Topics

1

General Mach Discussion / Can Mach3 remember manual moves?

« on: October 03, 2008, 03:02:18 PM »

Is there a feature where Mach3 can remember a manual move, and store the move as a file name for future automation use?

The concept is to test out an SMT pick and place mod for a benchtop CNC mill by attaching a vacuum nozzle to the spindle.  At first the nozzle is moved to a part located in a fixed position, then turn on the vacuum, pick up the part and manually position it on a PCB, release the vacuum, raise spindle up.  That complete 'move' is stored as a filename, ie  R2  or C3, or IC14. 

I would probably mount a servo to the spindle to manage rotation from 0 - 90 degees, and either use an existing free mosfet on the controller driven by a coolant  on/off gcode command, or similar. 

Thanks

2

General Mach Discussion / mach3 a servo

« on: March 05, 2007, 07:13:32 PM »

I am building a BLDC driver for a non-cnc application, but would like to convert it to step and dir use as well.  Is there a method in Mach3 to wait for a "Move Complete" pulse from the driver?  Having never used a servo before, it just seems likely that each position (from the step) would need to be reached prior to sending a new pulse.  Is this correct thnking?

3

General Mach Discussion / How to use pin 10 for move enable

« on: October 11, 2006, 06:45:34 PM »

Hello all

I want to use pin 10 input to pause Mach3.   I can set the machine conroller to output a high or low if the encoder doesn't equal the step count, and have the Mach3 wait until either it corrects or not.  I check the box for closed loop under mill options, press apply, but it always comes back unchecked.  When using the MAXNC CL mode, the input will respond as desired to pause when the pin is triggered, but that mode affects my pinouts and also sends out quadrature. 

After looking all over for how this is internally configured, I cannot find how to assing pause to pin 10 active.  Any suggestions are welcome.

Thanks

4

General Mach Discussion / Some basic Mach3 questions

« on: October 09, 2006, 09:59:12 PM »

I recently had been having some major issues with  MAXnc10cl that never would work right with Mach3 software. So I just completed my own controller  design that will fit in the same box, using all my own code and drivers.  I did use the exact same pinouts, although I set mine up to run step and direction instead of quadrature like Max was doing. 

If anyone knows the answer to these questions below please let me know so I can tighten up a few loose ends on the processor coding:

1. Pin 10 INPUT, MOVE ENABLE (LOW=NORMAL OPERATION, HIGH=STOP, SEE NOTE)

Would this be set up as a normal low from the controller, with a high meaning the controller has requested Mach3 to stop?  Since I wont be using MAXNC mode r drivers anylonger, where do I program this enable in Mach3?

2. Pin 13 INPUT, G61 SWITCH SENSOR   

What is G61 Exact Stop Mode and what does Mach do with it?  I never used it so maybe it isn't needed.

3. Pin 16  OUTPUT, DISABLE POWER TO MOTORS (LOW=NORMAL, HIGH=DISABLE)
    Pin 17   OUTPUT, RESET CONTROLLER (LOW=RESET, HIGH=NORMAL)

Since I will no longer use the MAXNC CL mode, I will likely use a mach3mill setup.  How do these outputs get programmed, and where do I look to set them up to send the info to the controller?  When do you want to ever reset the controller, and when to stop motors?  It seems pressing reset does the same thing as stop motors.  Reseting the controller means losing encoder variable counts, so I am not sure when this would ever need to happen.

4. When using M8, how do most people use this feature?  I would like to set up a mist on a timed basis, not always on, so I'd like to program the M8 to run on/off at set times.  I assume it can only be used inside the gcode as entered, but it would really be nice to have mach3 set up with a timer and duty/freq for mist/flood.

The controller runs as is with none of the above features, but I wanted to put in everything that might be useful.  I am counting both step pulses to each axis and comparing to the encoders.  In the event of an encoder shortage, what is the best method to use to stop Mach3 instantly?  I was going to have the processor send a pulse to pin 12 as an estop. 


Thanks for any suggestions.

     

5

General Mach Discussion / Encoder/MPG questions

« on: September 30, 2006, 05:38:50 AM »

I have been wondering what the MACH3 will do with encoder info.  I see the encoder/mpg section, but am not sure what it does.  I have encoders I want to use, there are A and B outs on each one.  Instead of dealing with writing code the count the quadrature pulses on the controller, are there ways to make use of the encoder inputs on Mach3?  If so, where would I look to study up on it?  Ideally I'd like to count the encoder pulses and compare to the actual output, and within some range have MACH3 stop  if the encoders are returning the same pulses.

Thanks

6

General Mach Discussion / MAXNC10CL and MACH3 issues

« on: September 19, 2006, 03:25:11 PM »

Hello all   I gotta say I love the MACH3 software, I have been using it for 10 months now and functionally it is great.  There has been some strange issue since day one that I cannot solve, and the crap software that MAX sends out doesn't cause these problems, so somehow there is a conflict with MACH3 in m,y setup.  Speaking to MAXNC will get you no where.

