Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: Keyboard control lost

« on: March 16, 2024, 01:27:41 PM »

Thanks for your speedy reply and your where spot on.
System now corrected and ready to go.
Thanks
Malcolm

2

General Mach Discussion / Keyboard control lost

« on: March 16, 2024, 08:02:32 AM »

Using Mach3 yesterday after a pause for lunch I found that I had lost the ability to move the mill spindle using the arrow keys on the keyboard. I had been using it earlier in the session without problems.
 I tried a different keyboard still no movement?. The spindle moves correctly using the MDI screen and when running a program.
 I normally use the keyboard to zero the Z axis and its loss makes things difficult.
Anyone able to help?
Malcolm Smith

3

General Mach Discussion / Write Wizard

« on: August 29, 2022, 04:15:18 PM »

It must be 5 years since I last used Mach 3 and I am pleased to see Graham Waterworth is still on the forum.
My problem is trying to use the Write Wizard. Initial problem is naming the code generated by Write so that I can find it again.
Can someone get me straightened out on this please
Malcolm Smith

4

General Mach Discussion / Re: Can this computer run mach3

« on: March 06, 2017, 03:28:18 PM »

 Everything seems to be sorted now. Engraving text OK,  ie I don't have to stand on my head anymore.
Thanks for all your help Tweakie.

Note :- Must now make a note of my setting for when the computer goes belly up again.

Malcolm

5

General Mach Discussion / Re: Can this computer run mach3

« on: March 05, 2017, 01:25:50 PM »

Things are now looking reasonable having having calibrated the axeses and got control of the spindle.
Used 'write' to engrave some text. It looked fine on screen but when cut was backwards and upside down.
It will save me time if anyone can say what I have done wrong.

Malcolm

6

General Mach Discussion / Re: Can this computer run mach3

« on: March 02, 2017, 04:53:06 PM »

Tweakie.
Before reading your latest mail I found a record of how I had set up mach3 originally in 2007 and noted some differences from my current settings.
I put in the 2007 settings and everything worked!.
The main difference was that the motor output step and direction pins were in the wrong columns ( if I make myself clear).
 spindle was selected - step pin = 1, dir. = 17, tick, tick 1,1

input signal used was - timing enabled -  port 1, pin 15, tick, X, 0

output signals used - enable#1 - tick, 1, 14, tick
                               output#1 - tick, 1, 16, tick

Testing the system the spindle reacted to M3,M4,M5 as it should but the spindle started to turn only when a speed of 3600 or higher was requested.
So I messed about and succeeded in stopping the spindle rotating with M3!!!, still OK with M4. Do not know what I altered but the red LED on spindle electronics permanently ON.
With M4 the red LED flashes in tune with speed of rotation.
Further work required to solve this one. NOTE record all changes made in future.
At least it is not a faulty computer, just an embarrassed operator.

Malcolm

7

General Mach Discussion / Re: Can this computer run mach3

« on: March 01, 2017, 03:56:00 PM »

Tweakie,
Dashed straight out and disabled the outputs and got no movement at all!!!.
Re-established the outputs and was back to being able to drive axises in one direction only.
Thoughts:- re-install Mach3. Look inside computer for damaged mother board which could have resulted from flat battery. Anything else?

Malcolm

8

General Mach Discussion / Re: Can this computer run mach3

« on: February 28, 2017, 03:13:59 PM »

Tweakie,
Things not quite as easy as expected. I have two profiles and hence two 'xml' files in Mach3 directory. However I found by checking dates that the newest files had no extension
 which threw me somewhat, the old ones had the xml extension. On copying the new files to a USB stick they acquired the missing extension?!.
Checked mill action using the new file and it was just as before; X,Y,Z axes moving in one direction only.

9

General Mach Discussion / Re: Can this computer run mach3

« on: February 27, 2017, 06:02:19 PM »

Well Tweakie I cannot understand this.
If I look at ports and pins on the computer that is not what I see. The entries under step and direction are 3,5,7 and 2,4,6 and pin 17 for the spindle???

Malcolm

10

General Mach Discussion / Re: Can this computer run mach3

« on: February 26, 2017, 11:22:32 AM »

I have just copied this file from the computer having first verified that it does drive the three
axis's in one direction only.
I have named the file Thomas.xml after posting problems

Malcolm