Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 under Win7 toolpath display interfere with motor running

« on: December 22, 2010, 07:48:43 PM »

Are the files very large? If so, this can happen with any OS. How many lines of code are you loading?

If you turn off the toolpath, does it then work fine?

On my XP machine, I have to turn off the toolpath when I get over 100,000 lines of code.

Thanks for your answer!

The Gcode program is very small. If I turn off the toolpath it works better but still some noises are present.

Thanks!

2

General Mach Discussion / Mach3 under Win7 toolpath display interfere with motor running

« on: December 22, 2010, 06:36:19 PM »

I know the title sounds very strange but here are the problem I found:

Mach3 installed in 2 brand new PCs running Windows Vista Starter, both have the same problem.

Once Mach3 is running JOG mode work flawessly. But after loading a Gcode program all goes wrong. During execution or JOG mode all axis make some strange noises at random but all simultaneously (if they are moving of course)

I tried to touch the BIOS (worked on another PC) unsuccesfuly. Then I unchecked all options in the toolpath display menu and it greatly improved. But some trouble remains.
If I run Mach3 in a very little window also works pretty well.

I think there´s some kind of interference than came from the video or graphic controllers in Win7 that corrupt the steps cadence. I also tried with a non-onboard grapic card and it did not provide the solution. I tried with the onboard and offboard LPT ports and got the same.

I am running out of ideas, have you any tip for me?

Happy holidays, sorry about my english

Best regards

Alex

3

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 under Windows 7

« on: December 22, 2010, 03:57:03 PM »

hi, it´s me again

I am facing the same problem with another PC and I can´t make it work changing BIOS parameters.
When I load Mach3 everything works great. After I run the first Gcode the problems appears. Motor rattle in every axis.

I found a very strange solution, it si to deactivate the toolpath graphic display. I unchecked all options in the toolpath display settings and it work a lot better, near flawessly

I think the problem is related to the graphic subsystem of win7. I tried in using an external graphics card but it is exactly the same result.

Any tip?

Thanks in advance

Alex

4

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 under Windows 7

« on: December 07, 2010, 04:26:57 PM »

Should be ok then.
Is there any power saving options, maybe in the BIOS? Try turning them off if there are.
Hood

Hood you´re my new GOD. Thanks a lot! Yo saved my day! I tried several options in the bios and now it is working great!

If you ever came to Argentina I will be happy to buy you a steak dinner!

Thanks again

Alex

5

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 under Windows 7

« on: December 07, 2010, 04:07:56 PM »

Does the line look smooth or are there large spikes every now and then?
Hood

No visible spikes, may be some pauses in the display, very shot. THANKS!

6

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 under Windows 7

« on: December 07, 2010, 03:59:04 PM »

Run the driver test and see what the graph looks like, if its not great then you could maybe try some of the optimisation ste[s detailed on the downloads page. They are not meant for W7 but probably a lot can still be done.
Hood

Driver test shows a half green bar with EXCELENT legend on it. Is it ok?

7

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 under Windows 7

« on: December 07, 2010, 03:53:43 PM »

Yes, Windows 7 works great with Mach. If you want to use the parallel port then you must use the 32bit version. If you are using a SmoothStepper than you can use either 32bit or 64bit versions.

Thanks a lot!

What can I do? try another PC? another motherboard brand? Is Win7 starter 32 bits?

Thanks again!

8

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 under Windows 7

« on: December 07, 2010, 03:44:37 PM »

One question more: can I run Mach2 under Win7?

Thanks!

9

General Mach Discussion / Mach3 under Windows 7

« on: December 07, 2010, 03:43:58 PM »

Hi tere!

I have a milling machine runnign Mach2 under XP for years. The PC was stolen so I purchased a new one, XP is no lobger available here so I bought Windows 7 starter

I installed Mach3 using the Vista instructions I found on Mach´s site. Everything owrked well, for a while, and then the motors started to loose steps and make strange noises.
It does not happen all the time. If I start Mach3 and do some jogging only, it works. But after I load and execute some g-code the problems start again.
I tried to swicth Mach3 versions, installed aditional LPT boards, change ALL parameters. It improve but the problem allways happen sometime.

Is Mach3 compatible with W7? Do I need a special version? Do I need to buy an XP machine?

Please help!

Thanks in advance

Alex