Topics

1

Mach4 Toolbox / Spindle WarmUp Wizard

« on: February 17, 2015, 04:13:36 PM »

Here is a wizard to make the code to warm up a spindle.  Place this mcs file in the Wizards folder for M4 and use it from the Wizards pull-down menu.

2

Mach4 General Discussion / Mach4 Build 1900 released

« on: July 18, 2014, 07:00:22 PM »

Hear ye, hear ye!  http://www.machsupport.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Mach4Hobby%20Installer-1900.exe

3

Mach4 General Discussion / M4 Build 1872 is out

« on: June 30, 2014, 03:39:04 PM »

New release! 

I dont know if it overwrites the macros and whatnot that you've worked so hard on before now, so back it up first. 

4

Mach4 General Discussion / What version of Lua is Mach 4 using?

« on: June 06, 2014, 01:41:33 PM »

Updating to a new version of Lua was mentioned with build 1817.  What version is it?  I expected to see 5.X in the about box but it says wxLua 2.8.12.3.  I don't know what makes one different from the other (don't care either, it will go over my head).  All I want to know is which reference manual/examples I should be looking at.

Thanks.

-Nick

5

Mach4 Toolbox / IsStill example (M4 version of IsMoving)

« on: June 04, 2014, 08:16:31 PM »

Or: "How to pause your script while an axis is moving."

Hey! It works in build 1817!

Code: [Select]

--[[--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
||_/\\\\____________/\\\\_____/\\\\\\\\\___________/\\\\\\\\\__/\\\________/\\\____________/\\\____________
||_\/\\\\\\________/\\\\\\___/\\\\\\\\\\\\\______/\\\////////__\/\\\_______\/\\\__________/\\\\\____________
||__\/\\\//\\\____/\\\//\\\__/\\\/////////\\\___/\\\/___________\/\\\_______\/\\\________/\\\/\\\___________
||___\/\\\\///\\\/\\\/_\/\\\_\/\\\_______\/\\\__/\\\_____________\/\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\______/\\\/\/\\\__________
||____\/\\\__\///\\\/___\/\\\_\/\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\_\/\\\_____________\/\\\/////////\\\____/\\\/__\/\\\_________
||_____\/\\\____\///_____\/\\\_\/\\\/////////\\\_\//\\\____________\/\\\_______\/\\\__/\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\_____
||______\/\\\_____________\/\\\_\/\\\_______\/\\\__\///\\\__________\/\\\_______\/\\\_\///////////\\\//_____
||_______\/\\\_____________\/\\\_\/\\\_______\/\\\____\////\\\\\\\\\_\/\\\_______\/\\\___________\/\\\______
||________\///______________\///__\///________\///________\/////////__\///________\///____________\///______
||++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
||                               
||++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
||   
||  By            ::: NJL Bodini
||                               
||  Mach 4 Build  ::: 1817
||                                 
||  Date          ::: 06 04 2014
||                                                         
||  Script Desc   ::: Pause script execution while an axis is in motion (m4 version of IsMoving )
||                                                                     
||++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++]]

inst = mc.mcGetInstance()
mc.mcCntlGcodeExecute(inst, "g91 g1 x1") --execute gcode
while (mc.mcCntlIsStill(inst)==1) do  --loops through this while an axis is moving
    mc.mcCntlSetLastError(inst, "axis in motion") --do this while axis is moving
end  --ends the loop
mc.mcCntlSetLastError(inst, "axis is stopped")  --continues here after axis is done moving
mc.mcCntlGcodeExecute(inst, "g90") --execute gcode



6

Mach4 General Discussion / Is there a way to tell IF gcode is loaded

« on: May 27, 2014, 11:01:07 PM »

Is there a way for Lua to check IF Mach4 has a gcode file loaded? 

Thanks, Nick

7

Mach4 General Discussion / Lua: ? How to set a DRO that has a "DRO Code" ?

« on: May 09, 2014, 10:23:08 AM »

I am trying to set a DRO that has a "DRO Code" from the drop down in its Properties... such as "xdro1" on the default screen. (In Mach3/VB this would be like a "SETOEMDRO" if I remember correctly.)

Used the code "scr.SetProperty('xdro1', 'Value', tostring("999"))" and it works for a millisecond (you can see it flash by in the DRO).  But then the Value goes back to what it was before the DRO was set.

I notice that when the "DRO Code" is cleared, this doesn't happen.  Obviously there is another part of the process that I am unaware of.  Please advise!

Also just noticed that it works when the screen is being edited.  So, I'd guess this is some sort of PLC script issue or something like that.

8

Brains Development / Activate Output with M0

« on: November 27, 2013, 06:09:07 PM »

I'd like to activate an output when Mach stops for M0 (program stop) but I'm not sure how to go about it.  Suggestions anyone?  If there is a conditional LED or something in a pull-down in Brains, then I missed it.  Thanks.  -Nick

9

General Mach Discussion / M6 goes to line 0

« on: November 12, 2013, 08:55:59 AM »

Mach 3.043.066

When M6 is called in gcode, the Line # goes to 0.  Turns out this is caused by using "GotoSafeZ ()" in M6start.m1s.

Is it just "just one of those things" or what?

10

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Zero gravity Z

« on: November 07, 2013, 08:30:58 AM »

The problem was that when Estop was enabled, the Z axis would come crashing down to the mechanical stop.

After looking into how rather expensive CNCs are designed, I found that some use a nitrogen charged counterbalance system.  So I decided to mimic that with compressed air.

I used a double acting air cylinder from McMaster-Carr (#6498K861).  The air is pressurized on the lower portion of the cylinder (pushing the cylinder closed, essentially).  The upper part of the cylinder has breather vent (#4456K11).

There is a 5 gallon air tank under the machine with a regulator on it.  I tuned the regulator to offer just enough air to the valve to keep the Z suspended.

I can turn the ballscrew with my fingers in either direction with very little effort.  The machine has no problem working against the air pressure during Z- moves.  I've been using it for over a year like this and it came out way better than I could have hoped for.  So now when the Estop is hit, Z doesnt go anywhere, it just stays where it is (encoder DRO proves that)  

Hope this helps someone.

-Nick