Machsupport Forum
Third party software and hardware support forums. => Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards => Topic started by: DingusMcgee on December 18, 2014, 08:36:28 PM
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Ok, I have issues with PhotoVcarve.
here is my issue:
I set up a project, get it set really well. I set surface of material as 0, center of work piece as 0...blah blah.
When I click start the head dips down a bit and cuts through the material, goes to the edge of the work area and proceeds to cut into the material but when it moves across the area to be carved it goes way above the material and only cuts the edges.
I have sent the files to another person with photovcarve and it works perfectly for them.
That leaves me to believe it is mach3 that is causing this problem since I can run any other cam design and mill program on a project and it runs perfectly so I need some serious help
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try slowing your machine down make sure it calibrated first
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The calibrations is checked after each project if I cut aluminum when I am done giving it a good cleaning. I checked the calibration several times thinking Z has changed. Calibrations is spot on. I have made sure the selection for inches is always checked etc.
Created several test tool paths with variations in feed speed from slow enough to loose a foot race with a melting ice cube in the north pole to a fair speed for the wood I am using to just above and just below fair speed. Plunge speed, max depth of cut, different tool sizes, types and I think I even convinced it that it was a cat...not sure, will have to check.
I have cursed it, called it dirty names. I have pet it, called it pretty and slapped it's butt twice.
I have manually tweaked the Z numbers while in MACH3 ad got just a little bit of acceptable tool interface but that would mean I would have to change over 2000 lines of Z code and that is so very unacceptable.
Here is a video of what the tool is doing. As I said before. Everything works perfectly on any other project but when I tell it to run this program Mach3 doesn't seem to like it. When other users of PVC try my code it runs like a champ for them.
It cant be the material because the machine will drop down into the material...which it isn't supposed to do, on the way to the starting point. I can manually eliminate that part of the code. What seems to be happening is that mach is either seeing the rest of the code and misinterpreting it or isn't able to handle the type of work it is being asked to do or is unable to handle the amount of work being asked of it and is unable to keep up even though, as I have said, I have run it painfully slow. By the timer on the program it would have taken 27 hours for one of the speed settings I chose.
I do believe I am screwed out of my time and money not beiing able to have one of the 3 components not be able to do and sort of complicated project
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9SHlPL_jaQ&feature=youtu.be (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9SHlPL_jaQ&feature=youtu.be) JUST A NOTE! The beginning of the run I had set the Z zero in THIS video so that it wouldn't auger in to the material and burrow a trough through it to the start point but the fact that it digs into the material on the "edge" pass but doesn't touch the wood ay other pass should be a clue as to the issues.
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sound more like you have the settings wrong in photo vcarve the work hight could be wrong I use photo vcarve never had this problem
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looked at vid that's wrong pop you pic flie up I would like to look at not the gcode the whole thing
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sound more like you have the settings wrong in photo vcarve the work hight could be wrong I use photo vcarve never had this problem
Everyone that has run the code has had no issues with it, it ran as it is supposed to run.
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looked at vid that's wrong pop you pic flie up I would like to look at not the gcode the whole thing
Not sure I understood what you said. You want to look at the code?
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Here is the code.
AGAIN... The video posted is after I reset the Z axis higher so it wouldnt drop down and cut the material on it's way to the start point ruining the work piece. The end result is EXACTLY the same weather I move the z axis zero or not. Edges are cut (only not as deep) and no other cut being made.
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the pic file you use to make the code
take it all the way through to you make the G code save it and post the resulting file it will have all your settings on it
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are you running your machine in metric or inch
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Yes, I always make sure I am always in inches. Every time.
And I did post the gcode and I posted the ".pvc" file.
the PVC file wont load since it isnt in the "allowed" list for this forum.
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Guess I will have to find a different program to either replace mach3 or the photovcarve. No one can figure out whats going on.
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you cant post .pvc files on here just put it in a zip file and post it.
