Topics

1

General Mach Discussion / G0 Problem

« on: October 20, 2009, 08:12:11 PM »

I have been having a problem with Mach3 for a while now that I can't figure out. About a year ago I changed from WinCNC to Mach3, changed my drives, etc., and for the most part everything works fine. The only problem I've had is, when I manually type in a 'G0 X## or Y##' command, just about every time (99%+) the axis will move anywhere from 2" to 24" (+/-) and both axis will lock up and the motors will 'scream' until I hit <ESC>. I can jog the machine in high speed with no problems, and it has only happened once or twice in a program (obviously with catastrophic results to the part), but it happens almost EVERY time I use a G0 manually. At that point I have to go back and re-home my axis to make sure the machine knows where it is.

I have experimented with the ramp speed, which is currently set to max time to full speed, and the top speed (currently set far slower than I was running in WinCNC), but nothing has helped to this point. I looked under the FAQs and didn't find anything addressing this. Does anyone have any idea what this problem may be.

I only changed the interface and software, the drivers and motors are the same ones I ran under WinCNC.

2

General Mach Discussion / Macro Code

« on: May 01, 2008, 08:17:42 PM »

Ok, I think I finally figured out what is going on. The following code is what I wrote for a Z axis zeroing routine. Thanks to everyone for your help with this. If any previous post implied that I have not gotten support here, it was just poor wording (I was complaining about my previous hardware/software vendor , not Mach3 or CandCNC), everyone here has been nothing but helpful.  I've gotten several suggestions that got this program to work in the first place and, hopefully, a few more will let me make this a usable macro.

If GetOEMLed(800)<>0 Then    (Check to see if the reset led is on or off, if on send reset)
     DoOEMButton(1021)
End If
While GetOEMLed(824)=0         (If the Z Home led is not on)
  DoOEMButton(312)Wend        (Activate Z- jog button)
Wend
q=0                                        (I could never get the 'Sleep' function to work. I got a syntax error every time I tried to use it.)
While q < 1000                        (These 4 lines are just a time delay)
  q=q+1
Wend
While GetOEMLed(800)<>0       (Since the touchplate acts as a limit, this sends a reset code)
     DoOEMButton(1021)
Wend
q=0                                        (Another time delay.)
While q < 1000
  q=q+1
Wend
Code "G91 G0 Z0.252"              (my touchplate is .498 thick so it raises the Z axis .252" to get it to .750)
q=0                                        (Another time delay. If it parses the 'While IsMoving() line before the axis starts moving it gets stuck in an unrecoverable loop)
While q < 1000
  q=q+1
Wend
While ismoving()                       (Wait for the Z axis to stop moving before setting the Z axis DRO)
Wend
SetDro(2,.750)                        (Reset the Z axis DRO to .750 (my .498 plate + .252 travel)
End

This code runs perfectly in the VBScript editor window, but it chokes if I enter M1001 (the name of the macro) in in the MDI window, or try to call it as a button routine. It runs until the tool hits the touchplate, then aborts. I think that what is happening is that in the VB window, it is running under the control of VB. While it does trip a limit, the program continues and is allowed to pass a reset code to Mach3, and the program completes. When I attach it to a button in Mach3, when it hits the limit, Mach3 aborts the program so it never gets to the 'Reset' command.

It appears that what I want to do isn't possible from inside the program because any home or limit activation aborts all program code, and won't allow you to do anything else until clicking on the reset button. I have 'Auto Limit Override' turned on, but it makes no difference. What I've been able to find in documentation indicates that this setting should allow one move in the opposite direction after a 'Reset' flag is set, but so far I haven't found a way to make it work.

Does anyone have any idea if it is possible to override the 'Reset'?

3

General Mach Discussion / Reset - I was wrong

« on: April 29, 2008, 11:00:22 PM »

Ok, is there a way to stop the Reset lockout or not? I thought I had found a way around it by sending a reset code in a macro, but the way the code is parsed, even that seems to be impossible. What i am trying to do in this case is not important, the fact is that every time I try to write a macro that references a 'home' signal, regardless of axis, it locks up the machine until clicking on the 'Reset' button.

When it hits a 'X- or X+ limit/home' I want the machine to stop moving in that direction, when it hits a 'Y- or Y+ limit/home' I want it to stop moving in that direction, the same with 'Z'. I DO NOT want it to lock up the entire machine until I manually clcik on a 'Reset' button. There should be a way to stop the axis(s) from setting a lockout when hitting a limit/home switch.

Also, is there a source for syntax examples for the program commands? I have looked at every link available from this site, but it is like trying to look for 1000 needles in a  haystack. I can find a needle or two here or there, but there doesn't seem to be a list anywhere of available commands. I have taught myself three different programming languages, but with no documentation I can't teach myself this one.

Thanks
Ken

4

General Mach Discussion / Reset

« on: April 28, 2008, 10:08:49 PM »

Is there any way to turn off the D*** Reset function in Mach3? I'm trying to write a macro that will accurately set zero on the X and Y axis. I have a program that would work perfectly, except that every time it hits any home limit it locks the machine up until I press the 'Reset' button.

It makes sense that hitting a limit would stop a running program, and stop it from running any further in that direction. It makes NO sense that it has to lock up the entire machine until you press the 'Reset' button. I already have the 'Auto LimitOverride' turned on, but it still locks it up until I hit the button. Is there a function that can override that setting?

Thanks
Ken

5

General Mach Discussion / Reset button malfunction

« on: April 27, 2008, 10:23:23 PM »

For some reason the Reset button on the main screen doesn't work. I used my router yesterday, and everything was fine. Today, I messed with a couple of the screens, trying to get a macro to work, and now hitting the Reset does nothing. I keeps blinking no matter what I do. I even reinstalled the software in case I damaged one of the screens (though I don't think so, I only played with the VB script on one of the buttons). Anyway, now I can't Reset, so nothing works. The estop input is jumped out, so that's not the problem. What else could cause it to lock up.

Thanks
Ken

6

General Mach Discussion / Macros

« on: April 26, 2008, 09:47:50 PM »

I just converted my CNC router from WinCNC to CandCNC and Mach3. While most of the Mach3 settings are superior to WinCNC, and there is much better control, I have found one serious deficiency. WinCNC has a button labeled "Touch Top". When selected, the Z axis goes down until it touches a touchpad (I got the Mach3 software to do that), then it stops, deducts the thickness of the touchpad (0.498"), sets Z to zero, then raises the Z axis to .750".

So far, I have gotten Mach3 to lower the Z axis until the tool touches the touchpad, but at that point is stops. I have to manually raise the head, remove the touchpad, manually enter 'Z-.498', reset Z to 0, then raise the head. I know a macro can be made and assigned to one of the screen buttons (Load Material , for isntance, is useless to me ...), but I don't want to reinvent the wheel if there is already something out there that will do a similar job. Does anyone have anything like that, or do I need to start studying VB again (I used it years ago, but hoped I would never have to again ...)

Thanks