Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: mehmetkose on June 27, 2010, 08:36:11 AM

Title: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: mehmetkose on June 27, 2010, 08:36:11 AM
Hi, me a code should help you hopefully, I'm a quilting machine made but the rope broke when the machine I can select a coordinate to the waiting required, and I re-start once the ultimate when it was to come back to work from where it should continue, such a code for you that happy, I Mehmet KOSE
Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: mehmetkose on July 02, 2010, 01:32:50 PM
Why does not anyone reply, only looked away, everyone ??????
Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: Hood on July 02, 2010, 01:40:04 PM
I am afraid I dont really understand what you are asking :(

Hood
Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on July 02, 2010, 01:55:11 PM
Sorry but I don't understand either - perhaps if you rephrase your question or attach pictures of the problem we would have a better idea.

Tweakie.
Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: mehmetkose on July 03, 2010, 03:17:34 PM
Hi All, I just like working style of embroidery machine thread break sensor will see when you go to the reference point will stop working after the start button and remain old will continue to work to where you want to go, Mehmet İzzet KÖSE
Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: Hood on July 03, 2010, 07:55:49 PM
Afraid I am still not clear what you want, it seems like you have a sensor  that  detects if the thread breaks and you want it to be monitored so that when seen it will feedhold and stop Mach.
Is that correct?
Hood
Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: mehmetkose on July 04, 2010, 04:18:31 AM
yes, with a sensor to detect (the rope broke) to stop work and wait for me to start going to the reference point will come later once the start to coordinate and will continue where it left off
Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: LarryL on July 04, 2010, 05:37:14 AM
Mehmet,

I think I understand what you are asking.  You would like to know if there is a way to set up a switch to detect the breakage of the thread.  Yes, that is possible.  I would recommend using an optical switch that can be held back by the thread, and when the thread breaks the switch will close and stop the machine.  This would be swimilar to an estop switch, and as a matter of fact would be connected to one of the estop connectors on the board.

Good luck with your project.

Larry
Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on July 04, 2010, 06:52:16 AM
Mehmet,

My thoughts are these...........

As Larry has said, an optical switch to detect the thread break.
The switch could then be connected to an input which triggers a 'Pause' event (OEM code 1001). Adding a VB button to the screen which could then be used to command the 'Resume' (OEM code 1005) which would enable the thread to be repaired and the program continue from where it stopped.

However, one thing bothers me about this - and that is that while repairing the thread you would be working on a machine which is potentially dangerous (only paused by software control) so some form of mechanical machine lock may be necessary for safety's sake.

Tweakie.
Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: LarryL on July 04, 2010, 07:15:47 AM
Tweakie,

You are so right.  There needs to be a safety mechanism in place to prevent the system from starting up when the thread is repaired and the switch reset.  I was thinking that maybe using a "resume from here" feature with a button would help that issue.

Oh, by the way, I have a question of my own.  In the toolpath window at the upper left corner it says "tool-0".  Is there any way to remove that.  I don't need it in my window for the CNC Quilter since there are no tools involved.

Larry
Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on July 04, 2010, 07:55:15 AM
I think you are stuck with "Tool0" Larry - this appears to be part of the Mach programming rather than 'user customizable'.

Quote
I was thinking that maybe using a "resume from here" feature with a button would help that issue.

Isn't that what I just said........ "Adding a VB button to the screen which could then be used to command the 'Resume' (OEM code 1005) which would enable the thread to be repaired and the program continue from where it stopped.".  ;D ;D ;D

Tweakie.
Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: LarryL on July 04, 2010, 07:58:16 AM
Yep, 1-0 your point!

Thanks,

Larry
Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on July 04, 2010, 08:09:13 AM
please accept my apologies Larry I didn't mean to be sarcastic - it was meant in humor.

Tweakie.
Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: mehmetkose on July 04, 2010, 08:31:11 AM
Thank you for your help for my English is not good I can not understand, anyway, thank you .... I'll try to do something themselves ... Mehmet İzzet KÖSE
Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on July 04, 2010, 10:17:05 AM
Mehmet,

Could you perhaps have a friend who can help you with translating our English ?.

The main purpose of this forum is to create a better understanding and use of Mach3 and we would really like to help you to resolve your problem.

