note regarding the Teensy 3.2: If the Teensy 3.2 is being used as the controller, this needs be 4 (regardless of the PCB being used).

Note: This value cannot be set via the menus; the ini file is the only option for setting it.

KeepSteppersEnabled

Value	Purpose
0	Off
1	On

This needs to be 1 when using the Stepper Online DM542T Stepper Driver. The Indexing function needs this.

It is less critical when using the Pololu DRV8825 stepper driver.

Spindle

Microsteps_Spindle

Set to 32 on the MDF Rose Engine Lathe 2.0.

StepsPer360_Spindle

Set to 200 on the MDF Rose Engine Lathe 2.0.

GearRatio_Spindle

Set to 9 on the MDF Rose Engine Lathe 2.0.

Polarity_Spindle

Value	Purpose
0	High
1	Low

Typically set to 1 on the MDF Rose Engine Lathe 2.0.

Z Axis

Microsteps_Z

Set to 32 on the MDF Rose Engine Lathe 2.0.

StepsPer360_Z

Set to 200 on the MDF Rose Engine Lathe 2.0.

DistancePer360_Z

This is the distance the linear slide moves for each revolution of the stepper motor when using the designated axis for movement. The value is based on the linear slide being used.

Polarity_Z

Value	Purpose
0	High
1	Low

Typically set to 1 on the MDF Rose Engine Lathe 2.0.

Leadscrew_Hand_Z

Value	Purpose
0	Left
1	Right

The value is based on the linear slide being used.

X Axis

XorAltXSelected

Value	Purpose
0	X
1	AltX

Sets the initial selection.

Microsteps_X

Set to 32 on the MDF Rose Engine Lathe 2.0.

StepsPer360_X

Set to 200 on the MDF Rose Engine Lathe 2.0.

DistancePer360_X

This is the distance the linear slide moves for each revolution of the stepper motor when using the designated axis for movement. The value is based on the linear slide being used.

Polarity_X

Value	Purpose
0	High
1	Low

Typically set to 1 on the MDF Rose Engine Lathe 2.0.

Leadscrew_Hand_X

Value	Purpose
0	Left
1	Right

The value is based on the linear slide being used.

Alternate X Axis

Microsteps_AltX

Set to 32 on the MDF Rose Engine Lathe 2.0.

StepsPer360_AltX

Set to 200 on the MDF Rose Engine Lathe 2.0.

DistancePer360_AltX

This is the distance the linear slide moves for each revolution of the stepper motor when using the designated axis for movement. The value is based on the linear slide being used.

Polarity_AltX

Value	Purpose
0	High
1	Low

Typically set to 1 on the MDF Rose Engine Lathe 2.0.

Leadscrew_Hand_AltX

Value	Purpose
0	Left
1	Right

The value is based on the linear slide being used.

M3 Axis

Microsteps_M3

Set to 32 on the MDF Rose Engine Lathe 2.0.

StepsPer360_M3

Set to 200 on the MDF Rose Engine Lathe 2.0.

Polarity_M3

Value	Purpose
0	High
1	Low

Typically set to 1 on the MDF Rose Engine Lathe 2.0.

RadialOrLineal_M3

Value	Purpose
0	Radial
1	Linear

Sets the M3 axis movement as radial or linear.

If the M3 axis is being used for a Rosette Phaser / Multiplier, this should probably be 0.

Radial or linear slide settings

GearRatio_M3

This is the distance the rotary slide moves for each revolution of the stepper motor when using the designated axis for movement. The value is based on the screw in the rotary slide being used.

Be sure to check this. If the M3 axis is being used for a Rosette Phaser / Multiplier, this should probably be 9 as it will probably use the same drive gear as the spindle drive. This is not a radial slide; however this setting is needed for that device.

Linear slide settings

DistancePer360_M3

This is the distance the linear slide moves for each revolution of the stepper motor when using the designated axis for movement. The value is based on the linear slide being used.

Leadscrew_Hand_M3

Value	Purpose
0	Left
1	Right

The value is based on the linear slide being used.

Radial settings

M3Radius

This is the radius of the cutter. The value is based on the screw in the rotary slide being used.

M4 Axis

Microsteps_M4

Set to 32 on the MDF Rose Engine Lathe 2.0.

StepsPer360_M4

Set to 200 on the MDF Rose Engine Lathe 2.0.

Polarity_M4

Value	Purpose
0	High
1	Low

Typically set to 1 on the MDF Rose Engine Lathe 2.0.

RadialOrLineal_M4

Value	Purpose
0	Radial
1	Linear

Sets the M4 axis movement as radial or linear

Radial or linear slide settings

GearRatio_M4

This is the distance the rotary slide moves for each revolution of the stepper motor when using the designated axis for movement. The value is based on the screw in the rotary slide being used.

Linear slide settings

DistancePer360_M4

This is the distance the linear slide moves for each revolution of the stepper motor when using the designated axis for movement. The value is based on the linear slide being used.

Leadscrew_Hand_M4

Value	Purpose
0	High
1	Low

The value is based on the linear slide being used.

Radial settings

M4Radius

This is the radius of the cutter. The value is based on the screw in the rotary slide being used.

[Limits]

Type	Value	Used for Movement
Linear	Min_x	Towards the headstock
Linear	Max_x	Away from the headstock
Circular	Min_x	Counter-Clockwise Rotation
Circular	Max_x	Clockwise Rotation

These are used for setting the limit switches. The pin numbers used must be greater than 16 on 4 motor board, greater than 24 on 5 motor board.

Min_B and Max_B are deprecated keys which are no longer used, starting with version 3.0. Use Min_M3 or Max_M3 (respectively) instead.

StopSpindle

Value	Purpose
0	Stop spindle when limit hit
1	Leave spindle running when limit hit

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

Typically set to 0 on the MDF Rose Engine Lathe 2.0.

Stop

Pin to use for quick-stop; stops all but the overhead drive.

NC-NO

Value	Purpose
0	Normally Closed / Momentary Open
1	Normally Open / Momentary Close

Limit switch type. There is a further discussion about this topic at Limit Switches and the EStop Function.

Typically set to 1 on the MDF Rose Engine Lathe 2.0.

[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.

[Index]

Default settings for the Index function.

[Move]

Default settings for the Move function.

[BE]

Default settings for the BE function.

[Sync]

Default settings for the Sync function.

[Recip]

Default settings for the Recip function.

[GreekKey]

Default settings for the Greek Key function.

[Rose]

Default settings for the Rose function.

~~[Ind]~~

This is a deprecated key which is no longer used, starting with version 25. Use [Index] instead.

~~[Mov]~~

This is a deprecated key which is no longer used, starting with version 25. Use [Move] instead.

~~[Rec]~~

This is a deprecated key which is no longer used, starting with version 25. Use [Recip] instead.

~~[Grk]~~

This is a deprecated key which is no longer used, starting with version 25. Use [GreekKey] instead.

~~[Geo]~~

This is a deprecated key which is no longer used, starting with version 25. Use [Rose] instead.

Questions or comments? Contact us at
ColvinTools@Gmail.com

Disclaimers