When I power up the machine daily, using MACH3, I have to reboot the machine at least 5 times to get it to finally run.  The first thing I do when powering up is test some x or y jog, and and if it works I then try to ref home. In most cases, once I ref home, it stops working right after the ref, occassionally it pops the breaker.   then I restart the machine again a few times till x or y will move, then ref home again, until finally it will run.  This goes on daily for 10 months now!  I have been through the optimized text  twice in detail.  I am using the max driver that says ART version on it.  There are times during cutting when I finish a code the thing will not do another part, just  hangs up and needs to be rebooted, but once it is cutting, it usually finishes that part.  I would rather deal with this headache than use their horrendous "dos like" software.  I have been through the motor tuning a thousand times trying every variation.  I have the minimmum inputs and outputs turned on, Below is my setup as is, if anyone here has been fortunate to get this combo of great softwre and soso machine to work, I would appreciate any help.

Maxnc clmode Ena

25000


MOTOR OUTS

X ENA   6 7  DIRLOW x  STEP x STEPPORT 1  DIRPORT 1
Y ENA   4 5  DIRLOW x  STEP x STEPPORT 1  DIRPORT 1
Z ENA   8 9  DIRLOW x  STEP x STEPPORT 1  DIRPORT 1
SPIN    1 0  dIRLOW x  sTEP Ena   STEP 1  dIR 0                          'spindle is now off due to blown pwm, motor is switched manually

INPUTS

x HOME  Ena  port 1  pin12  actlow X  Emu X
y HOME  Ena  port 1  pin12  actlow X  Emu X
z HOME  Ena  port 1  pin12  actlow X  Emu X


input#1 Ena Port 1   Pin 10   X      X
Estop   Ena port 0   pin 0    X      X

 
OUTPUTS

Output#1    Port 1  Pin 1     Actlow Ena                  'disabled now
Output#16   Port 1  Pin 16    Actlow X
Output#17   Port 1  Pin 17    Actlow Ena

ENCODER/MPG   

ALL 0, X

sPINDLE

disable spin rel   Ena
Flood mist  Ena
Use Spind Motor out  Ena
PWM  Ena
pwm base freq  40
min 25%

spin speed av  ena  p0.25  1  0.3

7

General Mach Discussion / port config help please

« on: March 08, 2006, 01:29:43 AM »

I have a system that runs fine with MAXNC 10 CLB software, but will not budge with MACH3.  I have selected the MAX Cl mode which is supposed to set the pinouts automatically according to the video tutorial.  In MAXNC port setup it shows the port as being   000-27F and works fine.  In the config in MACH3, no matter what I type in it says 200-27F. 

If anyone can give a suggesion that would be great.  The factory said good luck.  Their software will get by but it is dos type stuff, no mouse and very crude.

8

General Mach Discussion / maxnc10 cl and mach 3---newbie needs help

« on: March 06, 2006, 08:12:48 PM »

Anyone ever used this setup before that can show me some basics:

When I power up the machine, the spindle will spin for a few seconds, then stops.  I went to the ports section, chose port 1 +  MAX NC mode, port    378 address.    I set the inputs all to port 1 pin 12 as they are all in series.  I can then see the limit switch show up on the diagnostics when pressed. 

The MDI will not cause the motor to spin using m3.

The software seems to think it is hooked up as I can jog it and the mach 3 will jog, but no thte motor.

Thanks for any help with the config.

9

General Mach Discussion / Uses for Mach3

« on: March 04, 2006, 11:45:33 AM »

I a m brand new to machining and after looking at all the stuff available for various applications, the Mach3 looks really nice and the wizards are very well done for someone like myself to be able to easiy understand.  I would likle to get an idea of where Mach3 fits into the entire spectrum of softwares, it is obivous that Mach3 is not a 3d drawing software, but can read cad files for output to machines.  It does look to me that Mach3 is being used instead of a cad program for simple operations that don't require drawing.

Can anyone make this clearer to me as to why and when you would only use Mach3 over a cad/cam software, say for example Bobcam, Onecnc, Mastercam etc.   

10

General Mach Discussion / Mach 3 Thread mill wizard> multiple holes possible?

« on: March 02, 2006, 09:56:09 PM »

I am needing to drill and tap a lot of holes for the same part for a product.  I really like the Mach 3 Thread mill wizard, it is exactly what I am looking for.  Being that I am brand new to CNC, I am not positive but it appears that you can only program one hole at a time.  I am looking for a way to drill the holes, then switch to the thread mill and cut the threads, then drop in the next part and start over. 

Will the wiazrd do this for me?  If not I would really appreciate some suggestions on a method to do this. 

Thanks