I had a look at the first .txt file you posted it did it for me simulating it, going up and down with not going anywhere so there is a problem with photovcarve or M3 settings.
the cat one did not have any problems try setting the line angle to 90 not 30 see if this helps it could just be a combination of tool, cut angle and what's at the start point makeing your machine to have a mental
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Im done. No matter what I try I get the same results. Setting it as described by the tutorials and other people it's the same result. The tool dips down in the the wood and then cuts a groove to the start point, begins cutting edges but not cutting the actual image. I really feel I have wasted money on this program now and don't see anything getting better. The worst part is that it drops the tool down from zero into the wood on the way to the start point ruining any chance of making an image and then wont carve the image.
Here is the pvc file.
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could find no problems there before you give up have you posted this to vectric forum.
also do you have another computer you can run mach3 on I am asking this so if you do set up mach3 on it with your profile run a sim of the cut on another computer if this problem is still there its your settings if not its your computer running the machine.
if you don't post your xml so I am running the same config as your machine its going to be the only way to see where the problem is coming from don't give up yet lets just do this test.
as some computer seem to run like a bag of poo and have all sort`s of different problems running mach3 the computer on my big machine has to be started twice to work as it should.
my other machine has never had any problems running what ever version of mach3 or what ever xml on put on it.
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here is the file
None of the PC's I make have a parallel port so I am using an older unit that is slower. I will be getting a network version of my g540 and putting the other one on my lathe but for now I am using this one. I have rebooted and cussed and called it dirty names and it still is the same old story.
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its your setting that's the problem it does some trucked up things
some of your setting are wrong and you don't have anything useful in the initialization settings, hitting home all moves the z axis it should not do that and in general logic config you have ij mode set to Absolute it should be on inc.
I run a G540 as well I don't have the charge pump on you don't need to have it on
I will make some changes and repost it with a different name so you can just do a air cut test to see if it helps
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your Z is fine no changes need to be made to your main set up just a couple of setting are set wrong
I was wrong about Z home
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right here a test one for you try this just load it up then restart M3 turn the charge pump off switch on g540 as well.
load your photo vcarve file set your Z zero work position (in a safe spot) do a air cut no tool in holder see how you go
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Thanks, Ill load this right up.
Sorry for the delay I had to handle the horrible dramas of a 4yo little grand daughter, they have so many things to deal with at that age right?
Any how let me try this new xml
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I tried it. I ran it straight as you sent it. had to estop it because it snet my bit so far into the work piece it almost found oil.
Anyhow I got the zeros set so it wouldnt crash into the stops and tried it again. Several different image files.
maybe you can make a simple file and send it to me and I can see if it runs on my machine? I can compare and see if I am doing something wrong here because its the same thing all the time. Soon as GO is pressed the bit dips down into the material and carves a trench to the start point ruining the face of the wood and then makes a nice boarder with no image.
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thats cool I have a 2 year old that jumps out windows
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my condolences. The boy is 4 also and likes to take unaccompanied walks down the country road. I have had to put an alarm on his door so we are alerted when he grabs his sister and wants to take a stroll in the middle of the night.
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delete the xml I first sent try this one I have it locked to inch
now try doing an air cut of something that has worked before not a photovcarve if its ok after checking that it is in inch mode it should not change and if the file runs fine try a photovcarve just do an air cut if it does not work as it should.
it has to be something with the computer as there is nothing strange happening with me just doing sims of your files on the xml you sent and the one I sent you.
you can use an computer to check setting with mach3 it does not need a pp for just testing I am using a laptop to do testing of files before I put them on the machines computer with the same xml
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gonna try it now
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Im done for the night. Now I can't get cut2D to cut the path I use for making my phone holder. it's doing the same thing as the PVC. This is insane. Not happy. heading to bed.
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in morning go back to your original xml if cut 2d works properly on your old xml something is really wrong somewhere ever your machines computer or somewhere else I will post you a cut2d file and a photovcarve done in inch from here if the cut2d file is fine of what I send you try the photo Vcarve file if its still bad then its not cut2d or photo vcarve where the problem is
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I cant send you a cut2d file don't have it any more I will send a vcarve pro file it might work
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here`s the two file try on your original xml try the vcarve file first if its good try the photo vcarve they both are in inch they should run fine.
if the photo vcarve file works try one of your own that will test your version verses mine if your one fails report this to vectric if both fail going back to your orginal xml but the vcarve file works and one from cut2d works.
it could well be your computer if you can get another one with pp to try do it, its the only way to know if it is the computer.
