Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => Mach4 General Discussion => Topic started by: BR549 on May 11, 2014, 12:37:23 AM
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Looking at the standard screen set I notice that teh lower section follows all screens and WASTES a large portion of the screen PAGE(tab) when those functions have no use for on the page.
I only see the need for it to be on 1-3 pages at most.
Can you set all the other pages to NOT have all that at the bottom.
OR do I need to wipe it out out and start over puitting functions where they are needed on each page(tab) ??
(;-) TP
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Relative to Terry's questions does the Z Order under properties apply?
OR
Maybe someone explain Z Order as I remember this "greying out " things.
RICH
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You need to start over.
Here's the reason.
The default Screenset only has ONE page (default), and those controls are at the bottom of the page.
What you're calling "pages" are tabs of a tab control placed on the default page. When you change tabs, you're not changing pages, so you'll always see what's on the bottom.
Rich, I think that Z order only applies to objects that overlap. It just controls which objects are displayed on top of other objects (controls). It doesn't grey out or disable anything below something else.
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OK so IF I wanted to imbed the axis DROSs into the toolpath display what ORDER would I use to make it look normal.
(;-) TP
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It doesn't look like you can. I just tried it, and the toolpath is always on top.
I think that Z order is mostly for placing items over bitmap backgrounds. It doesn't work well if you try to place a button over a DRO, as they will jump in front of each other when you cliick on them or roll the mouse over them.
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Relative to Terry's questions does the Z Order under properties apply?
OR
Maybe someone explain Z Order as I remember this "greying out " things.
RICH
Hi Rich,
These 2 posts address the Z order.
http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,27119.msg191686.html#msg191686
http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,27119.msg191699.html#msg191699
Thanks to Jeff and Steve.
Russ
:)
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Thanks Russ,
Hmm..... ???
In the Editor, Screen>ADD........>Page , Page is not activated yet.
I assume that you be able to add a blank screen and copy , add items to it as you wish in the future.
RICH
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If you click on the top item of the tree (wxMach), you can add a page with the "green plus" toolbar button.
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OK this has me stumped. Can someone take the BLANK screen and add 6 tabs so it looks like mach3 screen. Once I see how it is done I think I can deal with it. As is it make no sense to me. I have tried but cannot get it to do as I want.
NOW where was that manual ??
(;-) TP
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OK I took an existing screen and stripped it down to work BUT I still do not know how to create it from scratch.
NOW IF we only had hotkeys working I could make a dandy HAAS Lookin screen set. But it could not do all the details of the Haas screen as it probably would take Programming in lua.
(;-) TP
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Hey TP,
I just went to View/Load Screen/Screens/Blank.set.
Then, select a GROUP and drag it to fill the screen. (this may or may not be necessary but that's the way the original was, also left the "Label" empty) Then add a TAB control, drag it to fill the GROUP box (if it was even necessary ?). Click in the top of the TAB Control near the border (off the tabs) and click "Add a Page and place 6 or more as needed.
Then the real work begins. :)
I did this as an experiment but did not complete it with all the objects and such.
I'll assume it will work though, let me know if it don't. I plan to do similar in the future ... I see where you're going ;) and hope you might post the .set when you're done. ;D but will understand if you don't. :)
Russ :)
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btw, when you initially open the Blank.set, it is totally blank. Go to EDIT and it comes up as stripped down to the DEFAULT set-up and ready to go. Edit away.
Russ
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OK i think I see where I went wrong(;-)
What I am trying to do is MIMICK a Haas Control Panel as they are about one of the best for todays operators as to ease of use.
BUT I have to have a simple Hotkey set up as it is mostly {Fkey} and KEYBOARD controlled. Also for teh normal control you must be able to use say {F9} on different pages with different meaning. It would depend on the page as to the meaning.
FOR ME that is not really problem as I have 72 possible {Fkey} combinations to pick from.
AS is trying to {TAB} through all the stuff is all but impossible. You could break all the control panel selections down some MORE to limit the tab selection BUT it just adds to the complication.
BUT at this point I do NOT see a NO MOUSE solution on the horizon.
