Machsupport Forum
Third party software and hardware support forums. => Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards => Topic started by: Ron Ginger on October 05, 2011, 11:30:29 AM
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I have developed a new Drill wizard and added it to the Newfangled Suite.
This wizard is useful for one-off drilling jobs, like doing a base casting for a model engine. You have 2 sets of DROs, one for an absolute postion the other for and incremental move. A third set specifies the drill rapid height, depth, plunge rate and peck increment.
If you want to drill a series of holes you first setup the drill parameters. Then if you have an absolute location you fill in the DROs and click the DoIt button. The move occurs. Then you click the Plunge or Peck button and the drill cycle occurs. Next you could move to another absolute position, or move an increment. If you were going to drill a series of holes all spaced the same distance you could do the whole job by alternately clicking the Inc and Plunge button.
The wizard also has the ability to record a file, so you can both do the immediate job and build a Gcode file to re-use. When you click the Start Record button you are prompted for a file name.
The record function will look for a file named GcodeStart.tap and GcodeEnd.tap, which it will inert into the gcode file it builds.
There is a You tube video showing the operation at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzzoybS-QPQ
the code is attached to this file. Just download it, unzip it into the MAch3\Addons folder and you re ready to go.
If you have a Newfangled license you are unlimited, if not it runs in demo mode and gives you a few moves.
Hope you find this useful
Edit, June 13, 2012
V1.03, Fixed screen size to keep reset and exit buttons showing, and ZeroX label
Edit July 2, 2012
V1.04 Removed use of #Expand so that wizards will work with older version of Mach, mostly for Tormach users
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Ron,
Just did the download. The wizard screen is activated but all else is not working.
Getting this error________ Scriptor Compile Error.in:
RICH
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I use some of the VB stuff, like #expand, that was added for the mach std mill screens. I dont recall the first version that worked in, but it was about a year ago.
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Hi Ron,
The #Expand and other stuff was all introduced in the mach 3.43.xx series (they're not in the 3.42.xx series).
So the current lock down (3.43.22) would be the oldest and also currently available version with those interfaces.
Dave
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Ok, so need to upgrade as i am using Version 3.042.033 ;)
RICH
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Rich,
Looks that way...
There is a call "GetMachVersion" that returns the mach version - the wizards could call it when started and then and tell you that the mach version is too old for the wizard - but that does not work for all cases - the problem is that the GetMachVersion call was added in 3.42.30 - so it's of use since then... but if you try to call it on a version < 3.42.30, mach gives the script a fault before the script gets the version info - so you get stuck in a catch 22 situation.
Dave
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Ron, I can't get any of the DRO's to accept a negative number. For example, when I install the wizard, the default depth is -.500. I ran that, and it works, but if I enter any other number into the depth or incremental movement DRO's, it only take the number not the negative sign, and therefore will not drill below Z 0.
Thanks!
Mike
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Ok, that one hit me with the Turn wizards- i didnt know you could make DROs positive only, and somehow I clicked that on in the screen designer. Ill have to go through the Drill wiz and fix any I find.
Thanks for the note, Ill have a fix up in a few days.
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I have fixed the problem of negative number in DROs. The fixed version is in the top reply to this topic.
Unzip this into Addons, then change the folder name to eliminate the 101 at the end of the file name
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Ron,
Thanks! I tried it out and you fixed the negative number issue, but I found another problem. It doesn't seem to read the feed rate DRO. I tried several different values, and the result is the same. I discovered this by driving a #7 drill 80 ipm into an aluminum part. The stepper motor lost that battle. If I set the feed rate in the MDI and then launch your wizard it work at whatever feed rate I set in the MDI.
I also tried saving the program into a G code file, and I couldn't find any feed rate reference.
Thanks for all your work on this! I really do like the wizard.
Mike
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I did not have an F word on the Peck Drill, but I did have it on the plunge drill. I have added it to Peck. The new version, 1.02, is at the top of this topic.
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Hello,
great wizard, thank you for implementing.
but I have 2 (so far) problems :)
1. it seems to be a bug when recording because even I'm using the metric system, the tap file is saved with a "G20" at beginning.
2. when I want to start the spindle (pressing M3) I've got an error, see attached image. Also, I cannot enter any rpm value, always returns to zero when pressing ENTER
After I'm getting this error the wizard is still running but no spindle control.