I will run it on my machine tomorrow only need to change a couple of settings
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wow.... just....wow. The whole things is screwed. Jogs don't work properly and the X axis wont tune. I set everything back to the way I had it before all this and that didn't help.
So done with this for now. I need to step away from it. Thanks for the help. This has really been a bad investment from the beginning... Money pit, time pit. So done with it. To date I have spent more time working on it than it has actually produced, Almost spent twice on it that paid for it.
Thanks for the help, how you have a great Christmas.
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when you get back at it the only thing I can think that you can do is re install mach3 and try doing a double start every time you use M3 (start M3 up close it down start it again) I have to do this my self on one machine.
just so I can think of something else you can try what is the machine you have
someone else might jump in with some ideas but I think its the computer you are using as there is nothing wrong with your G code some of the settings I change made it work here better with me doing some sims and your original xml work fine here as well and as you said it was doing other stuff fine.
you have a G540 that's a really good controller so it should not be that (if it was other cuts would not work)
you drive the machine slow so it cant be missed steppes
your files work fine for others
so the only thing that's left is the computer
if anyone else has some idea please post
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I had to uninstall everything associated with the machine, software and all files to include the pvc files and cut2d files. Everything "CNC" before I could get things to work.
I still have one glaring problem. Everything is functioning again but the machine still plunges the tool bit into the material no matter what I set on the cut profile. Why is it doing this?
Before I uninstalled everything it would only go in just so far. Now.. it wants to plunge and just keep going. Even if I tell it to just cut .125 in. Everything is set to inches, I give it direction to go into the material 1/8" for a cut max depth, the martial is 3/4" thick and that is exactally what I tell it it is. One thing I noticed is that at least on cut2d it is telling the machine to cut .80 on the first pass, I can't find the settings to change that. I have nothing in my settings that tells it to cut anything that deep.
This is really driving me nuts.
I also have edited the .txt file before it goes into mach and when I set it to run it will go in deeper than what I tell it to still and then when it begins the cut for the pocket it wants to go, instead of the 2" over and begin the pocket, it goes all the way to the end of the maximum and I have to stop it so it doesn't crash into the stoppers.
I tell it the material is 3" high and 5" wide. I set the pocket off center by 1". I tell it to cut 1/8" deep into the material.
As of now I am back at the first day when it stopped working like it did the day before when I was cutting aluminum just fine and now...nothing.
As far as the computer I have nothing to test the "bad computer" theory on so I am at a loss.
I have one computer in the closet that has a PP but it is so old that it wont run anything not made when people still walked to school.
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Wright stuff you probley know but
do you set Z zero to top of work pieces (this is work Z zero)
where do you zero the X and Y axis for work zero (work X, Y zero)
do you home your machine (machine Zero)
change safe Z set-up to .125, set it to safeZ DRO in work coordinates and tick safe_Z Moves ( this will move the machine Z up .125 when you push stop)
you said you have a G540 have you loaded the tried the 540BVFD.xml from gecko (I have added it )
can you answer the question above as this is something I need to know if you do or have done
when I set up my machine I only had to change a couple of setting using the 540BVFD.xml I have never changed since I first set it all up that was 4 years ago
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I always set Z zero to top of work piece
I have the X and Y zero set for dead center of the table (measured with a micrometer) and leave it there. Never had to change it but once and its been set back again since. Thats where the table lives after work is done. It gets sent to HOME before I shut things down.
I have never messed with "machine" zero and wouldn't know how. Would have to refer to the manuals for that.
Yes, a G540. Once I placed the gecko xml in place I was able to make things function like the jobs and hot keys and reading instructions although it doesnt do the work like it did before. I just fired up the mill and PC so I will look at the other stuff you mentioned.
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I always set Z zero to top of work piece
I have the X and Y zero set for dead center of the table (measured with a micrometer) and leave it there. Never had to change it but once and its been set back again since. Thats where the table lives after work is done. It gets sent to HOME before I shut things down.
