Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: May need to change computer that runs my mach 3 mill

« on: August 29, 2021, 03:46:06 AM »

If your .XML file is on a HDD or SSD, and is readable, then you could simply add that drive to the new PC. It's only a matter of two cables - Power & Data - and there will be at least 2 (maybe 5) spare data connectors (SATA) on the new motherboard. If there isn't a spare power lead (Molex or SATA) then a splitter or converter is available for pennies.

You can then access ANY data that is on the (old) drive just by navigating to it in whatever drive letter you decide to assign via File Explorer.

2

General Mach Discussion / Re: Z-axis changing during job & depth is increasing

« on: July 17, 2021, 01:59:57 PM »

It may seem like a silly question but ....   

Is the surface of the work really flat? ie. co-planner with the CNC table.

Do you skim the surface before the V-Craving run?
I don't know the ArtCam program - I'm just applying basic logic.

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General Mach Discussion / Re: Z-axis changing during job & depth is increasing

« on: July 17, 2021, 05:16:33 AM »

Is the DRO showing the Z depth increase or is it just the physical depth ?
If he later then the possibility is that the tool is creeping out of the collet - ie. it is 'loose'  -  this will be exacerbated if the cutter is spiral flute 'up-cutting'.
It has happened to me!!

 

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General Mach Discussion / Re: How to enter&set a new arbitrary tool position without zeroing it?

« on: July 11, 2021, 03:13:00 PM »

Well, there's a turn up !   I haven't needed to take such action but now you point it out it could be very useful.
On my own system I have a minor mis-match with my [Home] position which used to be X+200, Y+100 but a while ago - after I'd created a Clamping Table - it stared to read X+201.xx (can't remember the exact figure) and I have had to align the X axis to my Clamping Table manually each time I have to do a [Reset] which is a bit of a pain, This 'trick'  -  obviously not a trick but a 'Feature' which I hadn't come across  -  will hopefully bring back some sanity. I'll do some testing tomorrow.
I'm pleased that I thought to offer a solution even though it wasn't useful

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General Mach Discussion / Re: How to enter&set a new arbitrary tool position without zeroing it?

« on: July 11, 2021, 08:42:14 AM »

Go to the MDI tab - the second from the left -  just above the [RESET] button is [Input] -- enter G0 z-10 then reset the Z axis to 0.0000

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General Mach Discussion / Re: Cutting a Circle - Figures don't add up!

« on: July 25, 2020, 07:24:55 PM »

Two reasons Graham  -   One is that I always like to know how things work since that gives me a better understanding when thing (inevitably) go wrong,  but the more important reason is that I can't get the Wizards to work 

I have found the Wizards List as you point out and can select [Circular Pocket] or any of them for that matter but whatever I do after changing the parameters and clicking on [Post Code] when I click on [EXIT] nothing happens and I have to close Mach3 and re-start it      so obviously there is no code in the window.

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General Mach Discussion / Re: G82 Drilling Cycle

« on: July 25, 2020, 02:44:42 PM »

Right click and drag ?
Tweakie.

Thought you might like to know that I've found the answer to this issue.   It's all about settings in [Config][Tool Paths]. Once I'd found that I had much more control and could decide for myself how I wanted the Tool Paths Window to look.

It's not perfect, and I'll do some more experimenting, but much better that the view I was getting by default.

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General Mach Discussion / Re: Cutting a Circle - Figures don't add up!

« on: July 25, 2020, 10:34:48 AM »

A quick scan though the Mach2 Custom .PDF seems to indicate that there is a probability that it will contain useful information when I have done a bit more study.

Currently I'm looking carefully at the Mach4 GCode Manual which is certainly more comprehensive than any previous G-Code tutorial I've seen -- specifically detailing the parameters expected for each code and providing explanations as to what each is expected to do.

It may well be that some of the codes have seen embellishment or at least 'tweaking' but I suspect that in general I can use the information for testing.

Having hand-coded a program to cut a circular pocket, clearing all the internal waste material away -  and realizing how tedious changing many lines of code can be, not to mention the fact that I now have to do the same to mill the thread, with each pass needing to feed the cutter a little deeper (increased radius) --- I'm considering writing a Program (in Pascal) to enter the various potential variables -- Pocket dia. & depth, Tool dia., Feed rate etc. which will then output the G-Code with all the many lines of code taking account of each 'pass' needed.  It won't be a 10 minute exercise though 

9

General Mach Discussion / Re: Cutting a Circle - Figures don't add up!

« on: July 25, 2020, 09:09:16 AM »

Thanks for the link Tweakie but it doesn't give me much benefit 

There are a few 'links' which simply say something to the effect that "This is available on the Web and hasn't been archived" but doesn't provide a link to where it is on the web.

Also. there are many entries in the contents tree with no links at all ----  not at all what I expected a 'Wiki' to be.

Is it reasonable to expect the Wizards to work as expected or is this another of those issues that have been sidelined by the fact the Mach4 is now taking all the development resource and Mach3 is 'as is' ?  (like the G41, G42 offset issue I came across)

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General Mach Discussion / Re: Cutting a Circle - Figures don't add up!

« on: July 25, 2020, 07:09:12 AM »

My workshop system did not have the -29 Z offset and when I closed the Office system & re-opened it - nor did that ??   How it became set to that figure will no doubt remain a mystery.

I've successfully cut the 'pocket' which is the 22mm deep bore for the 80mm thread so I have moved forward a great deal.  What I am now somewhat concerned about is the fact that clicking on the link A Wiki containing all the customization information for Mach3 just gives me a blank page and  the [Wizards] do not do what the Mach3Mill_1.84.pdf describes.

For instance I can select the [Circular Pocket] Wizard and I do get the screen display as shown on page 23 of the 'Manual' - Fig.3.8 I can modify the tool and pocket size but neither CW (M3) nor CCW (M4) are lit (even when I enter a spindle speed) and when I [Post Code] nothing changes and [EXIT] does not return me to the 'normal' screen and I can't find any way to regain control without closing & re-opening Mach3.
It is not just this 'Wizard' - I have tried [Thread Milling] and can't even change from inch to mm in that - again [EXIT] does not return me to 'Normal'.

I'm sure that once I can get more than a blank screen from the Wiki link many of my questions will be answered