I'm using MODBUS for spindle control. Could this be the reason?
And, if I'm allowed to say, a simple feature request:
When recording, if no DO ABS at beginning, the first drill is made where the machine is, will not move to the first desired position. Second drill is OK because position is specified.
I think will be a geed feature if all recordings will start from ABS position, even the user will not DO ABS at the beginning.
Best regards,
Seb
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I found the solution for the first problem:
Editing GcodeInit.tap and replacing G20 with G21
regards,
Seb
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Your second problem looks like you are running the MachStandard Mill screen set. That screen set loads many custom macros, so when the wizard trys to call an M3 mach runs the modified macro that calls code that is part of the MachStand Mill set.
Im not sure there is a fix for this. Ill try to get Dave to look at it.
On your recording issue I think the right answer is to start recording before you make your first move. The wizard will record everything you do after you start recording, so be sure to start recording first.
I'm happy to see my GcodeInit file helped, that is exactly the kind of problem I wanted to cover.
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yes indeed, I'm using MSM and yes indeed I doesn't try drillwiz with other screen set.
I hope you and Dave can find a fix for this.
many thanks,
Seb
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Hi,
Ron contacted me about this and I've looked into it a bit after being out of town for Xmas.
It appears to me tha Ron has found a general limitation with the mach #expand feature (a script programming feature).
Glossing over the tech details, it appears that when mach loads a wizard, mach treats the wizard as if it were a separate screen set. Unfortunately, that causes mach's #expand handling to not work well in this scenario.
While MSM is probably the most popular screen set that uses #expand, I believe that this problem would occur with any MCode that uses #expand in the script for the MCode implementation. If an Mcode script it is invoked from a wizard directly and the script uses #expand, the problem happens. Wizards that post Gcode back to mach to get run from the non-wizard environment will be ok.
It seems that the interactive nature of the new drill wizard is treading new ground for mach.
I'm thinking that maybe Ron and I can work out a proposal for what mach should do in these cases and then maybe we can get Brian to implement some improvements to mach's #expand handling.
So while we'll continue the conversation, this one may take some time as it will probably require some mach changes (which neither Ron nor I have control of).
Dave
yes indeed, I'm using MSM and yes indeed I doesn't try drillwiz with other screen set.
I hope you and Dave can find a fix for this.
many thanks,
Seb
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I understand and I have to thank you nicely for your explanation.
Regards,
Seb
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Hi Ron i down loaded wizards update and put them on a flash drive , will this help me with manual feed wizard not working on new fangled wizards . I also need to know what you recommend as far as deleting old file in wizards after upload , also want to upload new drill wizard i am very very novice at cnc i am a hands on machinist for 30 plus years . I am kinda gun shy on doing anything but willing to try just need some guidance a have a NM145 mill thanks for your time bob b
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The wizards are on the net as a .zip file. You need to download that file then put it on a flash drive.
Take the flash drive to the shop PC with mach on it. When you plug it in a window should open and ask what you want to do. Click the choice to open a window and view the files.
When you find the wizard file, like DrillWiz102.zip Right click on it. That should open a menu with a choice to Extract ALL.
Choose that, then follow the directions. You want to extract the files so they end up in C:\Mach3\Addons\DrillWiz102.
Now delete the old wizard, which will be just DrillWiz, then rename the DrillWiz102 to be just DrillWiz.
Sorry it is so complicated, but Its about the only way I know to package them. If I dont add the version number then it would be very confusing.
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thanks ron i have the newfangled wizards license and i want to put your last update in and now this drill wizard up date always wonder when i download to flash drive if it is thier sending it to one send to removable disc . am i rite on this not to pc literate just want to make sure also do the update first then the the drill wizard next
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I dont quite understand your question.
It doe snot matter which wizard update you install first. They are completely unrelated.
I assume your shop computer is not connected to the net and you do the download on another computer, then copy the files to flash drive and take that to the shop computer.
If the shop PC is on the net just download the files to a convenient place, like the desktop, then unzip it to the Mach3\Addons folder.
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thanks ron you got me straightened out
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Hi Ron,
I like this Wizard.
There is no place to put the spindle speed, or I can't find it. On your video I see it, but not on the one I installed V1.02.
