Messages

1

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Help with VB program

« on: March 05, 2010, 03:35:56 PM »

MiniDave
Sorry, having read the previous reply I moved onto something else.
Nick

2

VB and the development of wizards / Help with VB program

« on: January 11, 2010, 05:44:14 AM »

Hi

I have bought a USB Interface board and hope to make a VB program that will interact with Mach3 (nothing complicated). I am using VB6 and have managed to get the program to control the USB board using the provide DLL, but can not get it to accept any commands to Mach3, any help would be appreciated.

I am making a stand alone exe program, I have gone to Project/References and included Mach4 (why 4 and not 3?) which shows the path as c:\mach3\Mach3.exe, when I go to the Object browser I can see the Mach4 library with the class CMach4Doc, but if I try to call any command (e.g. CloseFile()) I just get errors (Expected Function or Variable (x=CloseFile()), or Expected = (CloseFile()).

I have tried declaring the Sub CloseFile()  as Private Declare Sub CloseFile Lib "Mach4" () OR Private Declare Sub CloseFile Lib "C:\Mach3\Mach3.exe" () OR Private Declare Sub CloseFile Lib "Mach4.CMach4Doc" () but that does not help either.

I did notice all commands, bar a few, are showing as events, as against Function or subs, so how would I call a command like GetLED() ?

Nick

3

Mach Screens / Re: Screen4.exe

« on: June 27, 2009, 06:02:20 PM »

Thanks Brett,
I thought I had looked everywhere on the site!
Nick

4

Mach Screens / Screen4.exe

« on: June 27, 2009, 04:19:45 PM »

Hi
Can anyone point me to where I can get Screen4.exe from?
It is not in the Mach3 directory of any of my machines and not at the url http://www.machsupport.com/artsoft/downloads/downloads.htm.
Any help would be appreciated.
Nick

5

General Mach Discussion / Re: video problem

« on: February 22, 2008, 08:36:55 AM »

Rod
No, I did not find a solution to the problem, so I just bought another camera with software, that did the trick.
Nick

6

General Mach Discussion / video problem

« on: September 24, 2007, 05:53:24 PM »

I am using a windows XP SP2 computer to run Mach3. I installed a zoom cam camera and tried the video window in Mach3, it worked great but then all the lenses fell out (I unscrewed it to focus it and the vibration shook them out).

So I threw that one away and bought a driverless USB web cam , I tested it using the XP camera viewer and it works fine, but when I try to use the Mach3 viewer I get 'VideoOCX (video) Driver can't be connected', if I ok that message then select the camera, and try to start streaming I get 'VideoOCX (video) Decompresser not supported (try 24bit color depth video format)'.

Any ideas what is wrong or should I just get another web cam with drivers?

Nick

7

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Z Axis not returning to Zero

« on: September 06, 2007, 05:28:59 PM »

Bret

Thanks for your time but I am embarrased to say I have found the problem, the drive coupling was slipping, I had recently checked it but it must have worked loose, I have stuck it with Loctite now, that should hold it.

Do you still think I should alter the step and direction pulse? If so will it alter the speed, distance, i.e. will I have to re calibrate it?

Nick

8

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Z Axis not returning to Zero

« on: September 06, 2007, 02:17:43 PM »

OK, I wrote a short program to go up and down and it proved that the machine is either loosing steps or has a drive slippage of some kind, the fact that it gets higher each time, I think, rules out drive slippage as that would occur on the transfer from going down to fast up, which would make it loose height, not gain it, so I will go with loosing steps at this stage.

The settings I have are below (figures in brackets show the proportion of the settings in relation to the X and Y settings which are more or less identical and seem to be working fine - *1/2 means the Z setting is half the x-y setting)

Steps per   804.837....  (*2)
Velocity mm/min 1005.6  (*1/2)
Acceleration  56.17  (*1/3)
G's  0.00572
Step pulse 1
Dir pulse 0

Program used
G0 Z0

F300 (set speed)
G1 Z-10 (go down slow)
G0 Z0 (go up fast)
G0 Z-10 (go down fast)
G0 Z0 (go up fast)

F300
G1 Z-20
G0 Z0
G0 Z-20
G0 Z0

F300
G1 Z-30
G0 Z0
G0 Z-30
G0 Z0

F300
G1 Z-40
G0 Z0
G0 Z-40
G0 Z0

etc to -80

The machine was returning to zero + a bit on all returns, obviously it was more apparent the further the travel

Nick

9

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Z Axis not returning to Zero

« on: September 04, 2007, 04:45:19 PM »

I have a simple Gcode program that starts by lifting the bit to Z0.100 then spirals down to Z-35.00 (mm), returns to Z0.100 widens the circle then spirals down to Z-35.00, ect, three cuts at -35 then a couple on shallower ones.

