Machsupport Forum
Third party software and hardware support forums. => Newfangled Mill Wizard => Topic started by: Ron Ginger on February 26, 2013, 07:46:14 PM
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Welcome to the support forum for the Mill Wizard for Mach4. I expect to keep all the support issues on this forum. Im sure there will be reports on teh Yahoo group as well, but I will try to steer them here, because we can post photos, screen shots and code here to better explain problems
The product description page for this wizard is at http://www.newfangledsolutions.com/mill_wiz.php
The download link is the normal Mach download page, http://www.machsupport.com/downloads.php
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I have downloaded the software several times. Every time I run the installer, I get an error 'Error opening file for writing NFS_Mill.EXE'. If I click on the ignore button, another error message pops up 'Error opening file for writing NFSMillHelp.htb' Any Ideas what is wrong?
Thanks
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Please ignore last post, I read the post about install problems and found the one about running the install as administrator. That worked.
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Brian just uploaded a updated version. :) Everyone giving it a play should update.
Brett
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Brett beat me to it.
Yes a new version is up and it has several changes.
I have added an operation for User Entered Gcode. This will let you insert any gcode, anywhere in the program between operations. This might be useful to enter comments to document setups, or material or whatever you need. Any Gcode you enter will be displayed in the toolpath if it generates moves.
I added an operation called Tool Strategy. There are times when you want to change tool parameters, but not make a tool change- like changing feed rate, or spindle RPM, or ramp angle.
Brian changed the circle cut routine to generate spirals instead of the previous zig-zag cut. Now the tool will just keep making circles, ramping down over whatever arc length is needed to meet the ramp spec.
I changed the rectangle routine to do helical ramps down to step depth, then an arc lead-in and arc lead-out. It now has a groove option that uses teh zig-zag ramp into the work, but cuts only a grove.
Brian fixed a bug in the toolpath screen that didnt handle metric G73 correctly. This one in some systems could cause a crash.
A few other clean up kind of fixes were made.
Any feedback will be appreciated.
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Hi Ron,
the toolpath in drill looks fine now.
I really like the User G-Code and Tool Strategy feature. I find it really useful. :)
Just found that the values in Tool Strategy has not been saved.
Saved the file, closed the file, ( or closed the Wizard ) and then reopened the file ( or open the Wizard )
and looked into tool strategy, all values are Zero.
Regards Alex
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Thanks for the note about the new features.
Ok, I can repeat that Tool Strategy problem. Ill get on it.
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Ok, I think I have a fix.
Use the attached .zip file, expand it to NfsMill.exe and replace your current .exe. This will still show the same version number
let me know how it goes.
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It's working fine now. :)
Alex
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Hi Ron,
just tried ver 1.09 and found the PC ID is different. Its only running in demo mode.
1.06 is still fine and I see the old ID. ( Same PC without changes )
cheers
Alex
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Yes, changes were made to the license file for that version. You will have to contact license@machsupport.com and ask for a new license.
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Ah, Ok thanks for the info.
Cheers
Alex
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Ron,
I just downloaded .13 to replace .6.
I notice that it is a smaller download, please explain.
Also I see that one of the additions on your log is the ability to send code to Mach 4, but I don't see where this is facilitated.
Thanks,
Ozzie
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I cant explain the smaller download, I will look but I suspect its just a function of the compression and maybe some graphics in the help files.
The IPC connection for Mach4 is in there, but you have no way to tell or test it. Brian did that and has done some testing with Mach4. It will be there when Mach4 is out.
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Its been a long time, but we now have a new update of the mill wizard. This version fixes a lot of small bugs that were reported, and adds two new operations.
We now have a regular polygon operation- any number of sides greater than 3 can be cut inside, outside, on the line, or pocketed out.
A polyline operation lets you define any closed area, using lines or arcs. The defined area can then be cut on the line, outside, inside or pocketed. You can even specify a second closed curve as an island and the pocketing code will leave it uncut. This operation is a bit complicated on the input and and may have a bug or two, try it carefully.
We made a number of changes in the operation screens to improve the distinction between the coordinate system origin and the reference point of the object.
We also updated the license code, so you will need to get a new license code from the web site. If you are a new buyer just follow the directions and you will get a license emailed to you. If you previously bought the wizards go to the web site log in to your account and request a new license. Your PC id will be changed, so be sure to copy it from the help screen.
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I logged into my account, but don't see any way to request a new license. It doesn't show my Wizards license at all.
Thanks
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Hi Ron!
Have been playing with the new operations this weekend, seems to work fine!
Will load my G codes to my mill next weekend to test them!
No problems with the new licence ;-)!
Thanks, Peter
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Thanks, its nice to hear when something works right, and not just when there is a problem.
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HIYA Ron, I downloaded teh latest version and it will not load, it crashes on startup. I then deleted the install completely and tried a reinstall that did not work either.
(;-) TP
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Does it throw any kind of error message? What version of windows?
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HI Ron , Here is the error message on load. This PC is running Vista.
(;-) TP
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Oh yuck, VISTA? In this latest version we switched to VS2012 for the development tools, and Im pretty sure it doesn't support Vista. I will have to ask Brian about this one, see if he has any good ideas.
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THis PC has handed everything I have thrown at it including M4 and Darwin and every other controller on the planet Don't even think of blaming it on the PC. (;-)
(;-) TP
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THis PC has handed everything I have thrown at it including M4 and Darwin and every other controller on the planet Don't even think of blaming it on the PC. (;-)
(;-) TP
Hi,
Same here, Mach4 o.k. on my laptop running Vista, but Mill Wizard crashes. It opens the first page ok, select (E.G.) Circular Hole Pattern, click O.K., then windows stops the program on the third page. When I close the program using the displayed dialog box, the message "DEP has closed NFS_Mill.exe" appears on the Task Bar.
Also I'm running it and Mach4 as Administrator.
Nick.
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Is this happening when you select any operation? also is this on 32 bit? The order things happen in the OS change a little 64 vs 32 bit. Sort of hard for us to test 32bit as the new compilers don't even support 32 bit machines! They are not making it easy to work with the older OS's. Thank you Microsoft!
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Yes any operation, they all crash on the " Select a New Tool" page.
Running a 32 bit OS.
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Just to close this off, I admited defeat an bought a new laptop to run my machine. Now both Mach4 and Mill Wizard run OK.
Nick.
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The latest update of the wizard in now on the machsupport.com web site. It shows a V2.0.5, but the Help screen shows V2.04x. That is the same, just a mistake in updating the version number.
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Why is this top of the thread list?