Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => Mach4 General Discussion => Topic started by: chuck767 on November 21, 2019, 05:22:30 PM
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How do I change the screen contrast? The default contrast within the demo version is such that I cannot see the toolpath. I can see the Go paths, but I cannot see any other G1.G2. etc paths.
Thanks,
Chuck
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I have now purchased and installed the hobby version of MACH 4
I am still having trouble trying to get good contrast between the part and the toolpaths
I have tried various color settings with the screen edit features, but still poor contrast
any help would be appreciated on getting better contrast
thanks,
Chuck
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Hi Chuck,
Mach4 sometimes fails to render the background of the toolpath as configured in the control configuration. Sometimes it renders it light orangy so that it becomes harder to see the lines. Furthermore the line width configuration does not work for me. Maybe another bug.
But other from that you can configure all the colors of the lines and the background as you desire. You do this in the Configure > Control Menu rather than in the screen editor. In the configuration dialog choose "Tool Path" tab and configure the colors.
See attached image.
Best regards
Brandon
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Thanks Brandon
Exactly what I was looking for.
I don’t think I would’ve ever found it without your help.
Chuck
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Brandon
For some reason my “control/ tool path” screen is different. Any thoughts why?
Thanks
Chuck
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Hi Chuck,
what version (build number) of Mach4 are you using?. From several months ago the toolpath tab was
deprecated in favour of direct screen edit function, yet your screen shot still shows the tab?
Can you also tell us what screen set you are using, the lower right hand corner will display both the profile
name in use AND the screen set.
Craig
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Craig,
The Ver# is 4.2.0.4300 Build 4300 screen set WX4
I will be using the WARP 9 ESS motion control but I have not loaded the plugins yet on this computer.
Not sure if that would make any difference in what I'm trying to do, I wouldn't think so.
Thanks,
Chuck
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Hi Chuck,
the reason that your version differs from the pic posted by brandbob is that the version that branbob is using is old.
As I said the idea of setting the toolpath colours on the toolpath tab changed some months back. Your version is later
and now toolpath colours are a screen edit function.
Go to screen edit mode and click on the toolpath window. I'm not sure whether its 'properties' or 'events' that specify the
colours, but one of them. There you will be able to set colours, line weights and other things, rather more than we had
been able to do from the toolpath tab.
Craig
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Craig,
I tried that approach but could not seem to find the right settings to change color to get better contrast.
If you could take a screenshot of something that works well on yours I could follow those colors.
Thanks
Chuck
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Hi,
what I found was useful was to 'declutter' the toolpath. Mach as shipped has one colour for the background, another
colour for rapids, yet another for G1 moves and yet another for completed moves.
I found that the toolpath became so cluttered that I struggled to determine a good toolpath. I found with my PCB isolation
routing jobs that the best way is to make the rapids the same colour as the background, ie it disappears.
May I suggest that you 'disappear' one or two toolpath elements as see how much better you can veiw it.
To be honest if I really want to view a toolpath, say for verification before committing the job, I use a standalone Gcode
viewer. Mach4's toolpath display will never be a highly resolved and richly featured display like you would expect from a
dedicated viewer.
Craig
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To be honest if I really want to view a toolpath, say for verification before committing the job, I use a standalone Gcode viewer. Mach4's toolpath display will never be a highly resolved and richly featured display like you would expect from a dedicated viewer.
I would not agree with that. Visualization is very useful. Seeing how the lines move in relation to the spindle is a big advantage and can help prevent crashes. In my opinion the gcode viewer of mach4 should be expanded even more as it is too rudimentary. Like adding 3D models of bed/spindle/vice etc to it. Maybe even a visualization of the workpiece and how the tool machines it. A simulation of entered gcode would also be nice. Computers are powerful enough these days i don't see why Mach4 could not do that.
