Messages

1

HiCON Motion Controller / Re: Mach4 update

« on: June 22, 2022, 12:30:54 PM »

Thank you so much for reply. Managed to sort it out during the coarse of the day and yes was a combination of all the things you mentioned.
Updated Firmware
New plugin
Had to activate some motors again… and so far Machine runs like before.
Always a bit of a nervous thing to update software on a custom machine like this. 
Thank you again.

Hello Marne

Mach4 version 2 is fully supported by our motion controllers. This list includes 7866, 7766, EC01, DSPMCv3, & HiCON mini.

When you update Mach4 Please update the firmware on the controller, The plugin in Mach4 and VSI Device manager to the latest version. The manuals and downloads are available near the bottom of each product page on our website.

We also encourage our users to maintain backups in case they don't like something that was added in by Mach4 or us and if there are some breaking changes for your custom scripts. Usually there is no need to update to the latest version if you are happy with the current operation. We continually add new features and bug fixes. It is nice to hear you had backups.

2

HiCON Motion Controller / Mach4 update

« on: June 22, 2022, 07:35:20 AM »

Greetings from CapeTown
decided to update Mach4....luckily kept copies and the copy still works....
But Mach4 version2 cant seem to initiate the Icon Integra card.
The visiDevice manager sees the card and everything so not sure what's happening?
I just see a black screen running in background complaining about not communicating with card
anybody that can maybe help or have overcome this?.

kind regards
Marne

3

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Auto tool offset not working?

« on: June 02, 2022, 03:17:24 AM »

will test your Macro but did you activate the Hight offsets?

G43H2.......the H2 will be what ever tool you setting so if tool number3 it will be H3

4

Mach4 General Discussion / Mach 4 M6 setup

« on: April 11, 2022, 09:00:48 AM »

Good morning All
I have a custom build 5axis foam sculpting machine and keep improving on machine.
Up to now I have been measuring tool length manually but its time to ad a auto tool length measure system.

I copied a a M6 macro and integrated the probe to my controller and Mach4....works perfect.....but, there is always a but.
to have the probe out of the way it sits below G54...-115mm to be exact. the math in mach4 or my macro seems to have  hard time with this negative value. I did a test and moved Probe in positive direction and then M6 works perfectly.
Can anybody shed some light on how to handle the negative value?
Gauge block Hight Maybe?

Thank you on advance
Kind regards
Marne

5

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: MACH4 4th axis Limit switch

« on: November 04, 2020, 03:12:41 AM »

Not in my case....when machine reaches the limit switch after 360 or -360 it stops machine.

so Cant do multiple A axis rotations as the machine stops when reaching limits switch again.  I think what is needed that the Axis Limit override must become active for the rotary axis only but that in not the behavior I see.

Kind regards
Marne

6

Mach4 General Discussion / MACH4 4th axis Limit switch

« on: November 04, 2020, 12:46:33 AM »

Good morning All

I have done some searching on the forum but cant seem to locate anybody that needed help with Rotary Axis Limit switches.

I'm needing the limit switch to be active during homing(this works) but then during normal rotary operation the axis should be able to roll past 360degree without triggering the home sensor or at least ignore it.

How do I go about this? any help will be greatly appreciated.

thank you in advance
Kind regards
Marne

7

HiCON Motion Controller / Re: 5 axis machine build

« on: October 09, 2020, 02:08:21 AM »

Also quick question?  Im running Trial version of Mach4 to confirm....could it be a trial issue?

kind regards

8

HiCON Motion Controller / Re: 5 axis machine build

« on: October 09, 2020, 01:49:40 AM »

Good Morning and thank you for the reply.

Must apologize think my original post was vague.
My problem is actual Gcode related and how Mach4 reads and then outputs it to Integra. When doing Manual jogging as well as MDI jogging all is very smooth and very happy with machine setup and controller.

My problem started when I started preparing post processors for the 5 axis machine I'm building.

So...when generating 3D toolpaths weather its in 3axis, 3+2 or continues 5 axis My cam software outputs point to point (Polylines) Mach4 seems to have a problem with smoothing these points.

When originally I decided to purchase controller one of my decisions to purchase was two of the specs on the controller as per website.
(Modes of Motion: Point-to-Point, Linear and Circular interpolation, Jogging, Electronic Gearing, Feed rate Override)
as well as
(High Speed 3D machining support)
So...My question is, is there something I'm missing with either activating something on controller or Mach4?

I have tried using G64 and ran the Cv wizard in mach4 but the values need to be so high to make any difference so I'm sure problem is somewhere else. Example: I only get better results when program to tolerance  as high as 0.6mm. I have spend quite some time on Motor tuning.....high and low accelerations but still no luck.

Any help, assistance will be greatly appreciated.

If you need any additional info please let me know.

Kind regards
Marne

9

HiCON Motion Controller / 5 axis machine build

« on: October 07, 2020, 10:48:52 AM »

Good Morning
I'm having issues with stop start movement of rotary C axis on from Mach4 when cutting continues 5 axis movement but also rotary and 3axis movement.
I have done the usual G64 ......fiddled with motor tuning(A LOT) and code from Cam.

anybody running 5axis machines that can shed some light?

kind regards
Marne

10

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 5 Axis RTCP

« on: June 27, 2019, 06:40:20 AM »

Good Morning and sorry for the slow reply.

OK so most of the dedicated controllers has got a form of RTCP....this makes the setup and running of 5 axis tool-paths a lot simpler.
Simens Triatori
Fanuc G53.1
ect.

What this does is when you setup G54-G59 of any 5 axis tool path in your Cam software but you miss-align G54-G59 on the machine rotary table ( does not match your Cam setup exactly) By calling RTCP on the controller... the controller will then automatically adjust axis movement(Code) to ensure that the tip of the tool is always correct...

Without this your part setup needs to be better than 100%----
Is there a plugin maybe for Mach4 that handles this...not a problem without but it makes life a lot easier.

Simulation  and tool-path posting is handled via PowerMill so have that covered.

hope I make sense
Please feel free if anything unclear

here is link to explanation
http://5axes.free.fr/rtcp/rtcp_en.htm