I have used similar code on the machine without problems, and I have checked the machine for drive slipage, the bit is tightened in the collet, there is no physical binding of parts etc and can find no reason why, on each return to Z0.100 the cutter goes a mm or so higher, so by the end of the program the cuts are shallower than they should be by 3-4mm (but still shows Z0.100 on the display).

I was testing the cut in foam (I reduce the speed to 200 before cutting the real piece in Acrylic). I removed the foam and cut 'air' but it still lost the Z.

I will try another piece which did cut correctly before in the morning just to prove to myself that it usually does not do this.

Is there something in the code causing this or is there a bug in Mach3 or could there be something else I havn't thought of?

Nick

N5 (File Name = probebody inner on Friday, August 31, 2007)
N10 (Default Mill Post)
N15  G91.1
N20 G0 Z0.100
N25 G0 x0.000 Y0.000
N45  X13.8780  Y17.0000
N50  Z0.1000
N55 F300.00
N60 G2  X20.1780  Y17.0000  I3.1500  J0.0000  Z-2.5
N65  X13.8780  Y17.0000  I-3.1500  J0.0000 Z-5.0
N80 G2  X20.1780  Y17.0000  I3.1500  J0.0000  Z-7.5
N85  X13.8780  Y17.0000  I-3.1500  J0.0000 Z-10.0
N100 G2  X20.1780  Y17.0000  I3.1500  J0.0000 Z-12.5
N105  X13.8780  Y17.0000  I-3.1500  J0.0000 Z-15
N120 G2  X20.1780  Y17.0000  I3.1500  J0.0000 Z-17.5
N125  X13.8780  Y17.0000  I-3.1500  J0.0000 Z-20.0
N140 G2  X20.1780  Y17.0000  I3.1500  J0.0000 Z-22.5
N145  X13.8780  Y17.0000  I-3.1500  J0.0000 Z-25.0
N160 G2  X20.1780  Y17.0000  I3.1500  J0.0000 Z-27.5
N165  X13.8780  Y17.0000  I-3.1500  J0.0000 Z-30.0
N180 G2  X20.1780  Y17.0000  I3.1500  J0.0000 Z-32.5
N185  X13.8780  Y17.0000  I-3.1500  J0.0000 Z-35.0
N190 G2  X20.1780  Y17.0000  I3.1500  J0.0000 Z-35.0
N195  X13.8780  Y17.0000  I-3.1500  J0.0000 Z-35.0
N210 G0  Z0.1000
N215  X9.1507  Y17.0000
N230 G2  X24.9553  Y17.0000  I7.9023  J-0.0000 Z-2.5
N235  X9.1507  Y17.0000  I-7.9023  J0.0000 Z-5.0
N250 G2  X24.9553  Y17.0000  I7.9023  J-0.0000 Z-7.5
N255  X9.1507  Y17.0000  I-7.9023  J0.0000 Z-10.0
N270 G2  X24.9553  Y17.0000  I7.9023  J-0.0000 Z-12.5
N275  X9.1507  Y17.0000  I-7.9023  J0.0000 Z-15.0
N290 G2  X24.9553  Y17.0000  I7.9023  J-0.0000 Z-17.5
N295  X9.1507  Y17.0000  I-7.9023  J0.0000 Z-20.0
N310 G2  X24.9553  Y17.0000  I7.9023  J-0.0000 Z-22.5
N315  X9.1507  Y17.0000  I-7.9023  J0.0000 Z-25.0
N330 G2  X24.9553  Y17.0000  I7.9023  J-0.0000 Z-27.5
N335  X9.1507  Y17.0000  I-7.9023  J0.0000 Z-30.0
