Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: NormB on January 05, 2010, 10:45:15 AM

Title: Mach3 Tool Path Screen
Post by: NormB on January 05, 2010, 10:45:15 AM
I am using the standard screens set up in Mach3 adn when I start to run a program the tool is moving and it shows light blue dots not a green line as in Mach3 how can I change this so I can see the tool on te work piece?
Title: Re: Mach3 Tool Path Screen
Post by: Hood on January 05, 2010, 11:13:14 AM
It will depend on the feedrate you have, also whether your code has longish lines or very short lines. If your code is made of lots of small  segments then you will see green dots. This is due to the graphics update and not much you can do about it except for wait until Rev4 as it should be much better in that respect.
Hood
Title: Re: Mach3 Tool Path Screen
Post by: NormB on January 05, 2010, 12:40:41 PM
thank you for the rresponse, I was hoping for better but understand.  I do have some long lines but they too show dots not a solid line.  You can sort of see where the tool had been but it's difficult.  I guess nothing that can't be dealt with.
Title: Re: Mach3 Tool Path Screen
Post by: ger21 on January 05, 2010, 01:13:14 PM
I've seen both the dots, and the full green line. Seems like they occur with different versions of Mach3??
Title: Re: Mach3 Tool Path Screen
Post by: Hood on January 05, 2010, 02:03:59 PM
What feedrates do you have when you are seeing the dots?
Hood
Title: Re: Mach3 Tool Path Screen
Post by: NormB on January 05, 2010, 02:28:10 PM
I am usually running between 50 and 100......... never higher than 100 and for a clean cut usually 50.  I have never seen a green line only the dots.  I have the latest version of Mach3 the one just released  I think 2.64 or so.
Title: Re: Mach3 Tool Path Screen
Post by: ger21 on January 05, 2010, 02:34:57 PM
2.64 is well over a year old. I'm running 3.42.20 on my machine, and have 3.43 on this PC, and both have solid green lines. I haven't seen the dotted lines in a long time, but I have seen them on older versions.
Title: Re: Mach3 Tool Path Screen
Post by: NormB on January 05, 2010, 02:41:06 PM
Sorry, just checked and I am running Version R3.042.032 I think I may have been confused with mach2 anyway this is the version giving me the dots.  Both copies the release prior to this one and this one both do the same.
Title: Re: Mach3 Tool Path Screen
Post by: Hood on January 05, 2010, 02:43:28 PM
Can you attach your xml and your code and I will have a look and see what happens here.
Hood
Title: Re: Mach3 Tool Path Screen
Post by: NormB on January 05, 2010, 02:46:19 PM
I can send the code what is the XML?
Title: Re: Mach3 Tool Path Screen
Post by: NormB on January 05, 2010, 02:55:24 PM
Okay sure I found the xml file had to rename it to upload it though
Title: Re: Mach3 Tool Path Screen
Post by: Hood on January 05, 2010, 03:17:23 PM
afraid that doesnt seem to be the correct xml as there is nothing set up in it. The one you want is for the profile you are using, if the standard Mill profile then look in the Mach 3 folder for a file called Mach3Mill.xml, if using a different profile it will be named the same as your profiles name.
Hood
Title: Re: Mach3 Tool Path Screen
Post by: NormB on January 05, 2010, 04:24:58 PM
Okay I found it I think
Title: Re: Mach3 Tool Path Screen
Post by: Hood on January 05, 2010, 05:12:14 PM
Your code is mainly made up of short line segments which is certainly not helping but the main thing I think is just the graphics update in Mach. You would change the colour of the G1 toolpath which may make it clearer, you can do that from Config menu then ToolPath. I am not sure how different graphics cards affect things, will have to check tomorrow if I remember on the machines in the workshop to see if they are different.
Hood
Title: Re: Mach3 Tool Path Screen
Post by: zealous on January 06, 2010, 10:25:29 AM
It might be the "Line from last to current" that he is seeing and the colors for G1?

If it is off you get dotted lines if it is on you will get line segment lines.

Config/Toolpath/Line from last to current
Title: Re: Mach3 Tool Path Screen
Post by: Hood on January 06, 2010, 10:40:12 AM
Well there you go, another setting in Mach to remember ;D
Thanks Jason thats likely it.
Hood
Title: Re: Mach3 Tool Path Screen
Post by: NormB on January 06, 2010, 10:52:13 AM
Oh, thank you so much.  I don't think I would have ever found that one.  Yes you were right last to current once checked all is well.  Again thank you so much.

Norm ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Mach3 Tool Path Screen
Post by: ger21 on January 06, 2010, 01:28:43 PM
I looked in there yesterday and never even saw that. Should be moved up with the rest of the options.
Title: Re: Mach3 Tool Path Screen
Post by: zealous on January 07, 2010, 09:32:08 AM
Great to hear it was a simple fix!