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Topics - Mike1000

Pages: 1
1
Can I safely downgrade Mach4 to an older version (older build) without loosing settings?

I have problems with Mach4 demo  v 4.2.0.4054 so I want to try an older version. Will that mess up my Mach settings?
I also have the ESS V 232 plugin. Will the settings in that plugin be messed up if I downgrade?

Can I do a Help/Suppert/Package Current Profile and load that in the older version?

2
I have Mach4 demo v4.2.0.4054 (one of the latest builds downloaded from FTP) installed. I have the ESS v232 plugin installed (Ethernet Smooth Stepper).

Problem: on my new Win10 laptop the toolpath specified by the Gcode is not shown when a valid Gcode file is loaded. Mac4 operates as normal and will run the GCode, but the toolpath windows is blue and no lines or not even the coordinate axes are visible.

Any hints ?

3
I did get generated the below G code from Fusion 360 CAM module. It appears that the spindle is scaping the workpiece surface and isnt lifting enough in Z to clear the workpiece when moving from work coordinate zero to the first cut. The Fusion 360 guys tell me this may be a problem in Mach4. However I am no G code, Fusion or Mach4 expert so perhaps you can spot where the problem is. And most importantly how to fix it so that the tool lifts when it is moving to the first cut. See attachment for pic.

Code: [Select]
(1001)
(T1  D=4.762 CR=0. - ZMIN=-5. - FLAT END MILL)
G90 G94 G91.1 G40 G49 G17
G21
G28 G91 Z0.
G90

