Messages

1

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Issues with VistaCNC P2-S USB pendant and Mach4

« on: November 12, 2019, 11:18:33 AM »

I flashed it back to the Mach 3 firmware on the VistaCNC site and had the same problem with Mach 3.    It turns out that the firmware on the site is not compatible with my P2S which I purchased in 2013.

Lee got me sorted out. He sent me a compatible firmware for Mach 3 and now I have it working again with Mach 3. 

My old CNC computer with Win7 and a parallel port died recently, so I migrated to a Win10 computer and an ESS and figured what the heck, I'll upgrade to Mach 4 too....  But I had no good reason to upgrade to Mach 4 and I can't imagine life without a pendant, so I guess I'll stick with Mach 3 for now so I don't have to buy a new pendant.

2

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Issues with VistaCNC P2-S USB pendant and Mach4

« on: November 09, 2019, 05:20:17 PM »

That's correct, the e-stop on the P2S and the e-stop on the G540 are both released... in fact, I tried engaging and disengaging each e-stop to no effect. 

Everything works fine if I unplug the P2S

3

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Issues with VistaCNC P2-S USB pendant and Mach4

« on: November 09, 2019, 04:57:08 PM »

I just installed Mach4 and can't get my P2S (with LCD) to work at all. 
I have an ESS with G540

I followed the instructions in the P2S manual and installed the plugin and firmware located here:

http://www.vistacnc.com/manual_download/user_files/P2S_Mach4_upgrade.zip

After flashing the P2S, the LCD reads
"VistaCNC
iMACH4"

I enabled the plugin in Mach4 but the P2S just flashes E-STOP and can't be cleared.

Is there any other configuration required?

4

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: G18 and G02 G03 problem

« on: April 03, 2013, 04:40:43 PM »

Will do, thanks for the tip.   I just picked the keyway cutter flipping through a tooling catalog..    I'm an electrical engineer by trade and all I know about machining is that I want to remove all of the metal that isn't my part.

5

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: G18 and G02 G03 problem

« on: April 03, 2013, 04:25:29 PM »

It's getting a lot more complicated as I am rewriting it to try to minimize side cutting with the keyway cutter...    I can't turn it on it's side and do it with a tiny end mill because it's probably too deep (1/2") for a .050" or so end mill, plus I really need a fairly sharp inside corner on the underside of the "finger", plus my spindle only does 4500 rpm... 

I've been straining my brain trying to figure how to to do this without having a custom tool ground.   The answer I think is EDM, but that's not in my future any time soon. 

6

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Mach3 adding extra loops in a string of arcs

« on: April 03, 2013, 10:15:54 AM »

I am not sure if this is your problem, but I ran into an issue where I would do a G41 and then position the cutter with an X,Y move at the same time (as opposed to X, then Y, and it made Mach3 flip out...   

No error code was given, and the DROs kept moving, but my mill jerked to a stop and the stepper motors howled like the table had crashed at the end of travel, but it wasn't even close to a crash.   

I changed the X,Y move to a different spot and re-ran the program and the mill did a big loop to get there (It was supposed to be a G01 move, not an arc)

I then changed it to move X then Y after the G41 and it worked correctly.   I assumed I was just breaking some rule of G-code programming since I'm new at this.

I see you did an X,Y move immediately after G41 on line N0480.

7

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: G18 and G02 G03 problem

« on: April 03, 2013, 09:51:33 AM »

I just simulated it and L.I.B. the tool tip moved the right way even though it was pre-drawn incorrectly.

I'm rethinking whether my keyway cutter can do what I'm asking (don't think it will last very long cutting vertical arcs like I want), but that's not a g-code issue.

Thanks for the recommendation on software.  I will check them out, but I also need to get comfortable with g-code.

8

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: G18 and G02 G03 problem

« on: April 03, 2013, 12:14:45 AM »

I wrote the code by hand... I haven't found a CAD/CAM solution that I can afford yet.