**that correct
I have never messed with "machine" zero and wouldn't know how. Would have to refer to the manuals for that.
**look up what Machine Zero and work Zero means it is something you should know its in the manual
Yes, a G540. Once I placed the gecko xml in place I was able to make things function like the jobs and hot keys and reading instructions although it doesnt do the work like it did before. I just fired up the mill and PC so I will look at the other stuff you mentioned.
**definitely set safe Z Zero
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Just tried to calibrate the x,y an z. They are all running to the stops and I have to manually stop them. This has never happened before. Not happy...not happy at all. It seems like it is constanly failing, one thing at a time. I have never had it do that and when I move everything to "my zero" and clear everything (like I have always done) and tell it to go to zero the head wants to try and punch through to the floor. I set it at max height just to see if it is just going a bit farther than 1 or two inches and it just keeps running down. Same with X and Y. They don't stop. I went to motor tuning and set them to 5000 and tried it...same deal. Then 1000...same thing. Then 40000, same thing. Nothing seems to change anything.
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Ok, tried your xml. It locked me up and wouldn't let me do anything. Estop and nothing would unlock.
Went back to the new fresh off the website xml and and one thing is clear. It wont hold settings. So that means it is either mach3, my computer or the g540.
Nothing has worked right. I have sent a call for help to gecko and nothing since yesterday.
I am going to find another computer to use if I can. I have checked it out and if it IS the computer it is between the computer and the software or the computer and the gecko.
I don't know where to go from here.
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right try this put the 540.xml in your M3 folder load up M3 chose the 540 profile once its loaded clear E stop, close M3 back down start M3 again select 540.xml clear E stop.
then go into ports and pins your outputs and inputs should be ok just go through with the manual check each setting is correct look at the manual so you know what each setting is.
just make sure the stepper motors are going the correct direction and that your home switches are set to hi or low what ever they need to be trip them so you can see if they are working go to the diagnostics page so you can see if the are working don't use the machine to do it use what ever trips them be it finger or magnet.
your spindle setting should be fine just have a look and check.
once you have that correct go into general config go through and check the settings are correct use the manual to help just make sure your motion mode is set to constant velocity, distant mode is set to absolute and ij mode is set to inc.
change look ahead to 100 and all other settings look through the manual so you know if you need them or not just go through it once that's done restart M3.
now go to config click on safe z set up tick allow_safe Z moves, check safe z dro is in work coordinates, set safe z to .125, and tick go to safe z when stop button is hit.
with all of that done go to set steppes per unit do one axis at a time tale it to move 0.1 measure that put in box how fare it moved click ok then do it again do 0.1 again if its correct increase the distance it moves so if you tale it to move 4 inch it does repeat on all axis when that's finished restart M3
after all that load a G code done in cut2D a small file say a 1 inch squire outside cut do it as an air cut first don't cut anything if it looks correct do a cut setting z zero to top of work pieces in M3 and cut2D measure the squire check the it is 1 inch by 1 inch and how deep you make it, if its correct good if not re check your calibration.
do it again if its was not correct, if it was correct load a G code up what ever you wont 2 do run it as an air cut just mark the start point if when the file is finished it goes back to the same spot thats good.
close M3 down start again do the same G code again if its still good, try running a .pvc file if it goes wrong ( tale the machine its going for a one way walk )LOL.
if it goes mad and you have it all set up correctly work heights and home and all of that set correctly do a complex cut2 file lots of x,y and z movements do it as a file as big as a .pvc file see what happens
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Ok, tried your xml. It locked me up and wouldn't let me do anything. Estop and nothing would unlock.
Went back to the new fresh off the website xml and and one thing is clear. It wont hold settings. So that means it is either mach3, my computer or the g540.
Nothing has worked right. I have sent a call for help to gecko and nothing since yesterday.
I am going to find another computer to use if I can. I have checked it out and if it IS the computer it is between the computer and the software or the computer and the gecko.