(CIRCULAR4)
M5
M9
T1 M6
S10000 M3
G54
M9
G0 X41.57 Y100.524
G43 Z90. H1
Z28.
G1 Z-1.524 F1143.
G18 G2 X42.047 Z-2. I0.476 K0.
G1 X42.285
G17 G3 X42.761 Y101. I0. J0.476
X19.239 I-11.761 J0.
X42.761 I11.761 J0.
X42.285 Y101.476 I-0.476 J0.
G1 X42.047
G18 G3 X41.57 Z-1.524 I0. K0.476
G0 Z40.
Y100.524
Z27.
G1 Z-2.524 F1143.
G2 X42.047 Z-3. I0.476 K0.
G1 X42.285
G17 G3 X42.761 Y101. I0. J0.476
X19.239 I-11.761 J0.
X42.761 I11.761 J0.
X42.285 Y101.476 I-0.476 J0.
G1 X42.047
G18 G3 X41.57 Z-2.524 I0. K0.476
G0 Z40.
Y100.524
Z26.
G1 Z-3.524 F1143.
G2 X42.047 Z-4. I0.476 K0.
G1 X42.285
G17 G3 X42.761 Y101. I0. J0.476
X19.239 I-11.761 J0.
X42.761 I11.761 J0.
X42.285 Y101.476 I-0.476 J0.
G1 X42.047
G18 G3 X41.57 Z-3.524 I0. K0.476
G0 Z40.
Y100.524
Z25.
G1 Z-4.524 F1143.
G2 X42.047 Z-5. I0.476 K0.
G1 X42.285
G17 G3 X42.761 Y101. I0. J0.476
X19.239 I-11.761 J0.
X42.761 I11.761 J0.
X42.285 Y101.476 I-0.476 J0.
G1 X42.047
G18 G3 X41.57 Z-4.524 I0. K0.476
G0 Z40.
X81.57 Y100.524
Z28.
G1 Z-1.524 F1143.
G2 X82.047 Z-2. I0.476 K0.
G1 X82.285
G17 G3 X82.761 Y101. I0. J0.476
X59.239 I-11.761 J0.
X82.761 I11.761 J0.
X82.285 Y101.476 I-0.476 J0.
G1 X82.047
G18 G3 X81.57 Z-1.524 I0. K0.476
G0 Z40.
Y100.524
Z27.
G1 Z-2.524 F1143.
G2 X82.047 Z-3. I0.476 K0.
G1 X82.285
G17 G3 X82.761 Y101. I0. J0.476
X59.239 I-11.761 J0.
X82.761 I11.761 J0.
X82.285 Y101.476 I-0.476 J0.
G1 X82.047
G18 G3 X81.57 Z-2.524 I0. K0.476
G0 Z40.
Y100.524
Z26.
G1 Z-3.524 F1143.
G2 X82.047 Z-4. I0.476 K0.
G1 X82.285
G17 G3 X82.761 Y101. I0. J0.476
X59.239 I-11.761 J0.
X82.761 I11.761 J0.
X82.285 Y101.476 I-0.476 J0.
G1 X82.047
G18 G3 X81.57 Z-3.524 I0. K0.476
G0 Z40.
Y100.524
Z25.
G1 Z-4.524 F1143.
G2 X82.047 Z-5. I0.476 K0.
G1 X82.285
G17 G3 X82.761 Y101. I0. J0.476
X59.239 I-11.761 J0.
X82.761 I11.761 J0.
X82.285 Y101.476 I-0.476 J0.
G1 X82.047
G18 G3 X81.57 Z-4.524 I0. K0.476
G0 Z40.
X188.928 Y63.024
Z28.
G1 Z-1.524 F1143.
G2 X189.404 Z-2. I0.476 K0.
G1 X189.643
G17 G3 X190.119 Y63.5 I0. J0.476
X94.881 I-47.619 J0.
X190.119 I47.619 J0.
X189.643 Y63.976 I-0.476 J0.
G1 X189.404
G18 G3 X188.928 Z-1.524 I0. K0.476
G0 Z40.
Y63.024
Z27.
G1 Z-2.524 F1143.
G2 X189.404 Z-3. I0.476 K0.
G1 X189.643
G17 G3 X190.119 Y63.5 I0. J0.476
X94.881 I-47.619 J0.
X190.119 I47.619 J0.
X189.643 Y63.976 I-0.476 J0.
G1 X189.404
G18 G3 X188.928 Z-2.524 I0. K0.476
G0 Z40.
Y63.024
Z26.
G1 Z-3.524 F1143.
G2 X189.404 Z-4. I0.476 K0.
G1 X189.643
G17 G3 X190.119 Y63.5 I0. J0.476
X94.881 I-47.619 J0.
X190.119 I47.619 J0.
X189.643 Y63.976 I-0.476 J0.
G1 X189.404
G18 G3 X188.928 Z-3.524 I0. K0.476
G0 Z40.
Y63.024
Z25.
G1 Z-4.524 F1143.
G2 X189.404 Z-5. I0.476 K0.
G1 X189.643
G17 G3 X190.119 Y63.5 I0. J0.476
X94.881 I-47.619 J0.
X190.119 I47.619 J0.
X189.643 Y63.976 I-0.476 J0.
G1 X189.404
G18 G3 X188.928 Z-4.524 I0. K0.476
G0 Z40.
X298.928 Y63.024
Z28.
G1 Z-1.524 F1143.
G2 X299.404 Z-2. I0.476 K0.
G1 X299.642
G17 G3 X300.119 Y63.5 I0. J0.476
X204.881 I-47.619 J0.
X300.119 I47.619 J0.
X299.642 Y63.976 I-0.476 J0.
G1 X299.404
G18 G3 X298.928 Z-1.524 I0. K0.476
G0 Z40.
Y63.024
Z27.
G1 Z-2.524 F1143.
G2 X299.404 Z-3. I0.476 K0.
G1 X299.642
G17 G3 X300.119 Y63.5 I0. J0.476
X204.881 I-47.619 J0.
X300.119 I47.619 J0.
X299.642 Y63.976 I-0.476 J0.
G1 X299.404
G18 G3 X298.928 Z-2.524 I0. K0.476
G0 Z40.
Y63.024
Z26.
G1 Z-3.524 F1143.
G2 X299.404 Z-4. I0.476 K0.
G1 X299.642
G17 G3 X300.119 Y63.5 I0. J0.476
X204.881 I-47.619 J0.
X300.119 I47.619 J0.
X299.642 Y63.976 I-0.476 J0.
G1 X299.404
G18 G3 X298.928 Z-3.524 I0. K0.476
G0 Z40.
Y63.024
Z25.
G1 Z-4.524 F1143.
G2 X299.404 Z-5. I0.476 K0.
G1 X299.642
G17 G3 X300.119 Y63.5 I0. J0.476
X204.881 I-47.619 J0.
X300.119 I47.619 J0.
X299.642 Y63.976 I-0.476 J0.
G1 X299.404
G18 G3 X298.928 Z-4.524 I0. K0.476
G0 Z40.
X408.928 Y63.024
Z28.
G1 Z-1.524 F1143.
G2 X409.404 Z-2. I0.476 K0.
G1 X409.642
G17 G3 X410.119 Y63.5 I0. J0.476
X314.881 I-47.619 J0.
X410.119 I47.619 J0.
X409.642 Y63.976 I-0.476 J0.
G1 X409.404
G18 G3 X408.928 Z-1.524 I0. K0.476
G0 Z40.
Y63.024
Z27.
G1 Z-2.524 F1143.
G2 X409.404 Z-3. I0.476 K0.
G1 X409.642
G17 G3 X410.119 Y63.5 I0. J0.476
X314.881 I-47.619 J0.
X410.119 I47.619 J0.
X409.642 Y63.976 I-0.476 J0.
G1 X409.404
G18 G3 X408.928 Z-2.524 I0. K0.476
G0 Z40.
Y63.024
Z26.
G1 Z-3.524 F1143.
G2 X409.404 Z-4. I0.476 K0.
G1 X409.642
G17 G3 X410.119 Y63.5 I0. J0.476
X314.881 I-47.619 J0.
X410.119 I47.619 J0.
X409.642 Y63.976 I-0.476 J0.
G1 X409.404
G18 G3 X408.928 Z-3.524 I0. K0.476
G0 Z40.
Y63.024
Z25.
G1 Z-4.524 F1143.
G2 X409.404 Z-5. I0.476 K0.
G1 X409.642
G17 G3 X410.119 Y63.5 I0. J0.476
X314.881 I-47.619 J0.
X410.119 I47.619 J0.
X409.642 Y63.976 I-0.476 J0.
G1 X409.404
G18 G3 X408.928 Z-4.524 I0. K0.476
G0 Z90.
G17

