Messages

901

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 Printer Port Discussions

« on: September 06, 2014, 10:43:06 AM »

  In the meantime I will begin to update the "How to build the interface" section and release the arduino code that allows
Darwin to control the laser to the level shown in the video's. That forum is on the Gearotic Forums under "Arduino Laser".

Also, I have edited  Art's very first post in this topic to include links to relevant videos, the latest plugin, and the Arduino Laser topic at Gearotics forum. I will try to keep those updated. This way anyone looking for the latest info./files can get them quickly.

That Art, he is responsible for a lot of fun. 

Brett

902

VB and the development of wizards / Re: homing macro and Ismoving

« on: September 06, 2014, 05:23:41 AM »

The code I posted earlier will home the Z, then the Y, then the X. They will not work if in a reset. They finish homing an axis before homing the next. The only thing it will not do is home the X and Y together if a tool is not loaded. Will it be a big deal if it does not home the X and Y at the same time if no tool is loaded? What percentage of times when you reference the machine will it have a tool in the spindle? Surely it will only take a few extra seconds to home them independently? How often do you plan to reference the machine? Most only reference after power is lost or if reset has been hit while in motion. To err on the side of caution I home anytime a reset has been requested. If you are needing to reference more often than that I think you have bigger problems to be addressing before the reference script (just my opinion). From what I have seen with the CSLabs, the reference script is pretty flaky if anything else is in your reference script. I would keep it as lean as possible. Try the code below and see how you like it.

Brett

903

Finished Plugins for Download / Re: Mach3 Camera Plugin V3

« on: September 05, 2014, 06:38:51 PM »

Thanks Klaus!

Brett

904

VB and the development of wizards / Re: homing macro and Ismoving

« on: September 05, 2014, 09:51:57 AM »

Thomas, I do not understand why you are checking to see if the machine is reset or referenced. It should not do anything if in a reset condition and will already have the message in the status bar, no need to check or set that. If I wanted to reference the machine, I would want it to reference no matter if it thought it had been already or not so no need to check that either IMO. Maybe I am missing something but I think the code below would serve you well.

Code: [Select]

DoButton( 24 )
DoButton( 23 )
DoButton( 22 )


905

VB and the development of wizards / Re: homing macro and Ismoving

« on: September 05, 2014, 06:00:26 AM »

What macro hangs? The ref all home? Post your code and I'll have a look.

Brett

906

VB and the development of wizards / Re: homing macro and Ismoving

« on: September 04, 2014, 07:51:04 AM »

I will try to test this ASAP but it will likely be the weekend before I get to. Are you sure you are not dealing with bouncy switches or EMF? Have you tried to enter a home off distance for all axis of .100 (inches)(+ or - depending on homing direction) and tried it? Remember (with a switch doubling as a home and limit) as soon as it comes off the switch in the homing routine the very next time it sees that input turn on, be it 10 minutes or 10ms later, it should throw a LS fault.

Brett

907

Modbus / Re: Arduino ModBus and Mach3 for tool turret changer

« on: September 03, 2014, 08:34:02 AM »

Hello Fuzer, The first thing to relies is that it is about 99.999% certain that no ones M6 macro or Arduino sketch is going to work for you. You will have to create your own. Second, you will have to learn how the Arduino and Mach will communicate with one another. Watch all the video tutors on scripting, modbus and tool changers to help with that. http://www.machsupport.com/videos/ Download the macro programmers ref. manual. You are going to need it.

Start simple. First try to get Mach to turn on an output on the Arduino. Then have the arduino turn an led in Mach on or off depending on the status of the output on the Arduino. Once you can do this and fully understand how to get, set and reset bits in the Arduino from Mach and in Mach from the Arduino going forward will be a lot easier. I think I would then write a sketch for the Arduino to do a tool change start to finish on its own. Once you get to this point it will be time to tie it all together.

Brett

908

VB and the development of wizards / Re: homing macro and Ismoving

« on: September 03, 2014, 07:30:24 AM »

what i want to do with my script is to clear the homing limits
before i start a homing, because it is not homing when its
on an limit.

Thomas

I think it will but would have to test to be certain.......... the CS-Labs is pretty clever. You will have to reset any time a limit is tripped. Drive on to a limit that doubles as a home switch, hit reset then ref all home. I think it will work without having to manually jog off the switch. I think if you are on a limit switch that doubles as a home when homing is requested it will move off the switch until it changes states and the homing for that axis is then complete........... unless you set a home off distance. If you do then the axis will move to the home off distance once the switch changes states.

Thanks for sharing the info from CS-Labs.

909

VB and the development of wizards / Re: homing macro and Ismoving

« on: September 02, 2014, 03:22:14 PM »

I had the same idea and tried the same with the same results. I had to just do it another way. Really, the way the CSLabs handles homing I figured out there was no need for the While IsMoving() in my script. I am acustomed to haveing to add a move away from the switch in my homing script. CSLabs will do this for you without altering the script. Just set your home off distance in Mach.

Brett

910

VB and the development of wizards / Re: homing macro and Ismoving

« on: September 02, 2014, 04:16:36 AM »

I think you can change your home off distance in homing and limits config. to clear the switches by any amount you wish. I think you will continue to have problems as long as you use the while IsMoving() in the reference all button while using CSLabs. If you do ask CSLabs I would be interested in hearing their explanation.

Brett