Topics

1

General Mach Discussion / Neverending G04 pause.

« on: November 08, 2020, 06:32:13 PM »

Just got my ESS/tmc3in1 running on my plasma.  Post processed some code from sheet cam for mach 4.  It strikes and cuts the first feature then hits a Go4 after probing, then sits there.  No more movement. I stopped it and rewound the code,  now it hits the first go4 after probing and hangs, with no first cut.  Any ideas?

2

Mach4 General Discussion / Edited M6 script and Mach wont recognize the edits

« on: March 13, 2020, 10:05:18 AM »

HI,

 I edited my M6 Script and now Mach 4 wont recognize the edits, its still functioning as if the old M6 was there.  I've tried to delete all of the MCC extensions but that gives me the error:
Failed to retrieve file times for "c:\Mach4hobby\profiles\.....m6.mcc"  (error 2: The system cannot find the file specified)

any ideas?

3

Mach4 General Discussion / Sharing an M6 with auto Tool setter

« on: November 13, 2019, 02:19:11 PM »

Ive written a macro for M6 manual tool change with automatic tool length setting using a touch plate.  Im so proud of myself!!! Thanks to DaztheGas!!  your videos really got me going!

I hope this helps someone else!

Code: [Select]

function m6()

local inst = mc.mcGetInstance() ;

local currentTool = mc.mcToolGetCurrent(inst)
local selectedTool = mc.mcToolGetSelected(inst)
local posmode = mc.mcCntlGetPoundVar(inst, mc.SV_MOD_GROUP_3) --get the current mode so we can return to it when macro ends
     
--Get positions before moving to do tool change
local valX, rc = mc.mcAxisGetMachinePos(inst, mc.X_AXIS) --Get the position of the X axis in Machine Position
local valY, rc = mc.mcAxisGetMachinePos(inst, mc.Y_AXIS) --Get the position of the Y axis in Machine Position
local valZ, rc = mc.mcAxisGetMachinePos(inst, mc.Z_AXIS) --Get the position of the Z axis in Machine Position


if selectedTool == currentTool then
return
mc.mcCntlSetLastError(inst, "Current tool == Selected tool so there is nothing to do")
else


mc.mcCntlGcodeExecute(inst, "G90 G53 G0 Z0.0");--Move the Z axis all the way up
mc.mcCntlGcodeExecute(inst, "G53 X24.0 y2.0");--Move the X axis to the middle and Y axis to the end and
mc.mcCntlSetLastError(inst, "Change to tool " .. tostring(selectedTool) .. " and press start to continue") --Message at beginning of tool change
mc.mcCntlToolChangeManual(inst, true) --This will pause the tool change here and wait for a press of cycle start to continue
mc.mcCntlGcodeExecute(inst, "G53 G01 X47.66 y.92 f350");--Move the X axis and Y axis to the tool setter
mc.mcCntlGcodeExecute(inst, "G53 G0 z-3")--Moves the z axis down 3 inches rapid
end

local MyChoice = wx.wxMessageBox("Click Ok to Begin Probing the New Tool","Click OK to continue" , 16)  -- brings up a dialog box and waits for a selectio to proceed

if (MyChoice == 16) then  --16 is cancel
rc = mc.mcCntlSetLastError(inst, 'Auto Tool Zero was cancelled.') 
mc.mcCntlGcodeExecuteWait(inst, "G90 G53 G0 Z0.0000 F15.0") --Retract back to Z home
mc.mcCntlGcodeExecuteWait(inst, "G90 G53 G0 X" .. tonumber(valX) .. "Y" .. tonumber(valY)) --Move back to X & Y initial location
return
elseif (MyChoice == 4) then
        mc.mcCntlGcodeExecute(inst, "g53 G31 z-9 f15")--Probes z axis to the tool setter
mc.mcCntlSetLastError(inst, "Current tool == " .. tostring(selectedTool) .. "   Previous Tool == " .. tostring(currentTool)) --Message that shows after Cycle Start
mc.mcToolSetCurrent(inst, selectedTool) --sets the current tool displayed in mach to the selected tool
--local probedzW = mc.mcAxisGetPos(inst, 2)  --This would give 0 axis (z on my machine) coordinates in work coordinate syste, ive shown it just for educational purposes
local probedz = mc.mcCntlGetPoundVar(inst, 5073) --this retreives the Saved varible of the z position (#5073) in machine coordinates and assigns it to the name probedz
    local ToolLength = math.abs(9.5238 + probedz)  -- this calculates the value of the tool lenght by using a gage line off of my spindle to the tool setter.  uses the absolute value fuction
mc.mcCntlSetLastError(inst, "Tool Length" .. tostring(ToolLength))

