Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: Chuck G on November 25, 2006, 09:40:16 PM

Title: Mach2 to Mach3
Post by: Chuck G on November 25, 2006, 09:40:16 PM
Hello Everyone: :

I am very new to CNC controls, but I am very excited to learn.
I have purchased a router that has Mach2 installed and I have purchased a license for Mach3 with the Newfangled Solutions bundle, I have tried to go step by step while watching the instillation video but the motors do not move. I think I am missing something basic.
Any help will be greatly appreciated
Also the machine is set up in metric and I would like to change it to inches during the setup, In mach2 the steps per unit is 110.5 and the acceleration and velocity is set at 160 units/sec.
The router seems to work fine with Mach2 except the spindle does not always start up at the beginning or shut down at the end of a program and I don’t know what g-code it is looking for to start and stop. The spindle is controlled by a delta vdf from a serial port. When I try to turn off the spindle with the toggle in mach2 the program usually locks up and I have to shut it down and restart.

Thanks

Chuck
Title: Re: Mach2 to Mach3
Post by: Hood on November 26, 2006, 03:17:00 AM
Can you post your xml file for Mach2 and Mach3, it will let us see what ports and pins you are using. The xml files will be found in your Mach2 and 3 folders and will probably be the Mach2mill.xml and Mach3mill.xml.  To attach them go to the full reply form and you will see at the lower left "additional options" click that then just browse to the location of your xml by clicking the choose button.
  Hood
Title: Re: Mach2 to Mach3
Post by: Chuck G on November 26, 2006, 09:06:11 PM
Hood

Thanks for looking at this for me.
I have attached the XML files and the machine manual

Chuck
Title: Re: Mach2 to Mach3
Post by: Hood on November 27, 2006, 03:09:59 AM
I am just leaving for work but I will have a look when I get home this evening if no one else has sorted you out by then.
Hood
Title: Re: Mach2 to Mach3
Post by: Hood on November 27, 2006, 06:01:32 PM
Chuck
 Not long in from work and its getting late (11pm). I tried to use your profiles(both Mach2 and 3) and I get total computer lockup in Mach2 as soon as I start to look at config, in Mach3 I get program lockup. I will have to look at the XML files themselves to see if I can find anything but afraid my eyes are too tired to look at the moment. It will be tomorrow evening before I get a chance, sorry.
Hood
Title: Re: Mach2 to Mach3
Post by: Hood on November 30, 2006, 06:31:23 PM
Chuck
 still cant get your Mach2 or Mach3 xmls to work, do they run ok on your computer?
Hood
Title: Re: Mach2 to Mach3
Post by: Chuck G on December 02, 2006, 01:30:58 AM
Hood:
Sorry for the delay in answering I have been out of town this week.
Mach2 works but I cannot get Mach3 to enable or move any axis.
The computer I purchased to run the machine did not come with a parallel or serial port so they were added later, as a result the address is not what a factory installed port address would be and you will have to change it to your address is to run them,
Can you use the manual to set up an xml file for Mach3.

Thanks for all your help

Chuck
Title: Re: Mach2 to Mach3
Post by: Hood on December 02, 2006, 04:51:52 AM
Chuck
 As I am just using it on a computer NOT hooked up to a machine I should be able to load your xml whatever the port address is, I just dont understand why its crashing. I will go into the xml and change the address just in case it is looking at something else on my computer and not liking it.
 The easiest way to set up Mach3 from Mach2 settings is to open Mach2 and look at all your ports and pins, motor tuning etc and write them down. Close Mach2 and open Mach3 and eneter all of these figures, slow process but well worth it ;)
Hood
Title: Re: Mach2 to Mach3
Post by: Chuck G on December 02, 2006, 04:55:57 PM
Hood
I have corrected some wrong pin settings and the axis seem to be moving correctly.
But I cannot get the spindle to run. I have the comport set but Mach3 doesn't talk to the VDF.
Also the VDF is set so that 400 Hz = 24000 rpm, will Mach3 convert spindle speed comands to a matching Hz output.

Thanks

Chuck
Title: Re: Mach2 to Mach3
Post by: Hood on December 02, 2006, 05:32:37 PM
afraid I have never used Mach to control the spindle through a VFD. I know there are guys here that have done it so they may be able to help. Do you have a board that interfaces the VFD and Mach?
Hood
Title: Re: Mach2 to Mach3
Post by: Stephen Harris on February 21, 2007, 12:55:12 PM
Hi Group,

I am new to CNC machining and MACH3 and I really need some help please.  I have loaded Mach3 on to a Toshiba Tecra laptop which is a 233mhz, 164mb Ram, and a 40GB hard-drive.  It only has Win2000 and Mach3 loaded onto it.

I have downloaded the Optimization.txt file and done what it asks for the settings, but when I run the Driver test file it takes an age on the last part of the test to come up with the bar and when it does it is off the upper part of the window.  I have already reloaded the Special Driver file with no difference.

Does the Laptop need to be connected to the CNC machine to give a reading, please forgive my ignorance.

What else do I need to set to get the Driver Test back down to the recommended 32 on the video.

Please help

Steve

 :(
Title: Re: Mach2 to Mach3
Post by: Hood on February 21, 2007, 01:03:25 PM
Some Laptops have a problem running Mach but I think only having a 266MHz processor is where your problem lies. The recommended MHz for running Mach is 1000MHz so yours falls well below that.
Hood