Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: banks148 on August 03, 2012, 02:58:36 AM
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Hi,
I'm really, really hoping someone out there can help me: I updated mach finally, from the old version I was running, and now I can't get any response from my machine if I try jogging, etc from the newly installed version. I've been putting off updating the software since it seems as if I'm cursed: anytime I try something like this, regardless of the program, I seem to run into some issue and the update is a disaster. Case in point, my attempt to bring mach up to date. I'll describe what I did and hopefully someone will be able to help me get things up and running again (cus I absolutely NEED to have my machine working, as it's for my job, so this is truly truly bad for me): I downloaded the new lockdown version off of the artsoft website, renamed it to "mach3.5"when prompted so it was saved in my computer/c:/ directory under that heading (since my original version of mach was already saved there under "mach3", and I'm neurotic/was worried I'd overwrite my first version and lose my license info). That seemed to work, i.e; I was led through all the screens where I had to click "accept" for licensing, etc, was shown the "under mach3 control" screen - basically, the install seemed like it went smoothly, without a hitch. I re-booted, as per instruction, then copied the license file from my old version of mach to the new "Mach3.2" folder in myy C:/ directory, and when I ran the new version it showed that the updated software had been correctly registered/my license had transferred. I re-entered all my settings, then tried to just quickly jog my axes to see if there were any issues, and nothing. I can't get any response from the motors, and there isn't any indication in the diagnostic screen if I trip either home or limit switches. I'm gonna go back through (again) the documentation available on installing the software, in case I'm missing something but PLEASE if anyone should read this and can suggest something I should try, I would be unbelievably grateful. If I can't get this working I am, no exaggeration, screwed
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Copy the xml from your previous install into the new install and your settings will be there and should work fine.
Personally I would have just installed over the top to the same location but always have your licence, xml and anything else you have custom such as screensets/brains/macros, saved to another location regardless of whether you are about to do an upgrade or not, in fact it is best to have them saved to another computer or a pen drive just in case your hard drive dies. Doing that means you can be up and running on a new computer in the time it takes to install Mach and replace these files..
If you really are scared then it would have been better to rename the old Mach3 folder to something like OldMach3 then install the new one to the default Mach3.
Hood
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Thanks for the response: I got it working, or at least I was able to get motion corresponding to whatever command i input through the jog screen. However, when I tried running g-code same as I had been running it w my old version, first off I get "too fast for pulley, setting to max" or something similar, in the box by the onscreen e-stop/reset button, and if I to actually run the code I get a short jerky series of motions and then the code stops scrolling altogether and then motors all stop. I copied all my previous settings ont this new version, so I'm not clear what's happening. DOesn't seem like this should be necessary but should I uninstall the old version, in addition to re-titling the new install folder simply "mach3"? Aside from those thoughts, I'm sincerely at a loss (not to mention pretty well panicked at the moment)...
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Ok, here's a little more detail to describe just what's happening: when I try loading a g-code file that I've run previously w/ zero issue on my older install, first off the image that's generated in the toolpath window is just a ridiculously small blob. Then, when I try to actually run the job, I get a few small little passes, then the machine and the code scrolling in mach's screen stop at the 500 line mark. Which leads me to believe it's running as if it was a demo/un-licensed version, though it clearly states that the version is licensed/that I installed my license in the new version correctly (or why else would it state on-screen that it's running a licensed version?). That's really all I can think of: I uninstalled the older version to try fixing any conflict's the software might've had w the 2 versions installed on the same computer, plus renamed the file in the C directory, but still: when I try running it it acts as though it's an unlicensed demo version. Anyone have any suggestions?
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Did you copy over your xml?
If not do that and your settings will all be the same as before.
Hood
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I had never saved an xml file from my previous settings - the machine I'm running is sort of similar to a plotter, so aside from the motor tuning and home/limit's, there weren't really any tool offsets, etc that I was relying on or anything else along those lines. I had my settings, such as they were, written down but that's it, but apparently that's not enough since I'm still locked out/the software's only allowing 500 lines like an unlicensed version. This an incredible problem for me - I'm almost at th point where I'm considering uninstalling everything/wiping mach off the computer then purchasing a new license and re-installing. Except I can't really afford to do that, though I absolutely need it running so I'm just pretty desperate for some solution. ANYthing anyone could suggestwould be truly appreciated
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In your first post you said you changed the install location to mach3.5 so if that is the case then the old Mach3 folder will still be there with all your previous setup.
