Messages

1

Mach4 General Discussion / Value of a MDI Control.

« on: December 06, 2019, 02:08:54 PM »

Is there a way to check the value of MDI such as checking to see if it is not_null. I have edited my load script to blink the Cycle Start button when there is code loaded and turn it solid when the cycle is started. Then the Cycle Start button blinks when the Feed Hold is pressed and the Feed Hold LED turns solid. I am very happy with all that but now the MDI just seems to have no functionality without being able to check its content and if there is any run my CycleStartBlinkButton() function. So the MDI can be included in my blinking LED logic.

Side note to make the buttons blink I have created three different images of each button.
1.) When Mach4 loads the default image is CycleStartMachineDisabled.png.
2.) When the machine is enabled I change the image to CyclStartMachineEnabled_Off_State.png.
3.) When the machine is enabled and the Cycle Start pushed the image changes to CyclStartMachineEnabled_On_State.png.

Reason I did this
It creates a triple state button.
I do not like the way Mach Renders a toggle buttons image but the bit mapped button image seems to be flawlessly rendered.

2

Mach Screens / Found the Mach4 Board.

« on: December 04, 2019, 07:34:47 AM »

Craig

I found the proper board the reason I posted in here was because I have seen Mach4 posts. Anyway. I am just trying to get a overall view of the tool path mainly paying attention to Z depths and if it does not look correct head back to CAM and repost it I do verify my tool paths in Fusion 360 but old habits are hard to break - looking at controller graphics.

3

Mach Screens / Telling if the G-Code window has loaded code

« on: December 03, 2019, 10:10:35 PM »

So on the older machines when you loaded a g-code program into the controller the green cycle start light would actually start blinking at you to say you had code in the controller. Is there a handle to check my G-Code window to see if it is not null. Or a way to navigate to it and check it. Its location is three layers deep of tab controls|tlpGraphicMain|mbpMainTab|nob_Program_Panel|nbp_G_Code_Tab_0|. Then I could blink my button box's green button. Below is the attached layout to help with navigation.

I just stumbled upon the timer script panel and how to use it that sure made blinking my cycle start button when the feed hold button is pressed rather easy to figure out. I am using regular non-toggleable buttons and changing their images out on the timer interval as well as setting the output state for my LEDs on my button box.

4

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

« on: December 01, 2019, 04:29:03 PM »

Hello my name Is Mike!

Ran multiple Hurco cnc for about fifteen years in my old career first ten years was conversational programed the last five years the programs became more complexed with the addition of the third dimension so the last five was spent running G code files as well as using CAM to generate them. It has been ten years since I have worked in a machine shop and missed the machines so I built my own. Now I am working on customizing my machine with the addition of external buttons and indicator lights. So I do not have to hunt for a button icon to feed hold my machine and cycle start.

5

Mach Screens / Tool Path Display Question

« on: November 30, 2019, 01:54:11 PM »

Is it possible to create code for a couple of panning icons for a tool path display e.g. Left, Right, Up, Down. I have been looking for a way to pan the graphics but am at a total loss as to if it even possible. The reason I want to do this is I always use the graphics window to verify that; Mach4 interpreted the tool path correctly, it posted correctly, or more than likely it was programmed correctly. The mouse is the way to go but thought it would be nice to be able to pan the view without it orbiting around it would keep me from having to hold the right and left mouse button down.

I have been able to set the zoom level using the following scr.SetProperty('tlp_Tool_Path_Display','Zoom','10') but do not think I can use this approach