Tweakie.
Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: mehmetkose on July 04, 2010, 11:47:16 AM
I understand now I'm using google translation, but I guess it does not translate the full meaning, I really like the Mach3, all kinds of doing my job, but now I can not use the quilting machine with the full meaning of Mach3 Mehmet İzzet KÖSE
Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: LarryL on July 04, 2010, 12:15:27 PM
Mehmet,

Ok, tell me why you can't usethe quilting machine with the full meaning of Mach3.  That is a little bit unclear.  I have built an automated quilter, and so I understand the principles necessary to make it work.

Larry
Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: LarryL on July 04, 2010, 12:19:05 PM
Tweakie,

Hey no prob.  No foul.   Don't let it worry you.  I take no offense over anything such as that.  I guess our main mission is to help Mehmet get his rig running, eh?

Larry
Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: mehmetkose on July 04, 2010, 03:32:44 PM
Larry how you can help me on this? for example, a sample macro code can send files or get a brain? Thanks ... Mehmet
Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: John Mac on July 05, 2010, 10:48:04 AM
Hi Mehemetkose

An optical sensor may not work unless you keep it perfectly clean, also if the thread goes slack even for a second it will trip and stop the machine unfortunately sometimes the thread knots and stays tight and the machine will keep going.

One method is to contact a supplier of coin micro switches like this one. Shape the end so it is held closed by the thread.

Put it just (after) the thread tensioner on the sewing head or near by.

http://www.happcontrols.com/amusement/pinball/95417000.htm

However it is not ideal if the thread knots it will stay on as above


I can guarantee the next option works. I used on for many years. But you will have to get a technician to make one up for you. I am no longer Quilting.

Get a cheap shaft Encoder (it must have ball bearings.)
This one is OK S1-500-236-I-B-D
http://usdigital.com/products/encoders/incremental/rotary/shaft/s1/

Mount it on your machine head (before) the thread tensioner.
Put a small 20mm pulley on the shaft, and wrap the thread once around the pulley and then through the normal thread tensioner you already have on the sewing head. It will not effect the tension. (That is why a ball bearing type is better)

The technician will have to design a circuit that will cut the power as soon as the little wheel on the encoder stops rotating for more than say 2 seconds. That can be adjustable. However it must not work for say 5 seconds after the machine starts. So he will be building 2 timers that work one after the other.  I remember the man that did mine used a couple of 555 timers and a relay. The parts cost is around 100USD. Maybe there is a tech in this forum that wants to give it a try, and do it for “Mates Rates” Labour.

I guess this will not be that cheap in the end. However it works every time. If the thread stops moving (tangled or not) it will stop.

Often at the same time the thread breaks the needle brakes causing the blunt end of the stub that is left to punch holes as it merrily wrecks the work piece.  I guess that is your main reason for concern.

Cheers

John Mac
Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: LarryL on January 29, 2011, 12:17:30 PM
Anybody got a schematic for connecting a solid state relay to control the coolant pump?

Larry
Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: Speedtwin69 on January 30, 2011, 01:36:19 AM
I think a sharp needle is a tool to be respected, my boss's wife has a Berninna  sewing machine that you can load a dxf file and it halls ass.
I would call it Tool No. 1. She embroid. Me a triumph jacket and it was awesome!!!
Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: LarryL on August 12, 2012, 08:51:08 AM
Hi all, I am back! And with another brain teaser of a question.  Can anyone tell me how I would reverse a pattern at the end of it's run so that the travel is in the opposite direction, and also, how would one set up Mach3 to restart at a given location to finish a pattern that has been interrupted?

Larry
Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: John Mac on August 12, 2012, 10:28:13 AM
Hi Larry L

I guess this is the broken thread problem; after the thread breaks there is a delay before the machine stops, leaving an unstitched section. Once the machine is rethreaded you want to back up along the stitch path manually, without sewing and the needle up until you reach the place where the machine stopped sewing then a little further back, an inch or so to lock off the loose end. The program can then complete automatically.

Commercial machines have a reverse button for this....

There is a reposition button in addition to the reverse button.

You may also have to move the machine head to an accessibile position, some quilting machine frames are very large Say 4 x 5 metres making it impossible to thread the machine if the sewing head is in the middle of the quilt. Commercial machines allow you to move the head to the side with X,Y buttons while remembering the last position where the stitching stopped.

