Topics

1

Mach4 General Discussion / Enhanced stupidity between 2 machines

« on: March 07, 2021, 07:05:55 AM »

I've setup a Wee benchtop mill running Mach4, and apart from the wonky nut on the controls, it pretty much does what I expect, most of the time.
I've set up a 4 x 4 plasma table (currently just a table with a pen on it to test things)
And am having a helluva job getting it to do what I want. (The machine goes where I expect it to, usually)
But I'm having issues exporting G code to it from Sheetcam

Code generated on Sheetcam shows up fine on the Mill iteration of Mach4 (but the mill can't actually run it as the table is too small)
the same code, sent to the Table just won't run and shows up really weird on the screen.

Mill and table run off the same computer, off the same iteration of Mach4 under different profiles (one runs from a parallel port controller, the table runs off an ESS) both "work" with G code sent from VCarve.

Screenshots below.
Same G code file, Same computer, Same version of Mach4 different machine profile for each
Any idea what I'm doing wrong?

2

Mach4 General Discussion / M4 crash on launch

« on: February 02, 2021, 08:00:48 AM »

I've got M4 (licensed) running my wee mill and intend to use the same computer to run a plasma table / router (one running out the Parralell port, one out the ethernet port only run one machine at a time)

I'm trying to do the setup for the plasma/router electronics from another machine which has an unlicensed copy of M4 on it (just to test hardware/Electronics)
But that machine _Will not_ run M4.
It freezes on launch, I've tried more than 6 iterations of M4, have cleared the directory, have cleared the registry, have done uninstalls with the provided uninstaller, nada, zip, zilch.
For the life of my, it will not run M4
Have loaded an unlicensed copy of M3 to test the hardware with (which seems to run fine)

What else can I try clearing to get M4 to run?

3

Mach4 General Discussion / Seig 2.7

« on: November 11, 2020, 06:25:15 AM »

Well, not the busiest board in the world so thought I'd add to it.
I'm in Sunny Scotland (which right now, isn't)
Have set up my 2.7 with a "Heavy Metal" kit and electronics from  automation solutions
It's running under Mach4

Started the process about 6 weeks ago and the machine will cut what I want, much to my absolute amazement.

Cons:
The Electronics were a bit of a bugger to fit out, the online documentation for the stepper motors referenced Smooth Stepper control boards and the guys I bought the kit from suggested a UC100, the wiring for stepper motor controllers is different and not interchangeable, Arturo got me sorted out once I was put in touch with him and that is sorted.
The Heavy Metal kit, overall, excellent!. there is probably a bit of variation between seig mills and the heavy metal components needed a bit of tweaking to allow them to function well. but they were minor tweaks (mostly with a  grinder)
Mach4, driving me to distraction . . .
It opens G code files randomly (relative position to where the table actually is)
The "Home in place" then doesn't move the "Work area" shown on the toolpath relative to where the machine is homed.
I'm more frustrated with trying to move the machine to where I want to cut and being unable to get mach4 to understand that "I WANT TO START HERE! (this being x0, y0 z0 as far as I'm concerned)

Bryonys video's are lovely, but how the hell do I set where the machine is right now, as 0,0,0 (xyz) and have the toolpath onscreen reference that?
ferinstance, if I was using mach4 on a plasma table and have a nice bit of sheet about the size I need for whatever widget I want to cut.
Jog the machine over to that area, load up the file, how do I get it to cut, right where I am, right now?
Mach 4 loads up the file which seems to be in some random position relative to wherever the machine happens to be.

Can someone point me at a video that shows me how to jog to a spot and in that spot, load a file and cut it right where the machine is?