Thanks
Jerry
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Yrs, I goofed and put the DRO for RPM there instead of the one for Spindles speed input. Ill fix that next release.
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Ron, I found another small problem (may have been discussed but I did not see it in this or other threads)
Look at the picture carefully below, the X button is mis-labeled as "ZeroZ". This is in v1.02
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Hello, I just purchased a license for the new fangled suite so I could use your Drillwiz program. I loaded it and it does not work. I get an error that says scripting error. Can you please offer any help. Thank you
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What version of Mach are you running?
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Ron,
I am running version 3.042.29 on a new tormach 1100. Just downloaded newfangleds latest software and it works fine. The Drillwiz dosent all fit on the screen. the reset and exit buttons are just barely visible. The error mesage is a scripting error. Thanks for your help
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The drillwiz makes heavy use of the #expand function that was added to Mach in V3.043.036. Unfortunately it would be very hard to change the code since #expand is used 2 or 3 times in each button script. The only way to run it is on a later Mach.
I understand why Tormach supports only specific versions, and they follow well behind the latest Mach, but it does make it difficult when improvements are released. If you want to run the drillwizz you will have to run the later Mach.
I did make the screen oversize and the bottom of the buttons can fall off the edge.
EDIT!
OK, I have fixed the screen size and the ZeroX button label, new version on reply 1 above.
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Thanks Ron, sorry to hear it wont run on my machine. I bought new fangled license just to run your drillwiz. Their new suite runs just fine on my software. Thanks again
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EDIT!
OK, I have fixed the screen size and the ZeroX button label, new version on reply 1 above.
Thanks Ron
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I have now fixed the wizard to remove use of the #Expand so it will run with older version of Mach.
See topic #1 for the zip file.
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Hi Guys,
I just dwnlded the drill wizard and I have an issue, hopfully you can straighten me out.
First, just to make sure I loaded it correctly, Drillwiz shows up as a wizard under the wizard button, not under the new fangled button, is this correct?
I am running a Tormach 1100 using Mach3 version R3.042.029.
I am unable to control the spindle RPM, when I type a number into the RPM box under the spindle & coolant buttons, I can type it in, but as soon as I hit enter the number goes to zero. When I select M3 or M4 the spindle starts, but runs at the slowest possible speed?
I'm attaching a screenshot in case it might help.
Regards
Terry May
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I thought I had fixed that. The DRO is the one that shows actual RPM, not the one to set it. For now just set the RPM in the main screen before you call the wizard.
You are seeing it correctly, the wizard just shows up in the list of all wizards, it should show the Author as Newfangled. The main screen button only starts the Nfs Mill addons.
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Thanks Ron, that works fine. I was mostly interested to find out if I was screwing it up somehow.
Terry
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Hi Ron
I just installed the wizard the other day ,I have the same spindle speed problem as Terry, I just use manual on the Tormach, Also how do you use Metric units with the wizard?
In the video you popped up the editor window, how do you do this? Can I record a file and save it, and then just run it in the Mach 3 window?
Or can I record it and replay it in the wizard window? A few questions I know but the only way to learn is to ask them!
Thanks
Will
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Also how do you use Metric units with the wizard?
I have not tried, but if you enter a G21 in mDI before starting the wizard, then simply entering your metric values should work.
In the video you popped up the editor window, how do you do this?
Do oyu mean the keyboard popup? Thats called AutoCalculator. Click on the Operator Menu then click AutoCalculator. It will stay work until you click again to turn it off. Then simply a click in any DRO and the keypad pops up. I love it at my desk because I can do all entries without letting go of the mouse.
Can I record a file and save it, and then just run it in the Mach 3 window?
Yes, thats exactly the idea of the record function. The saved file is simply Gcode, it does not need the wizard to run.
No problem asking questions, thats why the forum is here.
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One more question Ron, where do I find the saved file? I saved a file the other day and can't find it again.
Will
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Files are saved to the standard gcode folder- c:\Mach3\Gcode
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Just got a chance to have a go at it today , so on the Tormach is that C:\pcnc3\gcode?
Will
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Since I do not own a Tormach I cannot be sure, but I think that is correct.
If its not there you could always use windows search feature, create a new file with the wizard, then search for it.