Topics

1

Mach4 General Discussion / Base PC for Mach 4 query

« on: February 13, 2023, 09:01:08 AM »

Hi all,

I have been plodding on with earlier version of Mach4 on an XP PC but would like to update the software to latest version.  I was looking at something like the attached PC, has anyone tried these units?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0B7WNRYZ8/ref=sw_img_1?smid=A1KL28GI0X8E83&psc=1

Regards

Steven

2

Mach4 General Discussion / Mach4, ESS smoothstepper and PMDX126 - spindle starts but then stops

« on: March 01, 2018, 05:26:40 AM »

Hi all,

I had problems with my spindle drive which ended up being the transformer for the drive which has now been replaced. Prior to this I was trying all kinds within Mach4 in the hope that it was a software setting and not the drive.  Now when I start the spindle it instantly stops again.  Can anyone give me any pointers on what to look for to resolve this?




Regards

Steven

3

Mach4 General Discussion / Mach4 query with pmdx 126 and ESS

« on: December 18, 2017, 06:36:17 AM »

Hi all,

I recently uninstalled mach3 demo software from my desktop as I have bought full version of mach4. The problem is mach4 no longer seem to be seeing my ESS board when it's powered up but nothing works. 

Can anyone give any guidance on this?  I noticed when I start up the software the green lights come on on-board the ESS.  One continuous and one flashing very quickly.

Regards

Steven

4

SmoothStepper USB / PMDX-126 and SS K1 relay for spindle in mach4

« on: December 14, 2016, 07:56:36 AM »

Hi all,

I currently have my mill working for direction and also spindle PWM.  However I am struggling to understand how I get the spindle to reverse.  I have a PMDX-126 breakout board which has a large relay on it (known as K1), I was hoping to use this relay for reverse and understand the K1 relay can be activated by port #1, pin #1 on the PMDX-126 BoB.  Can anyone direct me as to what settings I need to change in mach4 to implement this please?  I would assume this should be an output but I cannot see what I am doing wrong. 



Regards

Steven

5

General Mach Discussion / Mach 3 or 4 with PMDX 126 & ESS

« on: December 09, 2015, 07:09:18 AM »

Hi all,

I have spent quite a bit of time playing with the Mach3 demo software, but was just about to come online to purchase the full license so I can start machining some more intricate shapes to find out that we now have Mach4.  I notice that Mach4 is only a little more than Mach3, I also notice that my ESS is compatible with Mach4.  So I suppose my question is can I/should I go straight to Mach4?


Regards

Steven

6

General Mach Discussion / Boxford VMC190 on mach3

« on: February 15, 2015, 01:43:51 PM »

Dear sir/madam,

I am relatively new to forum and to CNC.

Basically I have both a Boxford VMC190 and a TCL160.  I have been trying to convert the Boxford VMC to Mach3.

I decided to start on upgrading the VMC190 first (maybe bad decision?).

My purchases thus far have been:-

1. Smoothstepper board and house in seperate box (the intention is to use one smoothstepper to control both machines).
2. 5axis CNC Breakout Board off fleebay
3. THB7128 Stepper motor drivers boards off fleebay.

I housed the smoothstepper board in it's own case with it's own power supply.  I wired the old stepper motors to the above driver boards using the original power supply and connected these to the 5axis CNC breakout board.  I disconnected the power to the original stepper motor drivers.  I have not removed anything from the machine thus far. 

Top and bottom of it, I can get the machine to run for all 3 axis using Mach3 but I also have an autotool changer facility on this machine which runs off a separate PLC.  Firstly, I cannot see an option on the 5axis CNC Breakout board for tool change, even if I could see an option I am struggling to understand where to feed this switch to on the VMC.

Is anyone knowledge on the forum that can help with this query?

I have photos of the internal of the machine which I can post on here if that helps.


Regards


Steve