Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 error message! Help!!!!

« on: April 08, 2017, 11:59:43 PM »

You installed the MSM screenset, and didn't uninstall it properly.

Yikes, is that it?  I had the MSM demo but am not a fan of the subscription base software so I uninstalled it.  Do you know if I reinstall the demo then uninstall it, am I'm going make things worse or better?

Thank you! I never would have figured that out.   

Kelvin

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2

General Mach Discussion / Mach3 error message! Help!!!!

« on: April 08, 2017, 07:58:19 PM »

I'm sure I did this when I was playing around with brains, macros, etc. But I don't have a clue what I did.

That directory the error message references doesn't exist.  I've reinstalled mach3 and have gone back to the original screen set.  It didn't help a bit. 

Any ideas of what's going on?

Thanks

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3

General Mach Discussion / Spindle calibration, how I manage to get it working

« on: March 22, 2017, 05:02:00 AM »

I have a 3 axix CNC converted Conquest mill (from Chester UK) controlled by Mach3/Geckodrive G540 and recently got quite happy to make it work with the VFD (RPM controlled by Mach3).

For that I simply disconnected the potentiometer from the mill speed control  and replaced it by an analog optocoupler and a resistor. I know G540  VFD is already isolated, but the mill circuit board was powering the low voltage electronics directly from the 220V using a voltage divider... so it got me scared to simply plug the G540 directly.

The advantage of this approach is that I got a working VFD almost for free. The disavantage is that it is highly non-linear. The spindle only starts to turn at about 30 RPM when I command 400 RPM, it  gets close to the commanded value at about a 1000RPM then it undershoots.

So I thought "Lets use the Mach3 spindle calibration and it will work fine"... Well, wrong... for some reason the calibration, at least in my version of Mach3 would not work. Probably it works for correcting small deviations but for my cheapo VFD it was hopeless...

So I read some threads here about this problem and it seems somewhat usual. People referred to a file named "Linearity.dat" so I could not resist taking a look at it.

Long story short, the linearization strategy implemented in Mach3 is actually works great. The problem seems to be the function that generates the file, it probably does not assume that a VFD could be as bad as mine  .

So I wrote an Excel table that takes as input the commanded RPM vc Real RPM and produces a  "Linearity.dat" file that works fine.

I am attaching the Excel file so that you guys can try it out. Can´t guarantee anything but that it worked for me. But if some of you have the same issue, I hope it helps.

The way it works is the following:

1- Only make changes to the GREEN cells.
2- Enter your min and max RPM. It will generate a list with 101 input values for you to fill.
3- For each entry, command your machine to spin at the COMMANDED column (blue), take note of the real RPM it is spinning and enter it in the MEASURED column (green)
4- Click the CREATE FILE button. It will run a macro that writes a linearization file. That is the  "Linearity.dat" file that Mach3 is able to read.
5- Shut down Mach3 and copy that file as to replace the one you have. In my case it happens to be at "C:\Mach3\macros\Mill_RS".
6- Start Mach3 and try to see if the RPM is correct now.

Hope it helps.


 

Could someone send me a copy of VB macro in this spreadsheet?  The one used to create the .dat file. Everytime I download the spreadsheet excel tells me macro is corrupt and deletes it.

Thanks,
Kelvin

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4

General Mach Discussion / Re: Tool Auto Zero Script

« on: March 21, 2017, 03:18:11 PM »

Hi My name is Gerhard and I am using my cnc machine for a while now. I have changed to a uss smoothstepper board and is busy setting up a z zero touch plate. However I experience problems. First of all the zero plate works well in the test when the positive wire is not connected to my cnc machine end mill. (I hold it in my hand) and when I touch the zero touch plate it stops and retract like it should. When I connect the positive to my end mill it act as if it has touched the plate (active low) and only retracts.

I have changed the 4,7k resister to a 200 ohm resister to get 4,7 volt on the output (touch plate and positive) however when the positive is connected to the end mill it only retracts as if it has touched the zero touch plate. The touch plate is lying on a sacrifice sheet so there cannot be a connection with the end mill. When the positive is connected to the end mill the voltage between positive and negative is still 4.7 volts.

Your help will be appreciated.

I am using the following script:-
CurrentFeed = GetOemDRO(818) 'Get the current feedrate to return to later
CurrentAbsInc = GetOemLED(48) 'Get the current G90/G91 state
CurrentGmode = GetOemDRO(819) 'Get the current G0/G1 state

If GetOemLed (825)=0 Then 'Check to see if the probe is already grounded or faulty
DoOEMButton (1010) 'zero the Z axis so the probe move will start from here
Code "G4 P3" ' this delay gives me time to get from computer to hold probe in place
Code "G90 G31Z-100. F100" 'probing move, can set the feed rate here as well as how far to move
While IsMoving() 'wait while it happens
Wend
ZProbePos = GetVar(2002) 'get the exact point the probe was hit
Code "G0 Z" &ZProbePos 'go back to that point, always a very small amount of overrun
While IsMoving ()
Wend
Call SetDro (2, 15.0) ' change .060 to your plate thickness and then adjust for final accuracy
Sleep 200 'Pause for Dro to update.
Code "G1 Z1. F1300" 'put the Z retract height you want here, must be greater than the touch plate thickness
While IsMoving ()
Wend
Code "(Z axis is now zeroed)" 'puts this message in the status bar
Code "F" &CurrentFeed 'Returns to prior feed rate
Else
Code "(Z-Plate is grounded, check connection and try again)" 'this goes in the status bar if applicable
End If
If CurrentAbsInc = 0 Then 'if G91 was in effect before then return to it
Code "G91"
End If
If CurrentGMode = 0 Then 'if G0 was in effect before then return to it
Code "G0"
End If

Hi Gerhard,
  I'm no expert my first guess would be you need to switch the polarity of your touch plate. Touch plate positive and isolated from your machine.  The connection to your machine negative.

