Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: Keypad as jogging control doesn't work?

« on: June 12, 2013, 09:07:37 PM »

I think that I turned the "Joy On/Off (Ctrl-Alt-J)" button on Mach3 screen off, causing the keypad (separate and on keyboard) not to work. I turned the button on and the keypad worked.

2

General Mach Discussion / Keypad as jogging control doesn't work?

« on: June 11, 2013, 03:57:59 PM »

I am running Mach3 on Windows 7 Home Edition 32-bit. The title bar says "Not responding" but I can use the program. I use a keypad usually used for notebooks as jogging control. The keypad plugs into USB port. The keypad stopped working today and I don't know why. I can enter the numbers from keypad into Windows Notepad. The UAC is disabled. How can I fix the problem?

3

SmoothStepper USB / Help with SmoothStepper configuration

« on: May 16, 2013, 03:58:57 PM »

I have a PC running Windows XP, latest version of Mach3 software, latest version of SmoothStepper driver and plug-in, Probotix PBX-RF RF Isolated CNC Breakout Board, three MondoStep 7.8 Bi-Polar Stepper Motor Drivers, and three NEMA 34 Frame stepper motors. Before yesterday, the breakout board was connected to the PC's parallel port. After three ruined jobs in a row, I tried to find out what's wrong with my system. I decided to use USB SmoothStepper board. After configuring my system to use USB SmoothStepper board, I got my system working but there is problem with E-Stop tripping after the job is completed. I tried to set debounce  in Mach3 configuration window to 500 and 30 but E-Stop still trip. The manual for USB SmoothStepper board may need to be updated. How can I stop the E-Stop from tripping? I think that there is no common ground between PC, USB SmoothStepper board, and the CNC router. Do I need a separate power source for the USB SmoothStepper board? What about Kernel Speed in Mach3 configuration window? I set it to 45,000 Hz.

4

General Mach Discussion / Constant Velocity Questions

« on: July 31, 2012, 07:19:56 PM »

If I do a pocket cut of a rectangle, the inside corners are not "square" with the radius of the cutting tool. For example, I use 1/4" router bit so the inside corners should have 1/8" radius "fillets". On my "new" CNC router that can do 60 IPS, the inside corners have 1/2" or larger "fillets". How can I fix the problem?

5

General Mach Discussion / Re: Touch plate and Probotix PBX-RF board?

« on: July 27, 2012, 08:59:49 PM »

Is there a list of unused numeric pad keys? I tried a few screen designers and they confused me because of lack of good documentation.

6

General Mach Discussion / Re: Touch plate and Probotix PBX-RF board?

« on: July 27, 2012, 04:11:43 PM »

I got the touch plate working after using different phono plugs and jacks. I have USB numeric pad usually used for notebook computers. How do I assign a key stroke command to VB code to start the code running? I'm using the VB code from http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,10088.0.html

7

General Mach Discussion / Re: Touch plate and Probotix PBX-RF board?

« on: July 26, 2012, 08:02:13 PM »

I tried to wire the touch plate to the PBX-RF board but when I plugged a stereo phone plug into a mono phone jack, the "Digitize" light in the "Diagnostics" window stays on. Do I need a mono phone plug or can I cut the tip off the stereo phone plug? In the "Input Signals" dialog box, I set the "Probe" to enabled, port 1, pin 13, and active low. I set the X, Y, and Z Home Switches to enabled, port 1, pins 10,11, and 12, and active high.

8

General Mach Discussion / Re: Touch plate and Probotix PBX-RF board?

« on: July 16, 2012, 04:20:58 PM »

I searched this forum for messages related to touch plates and found out that I have to write code that lowers the Z-Axis until the router bit touches the plate, raises the Z-Axis, tells me to remove the touch plate, and press a key to lower the Z-Axis to the workpiece. How can I write the code?

9

General Mach Discussion / Touch plate and Probotix PBX-RF board?

« on: July 16, 2012, 07:38:42 AM »

My CNC router has Probotix PBX-RF board. Pins 10, 11, and 12 are for home switches. Pin 15 is for E-Stop switch. Is pin 13 free for touch plate?

10

General Mach Discussion / Re: How to zero both program and machine coordinates after moving Z-Axis?

« on: July 11, 2012, 07:59:47 PM »

I read the manual and I'm not sure if I can enable "Remove Tool Offset" in "Pgm End or M30 or Rewind" part of "General Logic Configuration" dialog box or "Tool Offset On/Off" in "Offsets" screen.