Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: New pc not working

« on: April 01, 2020, 02:40:43 AM »

I think Mach3 defaults to 25kHz as a base computer frequency and this suits most installations.
You ran a machine with a F setting (even though you didn't know it): it would not run without it! It tells the machine the Feed rate or how many units per time for all movements.
I run my machines with (typically) 700 mm/min, depending on what I'm cutting. Moving a cutter down onto a job, the rate would be 200 mm/min, for example.
Your machine knew what feed rate has been applied for it to move any axis: it didn't run for 10 years without it.
There are many parameters and settings in Mach3 that must be applied for the machine to run correctly. When your computer crashed, the settings may or may not be retrievable.
Or, you go through the process and set the machine up again. From your statements and questions, I am thinking this could be a new area for you.
If the machine has not been calibrated or setup in the first place, there will be unpredictable results. Fortunately, in this case, the machine is not moving.
Yes, your program ran for years without a problem - that was with the machine and software aligned correctly. But that has changed with a new install of Mach3.
Have a look at their website for setting up a machine with settings for Ports and Pins, Motor Tuning, General Parameters, etc. They walk you through it.
Regards,
Peter

2

General Mach Discussion / Re: New pc not working

« on: March 31, 2020, 06:56:46 PM »

When you re-install Mach3 (you say, 15 times?), do you calibrate the stepper motors in the Motor Tuning section of Config?
Also, to you reset all the Ports and Pins. Can you tell us what the pulse per units are for the X, Y, Z and A axes are?
This will give us an idea of how many pulses are needed per unit on each axis.
Regards,
Peter

3

General Mach Discussion / Re: New pc not working

« on: March 30, 2020, 09:56:42 AM »

The G-code that causes the rapid movement of a particular axis is G00 (G followed by zero; one or two makes no difference).
The speed at which an axis moves is determined by parameters set in the Motor Tuning page of Mach3.
When a program is generated, a Feed Rate has to be specified - you have control over this rate as you will need to know how fast the tool cuts through material.
I don't know your level of experience in G-code: forgive me if this sound banal.
So, typical G-code would look like this:
G00 Z10.000
G00 X0.000 Y0.000
The first line tells the Z axis to raise the cutter to 10 units up at the machine's fastest rate.
The second line tells both X and Y axes to move to their zero positions.
A line like:
G01 X23.500 Y34.000 F200.0
will move both axes to the given locations at a rate of 200 units/time.
The units will be defined by the user when Mach3 is installed.
If you are not giving the machine a Feed Rate, then the rate will be that specified in the Tab setting.
There is a text window in Mach3 next to the Reset button, bottom left of the screen: What does it say after you start your program and then see the cutter stop dead while the code runs past?
It sounds like the program is missing some code, since you can do everything from within Mach3. It is a steep learning curve, but you really need to know how to code manually to be able to prevent runaway tool cutters doing their own thing.
Because you are running a program that used to work, something is missing from your computer software rebuilds. It sounds most likely due to a setting within Mach3.
Can you access the old hard disk on the computer that crashed? Maybe get a setting file from your original Mach3 into your new computer? I think it is an XML file.
Step by step, try and use the same logic as the machinery in front of you....
Good luck,
Peter

4

General Mach Discussion / Re: stopping and restarting hot wire CNC work with Mach 3

« on: March 30, 2020, 06:39:04 AM »

Hi Ninhtc,
Have a look at my post: Lateral Movement After Restart. I describe the issue of correctly restarting the machine after stopping its operation for cleaning the cutter (or for any reason, like dinner, etc).
I posted it under General Mach Discussion on 12 March 2020. https://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php?topic=42613.msg277074#msg277074

Regards,
Peter


EDIT; Link added.

5

General Mach Discussion / Re: Doesnt make any sense!

« on: March 30, 2020, 06:23:57 AM »

When you say, "....and then it just sits there.", Where exactly? Does it move in both X & Y and Z? Or just X and Y?
Sounds like Mach3 thinks it is talking to a machine, but something is missing and the steppers are not getting the code.
Does the machine respond to G00 only or to G01 codes as well.
We need more information.
Regards,
Peter

6

General Mach Discussion / Re: Lateral Movement After Restart.