I don't know where to go from here.
this means you are getting close to finding the problem it cant be the G540 that just does what the computer tales it to do so its M3 or computer if you do what I suggested to do and its still bad then and it wont hold the setting try another computer do a fresh install of M3 and setting if its still bad try a different version of M3
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All of the above=done.
The issue I had at the start of all this is still the issue.
I still get the head plunging into work piece. I cant get the machine coords to chang because the head still wants to just go down with out stopping.
I switched back to an original set of values I had that were working perfectly last week and it still does the same head dive thing. I tell it to go an inch in calibrate and it does. But to make it do a cut on work or any other thing it just dives into the material.
I don't have another computer to test it with and wont be able to get one until maybe after the holidays so I am dead in the water until then.
I don't expect any help from the gecko people or the mach3 support staff at least, if they do contact me it wont be until after the holidays.
Until then my mill is dead in the water and I am making nothing from it.
I appreciate the help but it seems I am stuck for a good while.
I really wish I had something that didn't require a parallel port. That is so old that it is so damn hard finding one that can run modern software and if it does it is amazingly slow and crashes.
Why cant they make something that runs off modern cables and machines?
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The thing I see in the VID compared to the Gcode is the Z axis direction may be backwards.
From the MDI line type
G91 {enter}
G1 Z1 F10 {enter}
DID the Z move UP or DOWN ??? It should have moved UP.
Just a thought, (;-) TP
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well it has moved as it should for a few months.
Then this last week it decided that when you tell it to cut a pocket ot do a PVC project it wanted to plunge into the wood and drag across the material leaving a trough and then come up a bit and cut the edges like they should be. Then the whole thing went to hell doing what ever it wanted.
Now I am back to just plunging and that is about all I can get because I don't want it cutting any holes in my work table, bench...floor...yard...
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please try this simple exercise
From the MDI line type
G91 {enter}
G1 Z1 F10 {enter}
DID the Z move UP or DOWN ?
(;-) TP
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they do its a ESS http://warp9td.com/index.php/order that's just one of them that can connect up with a G540
there are other ones available ever Ethernet or usb
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I tried what you said. The head went down
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BR549 will comment this when he sees it.
If you started at "0" then the z axis should move up 1" as the code shows
Ray
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BR549 will comment this when he sees it.
If you started at "0" then the z axis should move up 1" as the code shows
Ray
Is that up from machine coord or the zero I set?
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IF you did the exercise as I suggested the head should move UP reguardless of anything else.
You would have set Mach3 to incremental movement(G91) and then MOVED in a positive Z direction (UP).
IF it went down then there is your problem.
(;-)TP
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then I have to ask...how could it changes it's own direction after working for weeks and weeks properly?
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And why wont it hold calibration?
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Stranger things have happened in Mach3 . Just correct the problem and move on. MOST TIMES things not staying changed are from not saving them after you have changed them.
OR your saved directory got changed to read only.
Just a thought, (;-) TP
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That still doesn't change the problem with the head plunging into the material.
And mine was not reversed. But I did set it TO BE reversed and when starting a cut it now plunges UP
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would something like this work with a gecko g540? Or any other parallel port cnc machine? I know the cable adapter doesnt work but would this? If it does then I can test out different PC's to see if the PC is the problem.
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Ok, may end up doing this: Order a ESS (Ethernet smooth stepper) breakout board, hook that up to my self built computer (I have 3 and I always build them to be super fast and durable) and see if this will solve my issues. I have learned that a win 7 64 will not run a PP emulator expansion board and that the drive test program wont work with it either. The PC I have been using is good, slow but good and I am sick on being locked into a parallel port trap. ARTSOFT and Gecko need to cozy up and make a controller that runs of ethernet or USB and make it run for win 8 on down instead of locking people into limited options like so many others do. If they can build a break out board to do this then you can build a controller with this built in and the software writers can write the code into the controller and the mach system and even send out an update.
As it is they are losing out on optional sales since others are building this stuff and making money on it.
Seriously...It's time
I lik the g540. lets make it better folks!
