Messages

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General Mach Discussion / Can Mach operate a proLIGHT PML2000 mill?

« on: March 07, 2015, 05:51:51 PM »

I just got a proLIGHT PLM2000 mill, the one with the Animatics control box in the back and servo motors. Intelitek only has a DOS download for this model. (They have DOS and Windows software for the stepper motor PLM1000.)

Will any version of Mach operate this machine?

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General Mach Discussion / Pattern tracer camera?

« on: April 27, 2013, 12:31:29 AM »

A CandCNC Dragon-Cut kit is on order, along with all the other parts required to modify the plasma cutter for THC. (About 2 weeks into their 3~4 week lead time...)

Now what the guy wants is a tracing camera attachment. I've seen one on a huge 10x20 table with rack and pinion drive. The problem with it was its age. It could optically trace a pattern consisting og a black line on paper and store it in its own memory then "play it back" to cut the metal, but there was no way to transfer that trace data to the PC controlling it. If the shop wanted to cut that design again after the cutter's memory had been wiped, they had to get out the paper pattern again - or draw it on the PC connected to it.

Can Mach3 support a tracing camera? If it can, what hardware is available to trace and save the data to the control computer so it can be re-used and edited?

The guy I'm working on this for has no CAD experience but is willing to learn. For simple stuff where super precise dimensions don't matter it'd be easier to be able to use a ruler and Sharpie on a big sheet of paper then have the machine trace it. Then he can load those patterns into Mach3 whenever he needs another one of the same thing cut.

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General Mach Discussion / Re: Can Mach3 run a cable robot system?

« on: April 14, 2013, 03:30:32 PM »

Look up IPAnema robot on YouTube. That sort of control, but with only 4 cables and working in a 2D plane.

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General Mach Discussion / Can Mach3 run a cable robot system?

« on: April 12, 2013, 10:30:09 PM »

I want to fit a cable drive system to an old pattern follower gas torch. The torch is on the end of an arm with two free joints. Directly above the torch is a motor driving a 1/4" diameter, knurled magnet. The magnet rolls around the edge of a steel pattern.

Drawbacks of this are that a pattern has to be made for every item to be cut. The patterns have to be 1/8" undersize all around. Sharp outside and inside corners aren't possible. the magnet can get stuck or come loose and when it does go around without a problem the corner is rounded.

The easiest way I can think of to add CNC to it is a square frame with a motor at each corner. The motors will pull on wire cables which at their other end will have a ring that slips over the drive magnet. It'd be like the systems used to fly cameras around race tracks, but much smaller and constrained to a 2D plane.

The motors won't have to be very powerful, the torch arm can be moved around easily using just one little finger.

Can Mach3 run this type of system? I'd like to use as much of the arm's operating envelope as possible, it's like a SCARA arm without motors.

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Mach3 under Vista / Re: Will MACH3 ever support 64-bit systems? Officially? FYI, it's 2010

« on: April 09, 2013, 05:06:39 AM »

For anyone wanting to try Mach3 in a VM on 64bit Windows, have a look at VMLite. http://www.vmlite.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47&Itemid=143

Download the XP Mode setup package from Microsoft to use with VM Lite and its setup works with the XP Mode package.

What can VM Lite do that XP Mode can't? Hardware 2D and 3D video acceleration using the host's video hardware. Direct access to other host hardware. Can run on a CPU without hardware virtualization support, which XP Mode requires a patch to do. Can run just about any 32 or 64 bit version of Windows. With a multi core CPU that has hardware virtualization support VMLite can run a 64 bit guest OS on a 32 bit host. I don't think any other VM can do that. VMLite has a full desktop mode where the guest Windows shows its taskbar, icons etc in a window and a seamless mode where guest OS programs acts as if they're running on the host OS, much like how "Classic" worked in early versions of Mac OS X.

Of course a dual or more core CPU improves performance of the guest OS. I use VMLite to run 32 bit XP on a laptop with a Core 2 Duo CPU running 32 bit Vista Ultimate. It used to have a Core 2 Solo Celeron - 64 bit capable but no hardware virtualization support. VMLite had most of its features available but was really really slow. With the CPU upgraded the XP setup runs just a sfast as the host.

The 64 bit on 32 bit setup could work out for running Mach3. Install Win 7 32 bit with Mach3 and its parallel port driver then setup Win 7 64 bit in VMLite and use seamless mode. "Look! I'm running Photoshop CS6 on 32 bit Windows 7!" ;-) Not really but could fool some people.

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General Mach Discussion / Anyone used vLite to cut XP to the essentials for Mach3?

« on: April 09, 2013, 04:12:24 AM »

I've used vLite to remove unessential components of Windows XP for doing customized install CDs. I take out drivers that'll never be needed, remove services that won't ever be used and other parts and pieces that in a given situation will do nothing but fill up storage space. vLite can also integrate all the specific hardware drivers for a PC, slipstream Service Packs and (with some work) add in every update from Windows Update and automatically enter the product key so that once booted off the install CD-R the user doesn't have to do anything but go through the activation after it's done installing. If you start with an OEM system and matching XP version it doesn't even have to do that.

I'm figuring on picking up a decent older box off a local thrift store's $20 rack. They're tested to power on and at least attempt to boot. Most of them have the drives erased but if it has a COA label on the case it's all legal and stuff. ;-)

What I'd like to know is what components of XP are absolutely essential for Mach3 to operate? Does it require any specific post-SP3 updates?

I've 30 years experience with PCs and other computers so there's no problems with the hardware etc, just wanting to know what I *must* keep in the lightened XP. I want to have it so if anything goes worng, just pop the CD in and reinstall to a system ready to reinstall Mach3.

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Mach4 General Discussion / Re: New people welcome !! Come in here and introduce your self!

« on: April 09, 2013, 03:59:49 AM »

Placed an order yesterday for a CandCNC Dragon Cut kit with 620 oz-in motors plus whatever it takes to connect up a Hypertherm 600. Will be building a table large enough for steel up to 4x8 feet for cutting housing pieces for refurbishing pellet mills.

Next step while waiting for the electronics to arrive is getting a suitable PC to install a stripped down Windows XP Pro onto.