Messages

1

Mach4 General Discussion / Crash: Unplanned sudden movement and jump to M30

« on: July 06, 2017, 08:56:06 PM »

My system had what appeared to me to be a weird crash, but really I probably just can't see the simple answer. Hence all you experts out there.

System:
Computer:xeon CPU, quadro GPU, ECC ram, this is a dedicated offline CAD/CAM machine with no antivirus running
PMDX 126 with PMDX107
Smoothstepper ESS
4 leadshine closed loop ES-DH1208
watercooled 4KW spindle

Using Solidworks and Solidcam post-processed with FANUCmach

I had a 14MB gcode file running and about 1/3 of the way it decided to cut through the aluminum block like butter and skip to M30.

Prior to running any code I always restart Mach4 and every program starts with
%
O5000 (BSTEP14MMBULL.5R12X12IX12368.TAP)
(SUBROUTINES: O2 .. )        
G90 G17
G80 G49 G40
G54
M98 P9011
M01
N1 M6 T1
( TOOL -1- ROUGH DIA 4.0 MM )
G90 G00 G40 G54
G43 H1 D31 G0 X229.176 Y91.066 Z70. S10000 M3
M8

I normally dry run the program with the pmdx off to double check for ghosts. If all is clear I restart and re-run with a live system. This time it did something I am not used to. I did a dry re-run the program after the crash with the pmdx off and no issues. No idea where in the gcode this happened. The only difference bettween the dry and "real" run is pmdx was off and therefore the spindle, drivers, and steppers were off too.  My system is pretty well shielded. It runs off 220v but I have a line filter at the source. All cables are shielded with grounding loops minimized. I bet I could find a few spots to fix but overall I would say it is sufficient. Beyond random line interference from EM the only other difference from this run compared to others would be that this was a 14MB file and most of my runs are 8MB or less.

Any ideas?

2

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Help: No joy after Mach4 and ESS update

« on: July 06, 2017, 06:33:08 PM »

Solution....Occam's razor

Indeed you were all correct, simple solution. I just had to go into to Config. and checkmark the plugin... Yikes, what a hassle...

Thanks all!

3

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Help: No joy after Mach4 and ESS update

« on: July 02, 2017, 02:34:57 PM »

Pics continued:

4

Mach4 General Discussion / Help: No joy after Mach4 and ESS update

« on: July 02, 2017, 02:33:38 PM »

In an effort to update my Mach4 Hobby software and ESS plugin I somehow created a mess.
Here is what I did:
1. reinstalled Mach4 2.0.3390
2. deleted old ESS plugin
3. dropped in ESS mach4 plugin 202 into the plugin folder in C: mach4
4. restarted computer
5. opened Mach4

When I opened Mach4 mill I was presented with Pic 1

I select 10.9.9.9 and hit enter, Pic 3

Then I am presented with Pic 4

I hit enter and get Pic 5

This screen (pic5) never goes away and I can not select any other options. I am forced to restart the Mach4 and then I use a generic preloaded Mill folder. I am able to get to the main Mach4 screen when I do this but I am never presented with an ESS setup screen when using the generic preset folder.

I check to see if the ESS plugin is in the Config. screen, pic 6

Nothing, there so I look at the system file, pic 8

Warp9 is present which tells me the plugin information works but there is a miscommunication somewhere.

So I checked the ESS communication itself and all is green; pic 2


From what I understand the computer is talking with the ESS. Mach4 is stable and the ESS plugin is recognized but on startup, Mach4 is not recognizing the ESS on 10.9.9.9

I checked my windows firewall and I reloaded the SCU incase. All options lead to no joy.

Ideas? I had my previous versions working fine until I updated...

Update: I have rebooted the computer, uninstalled and reinstalled Mach4 and the ESS plugin, I tried a version older of the ESS plugin.