Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: Running through limits on Smooth stepper

« on: November 05, 2012, 06:55:47 AM »

Always learning, thanks for the advice!
Stefan

2

General Mach Discussion / Re: Running through limits on Smooth stepper

« on: November 05, 2012, 06:42:29 AM »

Here it is.
Thanks
Stefan

3

General Mach Discussion / Running through limits on Smooth stepper

« on: November 04, 2012, 08:32:24 PM »

I installed a smooth stepper on my 3-axis mill. Homing goes great including the slave axis where each stepper touches the inductive limit switch and backs off independent.

For regular operation the machine completely ignores the switches as limits. I can jog straight through them. I know I should be setting my soft limits but I really want to find out why the machine doesn't stop when it hits the limits.

Any settings I overlooked?

Any ideas?

Stefan
 

4

General Mach Discussion / Re: setup speed ref in mm/sec

« on: October 29, 2012, 08:25:18 AM »

I have another machine that accepts mm/sec only in metric. This one runs production at work. Unfortunately there's no way I can change that setup. I was just hoping to use copies.
The last resort would be to write a procedure in basic that opens the g-code file, finds all the F-codes and multiplies the numbers that follow these by 60. This way I would end up with a second set of g-code files but it could work.

Stefan

5

General Mach Discussion / Re: setup speed ref in mm/sec

« on: October 28, 2012, 06:44:58 PM »

Is there no factor in the XML file that influences this result  ? If not it may be a good idea for the next upgrade.  Or, let the FRO go to 6000%

This being said, is there a document that explains the settings in the XML file and possible modifications?

Thanks

Stefan

6

General Mach Discussion / setup speed ref in mm/sec

« on: October 26, 2012, 09:59:12 PM »

In order to use the same code using Mach3 at home as the Multicam I use at work in metric, I need my speed settings to be interpreted as mm/sec, not mm/min as Mach does.
Now I need to go into the G-code and change every F setting to 60 times more to make this work.

Any suggestions on how to change the setup of Mach3 to go from mm/min to mm/sec?
Can I change some factor in the XML file to make this conversion automatic?

Thanks

stefan

7

General Mach Discussion / Re: X-Y offset in tool change? Macro?

« on: June 23, 2012, 09:05:47 PM »

Anyone out there that uses a similar system? It is not make multiples of the same part using an offset, but using different spindles to work on the same part.

I have another CNC with a tool changer, so I hope to be able to use the same g-code. So the whole procedure of switching spindles and automatically changing the XYZ offset should be triggered by one simple tool change command. I figure that a decent tool changer can't be found for less than 5K, an extra spindle for boring only, can be build for a few hundred.

Stefan V

8

General Mach Discussion / X-Y offset in tool change? Macro?

« on: June 23, 2012, 03:19:29 PM »

Brainstorming here,...

The cost of a tool changer is way expensive.

I cut mainly cabinet parts. I use 3 tools, a 3/8" for cutting, 8mm for dowel holes, 5mm for system holes.
Besides my main spindle that holds the 3/8" bit, I'm thinking of adding 2 smaller spindles for drilling the 8mm and 5mm holes.

My quest would now be;
- When I do a tool change, I need to select 1 of these 3 spindles and make this the only Z-axis to move.
- At the same time, besides the z-offset, I now also need the x and y offset changed, this should be calibrated once and stored.

I suppose this could be done using a custom g-code builder that "considers" these offsets. Better would be do have Mach3 store the offsets and make it happen automatically. But Mach3 only allows for z-offsets. Could a Mach3 macro cover this?


Stefan V

9

General Mach Discussion / Tangent cutting in HPLG

« on: October 21, 2009, 09:15:56 AM »

I should do more homework, but if someone could set me on the right track.

I'm trying to use the tangent option to make a glass cutting head for my cnc.
Coming from Corel X4 I was looking for a way to translate curves into small straight line segments for Mach3 to calculate the tangent angle.
I was advice to export as HPLG as this gives me control over straight lines from curves and Mach 3 opens HPLG files.

Don't know anything about HPLG yet,...  going this route, will I get to the point where Mach3 will indeed be able to set the angle for tangent cutting?
How does it go then, does HPLG still translate into G-code first?

Any leads are appreciated.

Thanks

Stefan V.

10

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Cutting from Template

« on: October 13, 2009, 07:42:29 PM »

Thanks!
Stefan