(;-0 TP
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BUT at this point I do NOT see a NO MOUSE solution on the horizon.
(;-0 TP
Touch screen ?
:)
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HIYA Russ, I followed you up to the point of creating PAGES. I cannot find anywhere to do that. Can you break it down to rockhead speak (;-)???
Even with touch screen(not the preferd method) you do NOT have enough internal function calls yet to do the job WITHOUT custom LUA coding. Can you find a Reset FRO to 100% button call ? So far M4 does not have all the calls that M3 did for button access.
MAYBE IF there is ever a proper Mach4/Lua/Wx.Lua manual I might can figure it out.
I can MAKE the screen LOOK Haas that is easy enough to get all the screen pages add and working from the tabs BUT that is the simple part (;-).
(;-) TP
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OK I FOUND IT DUHHHHHH and slap to the head, (;-) TP
Good thing Gcode is not this complicated (;-)
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Don't know what you mean by PAGES. You mean like the Mach3 Pages ? If so, that would just be the different tabs in the tab control. Click in the upper portion JUST beside the last existing TAB, then click the Add a Page button, then highlight any of your tabs and clink in the field of that tab to define it and to add objects.
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Hey TP,
I just went to View/Load Screen/Screens/Blank.set.
Then, select a GROUP and drag it to fill the screen. (this may or may not be necessary but that's the way the original was, also left the "Label" empty) Then add a TAB control, drag it to fill the GROUP box (if it was even necessary ?). Click in the top of the TAB Control near the border (off the tabs) and click "Add a Page and place 6 or more as needed.
Then the real work begins. :)
I did this as an experiment but did not complete it with all the objects and such.
I'll assume it will work though, let me know if it don't. I plan to do similar in the future ... I see where you're going ;) and hope you might post the .set when you're done. ;D but will understand if you don't. :)
Russ :)
HIYA RUSS I was using YOUR works not mine(;-) YOu called it pages.
YES it is that Page looking ICON thingy with a + on it (;-) I figured it out AFTER pressing every thing on the screen (;-)
Thanks, (;-) TP
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HEY WAIT A MINUTE what is that "SELECT BEVERAGE TAB" doing on your screen ???? You holding out on us ???
(;-) TP
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Don't know what you mean by PAGES. You mean like the Mach3 Pages ? If so, that would just be the different tabs in the tab control.
No, you can have pages just like the Mach3 pages. I explained that earlier today.
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Don't know what you mean by PAGES. You mean like the Mach3 Pages ? If so, that would just be the different tabs in the tab control.
No, you can have pages just like the Mach3 pages. I explained that earlier today.
Hey Gerry, I saw that post and and and created one as you illustrated, then closed EDIT.
So, where is this new page now, and how do you navigate to it in the finished screen ?
Thanks,
Russ
TP, I was confused a bit as you and Gerry are talking about 2 entirely different "Pages" and I wasn't sure which you were referring to.
My mind has a hair trigger ... please don't blow it. ;D
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Actually reading BACK he and you were describing the same thing (;-) I was the rockhead that could not find the +Page ICON.
(;-) TP
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If you click on the top item of the tree (wxMach), you can add a page with the "green plus" toolbar button.
Hey guys, here is where I went awry.
Per Ger's quote (TP-Mach3 Example) in this case, you can see where the new Page shows up in the tree.
Where does this end up ? and how do you get to it in the .set ?
If you click on "notebook7", then hit the Add Page button, a new tab will be created in the notebook.
I'm guessing that this is what Gerry actually meant to say. ? ? ?
Clear as mud now :) ::)
Russ
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I'm guessing that this is what Gerry actually meant to say. ? ? ?
No, I was talking about pages like in Mach3, not tabs. With tabs, you have Terry's original issue, where anything not in the tab control is always on the screen. Sometimes desirable, sometimes not.
I haven't really dug into the screen designer at all, but I'm assuming you can adda button to change pages, exactly the way that Mach3 works. (Just not as easy :) )
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I'm guessing that this is what Gerry actually meant to say. ? ? ?