The sequence in this situation is move to the side, rethread, reposition, then back up to the last stitched line and a little more to lock it off.

Can it be done easily with Mach 3?

Cheers
John

Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: LarryL on August 12, 2012, 04:04:57 PM
Hi Larry L

I guess this is the broken thread problem; after the thread breaks there is a delay before the machine stops, leaving an unstitched section. Once the machine is rethreaded you want to back up along the stitch path manually, without sewing and the needle up until you reach the place where the machine stopped sewing then a little further back, an inch or so to lock off the loose end. The program can then complete automatically.

Commercial machines have a reverse button for this....

There is a reposition button in addition to the reverse button.

You may also have to move the machine head to an accessibile position, some quilting machine frames are very large Say 4 x 5 metres making it impossible to thread the machine if the sewing head is in the middle of the quilt. Commercial machines allow you to move the head to the side with X,Y buttons while remembering the last position where the stitching stopped.

The sequence in this situation is move to the side, rethread, reposition, then back up to the last stitched line and a little more to lock it off.

Can it be done easily with Mach 3?

Cheers
John

Hi John,

Thanks for responding to my inquiry.  I believe you are right about the repositioning of the sewing head.  It is necessary to move the head when rethreading.  However, the problem is that at this time Mach3 doesn't have a feature/button/function to allow this.  The real problem is that continuation of the stitching from the point of breakage or a bit back from that point is not  a normal function of the program at this time.  That is why I asked the question.  If some one can give me information on how to re-start the stitching as if it had never started, then I will be able to program that into the software or pattern.  Mach3 is a very capable piece of software that I have been using for about two years now, and I am extremely pleased with it's function.  I can't see changing to any other software.  The ability to change functions and to control the software any way you want to is absolutely amazing.  Art did a good thing writing the software.


Larry
Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: LarryL on August 20, 2012, 03:09:26 PM
Tweakie,

A question for you based on the answer you gave above about using OEM code 1005.  How would you setup to detect the break of the optical switch?  Using say rockcliff 4 port board.  would you connect it to the inputs of the board?  and maybe set the mach3 settings to the specific ports on the board?  Got any ideas?  This could be a good thing for the quilters out there that are using their own designs.  I for one would love to have such a feature on my quilter.  I was also thinking that the pause should also activate the E-switch function for safety sake.

Larry
Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on August 21, 2012, 02:27:13 AM
Hi Larry,

A very theoretical answer…..

Assuming you could find (or create) a point where the thread is under (more or less) constant tension then it would be possible to sense a break using an optical switch. The output of the optical switch (normally open or normally closed, depending on type or how it’s output is biased) could then be fed into a Mach Input (via your 4 port board) and trigger an event in a similar way that a limit switch halts motion.

Yes, you would have to include some form of safety stop feature before hands were placed within the danger zone but you don’t want to loose position so this has to be carefully thought out. A ‘Feed-Hold’ followed by ‘Stop’ will enable position to be maintained but the only real ‘safe condition’ disconnects all power to the machine (loosing any current stepper motor micro-steps on restoration of power). It all depends on the level of safety you consider is required after fully assessing the potential risk to your well being.  ;)

Tweakie.
Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: John Mac on August 21, 2012, 02:53:52 AM
Hi Tweakie

Go back to page 2 this thread (Last post)

The catch is sensing the thread (with an opto or mechanical switch) has to be done in the area after the thread tensioner. A switch does not work well there (I know having had a quilting machine for many years) what does work is checking if the thread is moving. that can be done before the thread tensioner. See the note mentioned above.

Cheers
John McNamara
Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: LarryL on August 21, 2012, 12:41:11 PM
Hi All,

You guys have posted some good brain teasers based on my questions, so I am going to throw another one out and see what comes back.  Does Mach3 have the ability to back up on a pattern and start from a point before and interrupt?  Say for example I want to back along the present pattern being worked on, after I have a thread breakage, and I want to restart the sewing in order to continue the pattern.  This is a good feature that I believe could be incorporated into Mach3.  I would depend upon your input to design this feature.  What do you think?

Larry
Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: John Mac on August 21, 2012, 07:35:19 PM
Hi All

Good idea if cannot already be done.

