Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: Screen Button Problem

« on: October 08, 2009, 07:22:48 PM »

Thanks Hood.

I will give that a go and see what happens.

Thanks for your time and I will post again if I manage to fix the problem.

Cheers!

Dwane.

2

General Mach Discussion / Re: Screen Button Problem

« on: October 08, 2009, 07:03:44 PM »

Hi Hood,

XML file is attached from the machine PC (Not the design PC).

Thanks for your help. 

Dwane.

3

General Mach Discussion / Re: Screen Button Problem

« on: October 08, 2009, 06:19:25 PM »

Hi Hood,

Yes I am just using hotkeys for the pendant.  It has worked well (and still does on the new screen set).  The spindle only stops and starts from the screen or hotkey, not from the pendant.

I am editing it on my main PC, not the machine PC.  And it works fine on the PC I am editing it on, but it refuses to work when I transfer it to the machine PC.  I have tried for 2 days to get it right and decided enough was enough and posted on here to see if anyone could help. 

Personally, given that it works on the PC I am editing it with but not on the machine PC, I get the feeling that it is something in Mach's settings on the machine PC.

I have attached the screen set, although not the graphics.  The graphics are what was supplied with the Aqua Screen Set.  Let me know if you want them all in a ZIP file.

Thanks!

Dwane.

4

General Mach Discussion / Re: Screen Button Problem

« on: October 08, 2009, 05:54:45 PM »

Hi Hood,
To be honest, I am not 100% sure, as it is basically what was supplied in the Aqua Screen Set.  It is set to OEM Code function 110 and to use Hotkey 116 (F5).
It's just strange that it works perfectly on my design PC, but won't work properly on my machine PC.
I forgot to add that it doesn't work using any of the methods to turn it on/off - Mouse, Touch Screen or pressing F5.....Well, it works once and then it's game over.

Dwane.

5

General Mach Discussion / Screen Button Problem

« on: October 08, 2009, 04:35:44 PM »

Hi all,

I have been running a licensed copy of Mach3 for about 18 months now and find it great.  However, I recently decided I wanted to try using a different screen.  I downloaded and installed the "Aqua" screen set which is very close to what I was after.  However, none of the buttons would function with my pendant control.  So I set about customizing the screen shortcuts to adapt to the settings I had for my pendant.  I have had about 99% success, but I have one issue which has me confused.  I designed the screen on my main PC with an unlicensed copy of Mach3 and all the buttons work great with my pendant.  Mist and Flood work well, as does X/Y/Z and Start/Pause.  Spindle Speed works great as does feed rate and jog speed.  BUT, I cannot get the spindle to turn on and off.  Well, I can, but it only turns on once and then turns off once.  When I turn it off, the output turns off no problems, however the LED remains on and then the output refuses to go on again unless I hit the Screen E/Stop.  If I do that, I can turn it on once and off once and then the LED stays on, output goes off and I can't turn it on again.

I have checked all my settings in Screen4 and have checked the Mach3 configurations of my design PC and of my PC on the CNC and they appear to be identical but the problem still exists.

I really want to change PC's as the old PC has some issues and I want to change screens because I want to start using my new touch screen.

Can anyone offer any advice?

Cheers!

Dwane

6

FAQs / Re: Unusual problem

« on: March 23, 2009, 03:49:24 PM »

Just a quick update on my situation........

My problem has gotten significantly worse and is now doing it on almost every job I run.  I saw it do it 3 times yesterday and it also did it once while I was out of the machine area, and I only did 5 runs yesterday.  The one run that was OK was the very first run.

When it does happen, the toolpath display shows where it should be cutting, however it also shows it cutting in the wrong place.  (We are cutting basic shapes and it is easy to see where things are going wrong).  When I did a regen of the toolpath, the incorrect path disappeared and the correct path was displayed again.  It is like it is missing steps or offsetting the program at that point, but I can generally hear when it misses steps and it doesn't appear to be missing any steps.  I have tried different programs and the problem is always present.

I pulled the PC apart yesterday, re-seated the RAM and all cards and connectors and gave it a general clean out.  But, it still is playing up.  The end result is that I have ordered new components for the PC - Motherboard, CPU, RAM Hard Drive.  These should arrive tomorrow and will hopefully fix the problem.

In response to Leed3, I am not running any anti-virus programs and the system is not on the net.  It is a dedicated system for the machine.  And although I stated that it does run daily, it only runs about 2 or 3 hours each day, depending on our orders.

7

FAQs / Unusual problem

« on: March 16, 2009, 07:57:51 AM »

Hi all,

I have had Mach3 running successfully for about 12 months now on my router without a (software) hitch.  I have had missed steps in the past, but nothing like the problem I am about to attempt to explain.....

I was running a program today which I had to run 19 times.  It was a bulk part that I had to make.  Anyway, I got to about run 17 or so and the program went haywire.  It moved part of the program from one Y position to another - About 350mm or so!  It had ran great for all previous runs and I did nothing different on that particular run.  It just went all weird.

Anyway, I brushed it off as 'one of those things' and continued on.  Sure enough on a different run later in the day, it did it again.  This time it had only run about 3 previous times when it did a similar thing - Moved from one Y position to another.

On both occasions, I checked the toolpath display and it was displaying the unusual behavior which leads me to believe that my program has become corrupt.

Can anyone shed any light on this issue?  Or has anyone else had this problem?  I haven't installed any software in the last 4 or 5 months and my machine runs daily.

Thanks in advance,

MikDundee

8

General Mach Discussion / Re: 'Jerky' movement - Help please!

« on: March 30, 2008, 08:14:38 AM »

Also be aware that your code can change the CV/Exact Stop settings on the fly. If your code has a G61 in it then it will change to Exact Stop, G64 and it will be Constant Velocity. So even if you change you Mach setting to constant velocity (CV) then your code may switch it back to Exact Stop if there is a G61 in it.

Hood

My g-code is very basic and doesn't use many of the more advanced codes that are available, so I don't think that G61 and G64 will be a problem, but I will keep that in mind.

Thanks Hood.   

Dwane.

9

General Mach Discussion / Re: 'Jerky' movement - Help please!

« on: March 30, 2008, 08:12:11 AM »

The only good neighbors are ex-neighbors. Just do what I do. Take the M-16 out every now and again, just to remind them who there not going to deal with. If that don't phase them, just wear a helmet and put on some bunny slippers while  your shooting. Be creative.  Ever had your house shake because the neighbor is cutting down trees...with black powder charges? Naaaa, CNC at 3:00 am is small potatoes. 4 neighbors...and counting. I just hope some crazy person don't move in.

Ain't that the truth!  Sadly though, I live in a block of 6 units, all in fairly close proximity.  (However there has been the odd occasion when I have been tempted to call a mate to bring some 'force' over to stop the noise at all hours!).  So noise can be an issue for me.  Plus it's too cold & miserable out there tonight.....Best left till daylight.  I might slip out to give this a dry-run though.   

Keep in mind when you go from exact stop to const. velocity, you might have to mess with the CV angle setting. If you try to go fast around corners that are supposed to be sharp, they can end up rounded. Just a heads up. Might want to read up on the subject in the manual.

I'll bear that in mind.  Still doing the usual learning curve stuff here, but I have no doubt that with the support Mach has to offer, I will work my way through it.  I still have to sort out clamping yet.  The old g-clamps are getting more and more in the way with each cut!

10

General Mach Discussion / Re: 'Jerky' movement - Help please!

« on: March 30, 2008, 04:38:10 AM »

Thanks Sam.  I'll see if that helps tomorrow.  (Neighbours have a problem with my router running in the middle of the night!)

Cheers.

Dwane.