Topics

1

Vistacnc Control Pendants / P2-S Pendant

« on: June 24, 2016, 07:55:00 PM »

I have the P2-S pendant built by vistaCNC, and find it to be a superb unit. Once you use it, and begin to take advantage of it's functions it will amaze you with it's versatility.

All of the functions have been well though out. When setting up your machine with a new job, it makes everything much easier. It is in the initial set-up that one makes lots of little approach moves. It has a Step/Jog setting that moves in increments of your step setting. Holding down the function button, under your thumb if holding in your left hand, and rotating the big dial, it shows the step setting on the LED screen, and turning the dial changes the step. Let your thumb off the button, and the screen goes back to jog function, and shows the axis dimension; and turning the dial now jogs with your new step setting. 

Rotate the selection knob from the step/jog position, to the target/home symbol, and click the button under your thumb twice, and it sets you axis HOME. Rotate the selection knob back to the Velocity position, next to the step/jog position, and you are not in a jog function that moves as fast as you turn the dial.

This makes setting up a job, or jogging to a different location fast and smooth.

Another nice feature is the OFF/SCR left knob position. At this position, the pendant cannot jog or accidentally move the machine
while you are running a job.

The right knob is axis selection, start/stop funcion, spindle start/stop. Very convenient. It also has an emergency stop button on the right side of the unit.

This unit is like having a super button panel, in a tiny package you can hold in your hand. The LED shows axis position as you change the axis selection. You can also slow the feedrate as the job is running.

This is one impressive unit.

John
 

2

dspMC/IP Motion Controller / Setting up a touch plate for TLO

« on: October 22, 2015, 04:16:24 AM »

I have been using my dspmc controlled mill for about 4 years, and this week decided to implement a Tool Length touch plate.

The touch plate is working fine, after playing around with various resistors and schemes.

I wired one end of a 330 ohm resistor to a wire, which connects to the 24 volt buss. The input to the J4 board connects to the insulated touch plate surface, and also to the other end of the resistor. Reading the voltage between ground and the touch plate
surface is about 23.7 volts.
Touching the copper touch plate surface to a tool in the spindle turns on the digitize LED on the diagnostics page, so all seems good to go.

Trying to run a touch-off program in conjunction with the dspmc setting in the config seem to interfere. The machine Z axis stops properly, and backs off .050 as per program, and the setting in the dspmc config, but then the machine starts wandering off very slow in Y positive direction.

What kind of program is supposed to work in conjunction with the config settings in the dspmc settings?

John

3

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Opening tool screen from NF

« on: December 03, 2014, 11:37:34 PM »

Hi Ron:

First I would like to thank you for a superb little program. I use it every day in my work. It is the best money I ever spent in my many
years in CNC machining.

My question is the drop down screen, of the Tool Table, from within the NF program. It works just fine in the standard Mach3 srcreen,
but does not work in the 2010 screen set. I set-up a new Win 7 mini computer with a new SSD. I thought the Tool Table worked
when I first ran the program with the 2010 set, but after more stuff was installed, it does not open the T-Table anymore. Do you know of any conflicts or what can be done? Would a complete removal of Mach3, and then a re-install of Mach3, and NF do it?

Thanks,

John

4

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / G18 display vs G19 tool path display

« on: August 08, 2014, 06:16:50 PM »

This is probably one of the gremlins that "is", but does anyone know if an earlier
version of Mach3 displays G18 properly.

This G-code is running in the latest version of Mach3, ver R3.043.067.

For those who have not used it, G17 is the X-Y plane, G18 is the X-Z plane, and G19
is the Y-Z plane.

If you want o cut a half round pocket, moving in the X or Y direction, with a ball mill,
these are the G-codes you would use.


The displays is fine for G19, but the G18 tool path is totally out of whack, but it
cuts correctly.

I spent quite some time trying to correct the G-code, but finally realized it is a
Mach3 problem.

This example works properly.