There are no doubt other industrial processes where you may have to retrace your steps. Oxy cutting after a flame out for instance?

Or a tool breaks or just chips, they sometimes fail and you have to replace it.

Cheers

Macka
Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on August 22, 2012, 02:08:28 AM
As long as position is not lost (the interrupt is a Feed-Hold) then the GCode can be scrolled back to any previous point then the 'Run From Here' feature used (setting a suitable Rapid Height clearance) making the necessary Preperational Move and then the program re-commenced using Cycle Start.

Tweakie.
Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: John Mac on August 22, 2012, 05:54:26 AM
Hi Tweakie

The catch is the machine head has to be moved to one side in order to re-thread the and change bobbins.

Apart from the reel of thread that feeds the needle there is a small bobbin of thread underneath. Hence the need for the machine to access that area (Which is hard to access under the work, a large sheet of material wadding and lining material) at best it can be done from the side.

It sounds like Mach 3 cannot do this; you would not be just doing a feed hold. you have to move and return to the same spot then back up as described previously in this thread. I hope I am wrong

Cheers
John McNamara
Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on August 22, 2012, 07:21:05 AM
Hi John,

Once Feed-Hold has been evoked and the machine stops you can jog the axis anywhere you wish. The position is recorded by the DRO's.

When 'Run From Here' is evoked it will return to the position where it left off or the position shown in the current GCode line you have selected. (Jogging the axis will not loose position).

Tweakie.
Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: John Mac on August 22, 2012, 08:16:41 AM
Hi Tweakie

That is good news.

Lets see if we can create a more user friendly interface.

After loading a program from disk can Mack 3 be run from buttons alone.

These are the ones needed.

(1)  A Zero Button...... to zero the machine to a known start position (it is a hard stop)
       this also resets the program to the start

(2)  A Start Button......to Start running a program
   It will keep running unless a cotton breakage or other error trips an error and stops it.

(3)  4 buttons X and Y, up down To move the head for maintenance.
   If it stops it needs X,Y up down buttons to jog it into a position where the operator can change the thread.

(4)  A reposition...... button this will move the machine back to where it stopped running the program.

(5)  A run program manually Back (Without stitching) Button
(6)  A run program manually forward (Without stitching) Button
       Allows skipping a section or moving back in case of thread breakage   

(7) A temporary stop button (the program can be restarted from whare it stopped)

I don't think I have forgotten any...... these were the ones I used on a commercial quilter I used to own.

The machine I had used eproms to store programs. We used to draw the patterns in cad then burn them to a chip.  These days a USB stick would be better. Ideally for a commercial machine the keyboard is not needed. just a screen showing the needle position within the program.

A machine using buttons alone may be useful for other applications.

Cheers
John McNamara
Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on August 22, 2012, 10:40:03 AM
Hi John,

If connecting PC to machine via the Parallel Port there are only 5 available inputs per port so a second parallel card would be required or perhaps an external motion controller may be a better proposition.
Mach3 is intended to be fully customizable and I see no major problems with implementing most of the functions from buttons but I think you would also need a tracker ball (similar function to mouse) for some of the operations.
Ideally you would use a ‘touch screen’ display - creating positioning and labeling any new buttons as required using one of the various Screen Designer programs freely available. (Many of the button functions you mention are already on the screen, they would just need resizing with new captions etc.).
I am not certain about running the program backwards as I have never used the Reverse Run feature but it may be easier to scroll the program back then use Run From Here.

Tweakie.
 
Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: LarryL on August 22, 2012, 11:18:59 AM
Wow, I think I really started something here!  I have been doing some really deep thinking (I know, gets you into trouble every time), and I have come to the conclusion that a redesign of my quilter screen is in order, with larger buttons and a larger pattern screen, that's the easy part.  The hard part is the thread break indicator!  I have an idea for that as well.  I was watching some quilting videos made by commercial companies, and I found that most of the thread break detectors are using the thread tension spring to detect the slack in the thread when it breaks.  It will automatically move to the upper position when the thread breaks.  if that spring were magnetized, one could use a hall-effect sensor to detect the magnetized spring as it comes in front of the H-E sensor.  This way the only extra equipment needed would be the hall effect sensor and the wire to hook it up.  Possibly an arduino board could be used as an amplifier to bring the voltage output from the HE Sensor to 5 volts from the Arduino board into the input of the controller board, which would in turn trip the e-stop or stop hold/pause.  Think about this and let me know what you think.


