Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: Grrrh4ever on September 25, 2019, 04:05:19 PM

Title: New to Mach - need help with installation & set up
Post by: Grrrh4ever on September 25, 2019, 04:05:19 PM
Hi there

we are new to this forum but not completely new to Mach. A few years ago we tried using Mach 3 but never got it to work right - even the paid for version never worked well. The business we bought it from was not very helpful with setting is up and we were kind of left to ourselves to figure things out.
A lot of changes have been made since then and we would like to give it another try BUT ... here we go again having trouble with the installation and set up.

We even bought a new Windows 10 so we would have the "newest and bestest". We tried installing Mach 4 trial version but couldn't make it work. We don;t really care which version we'll get up and running; we'll go with whichever is recommended for VERY basic millwork.

Would anyone be available to come out to the shop and help us with the set up? (we promise you will love the shop  . . . so many toys . . . ) We are located in the Olympia / Shelton area in WA.

Thanks ... GEZ.
Title: Re: New to Mach - need help with installation & set up
Post by: joeaverage on September 25, 2019, 06:37:38 PM
Hi,
with a Windows10 PC you will need an external motion controller.

What motion controller are you usingh?

Craig
Title: Re: New to Mach - need help with installation & set up
Post by: Grrrh4ever on September 25, 2019, 06:53:16 PM
Mach 3 is currently up and running.
Non of the hard wiring or board dip switches have been changed since we had Mach 3 running previously.
ESS is installed, running, communicating with Mach 3. The E-stop, port and pin have been selected and the E-stop works.
All the settings, ports, pins, motor tuning, limit switches, ports, and pins, etc. have been lost.
This is where we need the help, settings, settings, and more settings. We need someone who can help with setting all the ports and pins and motor tuning.

We are willing to compensate the person helping us get this thing running again.
Title: Re: New to Mach - need help with installation & set up
Post by: Grrrh4ever on September 27, 2019, 11:55:16 AM
Sorry, we couldn't wait. Had to delay paying jobs and turn down other paying jobs to put more time into mach. We have it making parts again but the next time mach or windows fails us we will switch this mill over to linux cnc to match the rest of the cnc machines which work flawlessly.
Title: Re: New to Mach - need help with installation & set up
Post by: RICH on September 27, 2019, 04:51:30 PM
Had to delay paying jobs and turn down other paying jobs to put more time into mach. We have it making parts again but the next time mach or windows fails us we will switch this mill over to linux cnc

GEZ
Sorry for your experience, BUT, you had "a few years ago" /  lots of time to know learn how to configure a machine using Mach. Glad you got it working.

Only you can decide what control system you want to use.

This forum is monitored  24/7 and replies to problems or request for help is prompt. Knowledgable and experienced forum members  do a great job of assisting folks and do so for the high pay of not even a thanks!

Lack of buisness planning to accomplish a task is the owners reponsibility and not the fault of  someone or something else.

Wishing your buisness well,

RICH
Title: Re: New to Mach - need help with installation & set up
Post by: Chaoticone on September 27, 2019, 11:01:27 PM
And this bit tells anyone that could help all they need to know.

Quote
This is where we need the help, settings, settings, and more settings. We need someone who can help with setting all the ports and pins and motor tuning.

Anyone configuring any control for any machine has to have a certain amount of knowledge of the machine. The settings in Mach are straightforward and pretty intuitive for anyone that knows the machine they are configuring Mach for. Lots of people here know Mach very well and can tell you where every setting is. What no one can tell you though is anything about your machine. That is your responsibility to know your machine. You (or whoever built it if you didn't) are the only one that would know. Unless of course it is all documented (prints, BOMs, specs, etc.). If it has good docs then you should be able to get all the info. you need from those docs.

This is similar to me and GM being the only ones that know the paint color code of my truck. The only reason I know is because it is documented and I know where the document is and can read what it says. But is that all I need to know to mix a quart of paint to match it? No, not at all. If I did not know how to use that color code to mix the paint, knowing only the color code wouldn't be much help. I mean what color does U928L sound like to you? Blue? Red? I guess instead of finding the color code and learning how to use it I could just buy a paint gun from the guy on the tool truck and make it his problem. He ought to know the color of my truck and how to mix the paint to match it. After all, I was driving the truck the day I bought the paint gun. I know he saw it and he sells paint guns. If he can't mix me a quart of paint to match my truck perfectly I'll just have to get another paint gun! I'm sure the new paint gun will be better anyway. This one must be the problem. No matter what color I pour in it none of them match my truck.