Topics

1

General Mach Discussion / Macro Question

« on: November 14, 2007, 04:03:38 PM »

Some of you might know I am working on a pretty weird machine, We have been doing some testing and I have come across an issue that I am not sure if its a BUG on my part or if its just sometrhing I overlooked until now. When I load my Program (which consists mainly of a bunch of MACRO calls ) There is a particular macro I WANT to run during program LOAD to SET some configuration info before the cycle start is pressed. On Most of my Macros I have a If ISLOADING() THEN statement which wont run them if the system is loading a file. I have 2 config macros which I want to setup some systems settings when the file is loaded, I though they were working but I may have just had the settings correct to begin with. When I load my FILE I SEE the LED's for the required settings come on, but they go off again almost immediately. None of my other macros are re-setting these LED's. Is there ANY way to make this Macro Set those settings when the file is loaded?

2

General Mach Discussion / Pausing/stopping a program under certain circumstances

« on: November 14, 2007, 12:46:40 PM »

Hello all, I am NOT a G-Code Guru so I am a little vague on how to set this one up so I thought I would ask the smart people If I have an LED on my Mach control which signifies that I want the Program  to Stop at a certain point so the operator can verify that something very critical has occured. I would like the program to STOP at a certain point only if this SCREEN LED is active... anyone have any suggestions?
 

3

Feature Requests / Feature Request

« on: August 28, 2007, 12:13:03 PM »

Hello all, I have been working on a strange machine but it has involved some in depth design and programming using Mach 3. One of the things Inoticed is the Inputs and Outputs Screens under the Ports and Pins. It would be great it there was a COMMENT Field in that Area which you could put a user comment indication what the pin is connected to, also perhaps a print config button which would print out a simple table of the settings.

Thanks

Mike

4

General Mach Discussion / Loadfile problems/questions

« on: August 27, 2007, 08:41:08 PM »

Hello All, hopefully Brian and or Art. I have this screen which has a button which loads a small file. (please bear in mind this is in the beginiing stages of testing)
The file is as follows:

;PROGRAM NAME -  SBABS5-30C Center Beam
;SPRUNG Control System G-CODE File
; **************  Do NOT ********************
; Run this G-CODE on a Normal CNC Machine
;   Damage will Alomost Certainly occur
;============================================
; Verify Beam is LOADED & Ready Move M5 Module
;       and GRAB Beam From Staging Clamp
;                     Stage 1
G04 P5
M1050
; Move Beam to Position (Usually Drill Hole 1) Do not release
G01 Y150 F300
; Activate Drill Station
M1052
; Move Beam to Position (Usually Drill Hole 2) Do Not Release
G01 Y140 F300
; Activate Drill Station
M1052
; Set DONE Drill Sequence
M1053
; Move Beam to Macining Position - Clamp beam - Release M5 And move away 24 Inches
G01 Y100 F300
; Set Beam to Tilt 2 Position
M1056
; Wait for Haas to Finish
M1070
; Reset TILT to Zero
M1057
; Wait for Haas to Finish
M1070
; Perform Tilt 1
M1058
; Peform WB1 Tilt1 Capture
M1059
; Wait for Haas to Finish
M1070
; WB1 Tilt 1 Release
M1060
; Reset WB2 to Nuetral Position
M1061
; Wait for Haas to Finish
M1070
; Use WB1 M5 Module to Push Beam Out
M1065
; Finish Cycle
M1075
M02

This program loads when I click the button but seems to want to "run" the program as soon as it is loaded and it causes Mach to Crash. Now it may be that some of the macros have errors in them and I am tracking those down but I am a bit concerned over the program running through any suggestions? pointers?

Mike

5

General Mach Discussion / M Code Macros & Parameters

« on: August 18, 2007, 11:30:55 PM »

Hello all, this may be a silly question, but I cant seem to find any information on it. Is there a way to pass a parameter to an MCODE?
i.e. M1050 P234.5
Which would run the Macro 1050 with the parameter 234.5
I can Do this By breaking the macro down and having portions which require the parameter in my base gcode but It would be much tidier for me to have it all in one nice little Mcode Bundle.... Is this possble?

