Messages

791

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: UC100 Mach4 Lathe G83 fail

« on: February 28, 2017, 02:41:08 PM »

Well, it is a bit different from M3 to M4.  In fact, I really want for people to get the idea that comparing Mach 3 to Mach 4 is really like comparing apples to oranges.  They are both machine controllers (fruit), but that is about the extent of it.  Plugins differ tremendously on how they operate between Mach 3 and Mach 4.  And the differences between Mach 3 Turn and Mach 4 Lathe are even more stark.

I'm not saying you should not ask for help here at all.  And I'm not dismissing the problem either.  I wanted to know if it runs with Sim on your machine.  It works fine on my machine, but I may have a different setup.  If Sim produces the same error on your machine as the uc100 does, then I would know there is something different between our two setups and the we can start digging further.  My goal was to help you.  I know that Sim doesn't even cut air very well.    But trying Sim is a very important step in the diagnostics process.  That was the point that I was trying to convey.  Maybe I should do better with my communications too!

Steve

792

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Hobby/Industrial and Profiles

« on: February 27, 2017, 07:12:59 PM »

The best thing yo do would be to package the profile up in your hobby installation and import it to your Industrial installation. 

Brains were replaced by LUA sripting in the screen's PLC script or by using the PMC (Programmable Machine Controller), which is a ladder logic front end.

Steve

793

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: UC100 Mach4 Lathe G83 fail

« on: February 27, 2017, 07:08:32 PM »

My point being is if Sim works and it doesn't on the uc100, then I suspect the uc100 plugin.  That is what we use Sim for mostly.  To verify proper operation of a hardware motion plugin.  If it doesn't work in Sim, then suspect a bug in Mach.  So the FIRST thing one should do if they have a problem is to test with Sim.  Because you will know who to talk to rather quickly. 

Steve

794

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: UC100 Mach4 Lathe G83 fail

« on: February 27, 2017, 05:49:16 PM »

Have you run it with Sim?  Works fine in Sim for me.  

Steve

795

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Offset image in tool path window

« on: February 27, 2017, 02:07:12 PM »

Typically, one sets the offset BEFORE loading the G code file.  In other words, pick up your part zero first.  Then load the G code.  It isn't a bug but rather just how it works.  If you change your work offset, just hit regen tool path.  You can automate that with scripting, if you wish, but why?  Just press a button! 

Steve

796

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Lua Macro Parameters

« on: February 25, 2017, 07:53:52 PM »

The first thing to understand is if you do ANYTHING from a GUI event that is long running, it will lock the GUI for that duration.  Why?  Because you have directed the thread that runs the GUI to run your code.  While it is doing that, it can't sit there and update DROs and work the buttons.  So the thing to do is hand off the task to another thread.  That is what mc.mcCntlMdiExecute() does.  It executes your code in a thread in the core. 

If you are running the stock screen set, take a look at the Modules directory.  mcMasterModule.lua.  That is a module file that is "required" by the screen load script.  This is the lua method of "including" common code.  Open up the screen load script in the screen editor and see how it is implemented. 

Otherwise, there is a bunch of really dry reading in the LUA programming manuals.    The manuals are good, but damn...  painful to read.  LOL

Steve

797

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Lua Macro Parameters

« on: February 25, 2017, 04:16:03 PM »

Use mc.mcCntlMdiExecute() from the button script.  It will be the same as running it in the mdi window.

Otherwise, the more proper way to run code from both the screen and a macro is to put the common code in a module.  Then require the module in both the screen script and the macro script.  Then all you need to do is call the lua module function.

Steve

798

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Offset image in tool path window

« on: February 25, 2017, 04:10:04 PM »

After you set a work offset, you will have to regenerate the tool path. 

Steve

799

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Preload-Tool Macro

« on: February 25, 2017, 04:07:27 PM »

No modbus on that thing at all.  I see where someone is working on Modbus integration, but nothing more.  I'm not sure how one would communicate with that PLC at all at the moment.  I can assure you, there will be NO threads about how to hook Mach 4 to that one.  So you are own you own.  Nothing like being the first to try and do something!!  

We do have serial comms via LUA.  http://lua-users.org/lists/lua-l/2012-09/msg00554.html  That may be what you have to do.  

For the price (in fact, cheaper), the Automation Direct Click PLCs are comparable and a LOT more powerful.  Stackable.  Need more I/O in the future, no problem.  https://www.automationdirect.com/adc/Shopping/Catalog/Programmable_Controllers/CLICK_Series_PLCs_(Stackable_Micro_Brick)/PLC_Units

Steve

800

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: now do I configure mach4 for second motor on Y axis

« on: February 24, 2017, 07:42:23 PM »

That would be on the motor tuning page.  The velocity setting.  That will be the maximum velocity that the motor will do.  e.g. your rapid velocity.  The jog rate can then be set as a percentage of this max velocity.

Steve