Messages

1

Post Processors / Re: Fusion 360 / Autodesk Post Processors.

« on: January 09, 2021, 11:42:11 PM »

As a temporary ‘workaround’ until you get a post processor sorted, it is no real problem to use Notepad ‘Find and Replace’ function to automatically change every M11P1 to M62P1 and then every M10P1 to M63P1 (or whatever P#) to convert a Mach3 laser Gcode to a Mach4 laser Gcode.

Tweakie.

I've changed my fusion post processor to the "mach 3 laser" one that was posted here, and managed to get fusion to spit out G code. first issue was it kicking me an error saying that UCCNC needs me to put "compensation in computer not in controller..." for something. I'm using an ethernet smooth stepper so... eh? the post was clearly made for UCCNC.

I got it to spit out a simple circle and square g code, and did like you said, find / replace the m11 to m62 commands and m10 to m63. that at least made it able to move and perform the toolpath, but the laser will not fire. I have a manual 5v button I have wired and confirmed that I can force the laser to fire, and I also have it set up in mach 4 with the laser screen- if I hit the TEST LASER button, I can make Mach fire it from that screen. I can also fire the laser in mach if I reassign it to something like a coolant pin output or something... anyways, mach can fire it, and I'm SO CLOSE. but I can't seem to get the g code to fire it. any ideas? M62 and m63 isnt doing anything when I run it.

thank you

2

Post Processors / Re: Fusion 360 / Autodesk Post Processors.

« on: December 22, 2020, 02:47:55 PM »

But... that's why I'm here... I have no clue how to do this stuff. You're saying mach 4 does the laser on / off, but there is no post processor that can translate fusion's laser on / off toolpath commands to M62p1 and 63? so I'd have to either take the working mach 3 one and change the processor to spit out those codes, or find someone who can alter the mach 4 processor from scratch?

This seems like an AutoDesk failure. but I'm also confused cause I CANT be the only guy out there trying to get a diode laser working on a router style CNC using mach 4 and an ethernet smooth stepper... someone is getting this done. somehow.

3

Post Processors / Re: Fusion 360 / Autodesk Post Processors.

« on: December 22, 2020, 12:12:03 PM »

Seth at liberty machine wrote the MACH3 laser post processor.

Since the M codes are different for laser on and off in MACH4,  those changes would need to be reflected in the post processor.

not sure what that means, sorry. you're saying I can take the mach 3 laser file you made and edit it? or are you saying there is a mach 4 laser post processer out there that I'm not seeing? autodesk's processor files only show mach 4 milling, and that post file has no text within it regarding lasers, and will not post the toolpath in fusion when I try and post it.

4

Post Processors / Re: Fusion 360 / Autodesk Post Processors.

« on: December 22, 2020, 11:23:11 AM »

Here is the link to the Fusion 360 Post Processors for :-

Mach3 Waterjet / Plasma
Mach3 Mill
Mach3 Turn
Mach4 Mill

https://cam.autodesk.com/hsmposts


EDIT; Thanks to Chuck767 a modified Fusion 360 Post Processor intended for Laser use is available here; https://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php?topic=41087.msg269709#msg269709

this might be old, but I'm stumbling through the learning curve- the mach 4 mill post processor doesnt support laser toolpaths, at least according to the error code I keep getting in Fusion. there doesnt appear to be a laser compatable mach 4 post processor in existence, should I be using the "laser compatable" mach 3 post you linked here ? with all the updates fusion has done since your post here, is that processor still valid?

5

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Laser won't fire from Ethernet smooth stepper

« on: November 07, 2020, 02:16:03 PM »

THANK YOU! that was it! now the tricky part is getting my toolpath from Fusion to actually fire the laser properly, but that's a post for another thread. THANKS!!

6

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Laser won't fire from Ethernet smooth stepper

« on: October 06, 2020, 06:18:58 PM »

The various Mach4 builds and the ESS builds are 'paired' and only work correctly in those 'pairs'.
Perhaps check, from the Warp9 website, that you are in fact using the latest mating pair.

Which BoB are you using ?
Which laser are you using ?

c

https://www.cnc4pc.com/pub/media/productattachments/files/c25_r5_user_manual_ver.3.2.pdf

this is the breakout board, plugs right into the top of the ESS.

I'm on build 253 of ESS plugin, and have mach 4.2.0.4430 , which are listed as working, but when I go to mach's website, the latest download is
4.2.0.4300

I know there's a more recent version of ESS plugin, but that'll mean I have to remove and reinstall mach4. My versions aren't THAT old, I've only gotten into this stuff in the last 12 months. and version 250 of ESS should work fine. I don't want to grenade my whole mach setup just to reinstall if it won't fix it. frustratingly, this is the only thing not working, so I'm able to mill on  this router fine. mostly.

Using a J tech laser, which has pretty good documentation, and I've set it all up according to warp9 and J tech's install guides. really frustrated that if I reassign this pin to something like "flood coolant" , I'm able to toggle the laser on and off just fine, meaning the ESS is sending 5v correctly on that pin, but mach won't do anything with the laser output when set up that way.

is there something with the frequency? I've heard if you set the power above 97%, it has problems or something...

Thanks for your help!!

7

Mach4 General Discussion / Laser won't fire from Ethernet smooth stepper

« on: October 05, 2020, 08:24:48 PM »

Got a diode laser, hooked it up to a breakout board using ess. Set the pwm output to port 1 pin 1.

Confirmed that when I change this pin to "active low" , the laser WILL fire and stay on. Configured everything as directed under laser tab in was plugin using the support page.

Nothing will fire the laser. No g code, not the sample g code they give, nada. The laser screen set fire laser buttons don't work. Can anyone help? Just wanna make simple cuts to start out