Topics

1

Mach4 General Discussion / Mach 4 and/or ESS has my Y AXIS running backward.

« on: August 06, 2022, 07:54:35 AM »

Howdy. So we were having issues with M4 freezing. We uninstalled and re-installed the latest. As it happens, our PMDX Smart Bob 411gave up the ghost about the same time (PMDX is graciously repairing it). But, we bought an ethernet Smoothstepper to avoid USB connections. Anyway, after a lot of struggle and paying a company to set up the ESS with M4, our Y axis runs backwards when we try to run a file. New files or files made before the switch. When we hit execute G code, Y crashes into the home switch. I tried a bunch of things that I thought would reverse the issue but so far to no avail. If anyone has any ideas, we really need to hear them. Thank you.

2

Mach4 General Discussion / mach 4 and Smooth Stepper homing with limit switches

« on: August 01, 2022, 09:14:33 AM »

I just got a smooth stepper to replace a PMDX smartbob 411 (just trying to avoid possible USB issues) and its communicating with the Gekko 540 drive okay. I can jog anyway. But it doesn't stop when it hits the limit switches. It just crashes until I hit the e-stop. I've watched videos and reviewed the pin settings in both Mach and ESS. It worked with the 411 until the 411 went bad. Does anyone have a suggestion as to why it doesn't stop and home when it reached the limits switches? I'm sure its just a setting that I can't find.

3

General Mach Discussion / Should we re-install Mach 4

« on: July 23, 2022, 11:55:04 AM »

Hi,

Our cnc is stopping in random places throughout a job. We are having trouble with Mach 4 recognizing the Smart Bob (PMDX) and when we try to restart it, it errors that there is another instance of M4 already running. We then need to restart the computer to fix that. It sure seems like Mach 4 is having issues. Would it be a good idea to uninstall Mach 4 and reinstall it and how would be do that? We've done dry runs with the same results which would seem to indicate that static is not the issue. Thank you.

4

Mach4 General Discussion / Mach 4 Hobby manual tool change

« on: May 21, 2022, 09:44:24 AM »

Hi,
Is it possible to pause Mach 4 after a tool path is completed to do a manual tool change and then resume the file for the next tool path?

Thank you.

5

Mach4 General Discussion / New limit/homing switch settings

« on: April 22, 2020, 10:06:26 PM »

Hi All,

I put new limit switches in our home built cnc router. They were wired in series but i did it with a separate wire for each switch this time. Each negative line goes to a negative line on the power supply and each common line goes to an input on the Gecko G540 drive. The inputs are no's 2,3, and 4 x, y, z respectively). These are pins no's 11,12 and 13 on the Smart bob. 411. I Made my best guess as to the settings in inputs in Mach 4. When I click home xyz, the z goes to the limit switch, stops and backs off a bit like it should but x and y don't seem to see their switches. They just run into them and crash. I have the switches wired N/O. I double checked the wires and that the switches worked. What should the settings be in Mach 4?

Thank you.

6

Mach4 General Discussion / Move Mach 4 to a new computer

« on: July 07, 2018, 11:17:34 AM »

Howdy All,

We have heard rumors that control software needs to be on it's own computer. All by itself. Apparently things like anti-virus, updates and notices can affect a job outcome. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? If we should move, how can we get the software from one computer to another w/o contacting support?

Thank you,

Thephridge