Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: mac102004 on October 16, 2007, 09:28:20 PM
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Just got my new Sherline 5400 CNC mill today, tried to run it with a demo version of "Table top Machine shop's" Mach 3 demo program. I can't figure out how to use it for the life of me.
How exactly do I use it, I can upload the g-code but can't figure out how to make the machine move. Is there some kind of thing with the demo that wont let you cut? Or some kind of initial setup I neglected to do?
HELP! ???
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Hmmmmmm, I have sent you a personal message.
Brett
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This is my setup..
http://www.sherline.com/8540pg.htm
Sherline 5400 mill, driver box and steppers.
And this is the Mach3 I'm trying to run, (demo version, bought the full version but never got the download from table top machine shop yet).
http://www.tabletopmachineshop.com/files/index.php?shop=1&cat=108&cart=360328
It says max. 1000 lines of code. Is it possible with my playing around I hit the max and it wont do anything now?
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Tell us some more about what you see.
can you jog the machine with the arrow keys?
Have a look at the mach downloads page, near the top of the Mach3 section is a simple startup tutorial file. Read it and do each step as explained.
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Just a thought.
Does Vista support a parallel port?
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Yes, have you looked at this thread?http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,2385.0.html
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I will now.
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Ok, did all that. Still nothing.
I can't see any jogging arrows on the screen so I pressed the ones on the keyboard...nothing
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OK quick question ,did your computer come with a built in printer port or did you add a card??
(;-) TP
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Push your tab key, the mpg screen will fly out. Tab will also close it. See if it is in jog mode and at a resonable rate. Can you post your XML file? It will have all of your settings in it.
Brett
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Where can I get the XML file at?
And what would be an unreasonable rate?
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Your XML file will be in your C/Mach3 folder. I have no idea what yours will be named. Mine is MyMach.xml for example. Set the rate to 25%.
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Nope no life. How can I check to make sure that Mach3 recognizes the mill is hooked up?
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xml looks ok and it jogs here fine by keyboard.
When you jog with the keyboard do the DROs on the screen move?
Have you got the correct post address set on the first page of Ports and Pins? Check this by going to Control Panel > System > Hardware > Device manager> then expand the ports list and double click on your LPT port. On the resources page you should see I/O Range, it is the first 4 letters/digits that you want to enter for your port address in Mach.
Hood
Edit forgot this is vista so maybe the location of device manager will be different
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The first four letters I see are: 03BC
Nope, DRO's don't change.
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Well the 03BC is not in the xml that you attached so you would need to put that as your port address. Onc thing though is that address sounds more like a com port, is it definitely the LPT address?
The other part of your reply is more worrying though as if you Jog via the keyboard you should see the DROs moving whether you have the correct address in or not.
Have you tried redownloading and reinstalling Mach? maybe you had a bad download.
Hood
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I fixed the problem, instead of using my vista laptop, I'm using my XP desktop. Problem solved.