Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: mach3 mill program simulator

« on: January 04, 2019, 12:28:36 AM »

I think the timer may reset when you encounter a tool change. Try running a temporary file using only one tool if you can. Or break the program up into 3 separate programs, one for each of 3 tools (or however many tools you need).

2

Galil / Re: DRO working differently on two different MACH3 profiles & config problem

« on: September 15, 2018, 11:23:39 AM »

I found the solution to one problem. I had both Galil.dll (ver 4.4 of plugin) and Galil-st.dll (ver 4.6) in my plugins directory. For some reason this causes the 4.6 plugin to operate open loop (not read encoders for DRO). I removed the Galil.dll from the plugins directory and now it does read encoders correctly.

I still cannot config a second time, without creating a new profile.

3

General Mach Discussion / Re: Machine servos stop but mach3 keeps running movements as machine is moving.

« on: September 12, 2018, 06:33:40 PM »

Sorry, I was searching the Galil board, but it keeps jumping back to the General Mach Discussion page.

4

General Mach Discussion / Re: Machine servos stop but mach3 keeps running movements as machine is moving.

« on: September 12, 2018, 04:46:22 PM »

If you are running a Galil controller with servo motors, Mach3 is supposed to work differently from what it does with steppers. If you do not have a Galil controller, then you may have posted on the wrong forum. To quote Smurf:

"Mach3 with a Galil is not the same as Mach3 controlling a stepper system.  Mach3/Galil is a closed loop system!  The servo PID loop is closed on the Galil.  And there is another important distinction; Mach3 gets its position from the Galil!!!  This is in contrast to a stepper system where Mach3 has it's own notion of where it thinks the table should be.  What is displayed in the Mach3 DROs comes from the Galil (which comes from the encoders).  This can be verified by disabling the servo drives and turning the motors by hand.  You will see the position updated in the Mach axis DROs."

The Galil controller is supposed to handle the motion, as I understand, and Mach3 communicates with SmartTerminal. Unfortunately there seems to be a bug in ver 4.6 of the Galil-ST plugin that handles moves as if you had stepper motors, i.e. running open loop. Ver 4.4 seems to work correctly in this regard, but may have other issues.

To test if you have the problem, Reset Mach3 and turn one of your motors by hand. You should see the DRO update as you turn it. Another test is to turn off the power to your servo motors, or disconnect the cable from power supply to controller if you can. Then send a midi command G1 X1 F30 from Mach3. The motor cannot move since the power is off, so the encoder cannot move either. If you see the DRO changing as if it is moving, then you have an open loop, not what it should be. I have observed both of these problems with my system using ver 4.6.

5

Galil / Re: A Galil Mach 3 communication problem I need help with.

« on: September 12, 2018, 04:32:49 PM »

From what I understand Galil does not create the Mach3 plugins, they are done by NewFangled Solutions if they get done at all, and there is no intention of creating a plugin for any Galil controllers except the Ethernet ones. At this point I can get by with Mach3.

6

One on one phone support. / Re: Mach3 Errors

« on: September 12, 2018, 04:26:21 PM »

That is strange. Your code should do what you want from what I see. One possible way to fix it is to add a line between N660 & N670 with F1000.00
I can think of no reason it would be needed. Feed rate is supposed to be persistent from what I understand. I assume you are creating many files with similar problems, and hand editing can sometimes be a pain, but less than pausing and restarting.

I have had problems with the "run from here" as well. It will does not seem to work at all if you have a subroutine in your G-code. I have broken several end mills with rapid moves when I expected something else.

7

Galil / Re: A Galil Mach 3 communication problem I need help with.

« on: September 12, 2018, 12:42:19 PM »

Your suggestion to just use Mach 4 is great, except for the expense involved. As you may be aware, Mach4 does not support the DMC 17xx or 18xx controllers and requires an ethernet controller. A new 5 axis ethernet controller from Galil costs $2695. Since I have a significant amount of money invested in my present controller (new cost is also $2695), it is not likely I will be upgrading to Mach4 anytime soon. If you are running a business, $2695 is not a lot of money, but for a hobby user who is retired, it is certainly significant.

8

One on one phone support. / Re: Mach3 Errors

« on: September 12, 2018, 12:09:58 PM »

I think you may be mis-understanding how feed rate works. From what I understand if you set a feed rate say G1 X 2 F30 and then execute a new G1 command without a new feed rate, the old feed rate is used. For example
G31 X20 F40
Y 17
Z 4
X 12 F20

The feed rate for the first 3 moves will all be 40 and only changes when a new feed rate is commanded, 20 for the last move in the example.

9

General Mach Discussion / Re: Machine servos stop but mach3 keeps running movements as machine is moving.

« on: September 12, 2018, 11:50:09 AM »

The problem you have is related to a bug in the Galil-ST ver 4.6 plug in. It is supposed to be reading the encoders to get position, but does not do that. Ver 4.4 seems to work correctly. Read some of my posts on loss of position for more details.

10

Galil / Re: Mapping Galil axis to Mach3

« on: September 11, 2018, 01:50:19 PM »

I have not tried this, but that is not the only bug in ver 4.6. Read some of my other posts about using ver 4.6 with servos and encoders. Try using ver 4.4, if you need a copy, email me bbutcher85@yahoo.com.