Ok, I installed the newer version now too. You must now go to Operator > Edit Screen. Then click the large gray area designated to the paths. Scroll the box in the bottom-left down until you see the colors. By clicking them three dots apper. Click them and select a new color.
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Hi,
Visualization is very useful. Seeing how the lines move in relation to the spindle is a big advantage and can help prevent crashes.
You are misconstruing what I said, I have nothing against visulaisation at all, but rather find that it can be too cluttered and
therefore obscure that potential 'crash' situation. For that reason I like to turn off or make invisible G0s so I can focus on
the G1s. You may chose otherwise but having too much on the smallish toolpath screen is a pain.
In my opinion the gcode viewer of mach4 should be expanded even more as it is too rudimentary. Like adding 3D models of bed/spindle/vice etc to it. Maybe even a visualization of the workpiece and how the tool machines it.
That's what a Gcode viewing program does, and because such programs specialize is displaying complex 3D visualizations they do
a much MUCH MUCH better job than Mach4. Further Mach4 is a machine control program, not a toolpath simulator and
I would rather the developers enhance machine control and allow the user to 'socket' in their favourite toolpath simulator.
You must now go to Operator > Edit Screen. Then click the large gray area designated to the paths
And I said:
Go to screen edit mode and click on the toolpath window.
Aren't they the same?
Craig
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Hi,
I have not used it myself but there have been favourable reports from those who have:
https://www.machsupport.com/software/3d-cutting-simulator-moduleworks-plugin/ (https://www.machsupport.com/software/3d-cutting-simulator-moduleworks-plugin/)
My understanding is that it is written by a third party company and they sell it to enhance Mach4. The cost is $50.
I suspect it would go a long way to satisfying your requirement of a more sophisticated toolpath simulator.
I am still happy with my two freeware viewers despite not being integrated into Mach.
Craig
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Craig,
I have tried playing around with different colors/line weights and cannot get something that is very appealing. What I'm looking for is something like the attached photo.
This photo was in the background of a photo posted by Brandon a couple of days ago.
Brandon, if you're listening please do a screenshot of your settings.
Thanks,
Chuck
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[/quote]Hi,
I have not used it myself but there have been favourable reports from those who have:
https://www.machsupport.com/software/3d-cutting-simulator-moduleworks-plugin/ (https://www.machsupport.com/software/3d-cutting-simulator-moduleworks-plugin/)
My understanding is that it is written by a third party company and they sell it to enhance Mach4. The cost is $50.
I suspect it would go a long way to satisfying your requirement of a more sophisticated toolpath simulator.
I am still happy with my two freeware viewers despite not being integrated into Mach.
Craig
Hi,
I have not used it myself but there have been favourable reports from those who have:
https://www.machsupport.com/software/3d-cutting-simulator-moduleworks-plugin/ (https://www.machsupport.com/software/3d-cutting-simulator-moduleworks-plugin/)
My understanding is that it is written by a third party company and they sell it to enhance Mach4. The cost is $50.
I suspect it would go a long way to satisfying your requirement of a more sophisticated toolpath simulator.
I am still happy with my two freeware viewers despite not being integrated into Mach.
Craig
Craig,
I use the simulate function within Fusion 360 to visualize my cuts.
I'm basically looking for a well-contrasted tool path of the part I'm cutting and so far I have not found the proper combination of colors and line widths.
I would be delighted to have the same contrast/ functionality that the basic MAC H3 screen set provides.
Chuck
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I can't get the line widths to change, any idea on what am I doing wrong?
Chuck
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You may not be increasing the widths by a big enough increment. I usually start at increasing by 50 each time and then fine tune from there
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Thanks, most likely my problem,
8 was highest I have tried
Chuck
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Thanks, most likely my problem,
8 was highest I have tried
Chuck
Swifty,
That did it, solved my problem.
I would’ve never have thought line width change increments would be 50 when the initial default number was 1
I ended up using 100 for the toolpath and 200 or the axes, looks great
Thanks,
Chuck