( G19 G-code example program )
G00 X0 Y0
M6 T3
G43 H3
#11=[0]
G0 X0 Y0 Z.1
G01 Z0.0 F20

M98 p1000 L5
G00 Z.1
G4 P2
G00 Z.5 M5
M30

( G19 subroutine )
O1000
G19 Y-1 X#11 F40
G3 Y1 J0 K0
#11=[#11+.1]
G01 X#11
G2 Y-1 J0 K0
#11=[#11+.1]
m99

If you load the above G-code, the image in the tool path display is a half-round pocket,
1" radius, cut by alternate cw, ccw cutting arcs in the Y-Z plane, advancing .1 with each
arc in the positive X direction. #11 is the parameter used for incrementing the X travel
after each cutting arc.

------------------

( G18 G-code example program )
G00 X0 Y0
M6 T3
G43 H3
#11=[0]
G0 X0 Y0 Z.5
G1 Z0 F10

M98 p1000 L5
G0 Z.5
M30

(G18 subroutine)
O1000
G18 X1 F40
G3 X-1 I0 K0
#11=[#11+.1]
G1 Y#11
G2 X1 I0 K0
#11=[#11+.1]
G1 Y#11
m99

The above G18 G-code is the same basic routine, but the half round pocket is in the X-Z plane,
advancing after each G3, G2 arc in the Positive Y direction. If you loaded the code, the tool
path display shows a complete circle, half above the stock Z0 surface, which is NOT where the
tool ever goes. Running the code shows the machine working correctly, and all the G3 arcs are
cut, but the tool path is not where the G3 arc display shows. The G2 arcs are correct, and
follow the tool path lines.

When I first wrote the code, I thought the coding order was wrong, and kept trying to fix it.
I finally ran the program, and then saw it was the display problem, not incorrect G-code
writing.


John

5

Forum suggestions and report forum problems. / Plasma section in the Forum

« on: April 21, 2014, 04:02:32 PM »

My background in CNC machine shop operations is heavily CNC Milling. Plasma cutting is actually a different Industry field, and often not even done in the close proximity to precision mills and lathes due to the abrasive dust created. However, a large user base of Plasma machines are driven by Mach3.
I now have the task of getting a Plasma machine operational for another shop, and am in a steep learning curve
I have been reading comments and questions in the forum regarding setting up a DTHC for a Plasma machine by entering the search header.
Since Plasma machines, and THC iin particular is totally unrelated to Mill or Lathe questions a Plasma specific section would be very helpful, keeping the history of questions and answers in one place.

Thanks,

John
 

6

VB and the development of wizards / Run macro "M5" from button push

« on: August 30, 2013, 02:08:53 AM »

Is there an explanation better than the Mach3 Programmers Manual for turning off the spindle by a pushbutton?  It appears that there is no OEM code to shut off the spindle. My M5.m1s macro contains the following;

ActivateSignal(Output 3)
Sleep(4000)
DeActivateSignal(Output 3)

The M5 activates a relay, that drops out the Mag Contactor for the spindle motor

When the spindle is ON, doing a MDI; M5, works just fine. When the program is running, M5, and/or M30 also turn off the spindle.

I would like to also have available a panel button that will run a Brain to do the same thing;  run the M5 macro.

I have looked in vain for an OEM code for "Spindle OFF" that will work in a brain.
There are OEM codes for Spindle ON, Mist ON, Mist OFF, Flood ON, Flood OFF, ................etc.

I read the section on "SetTriggerMacro", and it is certainly not user friendly. The example goes into using OEM Code 301, and says to assign the M5 macro to "SetTriggerMacro(5). Nowhere is it explained where to write the sentence "SetTriggerMacro(5).
I understand the programmers understand all this perfectly, and like to write in terse, minimal sentences.

My pushbuttons work via Modbus. I have everything working imaginable through brains, and OEM codes, except turning OFF the spindle.

I would appreciate a "heads up" where to learn how to do this.

Thanks
John