Larry
Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: LarryL on August 22, 2012, 11:32:35 AM
John,

I can manage the reprogramming of the screen.  As a matter of fact, I'll start on the screen re-design right away.  When I get a beta copy I'll send it out to the group to get some feedback.  Let me know what you think.


Larry
Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on August 22, 2012, 12:36:49 PM
Hi Larry,

I am pleased this has created inspiration - now I am looking forward to reading about your new developments.  ;)

Tweakie.
Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: LarryL on August 22, 2012, 12:39:06 PM
Tweakie


I'll keep you posted.  I'm in the middle of testing the hall effect sensor to see what the minimum G (gauss) required is.  Should have something later today.

Larry
Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: Eclipze on May 23, 2013, 01:18:01 AM
Would be interesting to know what people are using to convert existing quillt designs to gcode.  Looking to CNC my sisters longarm quilter, however she is keen to run something like Art and Stitch to design/create/modify designs.  It looks like it only saves the files in typical quilting file formats as well as DXF.  Might be looking for a DXF to gcode post-processor.
Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: John Mac on May 23, 2013, 02:32:32 AM
Hi Eclipze

We just used Autocad DXF file output to design Patterns for our Resta commercial machine. There are lots of programs that output DXF.

Our method was first to draw the pattern using any line type on a layer.

Then create a new layer and drawing on that layer trace over the previously drawn sketch using one or more continuous poly line and arc paths (using arcs and lines only). You only need to create a new path if you need to jump over the pattern without stitching some patterns never stopped at all no jumps is ideal if you can design it so.

Once the design was finished we deleted the sketch layer, exported the DXF file and converted it to Resta code A non standard G code. We developed that inhouse using VB.

There are a number of DXF to G code converters, Hopefully they will be fine with Mach.

Cheers
John McNamara





 

Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: Eclipze on May 23, 2013, 06:01:08 AM
Thanks John.  I can certainly use that method to generate some patterns from drawings.  I can redraw or vectorise bitmap data, and subsequently generate gcode via my usual CNC machining software.  However I need something much more basic for my sister to use, and something that doesn't involve needing me in the loop.  Which mean importing existing patterns she finds on the net and or buys, then modifying to suit and generate the run file (gcode).  I expect the solution is to have a program like Art and Stitch to handle the import of various file formats, provide all the drawing and layout tools, then a DXF to gcode convertor to generate the code.  Hoping someone has some experience or options on this topic.
Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: John Mac on May 23, 2013, 07:30:13 AM
Hi Eclipze

I Am not familiar with Art and stitch.

I have read that Dasault Draftsight (A free program) gives the ability to draw over an existing bitmap placed in the background on screen, as does AutoCad. I use this feature in AutoCad to draw over complex decorative shapes in Architecture. Just remember to scale the bitmap to the correct overall size before drawing the stitch path over it.

A long time back I used Corel draw to "vectorise" images.... Hmm it never worked very well, it created hundreds of short lines, and cleaning them up took forever. no good for a stitching program that ideally has a continuous line.

As mentioned scaling is very important, Your sister will have to know the finished size of the article before starting a design. The finished size is not the stitched size, She will find that once removed from the frame the article will shrink, between 4 and 10% depending on the thickness of the materials and the wadding. Once she has made a few this will become obvious.

You may like to mention to her that any design that has high density (lines close together) stitching in one place and widely spaced lines in another will will create a dimpled appearance due to the shrinkage mentioned above varying from one area to another. 

I fear your sister is in for a learning curve to learn the steps to get from design to machine, If this is to be a business it will be worth the effort.

Art and stitch at nearly a thousand bucks (950) is not cheap, Using a free cad program and DXF to G code converter for mach would remove that cost, and in the end she will have better control.

The is no need to learn the an entire CAD program, just learn the steps to get the job done...... starting at zero (0,0) lines, arcs, setting and scaling a bitmap,exporting to dxf layers and saving for a start, although once you start it is a great tool if you make things, she may get bitten by the bug.

