Topics

1

SmoothStepper USB / Erratic motion happens recently

« on: June 01, 2018, 10:15:54 PM »

Hello everybody,

My machine used Mach3 and ESS card for a couples of year and found no problem at all. However,
the motion sometimes moves erratically recently, the machining parts was ruined then. When
I jog the machine, each axis gives an erratic sound and lost steps happened. . After turning
off Mach3 and opening it again, problem has gone.  (will virus goes from my thumbdrive to computer?
Windows XP is used and no internet connects)

Could anyone has idea and help.

Thanks in advance.

2

General Mach Discussion / Mach3 to run a series of G-code filess

« on: June 12, 2017, 03:52:07 AM »

Hello,

Does anybody know how to make Mach3 to run a series of G-code files one by one automatically. For example, I have some G-code files to work on a workpiece. In normal situation, I need to open the first one and let it to finish. Then, I close the file and open the second one. To repeat this until all of them completed.

I know that I can make it work by combining them into a single large G-code files , but it let me do the extra work and somehow not a good method. So, is there a way for Mach3 to do as I mentioned or to do something like running a batch files...

Thanks in advance.

3

General Mach Discussion / Erratic motions after installing ESS and pendant

« on: March 06, 2017, 12:58:37 PM »

Hello, everybody,

This occurs not very often, about one or two times a day. After selecting an axis control on pendant (e.g. Z direction) and starting the hand jogging. Suddently, machine will automatically move in both Y and Z directions. No sooner had the stop button been pushed, the tool already collided with the workpiece. And, both of them were ruined. When hitting the reset button to start again, however, the erratic motion re-appears.

Eventhough the input pins for Encoder MPG A & B pulse are disabled on Ports & Pins configuration tab, when I click the screen button to jog instead, it still occurs. Until, I retreated from Mach3 and turned off ESS power and restart all over, the errors then disappears.

This didn't occur in the old day when I used parallel port connection for Mach3 running.

Did anybody experience this or are there some wrong settings I committed. Attached are the captured screens of the settings for reference.

Will there be some errors/data logged on the buffer of the ESS??

Thanks in advance.

4

General Mach Discussion / Wrong toolpaths appear in Mach3 during running ESS with plugin installed

« on: February 23, 2017, 12:01:22 PM »

Hello everybody,

In the old day of using parallel port for Mach3, I found no problem in running all G-codes that were produced from Mastercam X5, these included all kind of 3d pocket, contouring, etc, etc.

Lately, I go to ESS, problem occurs in pocket machining. Firstly, the toolpath generates and are viewed all okay in Mastercam. However, when the output G-code file is brought to Mach3, some additional wrong toothpaths appear (purple color lines of first attachment). The Mach3 version is 3.043.062 and plugin version is ESS_Mach3_160630_u4f1b as recommended. When switching back to parallel port, those errors no longer appears. In another toolhpath of pocket parallel profile, the error message of 'radius to the end of arc...' appears as well (second attachment). These errors only occur in pocket machining profile, no problem are found for contouring, drilling, 2d contouring and etc.

I don't think the happening should be blamed to the postprocessor as it was used well for some time in parallel port environment. Also, I downloaded the recommended processor for the Mastercam from Mach3 website for use but it doesn't help in correcting those mistakes.

Can somebody help to give advice?

5

VB and the development of wizards / V.B scripts problem in M6Start Macro M99999 file

« on: November 17, 2016, 11:02:07 PM »

Hi everybody,

The M99999 file is as below:

‘****************

Global Const t=50000

Sub Main

tool=GetSelectedTool()
SetCurrentTool(tool)
........
Call A
.........
End Sub

Sub A
.....
Sleep(t)
....
End Sub
‘****************

However, the value 5000 can't pass to subroutine A. It seems that it don't allow the scripts put at the very beginning and outside the Sub Main. Is this true? And, how can it be corrected?

Thanks in advance!

6

General Mach Discussion / V.B. programming problem

« on: November 16, 2016, 08:45:55 AM »

Hi, everbody,

The defined variable‘s value in the main program cannot pass down to subroutine program....

In main program, there are different cases to have different time values as below:

Sub main
.....
 Case 1.... t=1000.... call A
 Case 2.....t=2000.....call A
......
End Sub
....

Sub A
ActivateSignal(Output4)
Sleep(t)
DeActivateSignal(Output4)
Sleep(50)
End Sub

However, during the program runs, corresponding t value cannot be read in subroutine, can anybody help to explain what mistakes were made?

7

General Mach Discussion / Brain control and V.B program control in Mach3

« on: November 10, 2016, 12:07:52 AM »

Hello everyone,

Having a diy electrical toolchanger box, and already have V.B program to perform some actions. Knowing that most of them are not being immediately responsed and have 1/10 sec. delay in time?. After consideration, a few of them now need to be responsed faster...

I am just a beginner in Brain control, on the level of controlling pendant. May i know if I can implement some outputs,  likes the output 2, which originally defined in V.B into the Brain program in order to have faster response in time?

Thanks in advance.

8

General Mach Discussion / About V.B. script

« on: November 08, 2016, 05:46:39 AM »

Hello, everybody,

Want to write  V.B script in Mach3 environment to have ‘beep‘ sound from the computer. Is it possible and how is it?

Thanks,

9

SmoothStepper USB / ESS lost communication with computer and Mach3

« on: August 26, 2016, 08:53:42 AM »

Hi everybody,

My ESS was originally run okay for a month. After turning it and computer off last night as usual, it can't start up this morning.

It can't communicate with computer in Mach3, with message of some sorts 'can't communicate in wake up mode.....'.  By doing following actions but is still in vain:

>turning off the Windows firewall.
>reinstalling the Plugins.
>checking the IP and subnet mask addresses and all other settings if they are same as before when it could work.
>by operating ping, not succeeding for 10.9.9.9, with tmeout replies,  but 10.9.9.2 okay.
>during connecting with power and LAN cable, right angle upper right green LED blinks fast, Ethernet jack orange and green LEDs blink.
>When I connect the pins on config. jumper socket together, the right upper green LED blinks slow, long on and long off. Still, communication not succeed...
>On-board green LED blinks all the time.
>change to another 5v cellphone dc supply.
>By doing above works, all ports cable are disconnected with only power and LAN cable connected...

Can some help and advise what's problem my system encounter or anything I did wrong...

10

SmoothStepper USB / Erratic motion after installing ESS

« on: August 05, 2016, 03:57:17 AM »

Hi everyone,

Recently, I installed ESS and found strange motion on my CNC machine. During running G-code, I hit the feed-hold button, when I hit it again in order  to resume the motion, erratic toolpath motion happened. The workpiece ruined and tool cutter broke. This didn't happen at all when I used parallel port before.

Also, feed-hold can stops the axis motion nearly at once when using parallel port. But, in using ESS,  it can't, a number of G-code lines will be run before it stops?

Can anybody help to give advise or solution?

Thanks in advance.