Messages

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General Mach Discussion / Re: Newby converting to Mach4 from Mach3 and scared but doing it

« on: April 03, 2023, 11:11:17 PM »

Im not trying to be a jerk and I apologize for a rude post that's not my nature, but I am sucking on a fire hose trying to intake as much info as possible and it is extremely frustrating when you search through hundreds of posts looking for information and you can't find it. You told me to change what I am accustomed to but change it to what, Motor 1,2,3? I will try changing these configs at some point when I am more confident but all is working right now except these few bugs. Everything I see says to import from Mach3 to Mach4 and that's what I did. I am a little disappointed Mach hasn't done a better job of illustrating some of this stuff. In my head what I am looking for should be as basic and normal as pushing the power button. Squaring a gantry is a must in most CNC applications I have ever seen but again I am a little new to routing as you can see. Again I appreciate your input that you have given me.

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General Mach Discussion / Re: Newby converting to Mach4 from Mach3 and scared but doing it

« on: April 03, 2023, 04:26:51 PM »

IM sorry I didn't realize I was talking with THE GOD OF MACH. I didnt post on MACH 3 its on the general discussions page because this is a Mach 3 and 4 related issue. I am only looking for help NOT SOME ASS that feels he knows better than anyone else. You replied to this thread so GO AWAY IF YOUR NOT INTERESTED IN GOOD ADVISE! This set up was suggested by people that teach this stuff for a living I didn't just do this for fun.

You seem however seem to ignore the answers because its 'not the way I did things in Mach3'....and guess what;
What the hell are you talking about??

I've seen you belittle others on this site as well and its pathetic.

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General Mach Discussion / Re: Newby converting to Mach4 from Mach3 and scared but doing it

« on: April 03, 2023, 03:39:59 PM »

A few pics to look at. Might see something simple

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General Mach Discussion / Re: Newby converting to Mach4 from Mach3 and scared but doing it

« on: April 03, 2023, 03:37:11 PM »

do you have an A axis?. If not then forget the A axis it has nothing to do with your machine
I get what are saying but its hard to forget when you are taught to set up that way. Everything is configured to an Axis as you see in the pic.

What motion control are you using?
Warp9 v283. I would not be apposed to upgrading if you thought I needed? This ESS is over 10yrs old now

The Ethernet SmoothStepper can automatically square a gantry to two squarely set Home switches.
You do have to set it up correctly but it is otherwise automatic. What it does in effect is Home the two motors simultaneously but independently
to their respective Home switches.
Thats exactly what I was hoping for. Not sure why I am struggling with this so badly but I have changed every I would think was right and its not liking it. I assume I am missing something in the logic part of thing?

Take advantage of what the motion control manufacturer put into the controller for that purpose.
This is what I was hoping. I am looking for easy for now. I am a little confused I do not see other posts or video's of this same issue. This has to be a common function others are struggling with.

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General Mach Discussion / Re: Newby converting to Mach4 from Mach3 and scared but doing it

« on: April 02, 2023, 10:11:16 AM »

You have a Y axis master and upto to four slaves to that master.
I have it set up that way. I have no issues with this machine as it sets and works perfectly right now. The only problem is there are times that I make a mistake and a motor will skip a tooth or something happens that takes my gantry out of square. This is a 5' gantry and its super easy for this to happen.

It is possible to jiggle one motor back and forth a wee bit to square the gantry....if that's what your thinking.
I spent hours squaring up all axis. I am within .001" in 4ft and jiggling a motor isn't very accurate. I now have both homing switches exact with each other. For some reason I cannot get the slave to home independently

Yes it is possible to home motors independently.
Is there a doc or video that shows how to do this? I have tried to set this up as I have the other motors to home and when I do the motor just stops and is no longer responsive. I am sure I am missing something quite easy but I cant see it.
I am not sure if you have to unslave this motor and make it the A axis master or if I can keep it a slave and home independently of the Y master. What I am doing isn't working. I cant even get the green homing light to come on for that motor

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General Mach Discussion / Re: Newby converting to Mach4 from Mach3 and scared but doing it

« on: April 02, 2023, 12:11:55 AM »

Since A is a slave to Y is it even possible to have all 4 motors home independently?