N350 G2  X24.9553  Y17.0000  I7.9023  J-0.0000 Z-32.5
N355  X9.1507  Y17.0000  I-7.9023  J0.0000 Z-35
N360 G2  X24.9553  Y17.0000  I7.9023  J-0.0000 Z-35.0
N365  X9.1507  Y17.0000  I-7.9023  J0.0000 Z-35.0
N380 G0  Z0.1000
N385  X4.6946  Y17.0000
N400 G2  X29.3614  Y17.0000  I12.3334  J-0.0000 z-2.5
N405  X4.6946  Y17.0000  I-12.3334  J0.0000 Z-5.0
N420 G2  X29.3614  Y17.0000  I12.3334  J-0.0000 Z-7.5
N425  X4.6946  Y17.0000  I-12.3334  J0.0000 Z-10.0
N440 G2  X29.3614  Y17.0000  I12.3334  J-0.0000 Z-12.5
N445  X4.6946  Y17.0000  I-12.3334  J0.0000 Z-15.0
N460 G2  X29.3614  Y17.0000  I12.3334  J-0.0000 Z-17.5
N465  X4.6946  Y17.0000  I-12.3334  J0.0000 Z-20.0
N480 G2  X29.3614  Y17.0000  I12.3334  J-0.0000 Z-22.5
N485  X4.6946  Y17.0000  I-12.3334  J0.0000 Z-25.0
N500 G2  X29.3614  Y17.0000  I12.3334  J-0.0000 Z-27.5
N505  X4.6946  Y17.0000  I-12.3334  J0.0000 Z-30.0
N520 G2  X29.3614  Y17.0000  I12.3334  J-0.0000 Z-32.5
N525  X4.6946  Y17.0000  I-12.3334  J0.0000 Z-35.0
N540 G2  X29.3614  Y17.0000  I12.3334  J-0.0000 Z-35.0
N545  X4.6946  Y17.0000  I-12.3334  J0.0000 Z-35.0
N550 G0  Z0.1000
N555 G0 X3.2089  Y17.0000
N570 G2  X30.8470  Y17.0000  I13.8190  J-0.0000 Z-2.5
N575  X3.2089  Y17.0000  I-13.8190  J0.0000  Z-5.0
N590 G2  X30.8470  Y17.0000  I13.8190  J-0.0000 Z-7.5
N595  X3.2089  Y17.0000  I-13.8190  J0.0000 Z-10.0
N610 G2  X30.8470  Y17.0000  I13.8190  J-0.0000 Z-12.5
N615  X3.2089  Y17.0000  I-13.8190  J0.0000  Z-15.0
N630 G2  X30.8470  Y17.0000  I13.8190  J-0.0000 Z-17.5
N635  X3.2089  Y17.0000  I-13.8190  J0.0000  Z-20.0
N650 G2  X30.8470  Y17.0000  I13.8190  J-0.0000 Z-22.5
N655  X3.2089  Y17.0000  I-13.8190  J0.0000 Z-25.0
N650 G2  X30.8470  Y17.0000  I13.8190  J-0.0000 Z-28.0
N652  X3.2089  Y17.0000  I-13.8190  J0.0000 Z-28.0
N654 G2  X30.8470  Y17.0000  I13.8190  J-0.0000 Z-28.0
N655 G0 Z0.1000
N665 G0 X0.0000  Y17.0000
N680 G2  X34.0000  Y17.0000  I17.0000  J-0.0000 Z-2.5
N685  X0.0000  Y17.0000  I-17.0000  J0.0000 Z-5.0
N700 G2  X34.0000  Y17.0000  I17.0000  J-0.0000 Z-7.5
N705  X0.0000  Y17.0000  I-17.0000  J0.0000 Z-10.0
N720 G2  X34.0000  Y17.0000  I17.0000  J-0.0000 Z-12.5
N725  X0.0000  Y17.0000  I-17.0000  J0.0000 Z-15.0
N740 G2  X34.0000  Y17.0000  I17.0000  J-0.0000 Z-17.5
N745  X0.0000  Y17.0000  I-17.0000  J0.0000 Z-18.0
N746 G2  X34.0000  Y17.0000  I17.0000  J-0.0000 Z-18.0
N747  X0.0000  Y17.0000  I-17.0000  J0.0000 Z-18.0
N750 G0  Z0.1000
N752 G0 X0 Y0
N755 M5
N760 M30