I haven't really dug into the screen designer at all, but I'm assuming you can adda button to change pages, exactly the way that Mach3 works. (Just not as easy :) )
If you happen to, please post the procedure. :)
Otherwise, I just look at the M4 screen as ONE page with ONE notebook filling the entire screen area. Then, clicking the tabs are basically identical to changes pages in Mach3, each TAB/Page having its own attributes.
I gotcha now, thanks,
Russ :)
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Can you find a Reset FRO to 100% button call ?
(;-) TP
mc.mcCntlSetFRO(number mInst, number percent)
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I guess you'll have to script a button, otherwise, I wonder how items are added to the list of choices ?
Is this done underneath ? Will there be more added later ? The OEM code list in M3 was much larger .. iirc.
Russ
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OK can anyone give a working example on scripting for this function?? "Reset FRO to 100%".
YEs I saw the function in the LIST. But that does not tell you how it is suppose to work.
Hopefully the IDEA is to NOT to have to write a script for NORMAL CNC functions.
(;-) TP
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local inst= mc.mcGetInstance();
fro=mc.mcCntlSetFRO(inst, 100);
--paste in the click script
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local inst = mc.mcGetInstance();
mc.mcCntlSetFRO(inst,100)
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Ok, that was an easy one, No, I didn't cheat either ! Ya never know who might chime in first. :)
My first shot missed though, that capital I got me. >:(
Thanks Craig,
Russ
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I believe if you put fro=100 in the load script and then later create a keyboard action and associate that key to the fro variable you would have a hot key function.
so in reality I believe we could use the keyboard to step up or down by 10% the fro value.
Now that I understand the signal script routine it should work and function keys can have uses like Terry desires.
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you still did good Russ, I like it
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OK so the "local inst" LINE has to preceed any call ??
Which one of yous guys was correct ?? (;-)
Thanks
(;-) TP
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OK here is a new one for ya.
I want to open close the tool table at teh tab. I see you can have open and exit scripts. What is the call to Open the tool table and close the tool table.
Same for Fixture table(;-)
AND yes I did look in the available docs and did not find mention of such. I did find button functions but that is not usable in the script OR is it????
(;-) TP
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OK using the TAB to runscripts on open and exit. Houston we HAVE a problem. WHEN you start MACH4 it cycles all the TAB code and will do the function of the tab. Whether you want it or not. Kinda like the Mach3 run macro on load deal.
Kinda makes that tab function(open and exit scripts) useless.
(;-) TP
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Another need is to be able to GOTO another page from inside a tab open script. Say I have a program that runs from the TAB open script. WHen you end the program I would llike it to PUSH control back to the main page instead of it staying on the same TAB page.
Something like the GOTO page# function in MAch3
(;-) TP
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rc = scr.SetProperty('MainTabs', 'Current Tab', '1');
already there, just change the tab number and the first field name to what the tabs group is named
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WELL THAT WORKS(;-) not exactly as I planned but it still works. When t script runs it open the program them imidiatly goes to the next screen BUT it does leave teh program window open so that works.
I would have THOUGHT the program running would hold open the tab and then flinish the script AFTER it closed. AND it may be able to but but not with MY programming skills.
NOW how do I stop Mach4 from running all the TAB scripts when MACH4 opens and CLOSES for that matter ??
Thanks Craig, (;-) TP
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Just so it makes more sense here is what I am doing. From inside Mach4 I open an instance of Mill Wizard create the program and exit. You can also do it with Mach4 running Gcode.
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OK, I figured out a little bit about the Pages (not tabs).
Default, is the background page, and everything placed on Default will display on every page.
Changing pages from a button is actually very easy.
Add multiple pages, and when you add a button, and click on its Events (lightning bolt), there's a GoTo Page option, which lets you select the page to go to.
I don't know the Lua call to change pages, which I think Terry's looking for?
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Thanks Gerry for the info.
Now I can try out some things for the lathe screen that had me baffled.
RICH
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The first page is always displayed as gerry said
so if nothing is on it, nothing gets displayed
all other pages can be called and jumped around with buttons
have not found a scr command to jump to a page.
has to be one... don't ya think?