mc.mcToolSetData(inst, mc.MTOOL_MILL_HEIGHT, selectedTool, ToolLength)  --- this sets the tool length value into the tool table into the selected tool position number, Note - i havent reassigned current tool varible so i have to use the "selectedTool" name
mc.mcCntlGcodeExecute(inst, "G04 p2.")
mc.mcCntlGcodeExecute(inst, "G90 G53 G1 Z0.0000 F40.0") --Retract back to Z home

local MyChoice = wx.wxMessageBox("Remove Probe Clip","Click OK to continue" , 16)  -- brings up a dialog box and waits for a selection to proceed

if (MyChoice == 16) then  --16 is cancel
    rc = mc.mcCntlSetLastError(inst, 'probing.') 

return
elseif (MyChoice == 4) then

mc.mcCntlGcodeExecute(inst, "G90 G53 G0 X" .. tonumber(valX) .. "Y" .. tonumber(valY)) --Move back to X & Y initial location
mc.mcCntlSetLastError(inst, "Tool Change Complete H ".. tostring(selectedTool) .. "   set to  ".. tostring(ToolLength).."  inches")
end

       

end
end

if (mc.mcInEditor() == 1) then
m6()
end

4

Mach4 General Discussion / Tool Change not recognized in MAch4 with new profile

« on: November 09, 2019, 07:43:54 PM »

HI all,

 i set up a new machine and moved over all of my macros to a new profile and this setup wont recognize a tool change.  Ive changed the setting to "Tool is tool to use" and checked my macro and its in the file.  It gives no error or anything.  MDI appears to run but the tool selected stays the same.  G43 works properly but i never get a tool number change.  Any ideas?

Thanks,

5

Mach4 General Discussion / Tool and offset table wont Display

« on: July 01, 2019, 06:05:58 PM »

Hi all. 

For some reason my tool table and my offset table wont display.  I click it and it shows is displayed down on the tool bar but i cant get it to display.  even when i roll over it, it shows it as a blank page.   THis is the first ive seen of this

6

Mach4 General Discussion / New PC and after restore "mcLua.mcc no such file" error

« on: May 11, 2019, 03:03:31 PM »

Ive set up a new PC and after the Profiel restore, everything seems to be working except my M6 Macro.  its giving me the "Mclua.mcc: no such file" error. Ive tried maully pasting the mclua.mcc file from my good profile and it disappears when mach is enabled.  Any ideas?

7

Mach4 General Discussion / Tuning Counts per Unit

« on: December 23, 2018, 05:14:59 PM »

Hi all,

Im having some trouble getting my Counts / unit set right.  Ive calculated it at 940.8222. 
  My first question, is:  are the numbers after the decimal point used?
 
Second:  Ive made some test cuts and on two cuts 40" apart the actual cut is 40.125"  Ive tried with and without cutter compensation.  No Change.  I brought the counts per unit back to 937.*********  and the cut was right but when I post process a fusion part it show up .375" shorter on  a 40" cut  I can duplicate this in x an y axis.  Any Clue why id lose some length just using Fusion?


thanks,

8

Mach4 General Discussion / M6 Manual tool Change not recognizing new tool selection

« on: October 20, 2018, 06:02:08 PM »

Im working on my M6 Macro.  Its a simple one with no automatic touch off.   But it misses the first tool change.  In other words the first T* M6 that it comes across it shows that the tool selected is the same as the tool being used and misses the tool change.  On the second T* M6 it catches it and functions normally.

Im pretty sure ive got something out of order but I cant seem to see it.  Here is a screen shot

9

Mach4 General Discussion / Homing slow in new profile

« on: October 08, 2018, 08:00:16 PM »

Hi all,

 This is sort of an academic question as I have a profile that's working great.  I wanted to try and set up a new one from scratch just for educational purposes.  The new profile is working but it Homes extremely slow.  I have an ESS with a Gecko 540 and ive modified the ESS Homing approach speeds but nothing changes.  its still homing at 4.8 units/min even though Ive got 40 units/min set.


Jogging works at speeds as expected and feed rates are as coded.  Just the homing is slow.  Ive even tried messing with mach homing speeds but ESS supposedly ignores it.
any ideas?

10

Mach4 General Discussion / Panning around the Tool path sceen

« on: October 06, 2018, 09:36:44 PM »

Is there any way to pan around the tool path screen?  all I can do is zoom and free rotate.