Messages

1

Modbus / Modbus setup data storage, where is it?

« on: October 25, 2021, 07:53:53 AM »

Running a legacy Mach3 configuration (R3.043.066)

Started thru the process of installing a new mill.  Thought I would just copy over the .xml file, give it a new name and do the new port/pin configuration stuff to match the new machine.  SUPRISE!  None of my carefully crafted Modbus stuff came thru in the new version.  Did some roto-rooter digging into the .xml file, found that none of the Modbus detail info is stored in there.

Where (what additional files) store the Modbus detail info?  How do those files get linked in with Mach3 when it lights off.

(It doesn't help that I did a less than perfect job of documenting the Modbus setup when I did it originally so now I would like to go dig that out.  Late correction of old sins.)

Advice needed.

2

General Mach Discussion / Re: Spindle motor setup, need some coaching

« on: September 30, 2021, 04:45:18 PM »

Well, on second thought, never mind.  Found the problem, as usual right in front of my face and didn't see it.

Mach assumes (reasonably) that zero RPM is at zero percent PWM output.  For what ever reason (and I don't have a clue why that is, it just IS) the system I am working with requires about an 11% PWM cycle starting at zero RPM.  I actually had the data down to 500 RPM, just never plotted it out and looked at it backplotted thru zero.  Sure enough, its a straight line but it just doesn't go thru zero PWM = zero RPM, it has an offset in it.

Mach can't do that, so I am just going to set Mach to be correct at 2000 RPM (which is where about 95%+ of my G-Code runs) and make up a cheat sheet of RPM I want versus RPM I have to program into the G-code when I want some other speed. 

Lousy choice, that's as good as it gets.  I love computers.

3

General Mach Discussion / Spindle motor setup, need some coaching

« on: September 30, 2021, 02:23:34 PM »

Running Mach3 Ver R3.041 under Win Xp (Yes, it's ancient, I'm ancient.  It's working great, leave it alone)

Trying to set up a PWM output for the spindle motor on a new machine, having a struggle getting the PWM pulse width to go where I want it vs RPM.  Under ports and pins I set PWM base freq at 100 Hz.  I go over to Spindle pulley selection and set a max speed, run it with a logic analyzer on the PWM pin and look at what I am getting for PWM duty cycle.  I can run the max speed up and down and get the PWM duty cycle I want for a given spindle speed (2000 RPM) but I can't seem to get control of the delta PWM duty cycle vs RPM.  Changing to different RPM (4000 RPM) does not track the curve I need to be on. (by a bunch).

Nothing I have tried so far seems to just change the slope of the line that represents PWM duty cycle to RPM.

What can I change to be able to get (at least approximately) the PWM duty cycle to RPM profile where I need it?  What is driving the relationship from RPM to PWM duty cycle.  I thought it should be linear ( double the speed in RPM should double the PWM duty cycle.)  It doesn't seem to be working that way.

I have plowed thru the Mach install config docs several times but haven't tripped the magic button yet.  I just can't seem to get my head properly into it.

Open to any and all suggestions. (Except don't suggest Mach4).

4

General Mach Discussion / Re: Need a new screen for Mach3

« on: February 10, 2020, 03:39:42 PM »

OK, sorry, little slow out of the gate.  I was thinking that attachment was some form of a screenset.  Should have dawned on me with the .png suffix.  Simply a picture of the setup screen.

Did what you showed, that cleaned up the image considerably, no more jaggy parts.  Didn't change the aspect ratio as I had hoped.  I can't get there from here but I can get part way.

Good to go.  Some day when I have a WHOLE lot of time I may dive into that screen editor. (but probably not.)


Thanks for your help.

5

General Mach Discussion / Re: Need a new screen for Mach3

« on: February 10, 2020, 09:53:50 AM »

Next step in my education, what do I do with the .png file?  Downloaded it and saved it, where do I put it and how do I introduce it into Mach3?

6

General Mach Discussion / Need a new screen for Mach3

« on: February 09, 2020, 10:34:22 AM »

Computer died, got a new machine, put all of the misery in one bucket and installed Win 10.
Installed Mach3 (No parallel port driver, just the program), configured it, works great EXCEPT...

Along with the new PC I also got a new monitor, a nice big wide one.  Mach3 runs just fine but the 1024 screen it uses doesn't look too good on that new monitor. Waaay to wide, everything is distorted in the X axis.  I rummaged around in the downloadable screen sets but there isn't enough info to tell if what I'm looking at would help.

The new monitor runs at 1680 x 1050.  Is there a screen set out there that looks pretty much like the 1024 screenset but will have the right aspect ratio for this new monitor?

I really don't want to dive into the screen editors and try to roll my own so that's not a choice.  If the answer is: "You can't get there from here", then OK, I can live with it.

Advice needed.

7

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Using an M98 sub call as a GOTO

« on: December 23, 2016, 08:09:36 PM »

I'm not familiar enough with VB macros to know how to do that.  Maybe something I should learn. (Life is a learning experience.)

In the meantime I tried it on a real job and it worked well BUT ...
I still don't know if it's safe from the standpoint of repeatedly executing the same NC program for multiple parts without having Mach come unglued at some point with an unbalanced stack.  When I used it I then exited Mach and re-started it.  That way I know the stack was re-initialized and everything was clean.

I think I'll set up a test case with many of my "GOTOs' and many iterations of running the same program without re-starting Mach.  (If you can't analyze it any other way then set it up and pound on it until you are satisfied or tired.)

8

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Using an M98 sub call as a GOTO

« on: December 17, 2016, 04:37:39 PM »

G-code does not have a "GOTO" function but I believe that I could use an M98 (Subroutine call) to cause the branch and then just never use the M99 (Return).   That will allow me to branch around sections of code.  I can later "NO-OP" the call and have the original code back.  The program will run until it encounters the M30 (Or manual STOP and REWIND), skipping over some portions, then hit the M30 and stop/rewind.

My concern is that I am leaving the call stack (or whatever implementation Mach3 uses) unbalanced.  There are some number of subroutine CALLs with no RETURNS.  The question is "Does Mach clean up the stack on the M30 or manual STOP/REWIND?"  I would assume that it does because I use subroutines and can manually STOP and REWIND a program in the middle of a sub even if nested several levels deep, but I don't know that it will still work if the program is repeated enough times.

Also, what is the stack depth for CALLS?  That would be useful info for general information.

Any other suggestions on how to implement a GOTO welcome.