Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: Help with CV mode

« on: April 04, 2009, 11:14:16 AM »

Thanks for looking at this.
I am heading to the shop and will have details later.
One example is utilizing the ellipse wizard code.
This program works very well, in that it allows you to set the ht and width as well as the number of line segments.
This is for example a connection of 360, 1 degree moves that are G1 x & y type.
If CV could remove the acel and decel on each move it would be perfect.
I then created an ellipse in autocad and found 10 arcs with varying radius dimensions that overlay the original ellipse.
This provides 10 arc segments with end point and radius and can be done with G2 or G3 moves.
This works very well, ellipse done with arcs instead of line segments. (circular vs linear interpolation)
To clean it up I need to roll thru all moves at the same velocity.
I can give you the set of points that I am going to test next.

The code is from memory and may not be complete to the detail.
I have not tested these numbers yet, If the arcs present inverted, change from G3 to G2 moves.

G1 1.000,1.75
G17 G3 0.804, 1.69, r 0.35
G17 G3 0.60, 1.45, r 0.625
G17 G3 0.50, 1.00, r 1.0625
G17 G3 0.60, 0.55, r 1.0625
G17 G3 0.804, 0.310, r 0.625
G17 G3 1.00, 0.25, r 0.35
G17 G3 1.196, 0.31, r 0.35
G17 G3 1.40, 0.55, r 0.625
G17 G3 1.50, 1.00, r 1.0625
G17 G3 1.40, 1.45, r 1.0625
G17 G3 1.196, 1.690, r 0.625
G17 G3 1.00, 1.75, r 0.35

Thanks again.
Chuck

2

General Mach Discussion / Help with CV mode

« on: April 04, 2009, 09:59:28 AM »

I have used many Robot and motion controllers over the years.
All of them have a method of path mode (cp) that allows the connection of many moves to be blended together to get smooth continuous motion. Basically Accelerate up to commanded velocity from the start to the first position and then move thru each position to the next and Decelerate to a stop at the last move.
Can Mach do this?
I am not a machinist but it seems that "finish grade" is a function of feeds and speeds, if the axis accel and decel on every move in a path, the finish would be anything but acceptable.

I have a simple function of Cv mode that needs to be done.
I want to connect a series of ten arcs and I do not want to change velocity from one arc to the next (Constant Velocity).

I am frustrated with Cv and its setup, as I can read many others as well are having similar and varied results.

What are the settings that I need to make to see a change from exact stop to CV mode?

I am cutting holes in Tangential mode  most openings are less than 20" * 20".
Example an ellipse 7" high by 5" wide.

I see no change when I turn CV on in the general configuration settings.
I have changed the look ahead lines, cv distance, and max cv angle.

Can anyone help?

3

VB and the development of wizards / Re: calling a wizard wth a button

« on: March 08, 2009, 02:30:49 PM »

Gerry,

Thank you.
This is great, very happy!

4

VB and the development of wizards / Re: calling a wizard wth a button

« on: March 08, 2009, 02:00:12 PM »

Hi Scott,

This looks like what I am looking for.
I tried it with a few of the wizards that I know work.
I was not able to get a specific wizard to come up.

The line of code that you gave was   LoadWizard("MyWizName").
I tried  LoadWizard("CutArc") as a test and could not get any results.
I used a script button and had the line - LoadWizard("CutArc")  in it.

What am I missing?
This is an important function in our machine from an operator stand point  and I am hoping that you can help.

Thanks,
Chuck

5

VB and the development of wizards / calling a wizard wth a button

« on: March 05, 2009, 07:18:21 PM »

Is it possible to select a specific wizard with a button as opposed selecting the wizard selection menu and choosing from the list of wizards?
I would like the button to load the specific wizard and see no drop down menu.
Thanks for any help.

6

General Mach Discussion / ellipse code using limited number of arcs

« on: January 14, 2009, 05:26:22 AM »

I have used the ellipse formula with line segments and the angle for each segment and it works well, but it is very slow.
Each segment is an individual move with an accel and decel associated with it.
Can anyone help with the Gcode using a limited number of arcs to approximate an ellipse?
This would let me use circular commands and very fast smooth moves.
Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.

7

Screen designer tips and tutorials / Re: pop up numeric key pad

« on: January 12, 2009, 02:38:43 AM »

Thank you RC,

I have a number of DROS that are populated in a wizard screen and I make the cut path calculations based on these numbers.
When I go back to the standard layout I would like to see these values but not let the operator change them.
This will allow the operator to see the layout for the cut and the numbers that derived it before cutting or just allow them to see what has been entered
on the setup screen (the wizard screen).
I hope this makes sense.
I thought maybe I would use a Brain that runs in the background that continuously populates the viewing DROS with data from the wizard DROS?
What ever is the easiest way of getting the settings visible from the run screen.

Thank you.

8

Screen designer tips and tutorials / Re: pop up numeric key pad

« on: January 11, 2009, 01:22:24 PM »

I think thats it!
Thank you.

What about a dro that is read only?
any ideas?

9

Screen designer tips and tutorials / pop up numeric key pad

« on: January 11, 2009, 11:56:31 AM »

I have been playing with the Ellipse wizard that was posted on the site and I noticed that when I went to select the Dro a very nice numeric key pad pops up.
Does anyone no where I can get this function? I prefer it over a full key board function.
My second question is how  to make a DRO read only (data input not desired)?

Thank you for any ideas.

10

Screen designer tips and tutorials / Re: Screen refresh problem?

« on: January 07, 2009, 07:29:24 PM »

Hi,
Thanks for help.
I am using screen4 for screen design.
I have gotten Thur much of the learning curve with it (not using the scrolls,turning the background off,using shift when selecting Screen selecting buttons etc..)
I have tried this many times now and it repeats the behavior over and over, but if after I make changes in Screen4, I close out and restart my PC I don't see the graphics issue when I run Mach3.
I don't think that what I am doing is asking that much of the system?
I suppose that it could be related to Windows and my serial connection to the touch screen?
I can live with it, if restarting my machine makes it stay away with no buggy reshows.