Machsupport Forum
Support => Downloads => Others => Topic started by: rhtuttle on April 16, 2009, 04:17:59 PM
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This UI is 'Windows' oriented. Contains seperate widgets for Jog, Spiindle, GCode.
It allows for the creation of USER DEFINED BUTTONS panels that contain buttons that contain GCode, VB Script or OEM buttons. These may be saved and reloaded when desired. No need for scream4.
It also has a user defined LEDs panel for containing OEMLEDs.
Widgets can be scaled larger or smaller and there are multiple skins to select from to change the appearance.
There is a help file that explains each feature.
Zip file contains an installer and ReadMe.txt
It does not modify any Mach files or settings.
Upon installation you will have a menu folder for MachMe, that contains an uninstaller that removes the application. There is an option on installation for a desktop shortcut.
I would appreciate any feedback on:
Whether this approach is useful. If so I can extend the UI to incloude DRO and Var panels. Other widgets: Offsets, Tooling, Limits...
What 'essential' controls are missing.
My machine does not have a spindle so any feedback on that widget is greatly appreciated.
I would like to know how this runs on other machines. Specifcally older, slower and small memory machines.
TIA
RT
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RT
I have only just loaded your MachMe and have not got far
It did not ask for Mach3 location or profile. Can I manually set these?
Can't get far till that is set. Just says "IMach not Set"
Greg
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I think I'm seeing a pattern here. Was Mach already loaded when you started MachMe? If so, would you close it and start MachMe again?
To answer more directly, the registry should have an entry
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Mach3 controller\Settings\Mach Location
and
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Mach3 controller\Settings\Mach Profile
that are set the first time that MachMe is run. I didn't think of the case that users would have Mach open on the first time, Doh!
Let me know.
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I think I'm seeing a pattern here. Was Mach already loaded when you started MachMe? If so, would you close it and start MachMe again?
No I did not even get that far. It objected to a date and did not enquire further.
Greg
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Your a Brit aren't you?!
Sorry about that. I will have to think more about international conventions. Email me and I will send you another zip with proper English settings, I think. It will take me a while to figure how to get the localization data. Thanks for making the effort.
RT
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No, I could take offence at that. ;D ;D ;D
I'm an Aussie. There is a whole world out there that is not the USA. ;D ;D ;D
Sent you a PM
Greg
By the way, why does it care what the date is? Mach3 doesn't
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Hi RT,
I loaded this per instructions/readme and when I start it, it starts over and over...58 times before it stops.
Just me or what ?
Looks neat....what I can see of it.
Thanks
RC
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Looks don't mean diddly!
It sounds like you didn't choose a xml profile on the first startup.
could you check the registry for:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Mach3 controller\Settings\Mach Profile
and let me know the entry?
Were these 58 times telling you something about missing DLLs"
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RT,
You're absolutely right about diddly!
I chose Mach3Mill XML when prompted.
Am dwnloading again..I un-installed. Dial up takes a few.
Will check reg. then.
During the 58 loadings (several minutes), your little screen just blinks and goes black erratically till done.
Thanks
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To answer more directly, the registry should have an entry
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Mach3 controller\Settings\Mach Location
and
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Mach3 controller\Settings\Mach Profile
I just tried this, and these entries were blank. I didn't get prompted for a mach directory, or profile. What should be in these registry values? Full paths to mach.exe or just the directory and/or file.
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Tanks for trying.
the entries should be:
machLoc: 'C:\mach3\Mach3.exe' if that is where mach executable resides.
Profile: 'Mach3Mill' if your profile is Mach3Mill.xml
Did you also have Mach open when you first ran MachMe? Trying to track down why the registry values were not written.
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Did you also have Mach open when you first ran MachMe? Trying to track down why the registry values were not written.
No, I didn't have mach3 open, but I have a locked down box and install as Administrator. I tried running both as a regular user and admin, but I still didn't get prompted.
Should I run machme before, or after I run mach3?
Other things to note...
- The application starts up underneath mach3. I thought it was going be "always on top".
- If I run machme, without mach3 running, I get the "IMach not Set." when I hit the jog button. If I hit the jog button a second time, the jog window comes up. If I then hit one of the jog buttons, I get "Access violation at address 00491736 in module 'MachMe.exe'. Read of address 00000000."
- If I hit the Editor button, I get "Access violation at address 005ad228 in module 'MachMe.exe'. Read of address 0000004c." Hitting it a second time brings it up.Tanks for trying.
the entries should be:
machLoc: 'C:\mach3\Mach3.exe' if that is where mach executable resides.
Profile: 'Mach3Mill' if your profile is Mach3Mill.xml
Did you also have Mach open when you first ran MachMe? Trying to track down why the registry values were not written.
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Tanks for trying.
the entries should be:
machLoc: 'C:\mach3\Mach3.exe' if that is where mach executable resides.
Profile: 'Mach3Mill' if your profile is Mach3Mill.xml
Did you also have Mach open when you first ran MachMe? Trying to track down why the registry values were not written.
When I exit MachMe, it erase the registry entries!
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After new install, no prompt for files and still runs rampant.
I'm not familiar with the registry access procedure.
Is it simple enought to explain here ? O do I need a book ?