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General Mach Discussion / Re: Newby converting to Mach4 from Mach3 and scared but doing it

« on: April 01, 2023, 11:48:49 PM »

So, I really want to have my A/slave axis home on its own that way I am 100% my gantry is always perfect. I have had several issues in the past where a tooth might skip or something gets in the way and the gantry will slightly become out of square and I want that to go away. I am in the process of putting all the axis on there own switches like joeaverage posted in some pics but setting up A axis to do its own thing has proven a bit difficult.
Is there a video someone is aware of that demonstrates how to set this up? All I can find is how to home vids that are not working.
I have started the process but I am struggling as it completely stops this axis when I try to move it.
Could there be a coding issue like I experienced with the z axis? If I can get a feel for how to set this up I think I can figure it out.

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General Mach Discussion / Re: Newby converting to Mach4 from Mach3 and scared but doing it

« on: March 29, 2023, 11:41:06 AM »

When you say the machine stops is because it hits the Z axis limit switch. That's your own fault...
Nope it wasn't my issue. It did not like the A0 command. You are somewhat correct but I changed to"G00 G53 Z-.5\nG00 X0 Y0 A0\nG00 Z0") in the G53 and it still stopped. Then I removed the A0 from the 2nd command and it corrected the issue. That was a bit painful but nun the less I fixed it and now my Z only rises to just below Z0.
As I said prior I really like having my A motor as a NON SLAVE on the Y Axis and will post again when I start to change this. I have tried and for some reason I am missing code such as the above to make this work but I am going to cut some stuff first before attempting this again. Appreciate your help.

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General Mach Discussion / Re: Newby converting to Mach4 from Mach3 and scared but doing it

« on: March 28, 2023, 01:31:36 PM »

That is all part of the Mach4 learning curve.
You can say that again!


But isn't that exactly how Mach4 works now?
No. The Z would go to zero, trip the switch and all would stop. I then tried to give Z a neg-.500 number to stop it from hitting the switch and then the z would travel up and just stop. I then figured out that A is also included in this operation and it did not like it. I removed A0 from the code and now it works as it should. I want to isolated A and remove it from being a slave and have it home independently but that is a completely other video:)

My preference is as Mach ships where the X and Y axes got to zero, but the Z axis remains out of harm way right at the top, rather than drive down into the work zone Then I jog the Z axis down manually.
I do not disagree with this but again it reverts back to a normal process I was use to with Mach3 and being new with 4 I hate to make to many changes to soon. I will probably revert it back and do as you suggested for safety.

Fusion 360 allows a parameter 'Clearance Height' and is very convenient and is related to the part you are working on.
This is also a learning curve. I just recently purchased 360 because I bought a CNC mill and needed the CAM side of things. I am trying to learn it but this will take a while. I use Aspire for this Mach4 machine. I really like Aspire and its capabilities. Its not as much as 360 but its simple and the drafting is endless.

Now all I need to do is figure out how to install the AUTO Touch Plate with a new button and I will be making wood chips again. I believe Avid did a video on this a few years ago but I cant seem to find. I will though.

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General Mach Discussion / Re: Newby converting to Mach4 from Mach3 and scared but doing it

« on: March 27, 2023, 07:31:50 PM »

HAHA you did it!! I turned it on and now the keyboard is active when I start MACH although the button doesn't turn green anymore which isn't a huge deal!! Thank you. I hope I can set up a Xbox controller.
Now I will try and turn on the Z axis BUT I have a question about that.
A) how do I know which script I should be in when modifying these buttons like Screen Load Script or Screen Upload Script or PLC Script?
B) In the Move to work zero script, If I want Z to move to a Safe Number First before X+Y moves, say it raises to Z=-500 below MACHINE ZERO then X+Y Move to zero then Z drops to work zero IS THIS POSSIBLE TO DO? This is how Mach3 worked, and I like that as I could have several pieces being cut in G54, G55 etc? Hope that makes sense.
I have caught Z not where it should be several times and I am not sure how else to make sure its on top of the part unless I watch it.