Messages

3631

General Mach Discussion / Re: Limit switch issues

« on: December 27, 2015, 03:13:06 AM »

Hi Mike,

Looking at your .xml file I notice that you do not have limit switches enabled – only home switches are enabled.
There is also a conflict (not serious but it should be avoided if possible) where X Home and EStop share the same LPT pin number 10. You also need to assign a port# to EStop.

Just to draw your attention to the relevant section of the manual…
• If you implemented configuration two from Section 4.5, you will probably have Home switches on the X, Y, and Z axes. Enable the Home switches boxes for these axes, and define the Port/Pin to which each is connected. If you are combining limits and the Home switch as one signal, then you should enable Limit --, Limit ++, and Home for each axis and allocate the same pin to Home, Limit --, and Limit ++.


Tweakie.

3632

General Mach Discussion / Re: emergency mode active error

« on: December 27, 2015, 02:24:51 AM »

If your machine has been working correctly and you have not made any changes to it then there is a chance that a corrupt .xml file is causing the current problem.
There is a Mach3 sub folder ‘xmlbackups’ – try choosing an earlier backup (preferably before the problem started), rename it with the .xml extension and copy this to your Mach3 folder. Restart Mach3.
If this does not cure the problem then perhaps ask you question on the Warp9 forum http://www.warp9td.com/index.php/kunena/index where I am sure they will have more suggestions for you to try.

Tweakie.

n.b. I have removed your other post as duplication of same topic postings just diversifies response and is not helpful.

3633

General Mach Discussion / Re: Limit switch issues

« on: December 26, 2015, 12:15:10 PM »

Hi Mike,

In an attempt to resolve your limit switch issue can you please post your .xml file so that we can check your machine configuration.

Your .xml file is located in the Mach3 folder and is named <your profile>.xml (Typically Mach3Mill.xml). You will need to rename it to something unique (ie. Muskoka.xml) to be able to post it (using the Additional Options tab).

Tweakie.

3634

General Mach Discussion / Re: limit swith vibration

« on: December 26, 2015, 11:51:46 AM »

I think you really need to replace the switches with a type that is more robust (Honeywell perhaps ?).
Although it may mean a fair bit of work, replacing the mechanical switches with solid state proximity switches may something worth considering.

Tweakie.

3635

*****VIDEOS***** / Re: Greetings from Tokyo Japan

« on: December 26, 2015, 03:13:26 AM »

Excellent. 

Tweakie.

3636

Mach3 under Vista / Re: Windows 8 and Mach 3

« on: December 26, 2015, 03:07:38 AM »

Good point about minimum vs the requirements – NFS should perhaps change their wording to avoid future confusion.

Most serious Mach3 users will be operating their machines with a dedicated computer system with many (like me) still using WinXP. Mach3 doesn’t care about Microsoft support or windows updates etc. the basic windows install is all that is required.

Obviously NFS are aware Mach3 is outdated in a number of respects and so Mach4 is here and one day (perhaps not as soon as tomorrow) it will take over my machine control requirements using Win10 or whatever is the OS of the day.

Tweakie

3637

General Mach Discussion / Re: Milling and drilling in 2 steps?

« on: December 25, 2015, 02:42:28 AM »

I suppose the easiest way would be to have a straight edge fixed to the spoil board so the pcb always aligns square with the machine then have a small through hole in the pcb (perhaps near the centre) and use this as the datum (X0 , Y0) for each side toolpath.

Tweakie.

3638

General Mach Discussion / Re: Getting 2 different size cuts on each side of machine

« on: December 24, 2015, 07:13:58 AM »

Just thinking out loud...

If the X axis rack is in two parts is the pitch of each part 'exactly' the same ??
Alternately if the rack is in one part then is the pitch 'exactly' the same along the whole of its length ??

Not sure how you would check it (without removing the rack) but there must be a way.

Tweakie.

3639

General Mach Discussion / Re: Milling and drilling in 2 steps?

« on: December 24, 2015, 02:03:08 AM »

I make quite a lot of relatively small and simple pcb’s – some are held using a vacuum table (holes drilled manually after engraving) some are held with double sided tape to the spoil board (with engraving and drilling as two separate toolpath operations) I have never seen the super glue idea but it sounds good.

For small batch runs I make a jig which holds the board but there are many different ways of pcb point location for double sided work etc.

This thread may be of interest. http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,22932.0.html

Tweakie.

3640

Tangent Corner / Re: It's That Time Of year Again

« on: December 23, 2015, 06:55:00 AM »

Seasons greetings and best wishes to you my friend.

Tweakie.