Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: Windows 10 update causes erratic movements

« on: March 02, 2018, 05:30:07 PM »

Thanks for your input, both of you. Sad to say we have no control over updates and our computers have to be online so they can be monitored. Windows forums all say the same thing. Debugging is within the program not a windows issue I will try the backup file tip that might work. Also I will try uninstalling Mach 3 and reinstalling it. I will let you know if I solve this issue and what I did to do so.

2

General Mach Discussion / Windows 10 update causes erratic movements

« on: March 02, 2018, 01:11:22 PM »

Hi All,
I am having issues with my small cnc mill. I teach at a school where we updated to new 64 bit computers this year. When I installed Mach 3 onto the new computer and used a UC100 usb controller. Everything has been working fine, until a windows update installed. I went to cut a 2D pocket out and in the middle of the process the machine plunged into the part about 1/2" when the plunge was set at .06" for each pass. It was totally random and the machine when reset worked fine until the next time I loaded a part. I set the z at .5" above the part to test it and when I did a MDI G0 Z0.5 z moved up to the top of the carriage and crashed. So I went to the settings page and tried to check the calibration of steps. When I selected X and move 1 unit the machine traveled the whole length of the table? Motor steps are still what they are supposed to be, yet every time I load mach 3 when I first open the program movement is fine 1 to 1 ratio. Then when I load a file it wacks out and crashes. I have tried several files that have never had issues running and they do the same thing. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

3

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Mach 3 wizard changing my movement scale after posting g-code

« on: September 10, 2016, 07:19:19 PM »

When I use any of the wizards in Mach 3 the machine does not move the right distance after I use the wizard and post the g-code. It is driving me crazy. I have to close the g-code file, close the Mach 3 mill program and restart it and then when I tell the machine to move one inch it moves one inch. So I go the the wizard and select Rectangular pocket and set up all my dimensions and when I post the g-code 2 things happen. 1st my coordinates are changed from zero's to some arbitrary values. 2nd when I jog the machine it reads that about a 1 inch move as 0.02". Has anyone suffered this before? ( and yes I have the wizard set to inches when I set up the pocket)

4

General Mach Discussion / Can't send email to tech support

« on: August 15, 2016, 05:55:40 PM »

Hi All, I sent a email to tech support and got a reply this morning. They didn't answer my question, instead they asked me a question. So when I went to reply to the email. I got my email back as deliverable, "email quota exceeded". Have any of you experienced this?

5

Mach3 under Vista / Re: Mach3 turn not running but mill is

« on: August 14, 2016, 07:13:53 PM »

Ok, I see that lots of you are reading this  but not getting much response.

So I have the Mach 3 Turn program turned on; I have the all the output signals the same as in Mach 3 Mill. The machine does not come "on line" when I click the reset button. Then after many trials I get a screen message that says "Your Reset command is failing due to an external influence. Either your reset mutton is ON, or your limit switches are active." the dialog goes on the change the Active Low on the Motor outputs. So I did but it didn't change anything. The machine still doesn't come on line.

Here is my question. Do I have to have the limit switches installed and up and working for me to use Mach 3 Turn?

I do not have to in Mach 3 Mill, it runs just fine without the limit switches installed, (next part of my project CNC is to get limit switches).
Thanks for any advice you can give,
Cary

6

Mach3 under Vista / Re: Mach3 turn not running but mill is

« on: August 14, 2016, 03:25:30 PM »

Yes I made sure the port 1 and the Kernel speed is the same under both Mach3Mill and Mach3Turn.

7

Mach3 under Vista / Mach3 turn not running but mill is

« on: August 13, 2016, 11:04:14 PM »

Hello,
I'm looking for some help with my Mach3 turn. Here is the situation. I have a 4 axis CNC that I built myself and am using Mach3 to run all. I have gotten everything tuned in for Mach3 mill. That is to say I can set up and run G-code programs with the mill and it works perfect. So I wanted to start using the Mach3 turn program and I set everything up just the same as I did in Mill. The ports & pins inputs and outputs are the same. The motor control is the same.....but when I hit the reset button nothing happens. It is as if the software isn't reading the controller. Any ideas?

8

General Mach Discussion / Re: Cant find DXF import button

« on: July 30, 2016, 03:08:27 AM »

Thank you, I had to go through and install lazy cam but for what i wanted it is perfect even though it is old. I plan on purchasing a ArtCAM program soon but this will work for now. Thanks

9

General Mach Discussion / Cant find DXF import button

« on: July 30, 2016, 01:03:28 AM »

Hi All,
I am looking for the "DXF Import" button that is suppose to be available under the File tab. I only have, Load G-code, LazyCAM, Close G-code, exit. I also looked under program files and didn't find it there either. I wanted to try the Bitmap import.

 I found the instructions in the Mach3 manual page 8-6 section 8.4.1 it says "The import filter is accessed from File>Import HPGL/BMP/JPG and the JPG/BMP button on the dialog.
Let me know if you know how I can find this file.
Thanks
Cary

10

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 configuration

« on: July 24, 2016, 12:17:46 AM »

Hello,
Make sure your pin assignments are correct. The controller should have come with some software that explains which pins are numbered which way. Also it sounds like you might have your acceleration and velocity turned up to high. What speed are you running your steppers at?
Cary