Topics

1

Screen designer tips and tutorials / Mach4 screen editor issues and learning curve

« on: September 29, 2017, 04:00:59 AM »

I never thought I would say this but after having attempted some screen editing with the built in screen editor for Mach4, I actually prefer the Screen4 editor (with all its warts) that I used for Mach3. I expected a learning curve but certain "features" like the paste function in Mach4 are making me crazy, and the RMB basically does zip in the Mach4 editor. I need the extra performance of 4 so I guess I'll have to get used to a whole new set of warts...

2

Mach4 General Discussion / Mach4 Tangential

« on: July 27, 2017, 07:10:02 AM »

Any word on when this will happen? Without tangential I can't use it on the systems I build.

3

General Mach Discussion / Tangential issues - again

« on: October 14, 2016, 11:32:32 AM »

More weird tangential issues with Mach3.

I've got tangential working mostly as it should on an ultrasonic blade cutting system, with one big issue and a couple of smaller ones. The big problem happens when I load a new tap file and start the job. Even though tangential mode is toggled, the job doesn't run in tangential mode. However, after I hit stop, rewind the job, go back to zero, and restart the job, then tangential mode runs correctly. Anybody have any ideas for this?

One of the smaller issues is a very long pause (almost 2 seconds) after a rapid move before the head drops to the table surface and starts cutting. There are no G4 commands in the job file so I'm guessing it's some weird Mach3 or tangential issue.

4

General Mach Discussion / Mach3 not executing code in order

« on: September 08, 2016, 08:32:30 PM »

Am hoping someone has an idea why this is happening - and a solution.
Here is a snippet of the code from a job file:

Basically, M17 raises the cutting head to lift to an absolute position of 1.5" above the table
The next line of code rotates the head
M16 then lowers the cutting head to a position entered in a DRO on the screen
The problem I'm having is line N0520 is executing before line N0510,


N0500 G03 X3.4222 Y0.4292 A-88.8756 I1.1670 J1.6746
N0510 G00 M17
N0520 A162.7067
N0530 M16

Just for information:

Macro M16 is:
Offset1=GetUserDRO (1031) 'Set Cut Height
code "G53Z" & Offset1
While IsMoving
Wend
code "G90"

Macro M17 is:
code "G53Z1.5"
While IsMoving
Wend
code "G90"

5

Mach4 General Discussion / Mach4 Tangential

« on: August 13, 2016, 08:44:58 AM »

1) Does it work?
2) If it does work, does Constant Velocity work in tangential mode?
3) If (1) and (2) are true, does it work through SmoothStepper?

Currently using Mach3 v3.043.022 - tangential fails in any version newer than that.

6

General Mach Discussion / Mach4 vs...

« on: August 12, 2016, 02:38:08 PM »

Does anyone know the cost for the Mach4 OEM version (non hobby)? I've tried emailing sales but can't get a response. On another topic, for those who have moved on from Mach3 to something else, what did you migrate to?

7

General Mach Discussion / SetParam Commands

« on: January 07, 2016, 10:03:41 AM »

This is for Mach3.

When Config settings are changed with the SetParam commands, are the changes updated dynamically or will the operator have to restart Mach3?
This is being done through input buttons on the Run screen.

Specifically, I have two customers who want to change the way Mach3 runs while the machine is in use.
Customer one wants to change the StepsPerAxis settings to adjust for changes in the thickness of a long rubber conveyor belt being fed through the system.
Customer two wants to change the Acceleration settings to dynamically adjust for the way the machine behaves while cutting on a waterjet system.

Thanks.