Recent Posts

21

HiCON Motion Controller / updated Mach 4 and the Hicon plug in, stuttering, Jerky

« Last post by lgr on November 10, 2025, 08:07:45 PM »

After updating Mach 4 and the Hicon 7866 plug in the the machine has had a stutter/jerky motion. I cloned the profile and reduced the accell and decell numbers by 50, it's better but it still isn't as smooth as it was. Any suggestions? 
4axis router 72"X120", DMM servo motors,  Hicon plug in V2:50-84, Mach4 version 4.2.0.5036

22

Mach4 General Discussion / Mach4 probing script

« Last post by cd_edwards on November 10, 2025, 06:25:23 PM »

Lua: Error while running chunk
C:\Mach4Industrial\ScreenScript.lua:1380: attempt to index a nil value (global 'prb')
stack traceback:
   C:\Mach4Industrial\ScreenScript.lua:1380: in function 'btnSurfXHelp_Clicked_Script'

No error's when loading. just when you attempt to ask for help.

and if you attempt to probe
 
ESS: Mach4 Enabled
ERROR: Invalid probing G code

23

Works in progress / Re: NoPIlot

« Last post by Punisher on November 09, 2025, 07:34:09 PM »

Spent quite a bit of time working on the screen. Had to do a lot of searching to figure out how to do somethings. Had to use a bunch of scripts to make it work. Some parts are a bit hacky, but it was the only way I could figure out how to do it.

Made the graphics with paint.net. Not the greatest, but it works for now. Maybe I'll go through and remake them.

The main screen is about 95% working. There's supposed to be a led that lights up under the selected page. That's only partially configured.

The feed, rpm, velocity, and jog sliders aren't actually sliders. They're a 10 leds with transparent buttons on top. Clicking on it changes which led is lit up. The dro is then changed to the selected value. The leds are also lit according to the dro value.

There's a couple transparent buttons on the bottom to turn on or off the menu bar. Might change that.

The exit button is configured. Just doesn't have the graphics.

All the buttons and dros work. There's the gcode, mdi, and tool path. Next to the mdi is a button. When clicked on it goes to the 2nd page which has the gcode enlarged.

24

Works in progress / NoPIlot

« Last post by Punisher on November 09, 2025, 07:29:44 PM »

When the Tormach XSTech came out about 5 years ago I wanted one. Tough I didn't want to pay $3500.

Did some searching and found that the machine is actually a Bravo Prodigy BE2015. They replaced the control board with one that will work with Path Pilot. Then added an estop and probe. Also came with an all in one pc, keyboard, mouse, and Shuttle Express.

After a bunch of searching I found all the parts used. Didn't find the pc used. Instead, I'm using an old Windows tablet. Got everything for about $1500.

Working on replacing the control board with a Genmtisu that runs Mach 3. Getting the brushless dc motor working was a bit of a challenge. Now it just has a little bit of wiring left and it'll be ready to start using.

Tried a few screens, but didn't find any that I really liked. There were a few that had some of what I was looking for. Probably could have used them as is.

Then I found out that it was possible to make a new screen. Did a test one to see if it would work. It was very rough, but I had most of what I wanted working. Started over again. This time trying to replicate Path Pilot.

25

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: parameter 1801

« Last post by cd_edwards on November 09, 2025, 04:15:25 PM »

it helps when you edit the correct parameter.ini in the proper directory.

26

Mach4 General Discussion / parameter 1801

« Last post by cd_edwards on November 09, 2025, 03:07:25 PM »

What is setting parameter 1801. I've edited the parameter's file and used NIL, -7.0000 and also deleted the 3 lines. It keeps coming back. this is in the latest beta from  Oct 30/25.

27

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Probe/Touch Off Error

« Last post by tbadger on November 07, 2025, 07:18:44 PM »

Turns out it was, you guessed it, USER ERROR.  I had copied what I thought was an unmodified script from another, older screen set.  The issue was that "Iframe" should be "Tframe". Once that was corrected throughout the script, it now works correctly. 

28

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 on 2 computers working together

« Last post by Bill_O on November 06, 2025, 06:21:26 PM »

Craig,

I don't need the 8 axis to be coordinated.
At the most it will be 4 axis.
I am not worried about IO
I use a Pokeys 57U for my pendant now and can easily use it if i need the extra IO
I did mention to my boss about Mach is supposed to at some point be able to have multiple instances.
Because it is not available now i think i can just use multiple laptops and IO between them to run the machine.
I appreciate the assistance.

Bill

29

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 on 2 computers working together

« Last post by joeaverage on November 05, 2025, 06:49:51 PM »

Hi,
a Hicon is not going to help that much.

Mach4Hobby has a maximum of SIX coordinated axes, as does Mach3 which preceded it and Mach4Industrial.  Mach4Hobby and Mach4Industrial can also have six out-of-band axes.
The ESS is limited to six motors. Thus a Hicon, may help there, as you can have eight motors, but Mach4 still can only control six coordinated motors.

Mach4 can have ONE any only one active motion control, it can however have auxiliary input boards. For example if you have an ESS as motion control, but require more inputs
then its not uncommon to use a PoKeys 57E as an auxiliary IO board. Note however Mach cannot drive motors attached to the 57E, and the data going to and from the 57E is refreshed
approx every 25ms, and thus none of the IO of the 57E could be considered realtime.

I suspect what you really want, and I believe Mach4 is in fact capable of, even if not released publicly is a version of Mach4 that can have multiple instances. Lets say you have Mach4 running two instances,
then each would have its own active motion controller, say an ESS on each. Mach4 was always intended to be multi-threaded, but its synchronisation between two threads which is the sticking point.
Smurph will know more about it.

Craig

30

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 on 2 computers working together

« Last post by Bill_O on November 03, 2025, 08:02:16 AM »

Steve,

It will all be a very repetitive operation.
Having the motors split will also help in some time issues.
I can have motors 1-4 doing an operation and have motors 4-8 doing an operation without needing to be in sync with motors 1-4

Bill