Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: Workinforwood on January 05, 2020, 03:58:45 AM
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My computer died. I bought another, same computer running windows xp and parallel port. Loaded mach 3, and my mach liscence. My Syil x5 has a file on the cd x5spn that should have everything set up exactly for my machine. I load mach, i press tab and manually jog the machine. It works perfect. I load a program, zero everything press start. Machine moves right and a axis spins the rod the the beginning of the project. Then the machine just sits there, the dro is moving spindle slinning but nothing happening. I know my code is good, i cut it a hundred times.
I think i know the issue but i dont really know. What i think is happening is the machine is cutting from the inside of the rod instead of on top of the rod. My toolpath display on one screen shows the rod and a cut line across the bottom. On the other toolpath display shows the rod and the image and cut line through the center.
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Doesnt matter what i do. I uninstall reinstall everything. Load the factory setting for my cnc. I run a program, 4 axis. Machine travels to the starting point totally normal like it should then just sits there not moving but the dro is moving on the computer screen. I am frustrated to death
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So i had to buy a new, used pc, it is windows xp pro. Same as my other was except for the pro part. I installed mach3. I instaled the factory settings from my machines cd. Machine should be set up exactly right just from that. I press jog. Machine jogs every direction plus a axis turns perfectly. Spindle turns on, life is great! So i load a program which i have cut many times. Tried others too same results.i hit start, The machine starts up, it moves to the beginning of the cut....and then it just sits there.😡😡😡. Dro is moving but not machine. I can hit stop, rewind, the machine will go back to o,o,o. So clearly the machine and mach are connected. I tried installing about 10 different versions of mach3 and every time same results.
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When you say, "....and then it just sits there.", Where exactly? Does it move in both X & Y and Z? Or just X and Y?
Sounds like Mach3 thinks it is talking to a machine, but something is missing and the steppers are not getting the code.
Does the machine respond to G00 only or to G01 codes as well.
We need more information.
Regards,
Peter
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When i press start to run a program, the spindle turns on. The machine moves to the beginning of the cut...line 5 gcode. Then the machine no longer moves, it just sits there with the spindle on. The dro is going through code while machine isnt moving.
I am not to understanding of what g codes mean because i have software that generates it. BUT, i can tell you the beginning line that takes the machine to the starting point is GOO. The next line where the machine does not move is a GO1.
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The G-code that causes the rapid movement of a particular axis is G00 (G followed by zero; one or two makes no difference).
The speed at which an axis moves is determined by parameters set in the Motor Tuning page of Mach3.
When a program is generated, a Feed Rate has to be specified - you have control over this rate as you will need to know how fast the tool cuts through material.
I don't know your level of experience in G-code: forgive me if this sound banal.
So, typical G-code would look like this:
G00 Z10.000
G00 X0.000 Y0.000
The first line tells the Z axis to raise the cutter to 10 units up at the machine's fastest rate.
The second line tells both X and Y axes to move to their zero positions.
A line like:
G01 X23.500 Y34.000 F200.0
will move both axes to the given locations at a rate of 200 units/time.
The units will be defined by the user when Mach3 is installed.
If you are not giving the machine a Feed Rate, then the rate will be that specified in the Tab setting.
There is a text window in Mach3 next to the Reset button, bottom left of the screen: What does it say after you start your program and then see the cutter stop dead while the code runs past?
It sounds like the program is missing some code, since you can do everything from within Mach3. It is a steep learning curve, but you really need to know how to code manually to be able to prevent runaway tool cutters doing their own thing.
Because you are running a program that used to work, something is missing from your computer software rebuilds. It sounds most likely due to a setting within Mach3.
Can you access the old hard disk on the computer that crashed? Maybe get a setting file from your original Mach3 into your new computer? I think it is an XML file.
Step by step, try and use the same logic as the machinery in front of you....
Good luck,
Peter
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I have cut this code over a hundred times. Tried several other codes i know work, same results.
Far as i know, the software that generates my gcode sets my feedrate. Its part of the options you set before telling it to make the code.
The status bar by the reset button says nothing. No errors or anything.
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can you post your g-code file?
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G00 g49 g40.1 g17 g80 g50 g90
G20
M6 T1
M03 S12000
G00 x1.7633 z0.0120 A23.485
G01 x1.7571 z0.0101 A24.810 f5
X1.7561 Z0.0095 A24.324
Lots of x1 lines next.
But, like i said, i know the code works 100% positive. Cut this code hundreds of times on this machine.