Thanks for any help,
RC
btw..I am in the Late Great USSA
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Probably need to edit the registry without MachMe running.
Yes staying on top would be good. Maybe that is a setting.
Feedrate max to 200 is a bit limiting. ;D
Still not remembering the skin despite having that option selected.
Greg
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It occurs to me that you probably meant the feedrate setting to change the FRO percentage.
It sets the feedrate instead.
Greg
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RT,
I fumbled around and ended up with this.
The little screen is good now but get errors on nearly every buton press.
Thanks,
RC
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MachLoc should be: c:\Mach3\Mach3.exe not c:\mach3
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Looking MUCH better now RT, thanks for sticking in there.
Looking more "DIDDLY" by the moment.
One weird one...Jog Control, Z, when I jog Z to any negative DRO value, it returns to ZERO when releasing the button.
RC
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I am not seeing that one RC.
However while MachMe has the focus I can not jog with normal keyboard keys. MachMe jog panel showing or not.
Greg
Another thing, (sorry RT) is that no matter how many trailing zeros are shown in the DROs, all numbers are rounded to two decimal places.
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I haven't instituted any hotkeys yet for jogging. So that is why they don't work.
I cannot replicate the z jog return to zero but do you have a z inhibit on?
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SAFE Z is set up.....it works fine with the mach screen and keyboard.
But.. I do have Safe Z set to GO TO ZERO when STOP is hit.
Un-checked that and now it is OK with yours.
Thanks
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Thats significant. I want MachMe to work with Mach settings not force alternate behavior. I will see if I can use a different approach when jogging. I use a Contour Pro pendant and that is passed through to mach. Do you have a pendant and does it still work as expected when MachMe has focus?
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Sorry...no pendant.
I am simulating on office pc, not on a machine.
I have x,y,and z home switches enabled and emulated with hotkeys and they work fine w/Mach.
Yours does not see the emulation in the referencing routines.
I really like what you have done here.....impressive.
Thanks so far,
RC
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Had a little crash of sorts...
MachMe shut down and sent this message "The Server Threw an Exception" (almost certain)
Then when restarting, the registry was back to \Mach3........without \Mach3.exe
Put it back and OK again.
RC
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Maybe I should save this till you are done w/ jogging but here it is anyway.
Right click on any jog button as if to change it and it jogs the axis.
If in cont., mode, it will run until either button on that axis ic left clicked.
If in increments, it will increment with right click too.
AND...
Ctrl+Alt+F11 does not work on any widgets.
" 12 and = work fine.
Why do some drag to enlarge and the main one with the dotted corner wont ?
RC
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It appears that with all the darker coloured skins that once you have jogged, then DROs can no longer be seen. They just go black.
Greg
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Running on Vista...
1. Had to manually correct registry values to get this far...
2. Does not launch Mach3
3. No connectivity to Mach3.exe even if Mach3 is open prior to launch.
4. "Mach Visible on Start" If selected, will not open Mach3, while the registry is correct.
5. Function buttons fail on first selection. OK on second selection.
6. LEDs panel position does not get saved along with others.
7. G Code File, SpindleForm, and Jog Controls panels do not dim when not in focus.
8. Scaling is not consistent. (window scales but internals do not)
9. Lots of access violations...
a. G Code File window "File open","Last".
b. Jog Control Buttons.
c. Main window "REF" button.
10. Main window ALL other buttons do nothing.
11. Skins do not save.
Do you plan to publish a corrected version?
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OK, mostly operator error, toggling run as administrator got most everything working as designed, as far as functions are concerned.
2. Does not launch Mach3 - Works OK
3. No connectivity to Mach3.exe even if Mach3 is open prior to launch. - Fixed
4. "Mach Visible on Start" If selected, will not open Mach3, while the registry is correct. - Confused!
5. Function buttons fail on first selection. OK on second selection. - Fixed
6. LEDs panel position does not get saved along with others. - NOT fixed
7. G Code File, SpindleForm, and Jog Controls panels do not dim when not in focus. - NOT fixed
8. Scaling is not consistent. (window scales but internals do not)
9. Lots of access violations... - Fixed
a. G Code File window "File open","Last". - Fixed
b. Jog Control Buttons. - Fixed
c. Main window "REF" button. - Fixed
10. Main window ALL other buttons do nothing. - Fixed
11. Skins do not save. - Not fixed
New...
1. Unable to delete LEDs on panel - Intermittant.
2. G Code File "Close" inop.
Not an exhaustive wringout...
Looking forward to a corrected version with DROs & VARs added
Regards,
Roger
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Roger are you testing this on a machine or simulating?
The reason I ask is that I am seeing, among other things, that jogging from the jog window is ignoring the acceleration
ramp as set in motor tuning. However in incremental mode it does honour the ramp.
Are you also seeing that?
Greg
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Hi Greg,
Simulating here but set the accell to minimum, vel high and can clearly see the same as you mention.
But....Jogging with the Mach screen works fine,
Then switch to MachMe and the FIRST jog attempt is fine for the accell but that first decell and all subsequent jogs ignore the ramp.
Then switch BACK to Mach and the first attempt ignores the ramp during accel but is sort of reset/repaired for the decell of that first jog, then all is well.
Can repeat this over and over.
RC
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What you have described is exactly what I am seeing.
Greg