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I asked Brian on the Yahoo group. Waiting to hear back.
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OK lets get this straight I have tabs working . Craig gave me /explained thecode and it works.
ARE yall saying there are ALSO pages we can work with or are pages and TABs the same thing. The only problem I find with tabs and using open exit scripts IS they run when Mach4 starts UP and shuts DOWN it runs again. NOT GOOD
(;-) TP
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Yes, read my previous posts. There are pages, just like Mach3.
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found this works to change pages ;D
rc = scr.ShowPage('2'); -- two is the page #
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Excellent ! MOST excellent.
Thanks Gerry, my goodness, the possibilities seem endless !
Russ
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Is there a list of the .scr calls somewhere?
This is going to be very painful without documentation.
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i found it by starting to retype a command and the options came up for me to choose from, kind of a lucky oops
the list of wx.wxlua file I posted was created that way, what a tedious process
copied and pasted every command I could find that started with a wx.wx into a script then cut and pasted all to a text file.
also the load script routine is where the global variables get set, so I believe using a pageId = 2 would be the page it starts in
pageId = 0
screenId = 0
testcount = 0
machState = 0
machStateOld = -1
machEnabled = 0
machWasEnabled = 0
enableBlink = 0
enableBlinkCount = 0
jogstate1 = 0
a = 0
Hz = 0
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scr.SetProperty
scr.ShowPage
scr.ExecMdi
scr.GetCurrentPage
scr.GetProperty
scr.IsControl
scr.IsProperty
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I saw the pageid=0, but didn't know how it was being used.
And yes, after reading your post, I saw that there were only 7 .scr (methods? functions?)
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I'm just making an educated guess, but it does make sense not sure yet on the screenId
this is the section where id put the fro=100 so the feed rate always started up at 100%
then create some script code to set the slider to that value on load
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OK pages up and working but I do not see a Page (0) where everything is persistant across all pages. I had to create buttons for each page to navigate to other pages.
This is all and fun BUT where is the MOTION (;-) I can't sling chips without motion.
(;-) TP
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The "Default" page is page 0. The wxMach.set is not really designed to have multiple pages. It uses tabs. If you shrunk the tab(notebook) control down a bit and put buttons up there, you would see them on all of your pages. But you would also see the notebook control so the screen design is not going to be what you want at all.
I would start out with a new screen if you wanted "pages" in the Mach 3 sense.
Steve
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Steve,
Can one change the tree hierachy for pages? ie; Can a newly created page become the default page?
If yes, what / how would you do it?
Let me explain why I ask..............
So I created a new tab in the default page and copied a lot of info from the default page into the tab, and, additionaly created a lot more to that new tab in the default page. Now I would like what is shown in that new tab to become my default page and want to get rid of the original.
Lazy me for not wanting to start from scratch,
RICH
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I had to cut and paste everything out of the first page, too the added pages I had created. Thus leaving nothing in the first named page in the tree (default or page0 whatever you named it) But yes I would like some kind of sorting or moving of items, would make it better to organize and find things.
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Can you run two copies of Mach4 and copy from one to the other?
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I've wondered that too
wondering how do you copy and paste data from one screen set to another
what if I want to copy a whole tab or page from one screen to another.
but I wonder if the inst is the key as you open others the inst gets a new value
as I've never see it anything other than 0
matter of fact it wont let you open more than on at a time gives you an error
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I've wondered that too
damn guess i could try it let ya know
As usual :) Please ? :D
C & P in the tree itself seems to only allow certain items/groups .... not all.
Russ
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Steve,
Idealy it would be nice if you could cut and paste similar to what you can do in Windows with documents or the drive directory.
I don't know how practical it is in for the GUI.
I think Terry asked about being able to copy items from another users screen easily.
So replies 55 to 59 are thoughts that are relative to that.
I haven't fooled with the Lua, since it has the info there ( still at the beach in Hawaii :D ). Maybe you could provide some generic script to do the above at some level?
RICH
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Ok, to answer some questions...
