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2931

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach 3 problems with computer printer port

« on: January 11, 2017, 01:27:52 AM »

Sorry to say but you cannot use the LPT printer port with windows 10.

Requirements if using the parallel port for machine control:

Desktop PC (Laptops are not supported) with at least one parallel port
32-bit version of Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7 (64-bit versions will not work)
1Ghz CPU
512MB RAM
Non-integrated Video Card with 32MB RAM(Large G-code files, especially 3D files will require a video card with 512MB RAM or higher)

If you need to use Win10 then you will have to use an external motion controller (Smooth Stepper, etc.)

Tweakie.

2932

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Parabolic Dish

« on: January 10, 2017, 07:01:01 AM »

Does this help ? http://www.cerebralmeltdown.com/cncstuff/parabola/index.htm

Tweakie.

2933

Share Your GCode / Re: Stringing MDI Instructions together

« on: January 10, 2017, 02:44:23 AM »

I suspect that if you run the macro from an on-screen button your motors will run smoothly (as intended) so the problem lies with the communication between the XBox controller and Mach3 which is basically being asked to run two macro's at the same time. There may be an easy way around this but I will leave that to someone who is more familiar with the XBox related plugin.

Tweakie.

2934

Share Your GCode / Re: Demo Gcode

« on: January 10, 2017, 02:19:29 AM »

This outline engraving of a young colt was downloaded as a FREE silhouette from http://vectorink.com/ and the Gcode created with Vectric Aspire. The Gcode file has now been added to the .zip folder.

Tweakie.

2935

Share Your GCode / Re: Demo Gcode

« on: January 10, 2017, 01:55:40 AM »

Hi Guys,

Over the last weekend, I have added a few more Gcode files to the .zip folder in post #1 of this thread and I will add more Gcode files as they become available.

I have never had any problems running Imperial Unit Gcode programs on my Metric machines and I assume the same applies in reverse, provided the Gcode contains a G20 or G21 ( as appropriate). However, Graham Waterworth has written an excellent and very useful little program that can be used to scale / convert Gcode from Imperial to Metric or Metric to Imperial. This thread refers; http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,2893.0.html

It is usual to have the Gcode origin (X0, Y0) at the bottom left hand corner of the workpiece but for different reasons we may each prefer to have our Gcode origin in a different location. There is an excellent FREE software program available from Scorch Works which will re-calculate Gcode to move the origin to one of many different locations. This software can also be used as a backplotter converting Gcode to a .dxf and also a number of other functions are available. It can be downloaded from here; http://www.scorchworks.com/Gcoderipper/gcoderipper.html

Tweakie.

2936

Share Your GCode / Re: Stringing MDI Instructions together

« on: January 09, 2017, 04:39:40 AM »

Quote

I would prefer to do the moves singly (rather than a diagonal) as I dont want to change the configuration on the pendant for the reasons already stated above.

I admit to being absolutely useless with VB in Mach3 - its like it's written in Chinese to me, just can't get my haed around it at all, I find the whole VB thing a bit of a black art!

In my macro try replacing the single line;

Code "G91 G0 X" &Xmove & "Y" &Ymove ' Makes an incremental move the distances that you set

with;

Code"G91 G0 X" &Xmove
While IsMoving ()
Wend
Code "G0 Y" &Ymove

This should then perform the axes moves seperately.

Tweakie.

2937

General Mach Discussion / Re: Sorry to be a pain again but

« on: January 09, 2017, 02:39:43 AM »

You could edit your Gcode manually but ideally the depth of cut should be set in your CAD/CAM software (ArtCam ?) before you generate the Gcode.

Within the CAD/CAM software it is usual to set Z0 as the top surface of the work then the depth of cut will be a negative value (for example Z-5.0 if you want to cut 5 units deep). Then, before machining the work the cutter is lowered to just touch the surface of the work and the Mach3 Z axis DRO set to Zero - the cutter is then raised above the work surface and the job is started.

Perhaps do a search for Auto Tool Zero - that should explain how to set Z zero and the tool to the surface of the work (If it's any help to you I have described the way I set tool position here http://www.cooperman.talktalk.net/files/17.htm )

Tweakie.

2938