Messages

1

Mach4 Plugins / Re: Plugin for Mega 2590 Ramp 1.4 running GRBL

« on: November 05, 2020, 09:04:37 PM »

Given I already have 2 smooth steppers (1-USS and 1-ESS)two mills, 6 arduinos, and a 7th on it's way. One less SW baseline to maintain, and the knowledge I would gain is worth it to me.  A guy has to have a hobby 

I already put in a request to machsupport.  I was given access to the SDK about 5 years ago (V1), but a life event tied me up for about five years.  Now I have some time to get reacquainted with Mach 4 and it's updates.

An Arduino with motor drivers is about $50 and the SW is Opensource or with CNC 3018 $212.  Add some modbus features + Mach Hobby $200 to get you going and your old machine still can provide some small project milling support.  Purchase a smoothstepper and then a PMDX board $400 or purchase an ESS and BOB from Warp9TD $480.

$212....then add $200 Mach....then add $400-$500 for ESS/BOB...Make your machine larger....$1000.  No this is not a cheap Hobby but it does have some stepping stones.  I agree Mach 4 is not a low budget solution.  I am saying that the arduino-RAMPS or CNC3018 is a low HW budget solution. Just to get you started.

2

Mach4 Plugins / Re: Plugin for Mega 2590 Ramp 1.4 running GRBL

« on: November 05, 2020, 07:07:21 PM »

To operate on a common interface as a stepping stone to better hardware and software.

Why would I want to operate multiple software interfaces when I have one already?

3

Mach4 Plugins / Plugin for Mega 2590 Ramp 1.4 running GRBL

« on: November 05, 2020, 11:11:27 AM »

I am looking to develop a Mach 4 Plugin to support an Arduino Mega 2560 with a RAMPs 1.4 driver board for small low budget desktop cnc machines.

How do I get access to the SDK for Mach 4?  Do you require an NDA?

Any other advice would be greatly appreciated. 

Note this would not be a Smooth Stepper replacement.  This would be a low-budget hobbyist CNC primer board set ($25-$50) similar to what is available on the CNC 3018 as a single board only with Mach 4 Control Software vs the Open Source CNC Control Software. 

4

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Jogging/Pendant Interface-What is the best way? Ramblings

« on: October 18, 2016, 12:00:39 PM »

I apologize for not responding.  After being laid off, I had take some time to get my life together.
Look like a lot has changed in Mach 4 and I will have to dust off my controller and get busy  

5

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: well that's a Screwie Screenset.....having fun with the screen editor

« on: June 22, 2015, 09:39:05 AM »

I will try this tonight   ... it looks pretty cool; I like the black background

6

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Jogging/Pendant Interface-What is the best way? Ramblings

« on: June 20, 2015, 08:36:02 PM »

I plan to put it in a separate window next and/or both just replace the current jog tab.  You are correct the way it is implemented now is not practical nor very usable; a separate window will be much better.

Polling was not the best choice but it was the only way I could see at the time to update the widgets on the screen.  Please note that the jog controls and jog input currently use signaling so the control inputs are not delayed by polling.  ONLY the images on the screen are updated by polling Not the controls themselves.

7

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Jogging/Pendant Interface-What is the best way? Ramblings

« on: June 19, 2015, 12:06:42 PM »

This is the latest version....Sorry, I don't detect the MPG motion yet...nor do I scale images or radio boxes...but neither does Mach4

You will need to add some switches and ensure that you copy the signal script.

Summary of Software Architecture...
The Screen Load script detects the changes in the switch settings and makes changes to the Mach4 core software settings (MPG Axis, Jog Increment settings)

The MaintTab JogTab Lua Panel Script populates the Lua Panel with the Images and RadioBoxes.  This script is called by a timer event every ~200mSec and calls a panel refresh.  The refresh calls the onPaint function which updates the images based upon what the Mach4 core software settings are.  If you use the RadioBoxes the images will be updated based upon the settings in Mach4 core software.  Note if you modify this script and pieces disappear or are jumbled you did something wrong ...I did so many times.
The MaintTab JogTab Lua Panel Script gets copied to a Lua Panel script
   --Add a MainTab Tab to the screen
   --Insert and scale a Lua Panel
   --Update the Lua Panel script with the MaintTab JogTab Lua Panel Script

This Software is provided without warranty.    Goodluck

8

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Jogging/Pendant Interface-What is the best way? Ramblings

« on: June 18, 2015, 04:51:57 PM »

...Don't forget the bit of work learning Lua if you don't know it already. 

I am working on cleaning up the code; then I will post it.  (I created some bugs when I cleaned up; so I have to do a little troubleshooting later tonight)

There is a signal script,  a Lua Panel script and image files that make it all happen.  I will keep you posted

9

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Jogging/Pendant Interface-What is the best way? Ramblings

« on: June 17, 2015, 11:28:40 AM »

I finally made it such that the MPG Axis selection can be controlled from either the mechanical switch or the display radio buttons.
 
1)  I swapped out the radiobuttons for radioboxs; just to reduce code size and to make selecting the radio buttons via software easier.
2)  The Mach4 Display Rotary Switch image and MPG Axis RadioBox will always reflect which Axis the MPG is connected to
     a)  The MPG Axis Radiobox controls which Axis the MPG is connected to independent of the MPG mechanical rotary switch position
           i)  The MPG Axis Radiobox controls always reflect which Axis the MPG is connected to
           ii)  The selection of an Axis in the MPG Axis Radiobox does NOT move the MPG mechanical rotary switch position
     b)  The MPG mechanical rotary switch "when switched" controls which Axis the MPG is connected to independent of the MPG Axis Radiobox selection
           i)  MPG mechanical rotary switch only reflects the current MPG Axis selection at powerup, at Mach4 startup and after the MPG mechanical rotary switch has moved.
           ii)  The Mach4 Display Rotary Switch image and the MPG Axis RadioBox are always automatically updated to reflect the current MPG Axis setting

When I update and test the other Jog Increment control code I will post the code so you can see or try out what I am talking about.

Then all I have to do is implement the Manual MPG "Rotation Direction Detection" code and I will be able to make a small video so you can see how it all works

This may not be the best way to create a Jogging/Pendant Interface but I will be able to connect switch based pendants to Mach4 through an Ethernet Smooth Stepper and have cool images reflect what is going on

10

General Mach Discussion / Re: Camtech Laser

« on: June 11, 2015, 04:59:25 PM »

Check out www.buildlog.net too   ....LOTS of laser information available there.