Messages

3431

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

« on: April 13, 2016, 06:40:57 AM »

Way cool guys,
If I only had a laser and the time to work with it. Maybe when the other 40 projects are done.

Mike

Mike, how can you possibly live without a laser ?   

Tweakie.

3432

General Mach Discussion / Re: what program can I use to layout my own text

« on: April 13, 2016, 03:23:09 AM »

Take a look at Vectric software http://www.vectric.com/
It is not free but it is easy to learn / use, has suitable Mach3/Mach4 post processors (which create the Gcode) and has 'try before you buy' demo versions just like Mach.

Tweakie.

3433

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

« on: April 13, 2016, 01:26:24 AM »

Excellent work Art, I look forward to seeing more of this.

The 8000 mm/min is particularly impressive, that's galvo performance. 

Are you using a variable PWM (linked to axis speed) to provide the Acceleration / Deceleration changes in laser output power ?

Tweakie.

3434

Mach3 and G-Rex / Re: Mach3 Beginner Help

« on: April 12, 2016, 08:32:56 AM »

You are missing one or more of the graphics within the MillBitmaps folder. You could try copying the background…jpg and various .jpg’s from the other bitmaps folders into MillBitmaps and see if that resolves the issue.
Alternately contact the suppliers of the machine who are probably the only people who work with Artivision 2.0 (whatever that is).

Tweakie.

3435

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 & Aspire tool paths not the same

« on: April 12, 2016, 02:31:31 AM »

Could it be that you are running Mach3 in Demo mode ?  (in which case it will only process the first 500 lines of Gcode).

Tweakie.

3436

General Mach Discussion / Re: Z-Probe macro for inches and millimeters

« on: April 10, 2016, 07:21:32 AM »

Try putting the G20 on a separate line


Message( "Auto Zeroing..." )
Code “G20”
While IsMoving()
Wend
If IsSuchSignal (22) Then
code “G31 Z-1 F10”
While IsMoving()
Wend
Call SetDRO( 2, .996 )
code “G1 Z1.5”
End If


Tweakie.

3437

General Mach Discussion / Re: Using DIR pin of unused axis for synchronous switching

« on: April 10, 2016, 02:11:55 AM »

One possible solution perhaps ?

By using an external controller (such as a PLC) it would be possible to count your X axis step pulses. You would need to know, in advance, just how many X step pulses had to occur before your phantom axis DIR pin is activated but this method would allow the X axis to make it’s journey without any interruption.

Tweakie.

3438

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: New people welcome !! Come in here and introduce your self!

« on: April 09, 2016, 10:51:04 AM »

Thanks Tweakie, but why have the USB socket on the board if its not used, and is the 15 D socket no use if I get a gender bender to connect it to the LPT1 on the board.

Regards Pirate

The USB socket is just to provide the 5Volt power from the PC to the board - the board is driven by the LPT port and should be connected with a 25 way, LPT parallel port cable.
Gender benders will not work in this instance.
Mach3 does not run successfully from a laptop.

Tweakie.

3439

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: New people welcome !! Come in here and introduce your self!

« on: April 09, 2016, 10:14:06 AM »

Hi Pirate,

Welcome.

Sounds like you need to get an older PC (perhaps second user) which has an LPT parallel port.
Mach3 does not run successfully from a laptop unless you use an External Motion Controller (such as the ESS http://warp9td.com/ or similar)

Tweakie.

3440

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: MACH4, ESS, C25 smoth stepper terminal board V3.1, AND BL-TB6600-V1.2 problem

« on: April 09, 2016, 06:28:01 AM »

I hope you don't mind a suggestion but just an observation regarding wiring...

When you come to wiring-up the actual machine, it would be best if you don't 'daisy-chain' the power connections to your stepper drivers (each driver should be wired directly back to the PSU terminals).

Tweakie.