Messages

3601

General Mach Discussion / Re: Running Mach3 in Windows 10 (Registered)

« on: January 12, 2016, 07:23:03 AM »

I have no idea which is the best or the easiest to set-up external motion controller but I use a Warp9, Ethernet, SmoothStepper. They have excellent back-up and after sales (bit slow on releasing plugin software updates  ) supported by their own forum http://warp9td.com/

Tweakie.

3602

General Mach Discussion / Re: Creating G-Code

« on: January 12, 2016, 05:04:46 AM »

I am not sure if this answers your question but for such things as control panels etc. I would use a CAD/CAM program to create the design and automatically produce the appropriate Gcode using it's post-processor. Actually writing the Gcode manually would, I think, soon become a bit tiresome.

One of the (in my opinion) best, and easily learnt, CAD/CAM is Vectric  http://www.vectric.com/

Tweakie.

3603

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

« on: January 12, 2016, 04:33:08 AM »

Mach3 does not actually support kinematic control, however...

Within Mach3 there is a teach wizard called 'CopyCat' which will produce a Gcode file based on the manually created movements of a device which could be moved to each of the desired positions from the keyboard or an appropriately configured joystick. When the Gcode file is run the device will automatically mimic these movements which it has been taught. Unfortunately CopyCat has a limitation of 3 axes of movement so may (or may not) be suitable for use with a robotic arm – you would have to decide. There may be other Gcode 'teach' software available - I really have not looked.
Another member ‘krw125’ claims to have developed Mach3   5 axis kinematic control but this has not actually been verified by independent testing. If it’s any help his website is here http://top-eb.fr/mach3fiveaxis/

In the very early days of using robotic arms in industry they were programmed by the 'teach' method - nowadays, computer processing power has probably increased a million times enabling semi-automatic desktop CAD/CAM programming. Unfortunately Mach3 is never going to get to this level of control.

Tweakie.

3604

General Mach Discussion / Re: FEED HOLD

« on: January 12, 2016, 01:28:50 AM »

 

Tweakie.

3605

General Mach Discussion / Re: FEED HOLD

« on: January 11, 2016, 02:28:18 AM »

This product is best left in someones garage or basement as a 'toy'....it does not belong in any industrial environment regardless of anyones personal opinion to the contrary.

I think this implies that anyone else’s personal opinion is inferior to your personal opinion which is, of course, quite untrue.
The whole process of forum dwelling is all about sharing knowledge although (as demonstrated in this thread) we certainly don’t all share the same opinion.
As for “toy” software, well I think that if we had a poll you would be out-voted on that one.

Tweakie.

3606

General Mach Discussion / Re: FEED HOLD

« on: January 11, 2016, 02:26:54 AM »

I've been out in the garage and I've used Feedhold, then Cycle Start 4 or 5 times. I've never had a problem doing it that way. That's generally the way it's intended to work. Once you hit Stop, you usually need to use Run From Here to continue.

That is the way it was intended to work and indeed the way it used to work until a later revision changed it’s behaviour.

Tweakie.

3607

General Mach Discussion / Re: FEED HOLD

« on: January 10, 2016, 12:19:07 PM »

If you hit Stop then you will loose exact position.
If you are using version .066 then problems are to be expected - version .062 seems to be the favorite of most.
Feed-Hold and when motion stops then Stop is the way to go. 

Tweakie.

3608

General Mach Discussion / Re: over my head in 4th axis

« on: January 10, 2016, 06:55:44 AM »

Not much help but an A axis is usually set to angular, in that way any Gcode commands represent degrees of rotation (assuming you have the steps per unit set correctly).

The Mach3 manual explains in more detail about the steps per unit setup   http://www.machsupport.com/help-learning/product-manuals/

Tweakie.

3609

General Mach Discussion / Re: parameters

« on: January 10, 2016, 05:49:32 AM »

As Roger has said but it’s tricky to find - this may help...

http://www.machsupport.com/software/downloads-updates/

FTP Downloads / FTP Server -  Main Menu  / Docs / Mach3Mill_1.84.pdf

Tweakie.

3610

General Mach Discussion / Re: FEED HOLD

« on: January 10, 2016, 03:36:04 AM »

To pause motion the correct sequence (as you have discovered) is Feed Hold then Stop.

Tweakie.