Messages

211

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Weird problems.

« on: December 31, 2019, 04:26:59 PM »

I just found out (by happy accident) that the debugging will work if you choose "Open script editor" and not "Edit debug scripts".
I am also able to get the state of an input now.  I'm not sure what I changed, but it works now so I'm happy. 
The LEDs still don't work correctly all the time though.

212

Mach4 General Discussion / Weird problems.

« on: December 31, 2019, 03:20:28 PM »

I'm working on a lathe at the moment and I'm running into some issues.
1.  Zero Brane won't let me step through and debugg a macro.  I start debugging and it just runs through it.  It doesn't even really run through it because it doesn't show any results that I have requested in the macro (mc.mccntlSetLastErorr()).  I have to run the macro from MDI to test it, it is very cumbersome.  This happened on a mill I worked on recently as well. Both running Mach4 Build 4300.

2.  I'm trying to get a visual representation of what Gear the lathe is in.  I have a dc linear actuator that changes the spindle gear.  This actuator has two limit switches on it to tell my PLC when it reaches it's limit to shut off the gear motor, I have two LED's set up in Mach to monitor the input state.  This isn't working correctly.  It doesn't update unless I go into Machine Config and exit out of the config screen then it will update the LEDs.  I have no idea why this isn't changing correctly. 

3.  I tried to bypass this and just force the LED value to 1 but the code I use to do this on other machines doesn't seem to work. 
scr.SetProperty ("ledTest", "Value", 1 or 0)
I try and run this in a macro and it doesn't change anything. 

4.  How do you get the state of an input?  Usually I get the handle, get the state of the handle and then use that state.  I have done this a lot in the past, but it isn't working right on this lathe.  I'm wondering if it has something to do with the Zero Brane editor.

Anyone have any ideas on these issues?

213

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Screw Mapping Support

« on: December 11, 2019, 10:52:08 AM »

Mike,
It is supported in industrial, not in hobby.

214

HiCON Motion Controller / Stepper motor won't move correctly.

« on: October 31, 2019, 08:56:00 AM »

This morning, one of our lathes X Axis stopped working correctly.
When jogged or commanded to move, it moves the intended direction for about an inch and then moves in the positive direction and will not stop moving until Mach is disabled or the E Stop is pressed.
My first idea was to check the debug.  It gave me an error every half second or so:  "Reduced timer socket".  I found a solution here on the forum; I increased the polling frequency until it stopped giving me the error (it is set to 250 now). 
Although the warning has stopped posting, the motion still does the same thing. Jog a little and then moves positive indefinitely.
Attached is the debug window from starting mach, jogging, and disabling mach.  That is all I did when I took the screenshot of the debug.
Any ideas on this weird motion?

215

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: How to change post processor to go to Z zero only at program end.

« on: October 24, 2019, 09:45:50 AM »

I asked Autodesk to add G30 to the safe retracts last year.  As long as your post isn't older than 10/12/18 then you should have the option to use G30 as well.
That way you can move your table Front and Center once the program is finished.

But, originally, you just wanted the Z to retract only; removing the writeRetract(X, Y); will cause only the Z to retract.

216

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: How to change post processor to go to Z zero only at program end.

« on: October 23, 2019, 08:29:57 AM »

You can get to the Post in Fusion. 
Open the Post Process dialog in Manufacture, then click "Open Config" next to the Post you are using.
Also, I think the stock Mach4Mill post has "Use G30" as an option.

217

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: How to change post processor to go to Z zero only at program end.

« on: October 22, 2019, 11:02:34 PM »

What do you mean, check every time you post?

218

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: How to change post processor to go to Z zero only at program end.

« on: October 22, 2019, 09:31:55 PM »

It's actually very easy to do this.
It is at the very end of the post, if I'm thinking correctly, all you have to do is comment out the line

writeRetract(X, Y);

This should do what you want.

On my Mach4 post that I use, I use G30.  This will move X, Y, and Z to specified machine coordinates specified in the #VARS 5181 -5183.  Very handy if you want the X to move to the center of travel and the Y forward. 
I can share my post tomorrow if you would like.  It is on my work computer and not my laptop here at home.

219

Mach4 General Discussion / Motion pauses on input signals

« on: October 21, 2019, 09:49:34 AM »

It's been awhile since I've been on here.
I'm running into an issue that I haven't come across before.
While my machine is moving whether it is from G Code, MDI, or Button Press (IE GOTO Work Zero) the machine will sometimes pause the motion if I press one of my control panel buttons, Tool Release, Coolant, etc.
I'm not sure if this is a HiCON issue, stepper issue, or Mach issue.

I'm using Nema 23 closed loop steppers, I haven't used steppers in a while, but I've never had this happen with them before.
I've increased the buffer in the HiCON plugin to no avail.
I'm not really sure what's going on.

220

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Creating M-Code to activate Outputs

« on: August 10, 2019, 01:51:17 PM »

If all you want to do is to turn on and off an output from G Code, you should try using M64 and M65 
Look on page 60 of the Mach4 G Code programming manual for mill and router style machines.   
M64 P2   this will turn on output 2
M65 P2   this will turn off output 2