Messages

661

General Mach Discussion / Re: Upgrade liscence.

« on: February 01, 2017, 09:05:05 AM »

Q4:-  Are any tutorials available for the general use of Mach Turn ?

Go to the new Artsoft site
http://www.machsupport.com/software/mach3/

Under Help & Learning you will see Videos & Tutorial click on it.
When the next screen appears click on the Artsoft Video Tutorials.
From the next appearing screen, on the left side list, click on
Introduction to Turn.

It's not a video, but suggest you read / study the Using Mach3Turn Manual.

If your installing Mach3 Turn suggest you install version 062 and not 066.

You may also want to see what's available on You Tube.

RICH

662

Promote and discuss your product / Re: New Screenset for Mach3 Turn is here!

« on: February 01, 2017, 08:29:12 AM »

Is the Imperial version ready?

RICH

663

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach 3 lathe with stepper spindle

« on: January 29, 2017, 08:39:59 AM »

GARY,

The Mach3 mill screen can be used to run the lathe if you rename the screen set to a ".lset" so Mach knows it's a lathe. What are the specifics internaly .....I don't know!

The only thing I did "long time ago" was  to use a stepper motor geared downto turn the lathe spindle and it was configured as a rotary and slaved to the Z axis. I also used it to index the spindle but was using live tooling on the carriage for milling and drilling. Intended purpose was for small stuff so one need not remount the piece from the lathe to a milling machine. Was able to do  neat stuff but it was limited.

I am not up on Tormach's stuff but The Duality Lathe can not be used with Mach3 and needs Tormach's program.

Simpson did a development on using the Mill spindle to do the equivilant of what you see in the Tormach videos. He uses "swap axis" function but note that swap axis only changes the pin outs,thus, if what your swawping is not the same it won't work and he also learned  that a stepper was not good for what he wanted to do.

Save some time and have a look at Simpson's site for what he now does:
www.theInTurn.com
http://www.theinturn.com/


Info on some of Simpson's Macro's.
http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,11422.msg96092.html#msg96092

Here is a link to a board created by Simpson so the swap axis is done via hardware and also macro's posted
http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,11422.msg99637.html#msg99637

Not sure I can be of much more help,

RICH

664

General Mach Discussion / Re: Default toll path axis view orientation lathe mode

« on: January 29, 2017, 06:59:14 AM »

Aruminat,

You are not using the 1024.lset for the lathe. The screen set you are using is Glathe.lset  so can't help you.
Believe your problems are in your modified screen set that you are using.

RICH

665

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach 3 lathe with stepper spindle

« on: January 27, 2017, 09:13:34 AM »

Gary,

Not sure what your up to........

A stepper used to continuously rotate the lathes spindle will be restrictive in use.
Maybe if tuned and used at some specific point on the motor curve if will satisfy a need.
Just not  a good application of a stepper.

Mach has no ability to spin an axis continuously if configured as a rotary axis.

RICH

666

Mach Screens / Re: Password for custom screenset

« on: January 27, 2017, 07:00:00 AM »

YaraAuto,

You just need to arrive at accepting the fact that some will pay for the screen set, some will will not but will still use it for free. Others will modify, copy, etc for whatever purpose.

These days about the only thing secure is something that only you have and have not shared.

One can invest a lot of time doing a screen set.

Yes I understand. 

RICH

667

General Mach Discussion / Re: Lathe CSS again

« on: January 26, 2017, 08:43:09 AM »

Mach3 Lathe is the way it is. No use complaining about it.

CNC control software for the lathe has slowly developed over the years for the hobbiest. One of the main reasons is the lack of lathe users. A typical hobbiest with a low level machine desires a package that can do what the commercial machine packages can do for peanuts in cost. You get a lot for the money with MAch lathe and it can do more than most users will ever need. Step changes in CAD/CAM are occuring making lathe code generation easier, yet for the average user, simply using the best of the best of low end software will surfice.  

I still use Mach3 for the lathe and will say that the generic screen set leaves a lot to be desired.
A custom lathe screen can make using Mach3 Lathe a joy to use and provides the option to use Mach3 lathe as "one" want's it to work.  

Frankly, this user doesn't use much high end hardware at all and accomplishes all kinds of stuff on the lathe in a quick, repeatable, accurate way. Heck....I don't even use switches!

Just some thoughts,

RICH

668

Mach Screens / Re: Password for custom screenset

« on: January 26, 2017, 06:47:54 AM »

YaraAuto,

Why not just ask your client for the password?  

There are a number of ways to provide protection.

I will candidly say that since it's protected, for whatever reason,
the intent of protection should be respected. With that thought in mind
no more insight is provided.

RICH

669

General Mach Discussion / Re: Default toll path axis view orientation lathe mode

« on: January 25, 2017, 09:44:07 PM »

Suggest you use version 3.043.062 and not 3.043.066.

Post your xml file ( Current Profile )that you are currently using for the lathe. I will assume that you used the Mach3Turn profile to configure your lathe.You will find the profile in the Mach3 directory on your computer and the
name will be Mach3Turn.xml.

Copy and rename the copied xml to M3TurnAr.xml so the file is unique
and post it.

RICH

670

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Help with a wizard

« on: January 25, 2017, 05:06:23 AM »

You remove material at a feed rate and return at max velocity. Return pathing is only a small portion of the  total time,thus,should not take twice as long.
Not sure you need something special.

My question is: is it hard to make a wizard like this? Can I find someone who can do this?

Everything takes time............
Maybe someone will offer up assistance for free or at a cost for doing one.


RICH