Topics

1

General Mach Discussion / Superpid and PC 7518

« on: April 17, 2016, 07:01:52 PM »

Anyone using a Porter Cable 7518 with a SuperPID?
I can't get a decent RPM sync. I can lock in 10k, but then by the time I "S13000" it's hitting 15k already.
What spindle speeds are being used?

2

General Mach Discussion / Artsoft sold??

« on: March 01, 2016, 08:24:28 AM »

Can someone correct this for me?
There's a story going around that says Mach4 was sold to a "local company".
Don't know what that means but it doesn't sound right. I would think Artsoft would need to be sold, not Mach4, but it does bring up some reasons as to why Mach4 is so absolutely screwed up.
So, is there any truth to this "rumor"?

3

Mach4 General Discussion / Mach4 PCID

« on: February 25, 2016, 07:13:36 PM »

Curious, what causes a change in the PCID??
Reason I'm asking is I used the machine, for a couple hours at least, last night and no problems.
I go to use it today, and Windows 10 (complete junk in my opinion) had to update. So I updated, restarted, continued with what I was working on. Mid cutting the machine just stops. I figured typical Mach4 B---S--t, so I restarted, and it did it again. This time I saw the message saying demo expired (not verbatim).
Didn't understand what was going on at this point, but sure enough, my PCID had changed. Only thing that could've done it was the updates. The pc is off all day until I turn the machine on.
So again, what constitutes a change in PCID??

4

Mach4 General Discussion / Use probing for tool zeroing

« on: November 28, 2015, 06:14:36 PM »

Can someone explain how to use the probing screen for tool zeroing??
Not sure what it's looking for and the "help" buttons on the screen are useless.

There's an option for Z position. I'm guessing this is how far the probe will travel to make contact??
When I click the "Measure Z" button, it just gives an error saying "No contact with Probe" (not exact message), then it disables Mach.
If I try it with soft limits active, I get a PMDX error 7.
The probe is working based on the diagnostics page and the fact that I got the Measure Z to move the axis once, it made contact with my "Z block" (1/4" aluminum), it retracted but then I got the no contact message and it hasn't done anything but give the error since.

I'm using Mach4.2803 on Win7 Pro 32 bit with a PMDX-410 to a G540.

Give me steps if possible and what will the results be? Does it stop at zero like mach3 scripts did?

5

Mach4 General Discussion / Spindle Problems

« on: November 22, 2015, 11:11:25 AM »

Mach4, to a PMDX-410, to a G540 to a SuperPID.
The spindle works fine, rpm's are correct.
When I run gcode, the spindle is starting late, meaning the tool is already into the material before it turns on, and it doesn't shut off when I hit the stop or reset buttons. It just goes to the lowest rpm and sits there.

Does Artsoft read these or am I wasting my time posting here??
Meaning is this actual support, or just a user base support?

6

Mach4 General Discussion / Auto Tool Zero

« on: November 21, 2015, 05:12:39 PM »

Hello,
I found a few topics on this but nothing with any meaning to me.
Where can I find steps to use the "auto tool zero" button as I used it in Mach3? ie brings the tool down until it touches the plate to set the top of the material.

7

Mach4 General Discussion / Mach4 soft limits reverse axes

« on: November 20, 2015, 06:21:00 PM »

Using 4.2.0.2803.
Whenever I enable soft limits, all my axes move in the opposite direction.
So if I press the x+ button, with soft limits off, x goes in the + direction.
Enable soft limits, press the x+ again, x goes in the - direction.
This happens on all axes.
Anyone see this happening??
Using a pmdx-410, and G540.
Talking with pmdx support now also.

8

General Mach Discussion / Can't zero DRO or home more than once??

« on: November 15, 2015, 10:55:56 AM »

Just built a new machine, using Mach3 and parallel port. I want ethernet so bad!!! But anyway...

So I'm using a G540. I have everything connected and the machine moves as it should. The only problem I'm having is if I ref all home, they all go home, then if I move and try to ref all again, it won't work. Meaning it does nothing. If I cycle the reset, ref all works again.

Same thing with zeroing the work coordinates. I can zero once, then if I make a movement, try to zero again, it does nothing. Cycle reset fixes it.

What did I miss???
I saved the config from my old machine and compared to the new, I don't see anything that would cause this.

Just noticed this too, If I zero WCS, then move, then reset, then go to zero one axis, they all zero?

9

Mesa / Is anyone still using Mesa boards?

« on: August 14, 2015, 02:05:10 PM »

Just wondering how solid the plug-in is, and what boards are supported?
I really want to go with an ethernet controller, tried the ESS and it was total garbage, so I see the mesa boards are highly recommended by the LinuxCNC crowd. Might be an option if the plug-in is solid also.