Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => Mach4 General Discussion => Topic started by: Zaae on April 16, 2020, 06:27:20 PM

Title: Trying Mach 4 for the first time, Gcode won't load, fine in Mach 3
Post by: Zaae on April 16, 2020, 06:27:20 PM

Hi all,

I've been using Mach 3 for a long time, got the bug today to look into how far development for Mach 4 has come. I downloaded the demo version today.

I wrote a program years back that sorts and separates tools from multiple programs, then compiles all the gcode back into a single file, with a probing routine and math to adjust the Z for uneven materials. I've used my custom software for years, it works very well with Mach 3, but Mach 4 gets stuck at "Tool path progress" while opening the gcode file. I don't get any errors, it just hangs. If I push cancel during loading, the gcode is all in the window, but there's no preview, and I can't run the code.

I tried poking at it a bit, but haven't found what's causing it yet, so I thought I'd ask here.

Here's a sample code, with just a single program with probing.
https://pastebin.com/Xx7P0bge (https://pastebin.com/Xx7P0bge)

Thanks,
Z

Title: Re: Trying Mach 4 for the first time, Gcode won't load, fine in Mach 3
Post by: Zaae on April 16, 2020, 07:00:09 PM

EDIT:

Wrong pastebin link, that was one I was fiddling with trying to find the problem. Here's a complete file:

https://pastebin.com/BXg5Ua6x (https://pastebin.com/BXg5Ua6x)

Title: Re: Trying Mach 4 for the first time, Gcode won't load, fine in Mach 3
Post by: Graham Waterworth on April 16, 2020, 07:50:02 PM

Mach4 has a default tool/offset limit of 16 if you go in to Config you can set it higher OR make your tool numbers 4 and 5 and thin it will load.

Title: Re: Trying Mach 4 for the first time, Gcode won't load, fine in Mach 3
Post by: Zaae on April 16, 2020, 08:03:30 PM

Hi Graham,

Thanks for your reply! I see it loaded for you, but I tried setting the tool numbers to 4 and 5, and it still hangs for me. I also checked the tool config area, and this is how it was set by default:

(https://i.imgur.com/h36jdGO.png)

I must be missing something more.

Thanks,
Z

Title: Re: Trying Mach 4 for the first time, Gcode won't load, fine in Mach 3
Post by: Graham Waterworth on April 16, 2020, 08:54:52 PM

Have you got mach4 enabled ? flashing button

Title: Re: Trying Mach 4 for the first time, Gcode won't load, fine in Mach 3
Post by: SwiftyJ on April 17, 2020, 02:30:31 AM

If you are using build 4300 I believe there is a bug with ‘M0’ which causes Mach to lockup when loading g-code as you described. You can try a newer build from the ftp site

Title: Re: Trying Mach 4 for the first time, Gcode won't load, fine in Mach 3
Post by: Zaae on April 17, 2020, 12:39:45 PM

Thanks SwiftyJ, that was the trick. I appreciate the help from you both.  :)