Messages

311

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: sainsmart 3018 MX3 laser does not immediately honour M3/M5

« on: July 26, 2020, 05:22:39 AM »

Hi Lawrence,

Sorry but I do not have the SainSmart board so cannot test your idea.

Tweakie.

312

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: sainsmart 3018 MX3 laser does not immediately honour M3/M5

« on: July 26, 2020, 01:13:36 AM »

Hi Lawrence,

I am pleased to hear that you have found a solution to the problem.

Tweakie.

313

General Mach Discussion / Re: Cutting a Circle - Figures don't add up!

« on: July 25, 2020, 09:59:35 AM »

Unfortunately the 'Wiki' was terminated when the forum was re-designed for Mach4 and all that is left nowadays is the archived fragments.
Perhaps check out the Mach2 Customisation manual - that may have some more comprehensive details; https://www.machsupport.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Mach2_6.11_Custom.pdf

As you say, Mach3 is 'as is' and as far as I can see, that is the way it will remain.

Tweakie.

314

General Mach Discussion / Re: Cutting a Circle - Figures don't add up!

« on: July 25, 2020, 08:07:44 AM »

I'm sure that once I can get more than a blank screen from the Wiki link many of my questions will be answered 

https://web.archive.org/web/20070824162245/http://www.artsoftcontrols.com/MachCustomizeWiki/index.php?title=Main_Page

Tweakie.

315

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Randomly stopping on G4 P0.1 Command

« on: July 22, 2020, 04:45:13 AM »

Many thanks for reporting back with the solution Cbert10, I am sure this will help others in the future.

Tweakie.

316

General Mach Discussion / Re: G82 Drilling Cycle

« on: July 21, 2020, 08:23:02 AM »

Right click and drag ?

Tweakie.

317

General Mach Discussion / Re: Simple radius cutting - isn't !

« on: July 21, 2020, 01:15:18 AM »

I started using Mach when it was Mach2 and by then CAD / CAM was the way to go. From then and up to the time development on Mach3 ceased there had always been issues, reported on the forum, with cutter radius comp. From memory the usual problem was insufficient clearance at the lead-in but over the years many revisions were made regarding G41 / G42.
As mentioned earlier CAD / CAM calculation incorporating the tool radius to adjust the toolpath not only made life easier for the likes of me but it also relieved Mach of the additional calculation when creating the trajectory. Everything worked better.
I would not want to go back to driving a truck without power steering and I would not want to go back to using G41 / G42 although, as you say, they are not actually obsolete - it is just that I have moved on.

Tweakie.

318

General Mach Discussion / Re: Simple radius cutting - isn't !

« on: July 20, 2020, 10:11:53 AM »

I'm beginning to think that 'Tool compensation' is not the way to handle 'Pocket' or 'External' cutting 

Cutter radius compensation used to be the way all Gcode was used but things move on and affordable CAD / CAM software took over making it all so easy.

Tweakie.

319

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: sainsmart 3018 MX3 laser does not immediately honour M3/M5

« on: July 20, 2020, 05:43:19 AM »

I will try that. I did not realise that the M10/M11 needed to be followed by the P1 command (in this case). I had used G4 with P, then of course the P was the parameter to G4.

I had tried S********* for ON and S0 for off, and was looking at the motor tuning for speed ram

Lawrence

As I mentioned in an earlier posting your existing controller does not support using the M11/M10 commands.
 

This SainSmart blog mentions using the Z axis but if, like me the Z axis is used for laser focus then an imaginary axis (the A or B axis) can be used.
https://docs.sainsmart.com/article/xjgmz9pvni-how-to-laser-engrave-with-the-mx-3

However, be aware that gating the signals may be necessary to enable EStop to switch the laser OFF and ensure operator safety.
This post relates; https://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php?topic=12444.msg265104#msg265104


Tweakie.

320

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: sainsmart 3018 MX3 laser does not immediately honour M3/M5

« on: July 20, 2020, 01:21:01 AM »

Hi Lawrence,

The M11 / M10 commands are followed with Px (where x is the Output# set with the Port and Pin number that is connected to the laser trigger). For example M11P1 will switch Output#1 ON and the Pin that is specified for Output#1 (Config / Port & Pins / Output Signals) will be switched accordingly but only at the instant of axis (any axis) movement. There is an additional safeguard that M3 must be active at the same time. Likewise M11P1 turns Output#1 OFF. This all happen without the delays associated with the other M commands.

It may sound a little complicated to start with but it is usually all taken care of by the Post Processor being used with the CAD/CAM.

Tweakie.