Messages

2771

General Mach Discussion / Re: MDI not working

« on: February 25, 2017, 02:17:13 AM »

Hi Roy,

Try loading a backup .xml (xmlbackups folder) from a time before the problem occurred.

If all else fails re-install Mach3.

It is recommended that you…

1) Backup the following to the desktop, or even better, a USB drive:

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
License

2) Download the current version of Mach3 from the Downloads & Update page, v.062 seems to be the preferred version to use and this can be downloaded from here :  ftp://anonymous:guest@ftp.machsupport.com/Mach3/Mach3Version3.043.062.exe

3) Install the downloaded version; allow the install path to default to where Mach3 is installed.

WARNING: If you do not backup the files in Step 1, you will lose ALL settings and configurations.

Tweakie.

2772

General Mach Discussion / Re: Can this computer run mach3

« on: February 25, 2017, 01:28:02 AM »

Hi Malcolm,

That does not look like good news 

I suspect that either your port an pin assignments are incorrect or the parallel port on your PC is defective.

Check that your X axis does in fact have port 1 pin 2 for the Direction signal and that you are measuring the voltage between pin 2 and pin 18-25. That being the case perhaps invest in a new parallel port card ?

Tweakie.

2773

FAQs / Re: Spindle not working

« on: February 24, 2017, 07:21:57 AM »

Well, the Chinese setup (from their CD) for the spindle operation makes no sense to me and it is different to the settings used by the CNCzone guy.

For what it is worth here are the Chinese screenshots ;

Tweakie.

2774

General Mach Discussion / Re: Wrong toolpaths appear in Mach3 during running ESS with plugin installed

« on: February 24, 2017, 05:22:03 AM »

Looks like you have discovered the Crop Circles 
Goto   Config. / General Config.   and change the IJ Mode   then Regen. the Toolpath.

Ideally all Gcode files should contain the G90.1 or G91.1 as appropriate.

Tweakie.

2775

General Mach Discussion / Re: SSR relay wont power down

« on: February 24, 2017, 04:36:33 AM »

Probably does not apply in this case but...

There are various types of SSR's with the most common type designed to switch the load ON / OFF at the zero crossing point of the a.c. mains waveform - they will not operate correctly with a d.c. load.

Tweakie.

2776

General Mach Discussion / Re: Is there a built in dwell on M-codes?

« on: February 24, 2017, 04:16:42 AM »

In Config. / Ports and Pins / Spindle Setup  -  set the spin up & spin down delays to zero.

If that is still not quick enough then try the M10 / M11 commands which will turn ON and OFF at the instant of movement. I have described them in a bit more detail here :
 http://hobbycncart.com/publ/cikkek/mach3_temaju_cikkek/switching_a_laser_under_mach_control/8-1-0-29

Tweakie.

2777

General Mach Discussion / Re: MENU Problem

« on: February 24, 2017, 02:35:22 AM »

Try a fresh install of Mach3 on computer PA.

Tweakie.

2778

General Mach Discussion / Re: Can this computer run mach3

« on: February 24, 2017, 01:38:57 AM »

Hi Malcolm,

For an axis to drive in either direction it requires the Direction signal to change state between High and Low.
As was mentioned in an earlier posting some CNC controllers require an LPT output with 5 volt TTL signals and they will not work reliably with 3.3 volt TTL signals.

Because they are cheap to buy, perhaps consider the purchase of a PCI Parallel Port card which has 5 volt TTL outputs (these may be purchased from a CNC supplier such as CNC4PC, etc.) and use that LPT port to drive your CNC controller).

If you attach your <profile>.xml file from your Mach3 folder (copy and rename it to Malcolm.xml befor attaching) I will check your Ports and Pins setup etc. and see if I can find any obvious problems.

Tweakie.

2779

FAQs / Re: Spindle not working

« on: February 23, 2017, 05:34:41 AM »

Your CNC controller has (internally) a USB motion controller which may have setup details, your VFD will also have setup details and we need the information on these to be able to make an educated guess on the Mach3 settings.

There is a post on CNCzone which is of interest - check out post #25 here : http://www.cnczone.com/forums/chinese-machines/320698-cnc.html

Does this setup work ?

Tweakie.

2780

FAQs / Re: Spindle not working

« on: February 23, 2017, 04:28:37 AM »

I made a few changes to your .xml – Unfortunately, I was assuming you were using the parallel port which I have now realised is not the case (the file is attached).

We need to have the details of both your external motion controller setup and your VFD setup to get the spindle control working correctly.
If you attach (or e-mail me a copy) of your pluging installation I will see what I can do.

Tweakie.