Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: Fountaine on May 25, 2013, 03:40:44 PM
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Need help. I have been using my Mach 3 cutting plasma and doing fine.
My problem is I just switched to the router and my mill screen is not moving the gantry.
I looked at the config screen, ports and pins and set up the mill screen the same as the plasma and still no go.
Any suggestions?
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attach both xmls and I will see if I can find the problem.
Hood
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I knew I could count on you to reply. I will copy them this morning and get them out to you.
I figured out my BobCad problem, there was a debug that was off. How it got that way....who knows.
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Both of the xml files are in this zip file. The ProCutCNC is the one that works, the Mill file does not.
The last time I used a router was last ept. and it did work then. I can not think of anyone that has accessed that file to change it. I would not even know where to begin to change it.
If you do see something, you will have to let me know how to change/update it and save it.
Thanks again for your help.
Bob.
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Ok your pins for axes are different, I take it this is working the same machine just different profiles?
Anyway in the plasma X is Step and Dir 2,3. y 4,5, z 6,7 a 8,9
in the mill it is 2, 6 3,7 4,8 5,9
Also you have port 2 enabled in Plasma but not in Mill and you have different addresses for port 2.
Hood
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No, in mill it does not move at all. Do I go into Pins & Ports to change these.
I did go into there yesterday and changed them all to the same as the plasma and still did not work. I did not change anything back to make it read different today.
If I do not go into Ports and Pins, where di I change this>
You seem to have a lot of knowledge about this stuff, I have seen many of your replies. How long have you been doing this and what is it that you do? Do you have a shop, are you a Mach rep/tec or just smart?
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Ok just to be clear, this is the same machine you are controlling but just using different profiles?
Yes you change in ports and pins, the two xml's you attached have a few different settings but the most important ones are the ones noted above.
I have been using Mach for about 5 or 6 years I suppose and I am none of the above, especially the last :)
Hood
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Thanks. I will let you know how it comes out.........And yes, it is one machine.
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Hi Robert,
You need to disregard Hood’s modesty – he is more than smart, if fact genius comes to mind. ;D
Tweakie.
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if fact genius comes to mind. ;D
Tweakie.
Your spelling is not too great Tweakie, you put an U instead of an A and also missed out the last S :)
Hood
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Hey Hood, leave Tweakie alone as he had the same spelling teacher that I had. :)
BTW Tweakie , maybe "in" instead of "if" . :D
RICH
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;D ;D ;D
Tweakie.
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Tweakie, I already knew that, but thanks for the heads up.
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Yes Robert, overlook Hood's modesty. He has been at this for a long time......... a very long time.......... he is wise like father time for a good reason........ they were born in the same year. ;D I'd love to have a nickle for every bit of good solid advice Hood has given.
Rich and Tweakie are fine ones too. In fact we have a very good group period and your part of that so pat yourself on the back too. :)
I spell checked this twice too BTW and it said it was good all both times........ :P
Brett
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Sounds like a good crew.
Hood, I changed the pins and; I double check the Plasma window and all works fine. I changed the pin #'s to match and: The L arrow moves the X to the the R, the R to the L. The up axis moves down and visa versa. The A does not move. I also enabled the #2 port and changed the address to the same as plasma.
Is there a check to turn the slave on?
I tried to reverse the numbers, thinking that would move them in the opposite and nothing moved.
Don't know where to go next.
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Is there a check to turn the slave on?
I am not an expert at this because I have never had occasion to actually do it but…
In Motor Tuning make the settings exactly the same for both the Y and A axes and save the settings for each.
In General Config uncheck the A-Axis so it makes the A axis Linear.
In Slave Axis select Y to A then restart Mach3.
You should now have both these axes slaved.
Tweakie.
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he is wise like father time for a good reason........ they were born in the same year. ;D
Brett
And Brett and my Granddad were school buddies :)
Hood
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To change the direction an axis moves you change the active state of the Dir pin for that axis (Ports and Pins, Motor Setup page)
Hood
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we're getting there.
The 3 axis and the A are working......Yea.
The only thing is, when I run my plasma, The motors have a good solid sound. When I run the Mill they have a weaker/whiney sound.
I will run a test later to make sure I got it.
Is there any problem with the sound?
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Think you have different motor tuning values for each profile, if its the same machine then I would expect each to be the same between profiles.
Hood
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It is the same machine.
I did some tests today and started with the Mill screen and the feed speed and plunge speed were not as posted. For kicks I ran the Plasma screen and the feed speed and plunge speed worked fine. Makes you wonder.
I have to thank you guys for the solid advice and help.
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Are there any real differences in the machine when running as plasma or mill?
If not then the easy thing to do would just be to copy your plasma xml to the desktop, rename it to whatever you want for the mill then place back in the Mach3 folder.
But if that is the case then why use two different profiles? Must be some differences?
Hood
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The most noticeable is the sound of the motors and the Z plunge depth is not right in Mill. The Plasma screen has a torch and THC button and Mill does not. But is I can use it, for the time being, I don't have a problem with it.
I do have some cutting to do this week so I will be using the Plasma screen for the router.
If you look up my web site, RobertFountaine.com, you will get an idea of what I have been doing.
The first time I turned on my machine was in Aug. 2012. I started totally green, as I have no metal, cad, design or any other related talents in this industry.
I have learned a lot and have much more to learn. I do keep all the helpful advice I get from you, so I hope I will at least never repeat these steps in my learning curve.
Many thanks again, let me know what you think about my web site.
Bob
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You can easily change screensets in a profile or if as I mentioned above you made a new profile. Just go to view menu then load screen and you can then choose the one to use. The screenset can actually make quite a difference to the actual profile, mill plasma etc are basically all the same but if you load a lathe screenset into a mill profile it sets the defaults for a lathe and vice versa.
Hood