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the G-code is ok, just wanted to see that there is a F value at the first G01 move.
just ideas (i realy do not know what the problem is):
-parallel port 5V - 3.3V Problem
-mach3 Version Problem
if you say machine just sits there dro are moving, is the g-code window also going throug all the lines?
have you tryed to do machine moves by entering in MDI Input?
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Tried new cable.
The machine stops moving at line 5 but the computer continues reading the code and moving the dro. The machine doesnt turn off, it just stops following commands.
I can return to zero
I can make single moves in midi mode.
I have tried approx 15 versions of mach3. Back to using the one the machine came with since i know its compatible.
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can you please post your Profile XML?
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G00 g49 g40.1 g17 g80 g50 g90
G20
M6 T1
M03 S12000
G00 x1.7633 z0.0120 A23.485
G01 x1.7571 z0.0101 A24.810 f5
X1.7561 Z0.0095 A24.324
Lots of x1 lines next.
But, like i said, i know the code works 100% positive. Cut this code hundreds of times on this machine.
Check your settings regarding the A axis (rotary ?)
F5 is mighty slow if angular. Tenths will click by on the DRO's, but actual movement will creep and can appear motionless depending on the axis resolutions.
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thanks for looking at this tps.
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I dont know about f5 and what it does. i can tell you the machine moves plenty fast for the micro bit i am using. when i speed it up i would get more damaged rods due to broken bits. I don't think its moving at such a slow rate i cant see it. i am able to bump the speed up dramatically to do virtual cuts and it still just sits there after line5. i got my hands on a new parallel cable, that didn't make any difference either.
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Its not in your preamble, but are you using G93 or G94 ?
Do you see any message inn the status line ?
If in G93 (which would be likely) there needs to be an F word on each line.
Otherwise it will pause as you are seeing.
MDI G94 then try your code again.
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When you re-install Mach3 (you say, 15 times?), do you calibrate the stepper motors in the Motor Tuning section of Config?
Also, to you reset all the Ports and Pins. Can you tell us what the pulse per units are for the X, Y, Z and A axes are?
This will give us an idea of how many pulses are needed per unit on each axis.
Regards,
Peter
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Each time i reinstall, the only motor tuning needed is a axis needs more speed.
Step pulses. I think its either zero, or 45k. Not sure the question. I am pulsing 45k. When i click motor tuning, each axis says 0 step pulse.
Theres no error codes in the status bar when i press start. No idea what F means but this machine ran for 10years without it.
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i had a look to your Profile XML. Looks fine so far.
only in motortuning is a 0 for Step Pulse (all axis).
IMHO there should be something from 2 to 5.
Looks like your machine has a BOB witch Needs Charge Pump enabled,
so the Step Pulse might not be necessary, but you can give it a try.
next step would be to check pulse signals and Charge pump Signal via oscilloscope
i think and also check the signals to be 5V not 3.3V, because older parallel ports used
to be 5v and newer ones 3.3v.
That is the only idea i have for the Moment.
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I think Mach3 defaults to 25kHz as a base computer frequency and this suits most installations.
You ran a machine with a F setting (even though you didn't know it): it would not run without it! It tells the machine the Feed rate or how many units per time for all movements.
I run my machines with (typically) 700 mm/min, depending on what I'm cutting. Moving a cutter down onto a job, the rate would be 200 mm/min, for example.
Your machine knew what feed rate has been applied for it to move any axis: it didn't run for 10 years without it.
There are many parameters and settings in Mach3 that must be applied for the machine to run correctly. When your computer crashed, the settings may or may not be retrievable.
Or, you go through the process and set the machine up again. From your statements and questions, I am thinking this could be a new area for you.
If the machine has not been calibrated or setup in the first place, there will be unpredictable results. Fortunately, in this case, the machine is not moving.
Yes, your program ran for years without a problem - that was with the machine and software aligned correctly. But that has changed with a new install of Mach3.
Have a look at their website for setting up a machine with settings for Ports and Pins, Motor Tuning, General Parameters, etc. They walk you through it.
Regards,
Peter
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Update. This answer is ridiculous. Took me 4 months to figure it out. What a battle! I had the answer written down because this happened when i bought it. The problem is in my xml file. My machine set up 3 axis but is 4axis.
So heres the dang answer to my frustration.
General config
Click toolpathconfig
Click YES for use radius for feedrate
Done...fixed. Aaaaaaaargh!