« on: March 12, 2020, 02:32:07 AM »

After searching elsewhere for answers and getting a response from Newfangled Solutions and watching the video from Peter Passuello, CNC Nutz, I have realized I have been doing it incorrectly.
I want to post here so that anyone seeking an answer can benefit from this issue as I have done.
First, the method of stopping the machine is correct and should be adopted by anyone needing to stop the machine for whatever reason.
Clicking on 'Cycle Start' with a safe Z set at 10mm means the cutter will be descending into the work whilst lateral movement is taking place, causing material to not be cut until the next lap.
Changing the safe Z to 1 or 2 mm will minimize the lateral movement. Still not the best way to restart the machine.
A better way is to note the line number above the 'Run From Here' window, move the line a few lines back and then click on the 'Run From Here' button. A dialogue will appear allowing the operator to confirm all the co-ordinates before proceeding.
If the spindle is under Mach3 control, click the button within this dialogue to turn on the spindle before proceeding. After clicking on 'OK', the running cutter will be moved to the correct position and cutting will continue as before.
Another method is to create a script and add some active buttons to Mach3 screen that will perform all the functions that are required to stop lateral movement, raise the cutter, stop the spindle, and then restore everything back to the correct position once cutting is to resume.
As yet I can't find such a script - hopefully, someone has expended the effort and created one; I would love to hear of this. In the meantime, I am going to look into the OEM codes and see if something can be generated from that.
Thanks for reading my post.

Peter

7

General Mach Discussion / Lateral Movement After Restart.

« on: February 27, 2020, 08:11:07 AM »

Good evening all,
I'm talking about a 3040 bench router (from China) that has been working hard and well over the years.
Gecko drivers, Mach3, WindowsXP, VCarvePro CAD, manual spindle motor.
I have noticed that during a cut and I press the space bar, the machine eventually stops in X and Y (after emptying the look-ahead buffer). I then click on the Stop icon in Mach3 and the cutter raises to the Safe Z value I had previously set. All good.
At this point I can turn off the spindle, turn off the drivers to allow the steppers to cool down, or otherwise leave the machine to attend something else without worrying about what is going on while I'm not there.
But when I start up the machine to continue cutting, I would expect the cutter to be lowered back into its previous -Z setting before X and Y movements take place, but no, the X and/or Y steppers move whilst the cutter is being lowered back into the job.
This omits part of the cut so that on the next lap, the cutter has to cut twice the amount of material. This is a bit savage on a 1.5mm end mill in polycarbonate!
I've noticed this tends to occur more on a straight cut on either the X or Y axis, and not on a curve or angled cut line.
Does anyone have any ideas on how to prevent both lateral axes from moving until the previous target -Z value is reached?
Is there a setting within Mach3 that I have overlooked?
Peter

8

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: CAD/CAM for Hobby Level Bench Mill

« on: June 15, 2011, 01:43:37 AM »

Thanks for your support Tweakie. And to ger21 also. I would be lost without this help from guys like you, along with this forum.

Peter

9

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: CAD/CAM for Hobby Level Bench Mill

« on: June 14, 2011, 04:38:47 PM »

Well, I have bought Vectric's Cut2D and find it the easiest to work while allowing the most flexibility. Of the other two, one was in still in beta (after a very long time) and the other was not intuitive in its learning and not as flexible as Vectric's.
One of the best features is that I can fiddle with something in CorelDraw, export it as an EPS file and import it straight away as a vector sketch in Cut2D. After a selection of size, cutting tool setup and profile machining, the output is Mach3 ready; very snappy!

I think I have found a good match between software, machine and bankbook.

Peter

10

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: CAD/CAM for Hobby Level Bench Mill

« on: June 09, 2011, 06:19:52 AM »

Thanks, Tweakie, I will do that and give it and SheetCAM a run for the same project. I'll give feedback to let you know what transpires - maybe helpful for others.

The best thing I did after setting up my CNC Mill was to join this forum! Great responses, very helpful and friendly advice; a great fraternity.

Thanks ger21 and Tweakie.CNC

Peter