Eventually, I had in mind the ability to shuffle the screen objects via drag and drop in the screen tree. But in the interest in actually getting Mach 4 done, that went away for a future project. The idea is to actually USE Mach 4 at some point for it's intended purpose! :) So we got the screen editor "functional". And I have seen some AWESOME screens, so it is indeed quite functional. Yes, it can stand some more bells and whistles, but they will come in time. The motion plugins are the focus now though.
Also, there will be an import and export functionality. The code is stubbed in right now. I just have not turned it on or tested it. But what that will allow you to do is export Group Boxes or pages. Say a developer of some specialized hardware has a screen page that works with all of his gadgets on his device. He can export that page and the user of said hardware can import that page into his screen set. That is one example. Another would be copying a page between two screen sets because we don't allow running multiple instances of the GUI.
Same thing for group boxes. This is probably the better approach to use for "sharing" controls and functionality. Because some screen sets (like the current Mach screen set) don't have multiple pages.
But like I said... We are trying to get the motion controllers going at this time. So all this may be a while. But just to let you know where it will get to one day.
Steve
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--Screen Load Script
fro=100
function froup()
fro = fro + 10;
end
function frodown()
fro = fro - 10;
end
function fro100()
local inst = mc.mcGetInstance();
fro=100
mc.mcCntlSetFRO(inst, fro);
end
create the buttons, and on a button click put for each button one of the following
frodown()
froup()
fr100()
--now to work on the hot keys
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HOT KEYS WORK ;D just have to restart mach4 to get to work
--edited the SigLib section of the page load script
--added two hot keys in the config plugins keyboard option shutdown restart and then config mach plugin and associate each to input 1 and input 2
[mc.ISIG_INPUT1] = function (on_off)--mc.ISIG_INPUT1
if( on_off==1 ) then
-- On
froup();
else
-- Off
end
end,
[mc.ISIG_INPUT2] = function (state)--mc.ISIG_INPUT2
if( state == 1 ) then
-- On
frodown();
else
-- Off
end
end,
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THANKS for these contributions Craig, all logged in my little (getting bigger) notebook.
Silly question:
Why do you use (on_off) in input1 and (state) in input2 ?
... briefly, if possible.
Would either work in either instance ?
Thanks again,
Russ
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Afraid I will have to wait for the easy method where you select a hotkey and a FUNCTION. Presto changeO
(;-) TP
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Steve,
Thanks for insight on future screen functionality. Answered my questions. ;)
RICH
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GUYS all this IS great, it really is BUT that idea of having a CNC controller is for the CONTROLLER to provide ALL the normal CNC machine functions without having to learn a new high order programming language and create the needed functions.
This is one of the failings of Linux/EMC . Most new generation or Jobshop operators need/want to cut parts NOT work on the machine all the time trying to get it to work correctly without a programming degree.
My thought was to have MACH4 come out with a good 4 axis workable screen set AND have the screen editor as an optional program for those that choose/need to do it. That lowers the cost of MACH4 for the hobby side and creates a second tier profit center for the Screen editor as an option.
LOOK at the other available Controllers on the market. They come with a nice useable screen set and normal CNC functions( and advanced functions) ready to use. Look at commercial controllers. I don;t think you will see fully customizable screen sets . THey GIVE you all the CNC functions and useable screens set THEN you learn how to use them and make parts.
You remember making parts right ??? Yes I know old dodgey codger running loose on the lips. But somebody needed to say it.
I am all for letting them have the time to finish MACH4 up as it should be, A great midrange controller for the times.
NUff said, Good Night, (;-) TP
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I wondered that too Russ but it was in the original signal script Brian provided so I thought id leave it to show, no discernible difference that I could tell under this application.
I too was pleased with Steve's post of what he envisioned the final screen designer would provide.
Terry if we provide some of the basic screen functions, experiment and share, the sooner Mach4 will be a reality. There are still a lot of motion control programming going on that might take some time (or you would be really "Fitchen a bitch" if canned cycles dont work). Having a community create what they envision and then share back will give all the basic screens the community is desiring. This Mach4 project, they (small team) took on, has taken them way, way more time then they prayed for. Id kind of like them to feel that we appreciate their huge task but we want it now.