Mike

6

Mach3 and G-Rex / Whats do you all think is the best way?

« on: August 11, 2007, 10:58:08 PM »

Hi Guys,  me again.  I am getting down to the last couple of things on this whacky machine and I am not 100% sure how to deal with this, or what a good approach would be. Describing it here might even help because it sort of puts it all down... 1st I will Describe the element of the machine I am trying to setup.
It is a very long axis about 55ft or so, it is a Technics servo motor and drive based axis which operates a grabber/positioner. It will have a hard stop on one end which I am thinking of setting up as the home position. On the other end is where a large AL extrusion will be STAGED (clamped and held) so the grabber can grab the extrusion and pul it into position on the machine. The Grabber has a HS Limit switch designed to detect the beam when it is in the correct position in the grabber and the unit has a reflective sensor that leads the grabber unit to detect objects to verify that there is indeed an exrusiuon, or as a safety feature.... it's function and purpose is mostly theoretical at this time and i would be just as happy to not have to deal with it.  It could be used primarily as a safety device to stop the unit should it detect an object where there should not be one.
The operation of this axis is it would home itself to the hard stop, then when activated do a rpid move to a position close to the extrusion, then it would slowly move into position until the Limit switch detects the Extrusion in the clamp Then the clamp "grabs" the extrusion and the unit moves at a more sedate speed to the required position. My question, is how would you suggest I watch the Limit/detector circuit to control/position the axis correctly. Now heres the clincher.. I have two of these axis's (Mirror Images of each other). And While I am not a newbie at electronics, control and programming I am NOT an expert... any advice/suggestions would be welcome.

Thanks
Mike

7

General Mach Discussion / Macropump problem?

« on: August 03, 2007, 07:09:43 PM »

Hello all, I think I am having a problem with my macropump..... When I first Start my MACH3 i get a popup window that is empty but has the title RunLoop Macro thread dummy. Has anyone seen this before? My Macropump is also not doing what it is supposed to.. at least as far as I can see.....

Any Clues? Anyone?

Thanks

Mike

8

Mach3 and G-Rex / GREX and Direct Connect Via Second Net Card.. HELP!

« on: May 17, 2007, 11:03:56 AM »

Hello all, I am having trouble creating a direct connection to my GREX..... It has been working fine through a HUB but now I would like to streamline the connection and connect it directly to my control system via a crossover Cable.... I have installed the Network Card and connected it to the G-REX via a crossover Cable .... It says I am connected but it is unable to find the GREX when I start MACH 3... what are the setting necessary to have this work? Use Small word please its been an early morning and My brain seems to having trouble starting this AM... Thanks in Advance

Mike

9

Mach3 and G-Rex / GREX and Wierdness

« on: April 23, 2007, 06:01:03 PM »

Hello all, my system has been acting kinda strange and I am NOT sure where or what the problem is. I have a Grex and It is hooked up to this machine that I am building, this machine is pretty bizarre and basically NOT what Mach was built for but Hey Its motion control right!?  Anyways, I have a Blank screen setup because this control is pretty wierd and I have OEM Buttons to Job My Axis (Specifically A) and they work just fine, but my hotkeys for the a axis dont work, and when I send GCODES like G00 A0.0 The motor will run to the point of startup and then stop, but then it will not respond to any further g codes.... it just ignores them..... any suggestions/pointers?

Mike

10

General Mach Discussion / Abnormal condition

« on: April 23, 2007, 01:05:45 PM »

Hello again  What does the Abnormal condition LED indicate? I am trying to test out some of the hardware I have connected and I can jog my A Axis fine but when I enter in a G00 A1.0 it moves to A 0.00 according to the dro but it doesnt move anywhere else after that. The only thing I can see is that I have this abnormal condition LED flashing. The Axis has also NOT been REF'd home as I have yet to put the switches in for that. But I was curious as to what condition that LED indicated was NOT normal, I cant seem to find any info in the Wiki and was hoping someone could satisfy my curiosity.

Mike