Topics

1

Mach4 General Discussion / MACH4 Vcarve ESS z axis crashing into wood

« on: December 13, 2023, 02:54:48 PM »

I have been using Mach4 for years on a home made machine with ESS and the Z axis is moving in way I have not seen before. 

Issue:  Seems that the Z axis keeps moving down without moving back up before the next move. On another PC I use the MACH4 simulator and it runs correctly. 

If you look to the image you see on the gcode the z axis should be -.2343 but if you look at the position it is at -.6177. So the router is PLOWING into the wood.

Thanks!
Phill

2

Mach4 General Discussion / what files do I need to recreate my profile

« on: April 18, 2023, 06:32:20 PM »

had an issue with my pc and lost mach4 now I am try to recreate my profile. Using CSMIO-M.

I lost mach4 and have reinstalled Mach4 (5039 i think) and the CSMIO apps and plugins.  I do have a backup of my old mach4 with all files and directory.  What files do I need to move back to my working mach4 directory to have it running again??  Too late to use the help -->> package function..

Thanks,
Phill

3

Mach4 General Discussion / help with diagnostic log. Mach pauses during run

« on: April 10, 2023, 10:45:19 AM »

Mach4 5036 ESS 285

Mach4 pauses during run at various locations.  Just upgraded to 5036 and ESS 285.

Using PWM output for laser and it runs fine when I disconnect the laser which is odd since I do not think there is any feedback to from the PWM output.  It has run the entire gcode a few times.  Mach does not show any actions on the history.

Please ask questions.  It is impossible to ask dumb questions.  I've been in Industrial sales for 30 years....  thanks Phill

4

Mach4 General Discussion / simple instructions for PWM for spindle output

« on: April 05, 2023, 11:35:28 AM »

I am using ESS 285 and latest mach4 5036

for days I have been trying to get a PWM output on output 2-14 tied to the spindle output.  I did have it working some months ago but PC died and trying to get going again.

Does anyone have simple instructions??  I have watched every video out there and they all seem to be tied to a laser or much older plugins or they have the same questions as me....

5

CS-Lab / MACH4 touch screen and center find

« on: May 06, 2019, 12:08:24 PM »

WIN10, Updated to the latest MACH4 hobby using latest firmware from CSMIO/M and isolated drill rod for probe.  Everything "kind of" works except the center finder under the "touch" button.  It finds the right left up down and then the probe moves to center then it moves diagonally till it hits the probe and stops.  Get the follow error.  "Can't transition from MDI running to stop".

Questions/statement:
1) no clue how to run the probe menu.  The video is TERRIBLE and the documentation is worse.  Sorry about that
2) have never used offsets.  I am a hobby hack and just want to make things. 
3) I understand that CSMIO does all the probing so I am thinking it is something to do with that
4) Does the "touch" button commands have anything to do with the probe menu variables?  That is, does the touch button variables use any other variables outside the touch button menu??
5) Right now I am simply using the probe and math to find the center. measure right left divide by two then repeat to verify.

Thanks and please ask anything.  You cannot hurt my feelings, I sell industrial controllers to engineers.
Phill

6

CS-Lab / Camino/ip-m spindle speed

« on: January 19, 2016, 01:00:54 AM »

I am trying to get the spindle speed to show up on the screen and use the spindle speed control within Mach3.  It worked before I upgraded.

I upgraded my siegx2 from lpt ports to the csmio/ip-m.  I have the standard spindle drive, using ampi stepper drives. All the I/O works fine,  steppers move without a problem, probe input works, the index shows on the diagnostic screen, the analog output to the sieg spindle drive works and is linear from 1500 to 4100. So the spindle works fine but the speed does not show and it does not seem to be closed loop. 

I have read the manual, followed the instructions from csmio.

Any feedback or questions would be helpful.  I have emailed the distributor and the manufacturer on the some other topics but have not received a response so I thought I would try this...