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there are a lot of different controllers that work with M3 ever pp, USB, Ethernet or pp to usb. gecko will change the g540 one day but there is a few controllers that you can just plug the G540 into to change it to USB or Ethernet. I have done it will be doing it again when computer dies on my machine with a G540.
you have something very wrong with your computer running M3 you may need to do a reinstall again make sure you get ride of the M3 folder nothing on the computer to do with M3 at all then do a reinstall.
I am going to be doing a computer change over to day with a computer with no issues with M3 from a computer that cant handle M3 very well at all the computer I am changing to is very old
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On the pc that has been running m3 it was a "from scratch" PC. It only had the software and programs that would run it and nothing else. I reverted it back to that 2 times already. (I am a computer tech...lol) It was fresh and clean and had a program wipe it clean as well as search for related files. It didnt help. So I think it is just not willing to handle the system or the processes. It is an old computer, not able to handle the OS thats on it very well but its what I had for a PP.
I am going to try the usb/PP cable offered by the same website that sells the smooth stepper and use one of my faster new machines. It's one of the slower pc's I have and its a beast. You would have to order a PC custome made to compete with it so I am sure it can handle anything thrown at it.
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you hope not all computers can run M3 very well the one I am change is faster than the one I am replacing it with
what web site are you getting usb/pp cable from
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http://www.cnc4pc.com/Store/osc/product_info.php?products_id=481 (http://www.cnc4pc.com/Store/osc/product_info.php?products_id=481)
They have some good stuff there at decent rates.
I am going to build a large scale router/mill table and if this works out then I am going to use the same equipment to run it.
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cool I get most of the stuff I need from http://www.automationtechnologiesinc.com/ they have most of the same stuff everyone else has a better prices and they dont charge stupid rates for shipping
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NOW just a thought but the constant reversing Z axis reminds me of one of the setups Art used for licenses that had been abused. You may want to have the guys CHECK your license for you.
Just a thought, (;-) TP
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How does that work? Does it mess up the license if you uninstall and reinstall too many times because I have dumped and reinstalled mach 3 about 8 or 9 times.
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Ok, I have put the new cable on, tried 4 separate computers and I still get the same problem as I started out with.
The bit wants to auger down into the material, drag across the work piece and then pull up, then continue to NOT carve any thing but it sure looks great moving around NOT carving any thing.
So I have come to the conclusion. The Gecko is crapped out, Mach3 is crapped out or all of the above. The gecko I have a warranty on which I will be using. Mach3 I dont think there is anything they can do if their product doesnt play well with any of the 5 computers, cables or controller boards....it just means I need to find a new post processor that does.
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that sucks that it still wont play nice does its still work ok doing cuts in cut 2D
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It wont do anything now.
I can no longer use it for a thing. Except be a conversational piece for my coffee table.
I am researching another control unit but I am so unsure of what is worth the price and what isn't.
$4000 into this and I still can't use it.....
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see if you can find someone near you to come help.
if you are using the default G540 config all you need to change is the stepper values and it should work. do you have safe Z set to 0.25
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I believe I had it at .2 for most of the time I had it running and since i have been trying to make it work again I have had it from 0.0 to .8 and back again. Just tried it again. The issue is if I set it to anything but o.o it digs into the material, drags over to the begin spot and then the head pulls up and it moves the table around OK but the tool is now OUT of the work. When I reverse the Z I lose all calibrations and it wont go back and stay set. So I go back to unreversed and i am stuck where I started.
I will scan the forums of all the CNC groups I watch and see if there is someone I can get to come and beat on this infernal machine until it cooperates.
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I have come to a conclusion that isn't part of the problem right now. I need to do a butt load of work/study on this whole mach3 thing because a couple things I thought were auto matic are not and somethings that I thought wouldn't play a roll in anything "I" would do...they probably will and very soon if I continue using mach3. I am going to hunker down and read more of the manual, watch more vids and see if there is something I changed with out knowing it because there are some bigass confusing things with this program and that...well it frustrates me highly. I am never happy when something that I would expect to be a tad more simpler turns out to be overwhelmingly complicated unless you are already an expert on everything "cnc".
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that's a good idea your problem is strange
watch the youtube videos by hoss its where I learnt most of the M3 stuff I know
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjoRKEpk7uE5Wzf4b-IFTFg