Topics

1

General Mach Discussion / Problem with transfer to new PC

« on: December 15, 2014, 11:11:59 AM »

The old PC started to throw up a blue screen every now and again so I decided to swap everything to a newer one. I did it this way:
"What I do is install  Mach3 on the target machine.
then Copy the C:\Mach directory and all its files over to a USB stick and then to the new machine C:\Mach directory." (as desribed by TP on the forum).

All settings have transfered perfectly as far as I can see.
Running Windows XP on both machines. Noew one is P4 2Gz.

However:
1. Keyboard jog controls don't work.
2. Spindle won't switch on manually.

A program will run, the machine works correctly, but the spindle doesn't start although the correct rpm appears in the window
Jog works correctly using a shuttle express

On the diagnostics screen, under 'Port 1 Pins current state', there are three green lights in positiions 4,5,6 from the left.
Nothing wrong with the machine, still works as before with the old PC.

Any ideas? Thanks!
Richard

2

General Mach Discussion / Lathe Arc Question

« on: December 22, 2012, 03:36:10 PM »

I need to turn some shallow 'inward' arcs- a bit like a file handle-- in bar stock.
I've read the Lathe Arc Motion document several times but it's pretty difficult stuff.

As an example, an arc 50mm in length from z-10 to z-60 (so G03 anticlockwise?) at a radius of 600mm in 20mm diam. stock.

I thought this would do it, assuming the cutter is already at X20,Z-10:

G03 X20 Z-60 R600

When I tried this on the MDI ( just simulation) the Z value is getting bigger (closer to zero) so something is wrong. I have ticked 'Reverse Arcs in Front Post' in the config, before that X was also getting bigger.

Any suggestions? I am probably missing something obvious, not for the first time.

Thanks for any comments
Richard

3

General Mach Discussion / Last line of code (M30) does not load

« on: August 06, 2012, 02:46:44 PM »

I'm writing a number of short simple routines, typically about 60-70 lines. I'm writing by hand in Notepad. They all end M5, M30 ( on consecutive lines). When I load them into Mach (turn), the M30 is always missing. However other routines I have written load normally, the only difference I can see is that the new routines have quite a few comments in brackets to remind me what I'm doing.
This happens on the work machine (win2k) and on the laptop (win7) I use for reference in the house.

Anybody got any ideas?
Thanks
Richard

4

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Locating a pocket on Z axis

« on: March 16, 2012, 10:31:54 AM »

I've been tearing my hair out about this. The tool is zeroed against the clamping fixture. I want it to go to X56 Y0 and then down to the work surface at Z-6, and then cut a circular pocket using the NFS wizard. The bit I don't get is how to get the correct pocket depth starting  at Z-6 (or any Z other than 0). I will want to cut a series of pockets and slots at two different Z heights along the X axis, and I was hoping to string them together as allowed by the NFS wizards.
This I guess is something to do with offsets?  I have watched the videos and searched the forums, but I just don't get it.

All help gratefully received!
Thanks
Richard

5

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Testing an operation, then adding another?

« on: March 12, 2012, 05:56:19 PM »

Hi all,
Is it possible to create some code, carry out a test run (on a piece of scrap for example), and then return to the wizards to add a further operation? I tried this but found that the first operation had been overwritten by the second in the main Mach 3 window. This is a bit different from creating a series of operations then testing them all at once.
I'm sure I can save the first code and then the second, and then combine them manually, but I wondered if this could be done without manual editing.

Also: I assume when you post code, it is auto-saved, but under what file name? Is any earlier file overwritten?

Thanks for any advice, I'm sure this is all obvious to the experienced!

Richard