Thanks,

Phill

7

General Mach Discussion / M8 Flood output not working

« on: October 06, 2013, 11:20:16 PM »

hey all,

I am setting up a flood output and M8 does not turn on the output.  I am using output 5 port 1. 

The output works when I use the "output tab" under "Ports and Pins".  I test this by setting Output#1 to enable and use on port 1 pin 5.  Then I select active high then active low and the output toggles. I then turn this output off and go to the "Spindle setup" and enable "flood mist control" and set my output to pin 5. 

I have tested the output two different ways.  1) I go to the diagnostic page and toggle flood and nothing happens. 2) run code with a M8 and it does not turn on.  Also,  When I restart the PC the output it on which is odd but I can live with that. 

I think I do not have to setup an output since the manual states it is automatic. Also,  all other outputs run fine, XYZ and spindle.

What am I missing?

Thanks,

Phill D.

8

General Mach Discussion / Trying to understand thread wizard

« on: September 20, 2012, 11:33:07 AM »

hey all,

I have a 7x10 harbor freight lathe that I have cnc'd with mach3.  I have been trying to make a spring loaded engraving tool for my mill and I have a couple of questions:

1) When I enable back lash the axis movement starts to act strange.  I hit the up arrow to move my x axis in and the axis move the desired length then it adds the backlash movement, plus it moves too far.  My mill does the opposite.  it moves the backlash amount (at desired speed) then moves the entered distance.  Should I be using backlash on the lathe wizard? Does is act the same as Mach Mill? My back lash is about .005"

2) Can I turn "good" threads at 200 rpms?  I am using the acme threads that came with the lathe and simply added steppers to the ends for the x-z movement.   I have single slot encoder and the speed is accurate. It seems to do AL ok but mild steel seems to be an issue.  Would I better off using brass? Should I add ball screws so I can turn faster?

3) And when I do turn, I find that the measurement guides for turning threads do not work for me. I always need to adjust the major and minor thread size to get a bolt to go one smoothly.  I would think this has something to do with backlash but see item 1.  Or I would think this has something to do accuracy of the steps/distance.  It would be nice if I could set the steps/distance like mach mill. but I have good distance if you do not could backlash.  For example, I can zero the x by touching the diameter and set it to .3" then I can turn it down to .2" with the wizards and I get a good result.

4) Are there any videos that explain more about mach3 thread and the wizards? I see a million people show them making threads but nothing about how they actually got there, what measurements they use, why they are going a certain rpm, what tool is better.  Or is this the nature of the beast?  My expectation is to place a piece of rod in, set the parameters, cycle, walk away and come back with a perfect thread...


Sorry if the questions seem stupid... I am hack at machining and the only parts I have made are parts for the machine over a 3 year period. this is my first real project with the lathe.  The Mill works great!!  I use cambam, turbocad and mach3 and have made many parts for years.

Phill

9

FAQs / ALT-A input to select MPG axis

« on: April 10, 2012, 01:55:17 PM »

Hey all,

From reading the topics my request seems very doable but I have yet to make it work.

Goal:  I would like one input (from a button) to toggle the active axis (alt-a) for my single MPG. So I would like to use a single MPG to control axis X-Y-Z.

I am using an MPG that works well. I can select the axis by using Alt-A.  I have an input that works well and I have tested it with other tasks.

What I have tried:
Go under inputs and selected my input as input #1 (it shows up under diagnostics) then the hotkey is 2145 for Alt-A.

This does not work.

Please let me know what I am doing wrong.

10

General Mach Discussion / Steppers slightly "jitters" when idle

« on: January 09, 2011, 12:04:59 PM »

I am noticing that my stepper motors slightly jitters when mach3 is idle.  Less than .005".  It is mostly the x or y axis.  i have solid movement when running, no issues.

I think the issue is related to the PC doing something in the background and I do not think it is noise.

is there any way of looking to the LPT port to isolate the PC? I am thinking I should disconnect the LTP cable to verify noise??

Running AMD Atholon with 1.5GB memory. two LPT's with AMPI stepper control.

Thanks,

Phill