Topics

1

Mach4 General Discussion / Lua script problems

« on: August 16, 2019, 05:20:41 AM »

I am using a wirless transmitter to turn on and off the dust exreaction system I need it to turn on the output 50 for about half a second then turn it off  then the same again to stop the dust extraction so I need a pulse on output50
I use a delay function calles wait in MC6 tool changer and though I could call that from here but no if I include the wait function in this code I get the same error even if I call it some thing different it still has the same error
This is the error

C:\Mach4Hobby\ZeroBraneStudio\bin\lua53.exe: C:\Users\Raymondo\AppData\Local\Temp\leA8EB.mcs:14: attempt to call a nil value (global 'wait')
stack traceback:
   C:\Users\Raymondo\AppData\Local\Temp\leA8EB.mcs:14: in main chunk

Here is the script

-- Dust Collector button script
-- M110/M111 Output 50 signal 1100
inst = mc.mcGetInstance()

local hSig, rc = mc.mcSignalGetHandle(inst, mc.OSIG_OUTPUT50)
 
    mc.mcSignalSetState(hSig, 1)

 wait(1)
     mc.mcSignalSetState(hSig, 0)

And I added this  with or without it it is the same but this in in MC6 and works fine in MC6

function wait(seconds)
  local start = os.time()
  repeat until os.time() > start + seconds
end

 
any idea I just need about .3 to .5 seconds delay between turning  on output50 and turning it off
regards Ray

2

Mach4 General Discussion / TOOL changer problems after update

« on: July 26, 2019, 03:01:20 AM »

I have done a update to current mach4 from  version ending in 3804
Installed over the top but backed up the profile first and reinstalled the profile   
when I had problems I did a fresh install then installed the license files the ESS and the penant ec  then loaded my machine profile  it comes up then with a lua problem  message I then delete all the lua in macro's directory with the extension MCC   the  lua problem  message goes away
But when I run a m6 tool change it starts the process then the program Mach4 terminates part way through the tool change
If I run a M6 with the same tool number of the tool in the machine I get the message "nothing to do tool already that number" so I know it is getting some way into the tool change script.
I have the earlier mach4 program and it runs fine in that
any idea's  on where to start trouble shooting or what happening
Regards Ray
I have attached the m6 file I had to rename to do this

3

Mach4 General Discussion / X move starts before Z move finishs

« on: July 20, 2019, 08:17:00 PM »

Hi
I am having trouble a Z feed does not get to zero before the next command starts to move and  it seems to be feed dependant
G0 Z .25
G1 Z0  F55
X2.2 F100
this will start feeding the Z value until about .020" .030" before Z reaches zero then the X moves begins leaving a  .150  to .200 long ramp
If I slow the Z feed down to say just 4  it seems to feed all the way down  then do the X move
Do I have some thing set wrong some where
Regards Ray Hudson

4

Mach4 General Discussion / edit Cyclestop in screen

« on: April 18, 2019, 03:13:14 AM »

I would like to edit the cycle stop button  to have it lift the tool to machine zero and turn of the coolant
I go into screen edit and click on cycle stop and can get to a cyclestop macro but when I add what is needed there is does not seem to take effect 
what am I doing wrong
I have also tried editing the screenscript but this is marked as read only  so I am a but reluctant to edit it
Regards Ray

5

Mach4 General Discussion / Weird spindle problem

« on: April 13, 2019, 05:47:33 AM »

I have had my machine running great I fitted a 8 position tool changer using Mach4  and been using the machine with no problem on a daily basis and is has run maybe 40 to 50 hours
Today after not using it yesterday  every thing appeared to work except the analog out put for the spindle after about 3 hours going through the electronics ( I use ESS smoothstepper)  I could not get a 0 to 10 volt output for the spindle
I also noticed the screen  where tool path ops is shown had gone to a different background color a pale orange from blue
I had a full program backup so did a copy of back up program over and every thing now works I have both programs and have gone through all the setups in configure and they both look the same some thing must be corrupted but I have 2 questions why would it be corrupted it was working and shut down properly and where would the corruption  likely to be I would like the find the file so as to get a better under standing  I will start comparing the  2 programs file by file  but there are lots of files and will take some time
Any ideas any one ?
is this relatively common or a rare one off  I sure am glad I had a backup even if it is not completly my current spec
Regards Ray

6

Mach4 General Discussion / ATC help

« on: March 12, 2019, 05:50:54 AM »

I am working on a tool change script  my problems are
I need to delay or wait till a input comes on and I do not know how to do that I think I can read the input and can certainly turn on and of the outputs 
But cant figure out how to create a loop while waiting for a input to happen after I give a output command
Regards Ray

7

Mach4 General Discussion / M6 script does not seem to take changes

« on: March 12, 2019, 02:26:10 AM »

I edit the M6.mcs script it compiles ok  all I am doing for a start it to alter the x y z positions to see if the changes take place  it does not the machine still runs to x 12 y 5 etc not the new position I have put in I have restarted mach4 as I think it re includes and compiles as it starts but does not seem to use what I have edited in  I use a different tool number in the MDI each time but it still goes to the original position in the script that was there before the edit
any idea's

8

Mach4 General Discussion / touch probeing

« on: February 24, 2019, 05:48:54 PM »

Hi
I have a wireless height setting gauge for setting tool height  the probing function works well but is inconsistent because of Z axis over run I believe
Even when the feed speed is really slow though when slow it is not so pronounced  I would like to modify it so it is like the home limit switch  these find the switch then slowly back away till the switch turn back of
I have found the scrip for the touch probing but do not know how to fix it so it triggers on the retraction and set the height from that point
has any one done this and can help
Regards Ray

9

Mach4 General Discussion / PWM mode smoothstepper

« on: December 27, 2018, 10:56:36 PM »

Hi
I am using port1/14 to turn on the VFD and this works  fine but can't figure out how to vary the spindle speed the voltage from the board goes straight to 10 volts from zero and I can't vary the speed

I use M3 to start the spindle and that's ok but the "S" command for speed does nothing the out put voltage to the VFD remains at 10 volt ( full speed)

any ideas of where to look the smooth stepper mention PWM mode but I have not found any where to enable it
Regards Ray

10

Mach4 General Discussion / inputs and probes

« on: November 29, 2018, 03:53:06 AM »

Hi
I have ordered a ESS and C82 
But I have been looking through the Mach4 software will I await its arrival and it occurs to me in the control panel the inputs section   the Probe  0 to 3 probes are dedicated and can't be assigned to other inputs is that correct ?
If that is correct I assume the ESS smooth stepper board will also have the dedicated input to match 
The same apply to E stop and the XYZ home switchs 

is Probe able to use any input if so where do you configure it
Regards Ray