Topics

1

Mach4 General Discussion / Prevent spindle rotation for certaint tools

« on: November 07, 2021, 02:09:19 PM »

Today I had my Haimer 3D taster in the spindle (tool Nr. 2) and I wanted to load tool Nr. 6. I wrongfully typed M3 T6 instead of M6 T3 into the MDI. Luckily the spindle speed was set to only 1000 rpm, so no damage was done, but it could have been much worse.

Is there a way in Mach4 to disable the spindle for specific tools?

2

Mach4 General Discussion / Corrupted Machine.ini file

« on: March 26, 2020, 05:02:46 AM »

Does anybody know why Machine.ini file gets corrupted every once in a while (at least once a month) and that causes Mach4 not to load? After I replace the Machine.ini file with a backup everything works fine again. I have build 4419.

https://youtu.be/-gUpz5PhVyU

3

General Mach Discussion / Cutter compensation not working (Fusion 360 and Mach3)

« on: February 27, 2020, 12:12:58 PM »

I have tried to implement cutter compensation for a while but never had any luck.

Whatever I do I always get some errors in Mach3.

I made a short recording that goes trough programming a part and importing it into Mach3. I would appreaciate any tips and suggestions.

https://youtu.be/3ZeYL-pW3V8

I attached the g-code and the fusion archive file.

4

Mach4 General Discussion / Mach4 "Tool Path Progress" message

« on: February 23, 2020, 03:35:57 AM »

I have just purchased Mach4 and I am having some issues.

When I try to load a g-code to Mach4 the popp up window with "Tool Path Progress" message will appear and it will never go away. At some poiint the loading bar will stop and the loading will never be compleated. The problem is not linked to any specific g-code file. I can replicate the problem with any of the sample g-code files supplied with Mach4.

The problem initially occured on the Windows 7 32-Bit PC in the workshop. I went and I installed a demo version of Mach4 to my Windows 10 64-Bit PC at home and the same thing happpens on that PC as well.

5

Mach4 General Discussion / How to disable any movement before the machine is homed?

« on: February 16, 2020, 01:10:34 PM »

How can I disable any motion before the machine is homed?

6

General Mach Discussion / Cutter comp not working

« on: November 14, 2018, 10:23:46 AM »

I am trying to figure out why I can't get cutter compensation to work in Mach3.

I use Fusion 360 CAM with the included stock Mach3Mill post processor to program my CNC router.

Here is the screenshot of the error that I get in Mach3:



Post processor settings in Fusion 360:



Toolpath compensation is set to wear in this particular example but I have tried "In control" and "Inverse wear" as well but with no sucess.



I attached the f3d file and the gcode.

7

General Mach Discussion / Switch to Another Work Offset When the G-Code is Loaded in Mach3

« on: November 28, 2017, 06:58:57 PM »

When I open Mach3 it is in G54 WCS (Work Coordinate System) by default. I have fixtures on G55, G56, G57... Let's say I have a specfic program that is on G55. When I load the program Mach3 is still on G54 until I start the program. Before I run the program I have to zero the Z axis but because Mach3 is on G54 I always have to switch manually to G55 before I can zero the Z axis.

Is there any way for Mach3 to recognize which WCS the program is using when I load it so I can zero the Z axis in that WCS before the program starts?

8

General Mach Discussion / Drill Doesn't Retract - Mach3 Ignores G98

« on: November 18, 2017, 05:28:13 PM »

It has happened multiple times on multiple g-code programs. When a hole is being drilled and it is time for a drill bit to retract sometimes it doesn't but instead just stays in place at the bottom of the hole. It all happens randomly. Sometimes it's the first hole that doesn't retract, sometimes second or third or fourth or fifth... and sometimes it all works fine.

Here is today's example. I was doing some fixture and there were four holes that needed to be drilled. The first time I ran the g-code the drill didn't retracted from the second hole. I ran the program again and it didn't retracted from the first hole. I ran the program again the third time and it worked well.

Here is the today's g-code:

Code: [Select]

(PINS)
(T1  D=4. CR=0. TAPER=165DEG - ZMIN=-11. - DRILL)
G90 G94 G91.1 G40 G49 G17
G21
G28 G91 Z0.
G90

(DRILL1)
M5
M9
T1 M6
S5000 M3
G54
M9
G0 X25. Y0.
G43 Z15. H1
Z5.
G98 G73 X25. Y0. Z-11. R5. Q3. F200.
X365.
X390. Y-25.
Y-475.
G80
Z15.

M9
G28 G91 Z0.
G28 X0. Y0.
M30

The computer is running on Windows XP.