Topics

1

Mach4 General Discussion / How to use Home offset under mach configuration

« on: October 13, 2017, 05:54:31 PM »

I have the mach4 setup to run all the basic stuff, so far so good, but I want to learn how to use the Home offset and key in either positive or negative number do not see any effect at all. I would like to know what is this setting design for and how to make use of it. Is there any manual detail explain all this detail setting in mach4?
I did look into the user manual but no luck in finding the detail.

what I want to do is that I have a laser point beside the spindle, if the spindle is 0,0, this laser say it is 2,2. I want to use this laser point as a guide to find my target then use the offset so that the spindle will always start in the right spot.
May be there is better way to do this please advise.
Thanks.

2

Mach4 General Discussion / How to use offset in mach4

« on: October 05, 2017, 07:41:08 PM »

I did follow a video How Mach3 Can Store and Recall Table Positions Using Offsets
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXbRBPO6M24&t=314s
Since I have mach4 and the layout is not the same as mach3 anymore, zero X ,y & z is not there.
I try but there is no respond when I click "Go to work zero".
what might be wrong?
is there some manual to show the detail of how to offsets tab in more detail?
thanks.

3

Mach4 General Discussion / how to setup home to fix the (0,0)

« on: September 25, 2017, 03:09:43 PM »

I have setup home and limit switch for X and Y, on the machine diagnostic, I know they are working, since I can jog x & y and get them light up, but I don't know how to set the software to mark this as the 0,0 as a home, and what is the icon for me to move them back to this 0,0 (Home). sorry for this very beginner question.
is there some document on detail mach4 config setup? or video link etc.
thanks.

4

Mach4 General Discussion / cad/cam software that link with mach4 on USB to control

« on: September 20, 2017, 03:58:15 PM »

is there any reasonable price software that is design to take dxf, ai type of file and it can control the mach4 directly thur the usb? I want to make the setup from file to cut as simple as possible.
or any free one that can do a simple job nice and quick?

any review page to compare those on machsupport page suggestion?
http://www.machsupport.com/software/mach-3-add-ons-for-mill/
thanks.

5

Mach4 General Discussion / how to use Enroute 3 to generate TAP file or G-code file for Mach4

« on: September 19, 2017, 06:07:38 PM »

I am new to Mach4, almost finish the new controller and now need to learn how to generated the G-code to run in Mach 4

on the design, I am using Adobe illustrator to draw the line file and I usually save them in ai3 format, then use Enroute 3 to export the DXF for my old Camtech Routermaster TCPWIN software to send the file to the router.
the tool size, speed, group etc are control by the TCPWIN

Now that I am using Mach4, I need the new process to setup. I see there are many driver in Enroute but none of them is Mach3 or 4.
Can someone give me some suggestion how I can do all this?
Thanks.

6

General Mach Discussion / Laser cutting using mach3 with xy table move only

« on: February 10, 2012, 11:22:19 AM »

I want to use mach3 to control the table to move only but keep the laser fix, can I do this with mach3.
give me some idea or link to learn more about how to do this.
It will be use to cut ply wood about 1/8 to 1/4" thick, the size of table is about 20x20", the object weight 2-3 lb the most.
someone said 40W co2 is good enough. what size of stepper motor and controller is good for this.
I know most people use parallel port to connect the pc, is usb controller popular on this or not.
any suggestion welcome.
thanks.

7

General Mach Discussion / cimpack 11 and Mach3

« on: February 02, 2012, 10:58:53 AM »

I have the samplemaker that is using Cimpack 11 software which is design for sample making, but the controller is very old, and almost all the driver card are discontinue, therefore, I want to upgrade the controller and using mach3 control it, but you know I have a lot of file that already use cimpack to drive it before, is there anyway that mach3 and cimpack has some sort of export or import that I can work with it.
any suggestion welcome.
thanks.

8

General Mach Discussion / use laser cut on mach3

« on: June 19, 2009, 11:13:21 AM »

is there anyone using mach3 to drive a laser for cutting thin metal, styrene, sintra, pvc foam and gator material. what brand did you use, is there a list of supplier that I can try. any problem that I might encounter on this application?
Thanks.

9

General Mach Discussion / enroute3 to mach3

« on: June 19, 2009, 11:09:50 AM »

right now I am using enroute to send the dxf to my router, is there a direct link that enroute3 can drive mach3?
thanks.

10

General Mach Discussion / have a old router table and plan for upgrade

« on: June 16, 2009, 05:34:23 PM »

I am just a beginner and from ebay got a old camtech routermaster 52 and is working fine, but as you know this is 1990 design with a controller to push F4 to set bit height and F7 to set depth etc, I have to send the OS to the controller to get the machine running,
I want to know with the structure in place, if I want to make it become direct control from Mach3 how difficult it is and how much money needed to do this?
right now all the stepped motor is working, the Z axis can only be use to cut or not cut only no real 3D stuff can be done, and I use it for cut, since this is all I can do, but I want to do more, sign as engrave sign etc.
give me some link or suggestion what I should do.
thanks.

the table is 52x102" good size to me, and I clamp a good router on it and manually turn it on and off for cutting plastic right now.