Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: Plasma tube cutting

« on: December 21, 2010, 07:40:11 PM »

I manage to do some holes on the tube by simply substitute "electrically"  the axis X servo drive with the axis A servo drive. So i dont have to do any changes at all at the g code.
Is there any way to tell the mach to substitute software wise the output of the X axis to the output of the A axis?

Since you likely won't be cutting sheet and tube on the same job, couldn't you just build a second mach profile for tube cutting? Then it would be as simple as loading the correct "version" of Mach for the job, and you could continue to use your standard g code.

2

VB and the development of wizards / Re: need help with simple script

« on: December 11, 2010, 11:28:54 AM »

Works great, thank you.

3

VB and the development of wizards / need help with simple script

« on: December 10, 2010, 07:10:01 PM »

I currently use this one line in a macro file to toggle the THC on/off.

 DoOEMButton(123)  ' toggle THC on/off

This works perfectly. The problem I have is that the program does not know the current state of the THC. So I am trying to make separate THC on and off macros.

' to turn THC on
Cur_THC_status = GetOemLed(24)           'get the state of the THC
  If Cur_THC_status  = 0 Then                ' if the THC is off
   DoOEMButton(123)                              'push the THC button to toggle it on
  End If                                        'end condition statement

' to turn THC off
Cur_THC_status = GetOemLed(24)           'get the state of the THC
  If Cur_THC_status  = 1 Then                ' if the THC is on
   DoOEMButton(123)                             ' push the THC button to toggle it off
  End If                                        'end condition statement

These do not work and I don't know why. I know very little about scripting. Suggestions would be appreciated.

4

Finished Plugins for Download / Re: USB JoyPad and game device plugin - new version!

« on: December 02, 2010, 02:46:09 PM »

Thanks for the great plug-in! I just happened to have a Logitech Dual Action that came bundled with a PC, I'm not much of a gamer so I never had any use for it until I discovered this plug-in. It's exactly what I needed for my plasma machine, it lets me quickly and easily move the torch to the starting point of the material.

I think you should add a config option to allow the user to enable certain button presses while in E-stop or while program is running. It's not a feature I really need right now, but I can see how it could be usefull for stop and reset buttons. Maybe each button could even have settings independent of the others.

5

General Mach Discussion / Re: 2 tools on y axis

« on: November 25, 2010, 02:17:42 PM »

I do something similar with my machine but I use a different method. It's a plasma cutter with a pneumatic scribe mounted a few inches from the plasma torch. I don't have much knowledge of G code or fixture offsets, I use Sheetcam to generate the G code for Mach3. I wrote a custom post processor file for Sheetcam to handle the tool offset and activation of the air scribe solenoid. When I have a job requiring plasma and scribe on the same part I just specify the correct tool for each line in Sheetcam, and the rest is automatic. This may not be the best way to do it, but it has been working for me for a few years.

6

General Mach Discussion / Re: general problems with mach3

« on: May 23, 2008, 12:13:34 PM »

Keling recommends using Sherline 1/2 pulse mode, which according to Art will give you a 40us step/direction pulse regardless of the other pulse width settings.

http://www.kelinginc.net/Mach3Tutorial.doc

7

General Mach Discussion / Re: THC on/off button not working

« on: May 19, 2008, 06:28:02 PM »

Chip,
I haven't had a chance to do anything further. I'm waiting for some new plasma nozzles, I went thru a lot of them learning how all the settings work.

I might load V3.xx just to see how it works. I actually have two PCs set up at the machine already from doing some troubleshooting, I can load the latest version on one of them.

I made the THC based on Tom Caudle's design that was included in the Mach2 user manual. I believe the schematic is the basis of what has now become the THC300. I made changes to allow the desired arc voltage to be preset before starting the cut, as well as some minor changes to interface my Esab plasma cutter. I've used it on two different plasma cutters now and it works pretty well.

I'm ok with how all my inputs and outputs are working, I just with I could toggle THC on/off without shutting down Mach. I'm still very new at this, but I think there is a way to use G code to toggle THC on/off? I don't know if that has the same effect as pushing the on/off button on the screen, or if it just enables/disables the Z movement.

I will send you a PM.

Jon

8

General Mach Discussion / Re: THC on/off button not working

« on: May 17, 2008, 11:46:24 PM »

Chip,
To clarify, I'm talking about the THC On/Off button on the Mach3 Plasma main screen. The only time I can turn it on/off is right after mach is started up before I ever click the reset button to stop it flashing. After I have clicked the reset button the THC stays in whatever state it is in and if I want to turn it on/off I need to close and restart Mach.  Also, the toch on/off button does not work, but I haven't played with that one much.

About my system, I'm using a home-made arc voltage sensing THC with up, down, and arc good outputs. The THC hardware is always on and it's outputs active when the machine is on. I'm running Mach3 Plasma v2.63. Under ports and pins>inputs I have "THC On" input connected to the arc good signal from the THC, as well as the up/down inputs connected to the corresponding outputs from the THC. I use Sheetcam with the THC300 post processor to generate the G code. The THC works fine when the THC button is lit, and the machine will not move until it gets the arc good signal, so I'm fairly certain those inputs are set up correctly. You mentioned an enable pin? Would that be the "THC On" input? Maybe I'm using that input incorrectly.

Thanks for your time.
Jon

9

General Mach Discussion / THC on/off button not working

« on: May 10, 2008, 09:45:15 PM »

Using Mach3 Plasma, I can only turn the THC on/off before the first reset. In other words, When I start mach the reset button is flashing. THC is off by default. If I click the THC button first it turns on (green) but after I click the reset button the TCH button stops working. The THC function works, but I have to restart Mach every time I want to turn it on or off.

10

General Mach Discussion / Re: Plasma Grounding Help

« on: April 23, 2008, 05:43:21 PM »

I have tested the DB9 Shell and have an 0.00 ohm reading from the plasma machine box and the DB9 shell.

The THC 300 manual doesn't say anything about the plasma machine side, but it does say this about the control panel side:
"The DB9 shell needs to be insulated from your cabinet chassis. DO NOT MOUNT WITHOUT
INSULATING IT FROM THE CABINET GROUND. It will form a ground loop and cause possible
noise problems. Mount it where you can access it externally. Check it with an ohm meter to make
sure after it is mounted. Measure between the metal of the shell and the cabinet. It should be a very
high reading."