Oxy Fuel preheat time in Mach3

[Johnny Storm]

Hi, I have a home made oxy fuel cutting cnc machine 5ft x 10ft, i have made several test cuts and seems to work well, but I have a little problem with the preheat.

I´m draw in Autocad, then i put the DXF file in ProNest and there generate the G-Code for Mach3, ok all fine but but i no have idea how set the preheat dely time before the machine start the cut.

For the moment y try with this: I modify the file C:\Mach3\macros\plasma\m4.m1s

Sleep 25000 (this example is for a delay of 25 seconds)
activateSignal(OUTPUT1) (this activate the selenoid to open the oxigen)
Sleep 1000 (I use this time for the initail penetracion before machine moves)

This method works for me, but i don't like!!!, anybody know a better method? or a screenset with a DRO to put that time in seconds or someting like that?

sorry for my bad english, tanks

this is my machine and a sample cuts in .250 inch

[Hood]

You could have a user DRO (or several) on the screen and have your M4 macro look to it for its value.
Hood

[Johnny Storm]

You could have a user DRO (or several) on the screen and have your M4 macro look to it for its value.
Hood

thanks Hood, you can tell me the script can use for do that?

[Hood]

Not great at VB but something like this MIGHT WORK

DRO1 = GetUserDRO(2222)
DRO2 = GetUserDRO(2223)

Sleep (DRO1)
activateSignal(OUTPUT1)
Sleep (DRO2)


Hood

[rrc1962]

The G code for a dwell is "G4 P1".  1 being the number of seconds to delay.  If Mach is set to dwell in milliseconds, you would use 1000 to represent 1 second.  You could have your CAM drop the G4 in the program or have your CAM insert a macro.  A macro might look something like this...DRO1234 would be a user DRO where you enter the dwell time.

code "G4 P" & getUserDRO(1234)

You could use the same code inside the M3 macro, but I prefer having it separate.

[Johnny Storm]

Not great at VB but something like this MIGHT WORK

DRO1 = GetUserDRO(2222)
DRO2 = GetUserDRO(2223)

Sleep (DRO1)
activateSignal(OUTPUT1)
Sleep (DRO2)


Hood

Thanks Hood you are my hero!! works perfect,

[Johnny Storm]

The G code for a dwell is "G4 P1".  1 being the number of seconds to delay.  If Mach is set to dwell in milliseconds, you would use 1000 to represent 1 second.  You could have your CAM drop the G4 in the program or have your CAM insert a macro.  A macro might look something like this...DRO1234 would be a user DRO where you enter the dwell time.

code "G4 P" & getUserDRO(1234)

You could use the same code inside the M3 macro, but I prefer having it separate.

Thanks rrc1962 it's a great solution too

[Hood]

Ha ha well I am amased VB that IO wrote works first attempt
Hood

[Hood]

oops clumsy fingers, must have hit the I and O key at the same time, should have just been I.
Hood