Messages

1

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach 4 Feature Request

« on: April 22, 2016, 11:56:19 PM »

Well I was thinking more along the lines of something a bit more usable then just a pic of the drawing. Something that is to scale in the form of PDF or just a vector graphic file that can be imported into Coreldraw or a CAD program.

2

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach 4 Feature Request

« on: April 22, 2016, 12:34:02 PM »

I was wondering if it's possible to add printing. It would be nice to be able to print the tool path to scale or export or PDF. If this is done from the current tool path display, any perspective viewed could be printed. This is a vector graphic so it should be easy to export or send to a printer. This would be helpful when hand coding or making changes and need a new printout showing the changes.

3

Mach4 General Discussion / Extents Remain After Closing File

« on: April 19, 2016, 02:24:23 PM »

I noticed after closing a Gcode file the extents remain and not cleared. I would think they are cleared when closing a file. The same goes for the tool path display showing the box from the extent settings.

Is there a function that can be called to clear the run timer? I have it displayed but no way to reset it.
And shouldn't it be cleared when a reset/rewind etc command is executed.
If there a function or a variable that can be cleared I can write a script to reset it as needed.

4

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 Printer Port Discussions

« on: April 16, 2016, 10:49:03 PM »

These simple tasks were part of Mach3. Send the pulse to INDEX and it just worked. I have been turned down for a SDK so I've spent a lot of time gathering info from this forum and others who are working out scripts and screens. I've done a lot of programming through the years and much of the screen editing and scripting follows the same method and look just a different language. It's the details that are missing, like a listing of the pound numbers and what there reference to, the internal variable names, etc. I've read the API and understand the functions for the most part but the details just aren't there. I understand the Screen Load and PLC scripts function but there's no info on what needs to happen when. I made a script to auto move the axis to zero after completion of the homing but its like ignoring the code because something not finished or ready at the time it's to be executed. I've worked with checking that all axis are still from movement and a flag is set when the homing process is done and the home switch is active. Some times it works other time it just gets lost and the interface stops working. I guess we will all be testing and looking for answers for some time until Mach4 is actually up to what Mach3 had to offer after years of fixing.

5

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 Printer Port Discussions

« on: April 16, 2016, 10:01:20 PM »

I'm moving from MACH3 to MACH4. I use 2 Parallel ports for input/output, and the system is running.

Looking for some answers,

If I understand correctly Mach4 sends a axis homing command and Darwin which completes the task on it's own. I read and see the driver applies the homing offset that is setup in Mach4 homing configuration page. Then which is responsible for completing the homing move by moving to the zero point? Unless I'm missing something at this point I don't think either side (Mach4 or Darwin) is excepting the final move as it's responsibility but, someone needs to work out the final move and incorporate. I have a script and button at this point to use.

Next is along the same thing is with the spindle speed being reported to Mach4 and keeping track of the actual rotation speed. I use the Super-PID with PWM input and Indexed spindle output. I have the input PWM speed control working fine. I have the index pulse returning to Mach4 as seen on the diagnostic tab. The Mach4 manual hints to the fact the index input is used for monitoring the speed but I have not found where it actually uses it as feed back to compare the the requested speed. So once again unless I missing something which side is responsible of the task to complete the feedback loop for a closed loop system?