Messages

1

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Probe tip radius calibration question

« on: March 14, 2022, 09:02:42 PM »

nevermind...this was all me bein' a ding dong dislexic.
entered the wrong value for the ring gauge...duh!!

2

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Probe tip radius calibration question

« on: March 14, 2022, 08:30:11 PM »

meant to add:
MACH4 4.2.0.4612
ESS plugin v277

3

Mach4 General Discussion / Probe tip radius calibration question

« on: March 14, 2022, 08:17:34 PM »

my probe has a 2mm tip diameter (.0785" measured with micrometer). when I run the probe radius calibration MACH4 reports (Probe radius set: R=0.5380).
.5380 what? .5380 inches? does it think there is a 1" tip on this?

I adjust the probe tip to run true with a DTI gauge to about 0.0005"
I have a gear with a precision bore of 2.252" measured with a dial bore gauge, used as the reference.

I run the x y offset calibration and get:
x: -0.0004   y: 0.0001

I then run the radius calibration and get the above mentioned R=0.5380

If I then use the probe to measure the 3" length of a 123 block, I get the results as shown in the attached screen shot.
indicating to me that it does in fact think it has a 1" probe tip, since it measures it as 1.9992".

I suppose I could go into the INI file and manually edit the value, but why is there a calibrate tip radius function if it is so useless??

4

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: SoftMin Error

« on: February 16, 2022, 07:37:53 PM »

I've heard the corollary from software developers dozens of times too, in my years doing software validation..."that cant happen, show me".
But software that works fine once, and differently a second time is a bug, you and thousands of other users not withstanding. They say insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results...what is it called when that is actually the case?
And using your train of thought...must mean there will never be another bug fix release ever. software like this is hugely complex and sometimes the smallest thing will set it off, I get that. is the problem in Mach? the post processor? maybe its the interaction between Autodesk and the post...I dont know.

Anyway, I'm done wasting time on this one. I have another workaround that I've added to the workflow to makeup for limitations in the software.

5

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: SoftMin Error

« on: February 16, 2022, 06:25:25 PM »

Well...that may be my answer. I've just been using all the defaults for the post processor.
I'm actually using Autodesk Inventor HSM.
But other files from that post processor, which have the same code at the end work just fine (also tried the mach3mill.cps).
In that first file I attached there is something in the "main body" of code (the 2D Adaptive section) that is throwing the monkey wrench into the works. if its not G91, then what? By the way, there is a G91 up at the very top of the file as well. and all the G91's have a G90 immediately after to reset back to absolute.
I took that exact file, and just replaced all the adaptive paths with a simple square...left all the stuff at the beginning and end the same (including those damn G91's) and it works just fine.

I also took that original file I sent, and removed all the G91's...guess what, it still does the same thing and will not run a second time.
I really dont get it, but I may be sneaking up on it.

I dont have a "clearance heights" option in my post proc dialog box (mach4mill.cps), but there is a "G28 safe retracts" option. If I turn that off, I get the same code you had. But I want it to return to my home position though. So looks like I need to now learn how to edit post processors.

I'm starting to get why people badmouth Mach...this isnt the first issue. And other hicups have damaged parts and tools.
But I'll keep at it for awhile still.

Thanx again for trying to help, but I seriously think this is a bug somewhere.

6

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: SoftMin Error

« on: February 16, 2022, 04:16:28 PM »

Thanx Craig
I am pretty new at this, and do know there is stuff over my head at this time.
I totally understand soft limits, and the concept of ABSOLUTE and INCREMENTAL are also pretty familiar to me.
whats confusing me is that the CODE RUNS FINE WITHOUT ANY ERRORS THE FIRST TIME ITS LOADED AND RUN.
And you are correct, there are G91's, so that is probably the root of my issues....but...why would it run the first time?

if you care to look, attached is the file that will run fine the first time, but if you cycle start again after it runs successfully, it will not rerun.
I have been dissecting it and manually editing the code to try and understand. hmmm, since it runs fine after I do a "ref all axis" I should probably investigate that code too.

7

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: SoftMin Error

« on: February 16, 2022, 02:03:50 PM »

I have run into the same issue today. but I have no G80, G81 or G83 in my g-code.
I can Home, set part zeros, load a file and run it.
If I try to run it again after its over (ie, load a new blank and restart) it gives me the "X axis commanded beyond softmin" error.
if I re-home, I can then run the file.

It does not happen with all files. So there must be another command like the G80 etc, as mentioned in the other posts.
load file A...runs fine time after time
load file B...runs fine the first time, but will not run subsequently without the softlimit error unless re-homed
reload file A...and it wont run without the error unless re-homed.

Now trying to chase this down.
My obvious workaround is re-home after every run cycle, but that shouldn't need to be the case.

Mach: 4.2.0.4612
Mach 4 post: 42473

8

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Driving a Shapeoko 3

« on: January 22, 2022, 01:48:02 PM »

I;ve decided that I want to add a rotary axis to my shapeoko (as well as add the ability to do surface mapping), so I need to change my controller out.  No big deal other than I have no clue what I need to put together for the kit.  I have the windows computer covered.  I am thinking of a Smoothstepper ESS and a HobbyCNC board to drive the motors.  Am I on the right path here to get to a point where I can use Mach4 with this machine....

You are on the right path. I have Mach4 running my Shapeoko.  I am using the ESS with a C25 breakout board and Gecko G203V for the motor drivers. works like a champ.

9

Mach4 Plugins / Re: ShuttlePro V2 with Mach4 build 4612

« on: November 03, 2021, 11:53:35 PM »

same problem here with 4.2.0.4612...outer wheel works fine...inner wheel has random movements.
But I am using a ShuttleEXPRESS not the Pro.

10

Mach4 General Discussion / jog step increment w/shuttle express

« on: November 17, 2018, 12:48:59 PM »

I'm useing a shuttle express with Mach 4. All works great. Except I want to use the 5th button to change the jog step increment just like the on screen button does. there is no entry for that on the long list of items when I use the "configure...plugins...shuttle...". Or at least I cant figure out which of those would be the one.
I used this video to set it up. And even it mentions going back to the screen to set the increment. Kind of looses half the functionality of a pendant if I have to keep going back to the screen...so I know I must be missing something on how to program this.

https://youtu.be/lQmi6Q_iOAU

oh by the way...I tried to search...but keep getting this on a plain white screen:

2: pspell_new(): PSPELL couldn't open the dictionary. reason: No word lists can be found for the language "en".
File: /var/www/vhosts/machsupport.com/forum.machsupport.com/forum/Sources/Search.php
Line: 700