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.

When loading the RE30.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. Preferences
  2. Limits
  3. Returns
  4. Main
  5. One_Multi
  1. Index
  2. Move
  3. Shared
  4. Sync
  1. Recip
  2. GreekKey
  3. Program
  4. Rose

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

Key Setting Comments
[Preferences] These are the general settings
VendorId This is the splash screen at the startup. Prior to v3.0, this was "BoardType".

VendorID Machine
3 MDF Rose Engine 2.0
4 Ed French's rose engine lathe, as modeled in Fusion 360
5 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_M3 This is the distance the linear slide moves for each revolution of the stepper motor when using the M3 axis for movement.
DistancePer360_M4 This is the distance the linear slide moves for each revolution of the stepper motor when using the M4 axis for movement.
[Limits] These are used for setting the limit switches.
Min_Z

Axis = Z   |   Direction of Movement = Towards headstock

Max_Z

Axis = Z   |   Direction of Movement = Away from headstock

Min_X

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

Max_X

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

Min_B This is a deprecated key which is no longer used, starting with version 3.0. Use Min_M3 instead.
Max_B This is a deprecated key which is no longer used, starting with version 3.0. Use Max_M3 instead.
Min_M3

Axis = M3   |   Direction of Movement = Counter-Clockwise Rotation

Max_M3

Axis = M3   |   Direction of Movement = Clockwise Rotation

Min_M4

Axis = M4   |   Direction of Movement = Counter-Clockwise Rotation

Max_M4

Axis = M4   |   Direction of Movement = Clockwise Rotation

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.

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