Topics

1

Mach4 General Discussion / MACH4 Pendant

« on: November 07, 2018, 10:54:10 AM »

Can anyone recommend a good wireless pendant?  I'm using a PoKEYS57CNC motion controller if that makes any difference.

Thanx,

Rob

2

Mach4 General Discussion / Touch Plate Corner Finder

« on: August 20, 2018, 07:59:27 PM »

I've modified the TouchOff module to support different corner touch plates.  Here is a link to the post in the Mach 4 Toolbox group.  Please let me know if you have any issues with it.

www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,38167.0.html

3

Mach4 Toolbox / Touch Plate Corner Finder

« on: August 20, 2018, 07:52:30 PM »

I've modified the TouchOff module to support corner touch plates that DON'T have the same thickness in all 3 axis's.

Instructions for install:
1.   Open C:\Mach4Hobby\Modules folder
2.   Rename file mcTouchOff.lua to mcTouchOff.lua.bak
3.   Copy replacement mcTouchOff.lua into this folder

This fix has been tested with MACH4 build 3804 – 3835 using a PoKEYS57CNC controller.  Make sure and test with any other builds or controllers. 

Setup Instructions:
1.   Touch Plate Height – This is the thickness of the touch plate in the Z axis
2.   Touch Plate X – This is the width of the touch plate off of the X axis.
3.   Touch Plate Y – This is the width of the touch plate off of the Y axis.
4.   XY Check below Z – This is the distance to move the tool below the material/touch plate for the X and X axis tests. (typically 2-3 millimeters (0.125 inches))
5.   Touch Plate Hole Diameter – This is the diameter of the hole in the touch plate typically at the corner of the material.  The tool will move inward enough to clear this hole when testing the Z axis.
6.   Remaining fields are set per ArtSoft instructions.  I recommend a “Prep Distance” greater than the “Retract Distance” for best results.

This modification only affects 3-point corner tests.  All other touch tests on this control function as ArtSoft designed.

Directions for finding material corner – Position tool over the corner of the material (with 2-3mm in the X and Y axis) and 5-10mm above the material.  Press the appropriate corner test button.

Let me know if you have any issues with it.

4

Mach4 General Discussion / mcTouchOff Dialog

« on: August 12, 2018, 12:40:06 PM »

I am modifying the TouchOff functions to work with any of the many corner finders available on the market.  I have modified the functions to do this, but I need to be able to modify the dialog box to collect 2 additional offset values (X and Y) in the setup.  Is there any way to do this, or do I have to create a new tab on the screen and write my own?

My intention was to submit these changes it to ArtSoft for inclusion in a future release.

5

Mach4 General Discussion / Success

« on: December 29, 2017, 06:37:56 PM »

Just thought I'd let all of those that helped me get going (especially Craig) that I completed my first cut of a Carbon Fiber drone frame.  Thanks all.

6

Mach4 Toolbox / CNC Edge Finder

« on: December 29, 2017, 01:15:36 AM »

Does anyone have a sample script for using a CNC Edge finder ( https://www.ebay.com/itm/253045917018 )?  I already have my touch plate code created for my M6 command.

Thanx,

Rob

7

Mach4 General Discussion / First cuts

« on: December 27, 2017, 01:39:51 AM »

I've generated my first GCode file out of Fusion 360 and ran my first "air" cut.  All things considered it worked great.  I do have some questions:

1.  How do I put a delay in the gcode output from Fusion 360 to give the spindle time to get up to speed?  Is this a change in the Fusion 360 post processor config, or is this a custom script in MACH4?

2.  I presume if I don't have a touch block (ordered), I can't manually jog the Z-axis to reset the starting height based on a new tool?  I guess I have to create the tool gcode outputs separately to be able to make this adjustment?

3.  When I get the touch block, I have to modify my M6 script to deal with re-checking the tool length, correct?

4.  On the Offsets tab, the Set Z under Z Offset is where I set my starting Z height based on my Fusion 360 setup starting position, what is the Tool Offset option for?

Think that is it for now.

Thanx,

Rob

8

Mach4 General Discussion / Spindle Controls

« on: December 26, 2017, 06:18:43 PM »

Ok what is this SRO%?  I thought it was % of spindle speed (i.e. 100% = max spindle speed, 150% overdriving spindle speed).  Apparently that is NOT true.  It appears to be a % of commanded spindle speed.

Thanx.

9

Mach4 General Discussion / Setting to millimeters

« on: December 23, 2017, 02:53:51 AM »

I'm trying to calibrate the stepper motors.  I've set a value of 256/unit on all of the motors to start with (which seems to be close).  I've also set the Machine Setup Units to Metric and the Units Mode to Metric.  When I jog any axis by 1 mm, the current position increments by 25.4mm which tells me its converting to 1 inch.  What setting am I missing?  I never want to use inches/mils and only want to see/use millimeters.  (Mach 4  4.2.0.3481)

Thanx.

10

Mach4 General Discussion / Axis directions

« on: December 21, 2017, 07:05:30 PM »

Ok, I'm used to axis's being homed (0,0,0) in the front left corner with X axis increasing going to the right, Y axis increasing going toward the rear, and Z axis increasing going up.  Now I understand the Z-axis for CNC will work in reverse.  0 at the top and then negative values going down.  Is the same true of the X and Y?  Use rear right corner as home and negative values moving left/forward?  I'm in the process of setting up the software and want to do what is "common".