M9
G28 G91 Z0.
G90
G28 G91 X0. Y0.
G90
M30

4
General Mach Discussion / Single home switch and soft limits enough?
« on: January 10, 2013, 01:34:50 PM »
Hi!

I am working on my Sieg X2 CNC project. Someone told me that they would suggest using only one home switch and then setting soft limits on each end of the travels on X and Y axis. On Z axis a home switch somewhat up on the Z axis travel and soft limits.

In case this is OK, I can save a lot of wiring and making brackets for swithces. I would need only three swithces instead of six.

Do you think this is a good idea?


5
Hi.

I am working on my Mach3 + G540 + X2 CNC project. I have basic motion now it looks like, but I need to mount limit switches before I risk testing the machine more than some small basic moves with my have on the E-stop button. No spindle operation yet. I wont want to damage the motor couplings or the ball-screws!

This is my first CNC project so I have some questions:

Do I actually need end limit switches? My steppers is specified to give 381 OZ-IN torque (approx 30 kg on 1cm arm). Some people write that they do not need end limits switches if they do not use servos. I am skeptical to this. What is your opinion?

Should the homing switches trigger "in the middle" of the axis travel? Do I need an extra homing switch in the middle, or can the homing switch double as an end limit switch?




What coordinate system is used in the "CNC world"? Is it a right handed coordinate system?

Is the below correct?
X axis: Left to right. Maximum left is zero X, maximum right is maximum positive X coordinate?
Y axis: Front to back. Maximum towards the operator is zero Y, maximum towards the column is maximum positive Y coordinate?
Z axis: Bottom to top. Lowest position towards the table is zero Z, maximum height is maximum positive Z coordinate.




I have watched the videos for the Mach 3 software. Where do I find more detailed documentation on how to set up and practical use the software? I want to remove some material from an alu block, mill some holes in an alu plate etc. Mostly very basic operations. (I am a beginner when it comes to NC code, CNC, Mach3 but i have extensive electronics background).


6
General Mach Discussion / What external motion controller do I choose?
« on: December 14, 2012, 10:15:34 AM »
Hi. I am new on this forum.

I have almost completed a new X2 mini mill CNC conversion. The ballscrews and steppers on all three axes are mounted. The machine has been stripped down completely, cleaned, lubricated, and built up again.

I have a 48V SMPSU (switch mode power supply) wired up, the stop button is connected, and a Geckodrive with a parallell port connection is set up. I have been able to get at least one of the axes running via the LPT port on my old Windows XP machine. This looks good so far.

However, I want to go to 64 bit Windows 7 in the near future. On that Windows installation I use new hardware: there is no LPT (Parllell port). As I understand: on 64 bits system I am required to use an external motion controller.

So to the question: What external motion controller do I choose?


Here are some criteria for selection the external motion controller that I can think of:

Should work under Win 7, 64bits
Should have a standard interface ( probably USB or Ethernet )
Should be fast enought to run hobby mills like the X2, X3. Should also be usable for a  future CNC'ed lathe project
Should work with Gecko drives with no issues
Should be able to handle 4 axes, possibly 5 for future expansion
Should have a reasonable user base, so support is available
Should not be a beta version
Should be fairly easy to get up and running
I/O ports should have proper connectors and be reasonably buffered
No need for closed loop control at the moment, stepper control is fine
Should not be a very old design that will go end of life anytime soon
Should sell at a reasonable price
Should be possible to use on Mach 4 in the future




Question: what external motion controller you suggest that I acquire?



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