Plus we get the damn thing done.
If nothing else your learning something new and that's never bad. You had to learn VB, brains, gcode, macro B (try learning A "what a pita that was")
Hopefully the examples posted will inspire you & others to experiment and provide more contributions.
Think Mach4 could be monitoring home/shop security thru a separate hardware unit at the same time your cutting chips. You just provide a functional way & screen for your own needs. Its not for every one, but this is 21st Century and these new kids do things a whole lot different than we use too.
Do they still have apprenticeships anymore? or is it just put them on the line and show em what buttons to push. Dont get me started on the way shops run.
But in the end I know your just pushing buttons for them to get it done ;) me too 8)
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I wondered that too Russ but it was in the original signal script Brian provided so I thought id leave it to show, no discernible difference that I could tell under this application.
Maybe, being they are = to names of 2 different functions they just must not be identical ?
just a guess out of the wild blue,
Russ
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GUYS all this IS great, it really is BUT that idea of having a CNC controller is for the CONTROLLER to provide ALL the normal CNC machine functions without having to learn a new high order programming language and create the needed functions.
This is one of the failings of Linux/EMC . Most new generation or Jobshop operators need/want to cut parts NOT work on the machine all the time trying to get it to work correctly without a programming degree.
I think the main issue here (at least I hope it is) is that the version of Mach4 that we're seeing are still quite a long way away from being a finished product. When it's released for sale, everything needs to work properly, including default hotkeys. If everything's not working, Mach4 will be a failure. I think we all expected Mach4 to be much further along than it appears to be, but it is what it is. All we can do is wait at this point.
My thought was to have MACH4 come out with a good 4 axis workable screen set AND have the screen editor as an optional program for those that choose/need to do it. That lowers the cost of MACH4 for the hobby side and creates a second tier profit center for the Screen editor as an option.
This is a tricky area. Because Mach is such a universal control, used on many different types of machines, a single "good" screenset is a bit of a compromise. You also have to consider that a huge plus for Mach3 has always been the ability to customize screens. Taking that option away, or charging more for it, would be a step backwards for Mach4, and is not really an option, imo.
I think you need to realize that you're not seeing the finished product, which needs to be much better than it's current state. People need to be able to use it out of the box, as is.
Mach4 is definitely going to be much more difficult to customize (especially with no manuals as Brian has hinted at :( ), but that's a byproduct of the increased flexibility and power. If you don't like, it, you can always use one of those other controls that don't let you customize it. Not everyone is going to like everything about Mach4. There are certainly things that I don't like. But at the end of the day, it'll hopefully still be the best option formost of us. If not, we'll move on to something else.
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I have to say that what the team created for the screen deisgner thus far is darn good and when some of the future stuff Steve mentioned is implemented it will be excellent. If this ning-com-poop can create a screen "picture" anybody can. All that was available was the you tube video on Mach4 at the time.
There will be a screen design manual of some sort.
Scripting is a different matter and a good "picture" is useless if it doesn't function.
I will leave that part to others for now. After some period of time enough examples should be available to help make one dangerous for
some small / basic stuff. Quessing that 96.5% of the users will never even do any Lua. Your guess may be different. ;)
What's the best screen that can be provided for Mach4?
Who knows........it will come about over time.
FWIW, when thinking about the lathe screen, approx 30+ manauls where scanned to see what was out there and what could
or should be shown on the screen. Content becomes totaly subjective.
RICH
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I am shocked that you could call Mach4 not close to finished.. The issue with the Hotkeys is nothing more then us setting up the plugin and calling it a standard. Screen design I think will be used but more to remove and change the location of items on the screens. The real goal is to make the people that can program have all the tools they need to make the screens they want to.. And at the same time add features that we don't have time to do. Mach4 is NOT out for release for a reason.. but I think it is 98% ready as far as features for Mill and Routers. What would make if "finished" more? a manual? that is not the core software.. Hotkeys? That is the KB plugin and a few signal scripts. It can run parts and you can customize it more then Mach3 every could have been.. I would call that one hell of a big step in the right direction.