Kelvin

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5

General Mach Discussion / Re: Tool Auto Zero Script

« on: March 20, 2017, 10:26:17 PM »

In my searches I hadn't seen the circuit discussion. Being a electronics nerd, that has appeal. I'll look that one up.

http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,34230.msg237721.html#msg237721

Thanks!  Once you told me about it I did find it.  It's plan B if I can't fix my problem by typing on a keyboard.

I'm guessing the "probe not active" error I'm getting has to do with the G31 command and the Probe input in Mach3 not being set to enable.  Though I'm holding out hope some Mach3 guru knows of a work around.

Kelvin

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6

General Mach Discussion / Re: Tool Auto Zero Script

« on: March 20, 2017, 08:37:28 PM »

OK, I'm stumped.

I disabled the probe input and enabled OEM Trig #2 as the new probe input.  I wrote a simple button VB to toggle an UserLED1001 between 1 & 0.  And wrote a simple brain to XOR that with the OEM Trig #2 input and export the results to the "Probe Input".  Now I can invert the input to accommodate what ever probe I plug in, (XYZ probe, touch plate, etc.)  I've watched it in the brain and it works as expected.

This is my toggle button VB:
  
     Dim ProbeStateLED As Integer
         ProbeStateLED = 1001
         If GetUserLED (ProbeStateLED) Then
            SetUserLED(ProbeStateLED,0)
         Else
            SetUserLED(ProbeStateLED,1)
         End If

This is the Touch off VB I found on here and attached to the "Auto Tool Zero" button.

      CurrentFeed = GetOemDRO(818) 'Get the current feedrate.
         PlateThickness =0.059
         ProbeFeed = 5
         Code "G90 F" &ProbeFeed
         If GetOemLed (825)=0 Then
            Code "G4 P2" 'Time to get to the z-plate
            Code "G31Z-5 F" &ProbeFeed
            While IsMoving()
            Wend
              Code "G4 P0.25"
              ZProbePos = GetVar(2002)
              Code "G0 Z" &ZProbePos
           While IsMoving ()
           Wend
             Call SetDro (2, PlateThickness)
             Code "G4 P0.5" 'Pause for Dro to update.
             Code "G0 Z0.25" 'Change the Z retract height here
             Code "(Z axis is now zeroed)"
             Code "F" &CurrentFeed
           Else
              Code "(Z-Plate is grounded, check connection and try again)"
           Exit Sub
           End If

The brain is:

OEMLED:1001 ---- No Op - |EOR |
OEMTRIGGER#2 - No Op - |       | ------- Probe Switch


Now my problem.  If I toggle my button so the Probe input is active and run the auto zero script I get a "probe grounded" message, (as expected).  But when I try to run the auto zero script with everything normal I get a "No probe active" error message.  What's that from?  The fact I don't have the probe input active in ports & pins config?  If so, is there  a way around this?

Thanks,
Kelvin

7

General Mach Discussion / Re: Tool Auto Zero Script

« on: March 19, 2017, 09:48:57 PM »

Got to love brains! 

The fix was pretty simple, though I have hit one snag.  I need to add a button that does nothing more than toggles state when pressed, i.e. from true to false or 1 to 0.  Something the brain can check.  I've been through all the OEM codes.  How do you make a button that doesn't do anything but change state when pressed?

8

General Mach Discussion / Re: Tool Auto Zero Script

« on: March 19, 2017, 11:40:53 AM »

There was a thread here a week or two ago with a circuit to connect the two devices to a single input.
Another option is to create two Mach3 profiles.
And a third option is to use a Brain, to trigger the probe input when another input is triggered, so they can be wired to separate inputs.

Thanks!

   The two profile method, (at least for me) is much like changing the input from active high to active low everytime I want to change probes. Very messy.
   
   In my searches I hadn't seen the circuit discussion. Being a electronics nerd, that has appeal. I'll look that one up.
   
  The Brain approach intrigues me.  Know zip about programming Brains makes me interested in this approach just for the learning adventure.  
  First thoughts - It shouldn't be that hard to program some sort of flip/flop that would monitor an input and change the probe input state on a monitored input change of state.  
  Second thoughts:
             1. I would need a "Probe tool changed" button so I could tell the brain this is the new "non-active state". Is there a way for the brain to automatically tell the tool was changed?
             2. The brain would need to run continually to accommodate wizards and such. Would that eat up processing resources?
             3. Would the delay between detecting monitored input change of state and changing the probe input state be sufficiently short not to impact location accuracy or cause tool or probe damage?

   So, any suggestions on the logic needed to program a Brain?

Thanks again,
Kelvin

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9

General Mach Discussion / Tool Auto Zero Script

« on: March 18, 2017, 09:57:41 PM »

OK, I know there is probably an easy answer for this.  And I have searched but have been unable to find one. 

I added a single jack to my machine so I could plug my probe & touch plate in as needed.  My problem is the probe is a Normally Close function and the touch plate is a Normally Open function.  Now I suppose I could just go to "Ports & Pins" config and change the probe input from Active High to Active Low as needed.  But there's got to be a more elegant solution.

I'm pretty sure I can't modify G31 so does anyone know of a Auto Tool Zero script that doesn't use G31?  Something I could modify so the touch test condition from Active to Not Active.  What have other people done? 

Thanks