Topics

1

Mach4 General Discussion / Load FIle in MDI Button

« on: November 21, 2023, 09:29:42 PM »

Hello All, I have several MDI files that I use regularly and am trying to automate loading them to the MDI window. Currently, I have them saved as text files and when I need them I cut and paste to get them in the MDI window. I would like to create a button for each file that would load it into the window without cutting and pasting... Is this possible? I can create the buttons but can't get past there... Seems like it should be relativly easy to do but I can't figure it out. Thanks in advance for any help.

2

Mach4 General Discussion / Sound in Mach4

« on: September 25, 2022, 03:42:55 PM »

Can anyone point me in the right direction for adding sound (wav files) to Mach4, such as when a probe touches, or a limit is hit? I've seen DaztheGas's Quicky #1 video and have followed his example... the button works after adding the code and restarting mach, but then stops working after the next restart. If anyone has sound working in M4 could you share some code on how you have it set up? Had no problems adding sound to M3, but lua is kicking this old man's butt (beginning to believe the "You can't teach an old dog new tricks" thing).

Andy

3

Mach4 General Discussion / PCNC 1100, Mach4 /ESS, Spindle Speed Control

« on: December 19, 2019, 09:31:47 PM »

Hi All, I recently inherited a PCNC 1100. My brother had used the machine with Mach 3 and ESS. The PC he used to run the machine crashed, and we replaced it, but due to failing health he had not been able set up everything.
I have upgraded it to Mach4 with ESS and have everything working except the spindle speed control. I am using Step and Direction for spindle control... If anyone is using a similar set up, could you give me some tips on how to setup and adjust the spindle speed from mach?
Thanks in advance,
Andy

4

Mach4 General Discussion / TouchOff Module Error... need help

« on: January 15, 2019, 04:36:33 PM »

Trying to use the TOUCH Button on the Mach4Router profile to set my z to zero...everytime I run it I wind up with a Lua Error.  History shows the following:

Z axis is performing a touch move
Z Axis Offset set to -2.4219749779216
Retracting
Touch is finished. Z Axis set to -2.4219749779216
Lua: Error while running ChunkC:\Mach4Hoby/Modules/mcTouchOff.lua:1178:attempt to compare nil with numberstack traceback:C:\Mach4Hoby/Modules/mcTouchOff.lua:1178:in function 'frameMainOnUpdateUI' C:\Mach4Hoby/Modules/mcTouchOff.lua:912:in Function<C:\Mach4Hoby/Modules/mcTouchOff.lua:911>

I have set the fields in the Touch Module Screen but have not modified the TouchOff module code in any way.

Any help appreciated...
Thanks

5

Mach4 General Discussion / ScreenScript error after updating

« on: September 02, 2018, 08:54:45 PM »

Just updated from 3155 to 3804, now when I start M4 I get a lua error in ScreenScript.lua (see attached pics) and the PLC gets disabled, the error says "attempt to index global 'prb' (a nil value)".
My knowledge of lua is VERY basic, I do a lot of cutting and pasting code from the forum post (and watch alot of DazTheGas videos) but need someone who understands lua to give me some guidance on fixing this.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

6

Mach4 General Discussion / Loading toolpaths directly to Mach4

« on: November 27, 2016, 10:38:03 AM »

I am trying to get my Aspire toolpaths to output direct to machine (Mach4) when saving, but I keep getting the "unable to find a running instance of Mach" error... does anyone know how to correct this?

With Mach3 we had to add some registry entries to fix this problem, but those registry entries don't work in Mach4.

I posted this question over a year ago in both the Vectric and Mach forums without success (Vectric responses-- "ask Mach", Mach responses-- "ask Vectric").

Has anyone figured it out?

7

Mach4 General Discussion / AXIS DRO movable window

« on: July 09, 2016, 02:26:22 PM »

Hi All,
I'm trying to create an axis DRO window that I can move to a second monitor to use while positioning my work piece & zeroing the axes.
Ya-Nvr-No posted a pic of a wizard that would do some of what I need (or at least point me in the right direction) on May 17, 2014 (see attached pic). Anyone have a similar wizard they could share or advise on how to write it. I've done some pop-up windows for warnings & notes, some macros, and some screen mods in M4 but never a wizard.
Thanks

With a lot of struggling, a little direction & help, I now have a Wizard that shows the axis DRO's in real time (set to 100ms scan) and that can be pinned to the screen's top. This uses iRegs0 to Write and Read the small floating popup. From this template, I can now create several other useful screen popups and also add to this as my Screen MPG

Took a whole lot of rocks, Terry 

8

Mach4 General Discussion / Adding sound in Mach4 m-code

« on: June 08, 2016, 03:24:04 PM »

Been banging my head against a wall for months (only result has been a headache & a dent in the wall)...   I'm trying to get Mach4 to play a wave file when I zero an axis using my ShuttlePro. Thanks to DazTheGas's Quicky#1, I have added sounds to the zero axis buttons on the screen, but have not been able to figure out how to get a sound when I zero using the ShuttlePro. I wrote a m-code script which will zero an axis and added the nameoffile:Play() command that DazTheGas used in his Quicky. I was hoping I could assign a User Gcode to the keys on my Shuttle which would call the m-code.

function m110()
    inst = mc.mcGetInstance();
    mc.mcAxisSetPos(inst,0,0);
    notify:Play();
end

if (mc.mcInEditor() == 1) then
    m110()
end

I added the file to my sounds folder and added the "local notify = wx.wxSound('C:\\Mach4Hobby\\Sounds\\notify.wav',0)" to the end of the screen load script as per DazTheGas directions.

When I run the script the axis zeros but the sound does not play. The sound plays when zeroing the axis from the button on the screen. Anyone know why it works from a button script & not from the m-code?

Thanks in advance.

9

Mach4 General Discussion / DRO unit display

« on: August 25, 2015, 08:03:43 PM »

Ok Screen Gurus... Why does the unit indication not show up on my A axis DRO? I've edited the screen set to show units = Left, set the units to inch (also tried metric), added in  & mm to inches & metric properties ( all settings the same as the X-Y-Z DRO properties). The unit display showed correctly in the edit screen display but when I exited the editor (and I did save the changes) there are no units in the A DRO. When I go back to the editor the show units property = NONE. This occurs on both machines I have set up (Ver 4.1 Build 2580) and on my demo Version (Ver 4.2 Build 2651). I even tried deleting the A DRO & copying the Z DRO then changing the DRO Code Property to A Multiple POS with no luck. Is this a bug or am I missing something?

10

Mach4 General Discussion / Stop Button Problem... Bug or my ignorance?

« on: August 11, 2015, 03:27:14 AM »

Hi Guys... I'm (very) slowly figuring out how to use Lua to get my machine running like I want by reading through the forum post but I've run into another problem I can't figure out... When I press the stop button all axis motion stops but my spindle keeps running till I press the Spindle CCW button or the Reset Button.
Should the spindle not stop also or am I missing something? The btnStop event list Cycle Stop as the Left Up Action... What events should occur on Cycle Stop? I've tried to figure out how the Cycle Stop action works but can't find any info about it.  Also can you also have a Left Up Script and a Left Up Action on the same button? If you did would both be run?
Once again, Thanks in advance.