I can't delete that line because then the coords will be off for the following arcs and it will give an error. I guess I can try subbing in a straight move instead of an arc.   Would you give a hint as to where I goofed up?

BR549, that's kind of scarey that Mach3 can show one thing, but do another.  Are you saying if I run mach 3 in simulator mode, it will trace the correct path in the Toolpath window, or do I have to run it on my mill to see what it will actually do? (in air I guess so I don't break my tool)

9

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / G18 and G02 G03 problem

« on: April 02, 2013, 01:59:09 PM »

This is my second G-code program ever, so please forgive me if I did something stupid

The part should be symmetrical, a slot with 2 opposing "fingers".   The bottom arc of the finger closer to the origin always goes clockwise (I think) whether I use G02 or G03....  Am I doing something wrong, or is this a Mach3 bug?   The problem arc is at the bottom of the program with a (******) comment above it.

I'm using IJ in incremental mode.

%
G20 (inches) G90 (absolute coords) G64 (best speed path)
M6 T3             (0.375 end mill)
G40
F15             (feed rate)
G00 Z0.1
G00 X 0.570 Y-0.190   
M98 P100 L3         (slot the stock)
(G00 Z2)         (retract for tool change)

M6 T6            (Enco 327-1933  1/2X3/64 NARROW USA STRTOOTH KEY CUT .047  )

G00 X 0.928 Y-0.260 (rough undercut)
G00 Z-0.156
G01 Y 0.760
G00 X 0.572
G01 Y-0.260

G00 X 0.928
G00 Z-0.129
G01 Y 0.760
G00 X 0.572
G01 Y-0.260

G00 X 0.938 Y-0.260 (finish undercut)
G00 Z-0.156
G01 Y 0.760
G00 X 0.562
G01 Y-0.260

G00 X 0.938
G00 Z-0.129
G01 Y 0.760
G00 X 0.562
G01 Y-0.260

G00 X 0.908 Y 0
M98 P200 L11    (round fingers on right side)
G91 G01 Y 0.025
G90
G00 x 0.592
M98 P300 L11    (round fingers on left side)

G00 X 0.750       (get in the middle to retract)
G00 Z0.1
M30    

(----------------------------------------------------------------)
O100                (Cut the slot)
G40
G91 G01 Z-.052   (conventional milling... maybe try climb)
G90
G01 Y 0.690
G01 X 0.930
G01 Y-0.190
G01 X 0.570
M99

(----------------------------------------------------------------)
O200               (undercut the finger right side)
G40 G90               
G91 G01 Y 0.025
G90
G18              (XZ plane)
G03 X 0.867 Z-0.088 K 0.041      (90 degree arc)
G01 Z -0.042               (Move up the width of the keyway cutter)
G03 X 0.908 Z-0.001 I 0.041      (90 degree arc)
G91 G01 Y 0.025
G90
G02 X 0.867 Z-0.042 K-0.041      (90 degree arc)
G01 Z -0.088               (Move up the width of the keyway cutter)
G02 X 0.908 Z-0.129 I 0.041      (90 degree arc)
G17            (XY plane)
M99

(----------------------------------------------------------------)
O300            (undercut the fingerleft side)
G40 G90               
G91 G01 Y -0.025
G90
G18              (XZ plane)
G02 X 0.633 Z-0.088 K 0.041      (90 degree arc)
G01 Z -0.042               (Move up the width of the keyway cutter)
G02 X 0.592 Z-0.001 I -0.041      (90 degree arc)
G91 G01 Y -0.025
G90
G03 X 0.633 Z-0.042 K-0.041      (90 degree arc)
G01 Z -0.088         (Move up the width of the keyway cutter)


(************** the following line always goes the wrong way whether I use G02 or G03)
G03 X 0.592 Z-0.129 I -0.041      (90 degree arc)


G17            (XY plane)
M99
            


%