I have no idea what the expectations are but if I lived to be 300 years old and worked on it every day people still would not be happy. Please don't say "it is not done" tell us what you think it needs to feel more complete! We are asking for your input! this is your chance...
Thanks
Brian
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I am shocked that you could call Mach4 not close to finished..
Until we see versions that can run machines, we really have no way of knowing how close it is? I said the versions we're seeing.
What would make it "finished" more?
See above ;)
Hotkeys? That is the KB plugin and a few signal scripts.
As Rich said, 96.5% of your users will not be able to do that.
I personally won't have a need for Mach4 for another year, so I'm in no hurry right now. But a lot of people are probably quite frustrated with the time it's taken. I know you are as well.
The one thing that's really important imo is a good customization manual. Without it, most people won't be able to utilize all the new power you're giving them. I don't want it to end up like Mach3's Flash screens. Extremely powerful, but almost nobody knew how to create them.
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I'm running a 5' x 10' router with Mach4 and ESS now
and working on a new setup now with Art's Darwin pp
I did do a bench test and did get working one nema 23 stepper to prove Darwin worked as advertised.
So they are very close.
Start saving bottles, almost time to turn them in.
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HIYA Brian I do not think anyone here has a problem with telling you want they need/want (;-). And at this point everyone understands where Mach4 is and how much more it needs to be JUST to catch up with the other available controllers in this class AND M3.
Other controllers do not have a Screenset designer BUT they do have a DXF importer, they do have FAST advanced 3 d probing, they do have toolpath transformation to correct for surface imperfections, conversational programming, and much more.
AND YES it takes time, NOT a problem take as LONG as you need to make it competetive out of the box.
I was asked to step back into the Mach world to test mach4 from MY perspective same as I did for Mach3. Mach4 has potential IF it is finished off to normal CNC standards of operation so that it appears NORMAL to them. THE Gcode side is nice now BUT there are many others than have a nice Gcode side as well.
IF you provide all the normal CNC functions up front AND with a good Gcode side I do not see the NEED to wonder off in the desert(WX.LUA) just to be able to get something working right. It will already been taken care of.
I know yous guys have work VERY HARD to get to this point. Take a breath and get back to finishing it up. At this point take your time and look around to what everyone else is offering. Get to take level at least. YOu don't have to build a new LEXUS to begin with BUT you also do not want to build a Model T and HOPE it evolves into a Cadillac over time.That model worked well for MACH3 but will not for MAch4. There is far too many OTHER controllers that will fill the void.
(;-) TP
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So this really is all down to manuals.. I think you can see by the Gcode manual and the install manual that we are going to put in the time on the manuals :) . The manual will be done as soon as we have this version locked down. So I don't see it taking us that long to get it "finished"
Thanks
Brian
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Terry hang on to your butt.. this is only the start. This is the beginning of the project. Mach3 got more features as time went on, Mach4 is designed to grow and the sky is the limit.
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I wasn't out to attack Mach4 in any way. And I'd rather see Mach4 finished and bug free before any manuals.
Don't let customers or potential customers change your course of action. Just do waht you think is needed to get it done.
But like Terry says, make sure everything needed for a beginner to run Mach4 out of the gate is ready, or it will be a support disaster for you.
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I agree... we are all on the same page
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Please don't say "it is not done" tell us what you think it needs to feel more complete!
Make my machine move. Then I can do more than cursorily look at a screen that does nothing useful. ;D
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How will use of an MPG be handled?
Will it be a device?
IE; will that be done via a plugin or will the equivilant setup to Mach3 be provided later on.
If it's a plugin can you provide a generic plugin for multiple MPG's?
RICH
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MPG is one area that you will see a huge improvement. It will be up to the motion controller to support the MPGs, so no plugin required other than the one for the motion controller. Basically, the motion controller will need to accept encoder inputs. Most do. If there is some sort of "encoder input" card/board/device, I'm sure a plugin can be written for it.
Steve