Messages

2651

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: The Laser Project.

« on: January 17, 2016, 01:45:43 AM »

I already had a look at it but noticed it was more about grbl setups. Can it be fitted to Mach3 setup?

I think it can (at least it did when I last used it) but you would have to check with them.

For your vector engraving why not just modify the Aspire post-processor to include the M11/M10 commands for the On/Off operation and use your control board's PWM output to control the power level.
Another possibility...
If your control board was set-up so that 100% PWM was full power and 0% was no power or Off then the M11/M10 would be unnecessary and you could control your laser just by the PWM (assuming it is capable of switching fast enough).

There is plenty of room for experimentation so perhaps just try various methods and see what suits you best.

Tweakie.

2652

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: The Laser Project.

« on: January 16, 2016, 11:19:12 AM »

Take a look at PicLaserLite http://www.picengrave.com/ it is, I think, more suited to diode laser operation than the Mach3 plugin.

Tweakie.

2653

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Vinyl Cutting.

« on: January 16, 2016, 07:40:43 AM »

Many thanks for the link, I really do like that corner tree.

At that size it is a job for a purpose built vinyl cutter (rather than my CNC machine, which is essentially a wood router) but I can call on a friend who has an A2 size vinyl cutter that I can use.

Tweakie.

2654

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Vinyl Cutting.

« on: January 15, 2016, 08:14:45 AM »

As you say 'very limited' I can only cut the size of the machine bed at any one time. I have done many multicolored, some laminated and some interleaved.

I certainly like your large wall decorations, perhaps you would be good enough to share the .dxf or Gcode files for that work ??

Tweakie.

2655

Promote and discuss your product / Re: Free G76 Macro Helping program for Mach3 Turn

« on: January 15, 2016, 07:19:09 AM »

Have you now settled on using Mach3 version R3. 043.062 for both Parallel Port and ESS operation. ??

Tweakie.

2656

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Vinyl Cutting.

« on: January 15, 2016, 06:59:07 AM »

6 years on and I am still cutting vinyl (sticky backed plastic)  

Che Guevara (when alive, he was loved in South America, hated in North America and to this day there is still divided opinion around the world) he is certainly a topic of discussion but I think this will always remain an iconic imiage. I have included my .dxf file if anyone else wants to cut this image.

Tweakie.

2657

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 Controlled embroidery Machine

« on: January 14, 2016, 02:14:01 AM »

That is just brilliant  (my best was 240 stitches per minute, with a 300 stitches per minute target, and painfully slow compared to Kiefer's video).

I am most interested in learning more about your software and the machine configuration.

Tweakie.

2658

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 and Windows 7

« on: January 13, 2016, 06:44:49 AM »

It is always best to have a dedicated PC (not connected to the net and without any other software) for operating your CNC.

Mach3 will work just fine with Win7 32bit

Backup the following:-
XML(Profile) – This stores you’re settings for Mach3, if you lose it you will need to re-setup you’re ports and pins, motor tuning, etc.
Screensets
Macros/Brains
Mach1Lic.dat license file

Or perhaps make a backup copy of your complete Mach3 folder.

Install Mach 3 then copy (into the new Mach3 folder) your original .xml file and your Mach1Lic.dat license file. If you have any special screensets or brains then they need to be copied over as well (not forgetting the bitmap folder for the screensets).

Tweakie.

2659

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach 3 g code trouble

« on: January 13, 2016, 06:30:30 AM »

A curious issue which I have not heard of before, my first thoughts are that you need to re-install Mach3.

Could you perhaps zip and post one of your Gcode files that has this problem ?

Tweakie.

2660

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: How can i use Mach3 to control a robotic arm?

« on: January 13, 2016, 02:58:03 AM »

I think that there are probably lots of commercial, 6 axis, alternatives available but I suspect that you would need an extremely healthy financial budget to be able to purchase the CAD software, the CAM software together with the associated controller and it's software. (Perhaps LinuxCNC may be the way to go  ).

Regarding CopyCat, assuming it would not be infringing the copyright, it would be relatively easy to modify this wizard to operate with all 6 axes.

Tweakie.