You can copy the xml to the new folder easily by right clicking on it and copy the browse to the mach3.5 folder and paste it.
You could of course just go back to your old version and try it to see if all works, just browse to the Mach3 folder and double click the Mach3.exe and it will open your previous version of Mach, only thing is it would be using the updated driver so you would really need to go back to the old one by clicking on the drivertest.exe (the one in the old folder) and that will install the old driver.
Hood
Hood
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As I had said in a previous post, I uninstalled the older version of mach, thinking that the problem was being caused by a conflict btwn having two versions installed on the same computer. I saved my licensing info, but that's about it, since I honestly never altered any settings beyond what I described (i.e; motor tuning, home, limits - that was really it, as far as any configuration done by me on the previous version).
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Well afraid you have something different, attach your xml and I will have a look at it.
Hood
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Thanks in advance for your help w this. Sorry to ask such a dumb question, but - as I've described previously- I've never had any issues w configuration, etc, so as of yet haven't had reason to deal w .xml files. Just so I don't waste any of your time sending the incorrect info, is the correct .xml file located under the "xmlbackup" in the C:/mach3 directory?
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No, it is in the main folder and will have the name of the profile you are using and a xml file extension.
You will likely need to copy it to another location then rename so that the forum will accept it, the forum only accepts a file name once so unless yours is unique then it will be rejected.
If you rename it to banks148.xml then you should be able to attach it. To attach you use the additional options on the reply page to browse to the renamed file.
Hood
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Ok, think this is it... Let mer know if I screwed up somehow, and (knock on wood) - thanks so much for helping me w this
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Ok no help from me you are using a Pirate Licence and that is why you have so many problems.
Have fun
Hood
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What!?! No, I had a kid who was working for me download the old version but I paid for it - I 1000% paid for it! How is it a pirated license? Crapcrapcrap, I absolutely had no clue: as you can tell I'm not very computer litrate, hence having another person download it initially. Sorry again to impose, but since I will obviously be buying a licensed version ASAP, are there any issues w having had the pirated version installed? If I uninstall everything and start w a clean slate there won't be any problems w a new installation of the software. And, honestly: thank you for your time and for clearing all of this up for me - very much appreciated
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but I paid for it - I 1000% paid for it!
How much and paid to who may I ask, the kid, a vendor, Artsoft?
I truly believe you paid money for it as you said .............money has no conscience though. ;)
RICH
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Yeah, that seriously took me by surprise! I had someone working for me while I was doing a lot of travelling. Being leery of internet purchases (this was a whhhhiiilllleee ago), I would only use a card connected directly to an account that I'd keep relatively small amounts of money in, so - on the off/paranoid-chance - someone accessed the account my liability would be minor (this was at a point where I was dealing w fairly large amounts being deposited/saved in my primary account, so - to repeat - I'd get paranoid, since large amounts of money were/are totally foreign concepts to me). Long story short, I think this kid was supposed to have deposited cash into the small account, or at least he was supposed to, but instead pocketed the cash and installed the pirated version. Probably apparent from my previous posts but computer literate I ain't, hence putting off updating the software/discovering this problem. Needless to say, I went ahead and got a legitimate license straight after Hood explained the issue (for which I'm absolutely grateful), and Scott from Artsoft was kind enough to expedite my order so I've now (literally) gotten the new/real version up and running.
But....
I'm still experiencing the same or similar issues that I described before. I'm making it past the demo cut-off point, but the scale of the image Is miniscule compared to the dims set in the cam file. Again, I'm running the exact configuration I'd set-up on the bogus version, so I'm still unclear on what the issue is. From everything that I can tell, w my admittedly limited grasp on mach, everything's setup as it should be. But here I am, stuck w the same (though very slightly updated) version of my original issue. Again, any help from anyone would be tremendously appreciated. Thanks in advance
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After loading your program and zeroing the axes start point to your project, try hitting 'Regen. Toolpath' and let us know if your display image changes size.
Regards,
John Champlain
www.picengrave.com
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Attach the latest xml and the code you are trying to use and maybe the problem can be found.
Hood
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but the scale of the image Is miniscule
Change of the limits in config should cure ..... but post the xml and Hood can have a look.
RICH