Maybe I have missed it in the thread but I would be interested to hear how the machine is set up?

Cheers
John


 
 




Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: Eclipze on May 23, 2013, 08:08:35 AM
Thanks John.  We are on the same page.  While I can generate the gcode using my tools, it's not an option for her.  She needs a quilting package to play with.  I need to provide a DXF to gcode convertor to run with Mach3 to close the loop (without me in the middle).  This is for her business.  $18k for the Innova automation package is just not an option.  Particularly when the same functionality can be provided at a much lower cost.  But really need the quilting software to "enable" her to make good unrestricted use of the automation.
Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: John Mac on November 08, 2015, 12:59:28 AM
Hi All

I am working on a quilting machine design. I just set up a breadboard system using MACH3 Smooth Stepper and a Homann designs MB02 Break out board. Running on a fresh 7 windows install to a clean hard disk.

I am using Brushed DC servos and Leadshine DCS 810 drives. Brushed is still a fair bit less expensive than AC brushless.

Its all up and running on the desk beside me.

To make a test pattern I used AutoCAD to draw a simple Diamond design, having done thousands of them in the past a few minutes work. There are only 2 polylines used The central pattern and the border. In the past I used a post processor Written in VB to generate machine code for a proprietary Italian Resta Machine (Not Gcode). This post processor was set up to "follow" polylines, only stopping at the beginning and end. In AutoCAD a polyline can have many segments compared to a line in AutoCAD that is a single object. (Polylines can include arcs).

Using polylines gives good control of the machine, For this test only two; and the starts and ends are all near zero. The pattern design does close the start and ends touch however they are not joined.

So what to use as a post processor? I tried the Lazycam beta program available when you install Mach, It worked!
But don't get excited yet, While it flawlessly converted the DXF file from AutoCAD (Saved as version 12) and ran on the test bed strange things happened.... The zero point was moved to the right hand side of the of the design and it started there, and it did not start at the beginning of the polylines it reordered the segments.

I am not familiar with LazyCam, there may be settings to correct the above inconsistencies. If anyone is more familiar with it can offer a suggestion I would appreciate it.

However settings or not it does the job and would machine the correct pattern. There will just be more jumps than needed. Note the pattern is 3365 mm wide by 3810 mm High. Jumps matter!

The final test will be to understand How accurate the constant velocity setting is in Mach ? from what I have read this is the best currently available option?

There is mention of the requirement in the Mach Laser setting?

As has been discussed a lot in this forum (Run a search on Quilting) It is very important the stitch length is maintained at all times irrespective of the feed.
 
In a perfect world one of the spare axis could be set to this mode.

Thinking on it there are many applications where some sort of work head speed has to be accurately correlated with the feed vector.

Applying Paint, Glue or other materials
Laser or flame cutting.
Sewing
Sign writing
There must be more

Regards
John

I tried to upload he image below to the page as an IMG but it did not work

Hyperlink worked...
http://www.mediafire.com/view/nil9a4j1ao22319/Quilt.jpg (http://www.mediafire.com/view/nil9a4j1ao22319/Quilt.jpg)
http://www.mediafire.com/download/9vs61pvj21i8f3c/quilt_test_A.dxf (http://www.mediafire.com/download/9vs61pvj21i8f3c/quilt_test_A.dxf)
Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: pcbguro on March 18, 2019, 09:37:23 PM
Larry
I hope that this thread is not dead.  I was wondering if you ever posted the new screen buttons that you mentioned as this is exactly what I am looking for.

Tim (Pcbguro)
Title: Re: quilting or embroidery machine
Post by: John Mac on March 19, 2019, 08:51:46 AM
Hi
I have attached a photo of a RESTA H220 control panel

As you can see it is written in Italian however it is easy to translate. The section marked Automatico is for downloading programs from the control system. You can ignore that section as it would be covered by Mach3 or 4

The section marked Semiautomatico contains buttons that allow you to move forward = Avanti, backwards = indertro, along the stitch line.
The repositionmento button allows you to move to the last known position where the the machine stopped within a running program, not after a reset.

The red buttons are just lights.

This system was developed over 20 years ago. However it has great functionality from an operators perspective.

See my earlier comments in this post for a fuller description.

Regards
John