Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / USB usage

« on: October 05, 2013, 09:29:29 PM »

I got a CNC machine a while ago and am a licensed user of the Mach software may be a little out of date since I haven't had a lot of time to use it recently and I have a basic question. So don't flame on me if it is too basic or it is a well repeated question. I looked around on the site and a lot has changed and I am wondering my system uses the parallel port for the data transfer from my PC to the CNC machine and I was wondering if it can be to use the USB port instead and if so what does it take to so I was looking at another CNC machine and it has USB on it so I was wondering if I could use the Mach software via just the USB port.

IF so could some one please let me know somewhat in detail exactly what I would need to make this work.

Thank you and I apologize if I am just out of times with the version of this software

2

FAQs / Re: Tooling

« on: June 12, 2011, 05:37:27 PM »

thanks makes sense would one of those smaller bosch routers have less

3

FAQs / Re: Tooling

« on: June 12, 2011, 04:46:21 PM »

I guess what I was looking for was MSG, JL, EMCO or any other website urls  I just do not know of many as I am just starting out.

on a separate note what is exactly meant by runout

4

FAQs / Re: Tooling

« on: June 12, 2011, 01:05:06 PM »

Thanks Ger21 I will look there

Thanks Rich, the reason I was asking  was that the only places I have been able to find online varied significantly in pricing and the only local stores I could find at this point do not even carry the things I am looking for, Orchard, Lowes, Home Depot, so I was hoping for online examples.

The range I got for  1/8 shank diameter  .02 cutting diameter with 2 flutes and a .06 cutting depth was between $12 and $40 both carbide is that normal?

5

FAQs / Tooling

« on: June 12, 2011, 04:23:32 AM »

Hi everyone, just a quick question.What are some sources for bits especially ballend end mills I was thinking 1/8 - 3/16 shaft fairly small cutting diamter as my current focus  is lithographs. My materials are nothing special just acrylic sheets from an 1/8 to 1/4 inch  thick.

This is more of a general request though,most good sources would have what I need, I just need to find them.

You know, go with this good place; beware of this place kinda thing.

My cutting tool is a craftsman dremel so nothing to fancy yet unless anyone has a real inexpensive cutting laser for thin balsa wood handy they want to get rid of.


So what are your bit sources
Please help me out
Thanks
Jeff

6

General Mach Discussion / stopping Mach III

« on: June 03, 2011, 03:25:07 PM »

Hi all I just hadthis happen again so I thought I would ask might be a "my computer" issue but wanted to check.

Anyone have trouble stopping Mach III
Mach III crashed on me  and I couldn't restart I would click on it the icon and nothing would happen so I checked Windows task manager and saw MachII was still running I tried forcing it to close  but it still would not close I had to re boot in order to get Mach II to run again any ideas on this

Jeff

By the way I still love this program and am very happy with it. I am amazed on how accurate things can be cut using this software.Thanks again

7

General Mach Discussion / stopping and restarting a job smoothly

« on: June 03, 2011, 03:18:42 PM »

Hi all,
Just a simple question I am running an extremely long job (very detailed lithograph)but the bad news is I am running inside a room in my Apt. so although the noise is Ok during the day my neighbors probably wouldn't care to hear it all night along so I need to stop the job mid way and then restart this could be at any point during the run so what is the best way to accomplish this.
 I tried the stop and then run from this line but I ended up with a noticble line where the job was stopped any other better proedures out there

Thanks
Jeff

8

General Mach Discussion / Re: subroutines

« on: October 16, 2010, 10:49:28 PM »

Himey your suggestion may have worked as well but I am still quite new and haven't gotten into the use of variables yet  Thanks for replying I will also look at your suggestions as well

9

General Mach Discussion / Re: subroutines

« on: October 16, 2010, 10:47:01 PM »

Thank you very much BR549 your mod let me see the error of my ways I was close just didn't go back to ABS after the INC. I'll look more closely at the differences between your mod and my original to make sure but your mod is working and seeing the mod I will probably be able to make further revision on my own.
For give my but I am still quite new but I noticed that on LINES 51 54 and 80 of your mod there is code on the next line with no line number what does this indicate I have noticed this on other code sample but neer knew the significance if any

Thanks again very much

10

General Mach Discussion / subroutines

« on: October 16, 2010, 04:41:08 PM »

HI everyone even though I am still new at CNC programming I am making headway I have the book that everyone seems to be talking about but I am having a bit of difficulty in setting up my first subroutine. I have a drawing that I want to make into a subroutines and simply adjust the z axis lower by the same amount in each iteration. A job suited nicely with subroutines.(ie multi pass)
The drawing has a small cutout in the center and then another shape the outer edge. I will attach the .tap file from mach. Anyway I successfully made it process the subroutines the amount of times but I can't seem to get the Z axis to adjust incrementally I believe I am correct in using the G91 - G91.1 CNC commands but something is off and as soon as I try to make what I think is an insignificant change to test I get something that says all words I J K don't exist or something along those lines.

I have several jobs that will all be using this same subroutines structure 3 iteration pass of a small cutout circle and a 3 iteration pass of the outer edge.
So with a little help and guidance I may be able to get all my jobs created and running soon.

The object is a gear with a center hole cut out, if my previous explanation was insufficient(Hope this one helps)

I have looked at the book regarding subroutines which is how I got most of it working but the incremental increase in the z axis on each pass is eluding me