Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: Keygrabber problem, (can't find DLL)

« on: May 10, 2007, 01:59:43 PM »

Thanks!
I got it working but I have one more question.  I'm using a Microsoft "Sidewinder" Joystick and I have this setup with keygrabber.  It only wants to move one axis at a time. Is there a setting for this?  I noticed that I also have the option of turning it on in Mach. There are different results depending on which xml for Mach that I am running too.

Eliot

2

General Mach Discussion / Re: Keygrabber problem, (can't find DLL)

« on: May 09, 2007, 10:05:53 AM »

Ok, I'm sorry.. It is the DINPUT8.DLL that it is looking for.

3

General Mach Discussion / Re: Keygrabber problem, (can't find DLL)

« on: May 09, 2007, 09:33:11 AM »

When I open up Keygrabber, I get a message saying that the DLL is not found and then gives me a long string ending with "wbem".  Isn'tn that the DLL, "wbem"? Do you want me to give you the whole string?  If so, I will go out to the shop and write it down.

4

General Mach Discussion / Re: Keygrabber problem, (can't find DLL)

« on: May 08, 2007, 06:45:18 PM »

It looks like a long convoluted string that I don't know that I should try and reproduce here but it ends with "wbem".
There is a lot of repeating of "system 32;WINNT;c;\WINNT", etcetera.  I think that it has the target wrong. 
Any idea what I should do to fix it?

5

General Mach Discussion / Keygrabber problem, (can't find DLL)

« on: May 08, 2007, 10:08:00 AM »

Hello all!
I can't get my Keygrabber to work since I reinstalled Mach 3.  It can't find the DLL.  I tried replacing the shortcut from a shortcut on my other computer, but I am having the same problem.  Does any one know how to fix this sort of thing?

Eliot

6

General Mach Discussion / Re: problems with THC300 and SheetCam

« on: May 07, 2007, 12:58:08 AM »

It turns out that I had my switch set up wrong.  At first I had it affecting the switch after the 1/2" of travel after the tip would hit the surface. I switched it so that it trips the switch immediately after touching the surface.  I think that i have it working now. 
Brian Baudier, to answer your question:
I have not figured out how to manually jog up or down while cutting a part but the THC does allow you to move up and down by adjusting the knobs associated with the voltage sensing on the THC 300's panel. I have just got mine running for the first time and it seems to work great.  I think that it will take a little time to tweak every thing so that it cuts perfectly.  As far as time hooking it up, it took me about a day or day and half to install my sensor in the plasma unit and figure out problems.  The biggest problem is that I had some key questions after reading over the documentation.  Fortunately, everyone that I have asked questions from are extremely helpful. After going through the experience of hooking it up, I feel that I may be of help to anyone who may have questions.  Feel free to ask me some specifics when you are ready to install yours.

Eliot Irwin

7

General Mach Discussion / problems with THC300 and SheetCam

« on: May 04, 2007, 01:31:03 PM »

I am setting up my THC300 and I have everything together but I am having some problems.  I'm using SheetCam and I am having issues with the G28.1 Z .5 command.  When I start my part, Mach 3 drives the torch down until the switch is tripped. Whatever unit I have my pierce hight set to in SheetCam is the height that Mach returns the torch to after zeroing.  In other words, If I have my pierce distance set to .25 in sheet cam, this is what the torch travels to after plunging .5" to trip the switch.  So my tip is still pressing against the metal when the M03 is waiting for an arc ok signal.  I am setting my switch travel in the "settings"on the run screen in Mach but is doesn't seem to do anything.  Does any one know what I am doing wrong?

Eliot

8

General Mach Discussion / Re: loosing reference with offset origin

« on: April 24, 2007, 12:43:27 PM »

I responded to your personal message but I don't think that it went through the first time. 
I am using an older Dell with a Pentium 3 in it.  I have got my steps set to 2546.5376/inch and my velocity set to 300.  My stepper is driving a shaft and on that shaft are a set of timing belt pulleys for each side,If you are interested, I can upload a picture of it.

EIrwin

9

General Mach Discussion / Re: loosing reference with offset origin

« on: April 24, 2007, 10:01:47 AM »

I have the motors set to about half way on the setting.  I set the motors so that they sounded good when jogging.  If I set them lower, It might be real slow but I will try that. 
If I get a faster computer, will that effect this problem if in deed my motor tuning needs adjustment?

EIrwin

10

General Mach Discussion / loosing reference with offset origin

« on: April 23, 2007, 10:32:01 PM »

This is my first posted question here!
I have built myself a router/plasma gantry using Mach 3, Gecko stepper drives, Bob Campbell's breakout board and size 34 steppers.  The problem that I am having is that Mach 3 is loosing the location of zero or I am missing steps.  This seams to happen on rapid moves only. It doesn't matter if I am using the router or plasma or pen tool, when the tool is under load or not.  So when I am using the router and doing a rough pocket opereration, the step-downs "shift" in usually one direction and my offset zero is altered on the X or the Y.  This will happen during an operation.  This also happens when I am using a pen tool or plasma torch and closed shapes that are nested together are shifted apart.  The shapes are the right size just not the right distance apart. Is this happening because I am using an older and slow computer? I have nothing else running on this computer so I know that it is not another app.  Has this happened to anyone?
Thanks,
Eirwin