Messages

1

Screen designer tips and tutorials / Re: Can anyone make a "normal" windows screen design please? 0:-)

« on: June 15, 2010, 03:33:08 AM »

Looks good! 

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Screen designer tips and tutorials / Re: Can anyone make a "normal" windows screen design please? 0:-)

« on: April 27, 2010, 11:54:50 AM »

I can't open a window with Mach3, unless I use Flash. But there is no Flash documentation, so no Flash screen.

Ok. But you an switch to another page, right? Should be the same.

I don't understand what "zero point" is? And Measurement point?

"Zero Point" means:
I move to a position on the machine table... when pressing "XYZ" the current position will be saved as X zero point, Y zero point and Z zero point. If you load a gcode file it should start from this XYZ point.
And if you move the head to another position and press "Z" only the Z-axis zero will be saved.

I'm not going to make a duplicate of that screen. I may not make exactly what you want. Rather than the picture, give me a list of al the features you use, and an explanation if needed.

New File (deletes all current settings and loaded files)
Open File (opens a g-code DIN66025 file)
Reload (could be usefel... this should just load the last file again. I make changes in the Gcode even when it was send to the machine every time. This way I could save the file over network with the same name and hit "reload" button to get the new file)
Gcode editor (text editor/viewer of the loaded gcode)
Positions (opens a page with the positions of the machine  which includes XYZ zero points, XYZ park positions, XYZ measurement positions)
XYZ zero points= indicates the bottom left point of the material
XYZ park position = indicates a postion where the head moves after or before the file was done - or at the manual tool change
XYZ measurement positions = the position where the height sensor is (toolchange sensor)
Reference move = moves the head to the home position of the machine and switches the contacts for setting all axis to zero
material height scane = this could open the probing page (to measure the surface)
manual key buttons = to move the head in X,Y,Z
Selectable moving feed rates = same what is used on remote controls... you can switch between different speeds. This is very useful. Don't you have this feature? I love it!
pump= means coolant
spindle= switches the hf spindel on/off
spinde speed = change the spindel speed
clamping device = switches the pneumatic tool change of the hf spindle for manual tool changing
compressor = switches a relais (air compressor on/off)
vacuum = switches a vacuum device (side channel blower... whatever) on

I don't like the start button in the top, so it'll be down lower, and a bit larger.

Thats probably a better idea. The emergency button is also a nice idea.

Thanks,
Frank.

3

Screen designer tips and tutorials / Re: Can anyone make a "normal" windows screen design please? 0:-)

« on: April 26, 2010, 01:20:14 PM »

What is the P (positions)?

Correct! The "P" Icon should open a page which shows the positions.
Zero Point
Park Point and
Measurement Point

There is a small bar under the icon-bar which could show the momentary coordinates X,Y,Z

Can you give me a clearer screenshot of the right side?

Of course:
http://www.nrgrecording.de/temporary/MACH3screendesign.pdf

I didn't think of using icons for a lot of things. That frees up a lot of space.

In the pdf its only 15 icons on the top bar. The aqua uses over 25 I think? I love small icons... they don't need to be as big as in the aqua screen.
The icons in the pdf are the most important icons for me. Its nice to have them on the home screen.

Your XP Screen design looks good so far! 

Roelli.

4

Screen designer tips and tutorials / Re: Can anyone make a "normal" windows screen design please? 0:-)

« on: April 25, 2010, 04:28:12 PM »

This morning I started taking the first steps to creating a new screen, tentatively called "Mach XP".

 

I quickly remembered what the most difficult part of screen design is - Figuring out what goes where, and what's needed. The 50-100 hours I'll spend in Photoshop is the easy part.

  Oh... thats much time. I thought it would be easier. For me the windows buttons look like grey parts with white lines and black shadow... i thought it would be possible to use a freeware button generator to make the button bitmaps.

To me most of the screen designs look like a html webpage.  
You can download the cnc controller software iam using at the moment... (if the link works)
http://www.boenigk-electronics.com/web/index.php?option=com_jdownloads&Itemid=38&task=finish&cid=2&catid=3&lang=de

(you have to set the surface to english language with this: Einstellungen > Sprache > English )

Since it'll look like a Windows screen, there won't be big colorful buttons, so lots more stuff will fit on the screen.

 

This may take 6 months or more to finish, so don't count on it any time soon. I've got a lot of stuff to get done this summer, so I can start building a new router in the fall. Smiley

Stop! I want to buy a new cnc machine and want to use a better software... so you have to finish the new screen before building your new router!  

Suggestions open. Tell me what controls you need to have.

Only the important functions on the first screens (everything seems to be too complicated for newbies - like me and others)

5

Screen designer tips and tutorials / Re: Can anyone make a "normal" windows screen design please? 0:-)

« on: April 25, 2010, 02:44:44 PM »

Why not try the screen designers available for this very reason?
Those are very nice (FREE!!!) gifts from the makers  that took a lot of time to create them and worth trying 

I think I HAVE to try them ;-) I don't know the reason but I can't use CAD Programs... after some time I get a headache!
That never happens as long as the programs look like ALL other windows programs...

This is the cnc software iam using now...



I even bought an USB controller for 800€ to control the machine. (incl. buffer for the cnc data)
But now I need the touch probe feature and other nice things which seems to work with mach3.

And I also have to buy relais pcbs, optocoupler cards, mach3 software license and rewire everything. Thats a big step.
I looked at mach3 years before and was deterred because of the screen design without looking at the features. 

Roelli.

6

Screen designer tips and tutorials / Re: Can anyone make a "normal" windows screen design please? 0:-)

« on: April 24, 2010, 04:53:32 PM »

Sure, it would be possible, but might take a lot of time.

but the software probably sells better ;-) Two years ago I  decided not to use mach3 because of the screen design! (which seems to be a mistake because mach3 has all the features iam missing with the software iam using now) :-(

I thought its possible to use an existing screen design, make new buttons and you're done? There are some "button-maker" apps for creating webpage menus - they might work for creating a windows like screen design?

Roelli.

7

Screen designer tips and tutorials / Re: Can anyone make a "normal" windows screen design please? 0:-)

« on: April 24, 2010, 03:39:33 PM »

Mach3 doesn't use standard windows controls, so to make it look like a Windows program would be difficult.

Okay, but it's a pity!
The surface looks like a playgarden. Very colored. ;-)
I thought it would be easier to make a windows-like surface. The buttons seem to be jpgs. Wouldn't it be possible to make a grey background with the windows shadowed windows buttons?

Iam getting dizzy when using CAD, DOS-like programs and 3D games - dunno why. 

Cheers,
Roelli.

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Screen designer tips and tutorials / Can anyone make a "normal" windows screen design please? 0:-)

« on: April 24, 2010, 01:37:51 PM »

Hi guys.

It seems that I have to change my cnc software because mach3 has all functions I ever missed. 
BUT... why are these screen designs so crazy? My eyes are bleeding! 

Is there any reason why there is no "windows looking" screen design available?

I want to have it look like this...


Thanks,
Roelli.