bill z wrote:OK.
I didn't think that power port had any real intelligence, like to turn on or off during the program, just at the program start and end.
Good to know.
Thanks.
Oh, it sure does! If you pair up G05 and G03 lines, you'll get pulses 35ms long on the router control signal

. I use that for my power-control PilotFish attachment
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=5303&hilit=+pilotfishIn my case, I hacked the software so I can set which coolant/vacuum/blower type right in the BobCAD (like Vectric) software, and it makes its way through the post processor and GCode, and through my build scripts that substitute in the M05/M03 pulses. That GCode then gets sent to the controller, with the pulses coming out that router-power control signal, over to my Arduino-based controller, which interprets them and appropriately controls ten channels of remote+local power. For remote power control like my insanely loud chip blower, there's a custom power box that's controlled via low-voltage circuit and telephone-grade wiring, that switches up to 20A of local power to whatever is plugged in. And all those ten channels get automagically turned on and off at the start of every single toolpath, if that's what I want

. It's magical to no longer have to turn on the mister for this one, turn it off for the next one, etc., even though the bit and RPM don't change, and the system just keeps on cutting features. It really is magical.
Cheers!
Thom