Messages

2061

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 port 1 pins current state show all lights off motors wont move

« on: August 10, 2017, 01:29:03 AM »

Ignore the Port 1 Pins current State - that display does not always work as expected.

Your Direction pins voltage should read approximately 5Volts (or 3.3Volts) when jogging in one direction and approximately 0Volts when jogging in the other direction.

If you attach your .xml file - the one from your Mach3 folder - we can check your configuration for possible errors.

Tweakie.

2062

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach 3 Sewing Machine

« on: August 09, 2017, 10:04:38 AM »

It's been a while since I thought on this I wonder if Mach4 is better equipped to handle CNC sewing?

Hi John,

I think there is perhaps only one way to tell 

Tweakie.

2063

General Mach Discussion / Re: Laser Diode Issue. I can control it but gcode can't

« on: August 09, 2017, 01:57:16 AM »

It’s difficult to explain any other way but this may help…

It is my understanding that the BB8M is controlled by the ModIN input and that 5 Volt TTL is required for this control.

If this input is TTL Low then there is no laser output. The laser is off.
If this input is TTL High then the laser is on continuously.
If PWM is applied to this input then the average laser output power is proportional to the PWM.

Mach3 can produce PWM on a specified output pin which is turned ON with the M3 S### commands and OFF with the M5 command. In operation the PWM signal is turned ON at the start of the work and only turned OFF at the end of the work.

My previous circuit allows the Mach3 PWM signal to be passed to the BB8M ModIN terminal and by using another output pin (Output#) this PWM signal can be shunted to GND thereby turning the laser OFF and ON as required.

Looking at my circuit…
The inverted PWM is fed into one opto isolator with it’s output going to the BB8M
The control signal (M11/M10) is fed into another opto isolator the output of which turns the PWM signal ON or OFF. Turning the PWM ON/OFF turns the laser ON/OFF.

Tweakie.

2064

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Has anyone machined using Mach4 anything with 4 Axis

« on: August 07, 2017, 11:08:46 AM »

We do all the time.  We manufacture circular wood cutting tools, attached is an example of a cutter we make for a 15in Planer. 
We have been using Mach3 for years, now I'm transitioning some machines to Mach4 and every new Machine we retrofit will have Mach4 on it.

Just to clarify...

Are your CV8's running Mach4 ?
Are the Shelix made using Mach4 ?

Tweakie.

2065

Feature Requests / Re: ARC-ON TIMER AND PIERCE COUNTER IN MACH3

« on: August 07, 2017, 07:37:05 AM »

Hi Enzed,

I fully understand - I have been using Mach2/3 for 10 years now and I still don't know the half of it. But, learning can be fun so please take a look at the videos and other documentation http://www.machsupport.com/videos/ - if you really need it you will be able to do it and we are all here to help if we can.

Tweakie.

2066

Feature Requests / Re: ARC-ON TIMER AND PIERCE COUNTER IN MACH3

« on: August 07, 2017, 06:08:31 AM »

Hi Enzed,

Development of Mach3 has ended in favor of Mach4 so it is extremely unlikely that any additional functions will ever be added to Mach3 in the future. However, this should not stop enterprising Mach3 users from developing additional functions within the scope of the Screen Designer, Brains, etc.

Tweakie.

2067

FAQs / Re: Should (Can) I buy Mach 3

« on: August 07, 2017, 02:44:11 AM »

Yes you can run Mach3 under Windows10 (without installing the parallel port drivers).
Mach3 does not actually generate Gcode it just runs it.
CAM or CAD/CAM software is used to generate Gcode.
Yes you could transfer Gcode from one computer to another using a thumb drive.
No, it would be absolutely nothing like an external motion controller.

Hope this helps.

Tweakie.

2068

General Mach Discussion / Re: Laser Diode Issue. I can control it but gcode can't

« on: August 07, 2017, 01:47:50 AM »

I am not saying do it but just consider the following circuit…

The variable, inverted, PWM from Mach3 (controlled by the M3 S####) is fed into Opto1 and the output PWM is taken to ModIN on the BB8M.

This PWM signal will be…
ON when Output# is TTL Low
OFF when Output# is TTL High
(Opto2 will short the isolated ‘PWM out’ to GND).

So, in your Gcode PWM is turned on and the power level set with M3 S###
Output# (and thus the laser beam) is turned ON/OFF using the M11/M10 commands.

Just a thought.

Tweakie.

2069

General Mach Discussion / Re: LIMITS ON CHINESE BOARD

« on: August 06, 2017, 06:11:11 AM »

Sorry, can't be of any help with the homing, it's something I have never used.

Tweakie.

2070

General Mach Discussion / Re: how to: wizards

« on: August 06, 2017, 06:08:33 AM »

I am going to be a perpetual student.

Yep. 

(I've been using Mach2/3 for 10 years and still learning).

Tweakie.