Messages

3631

General Mach Discussion / Re: got 75% through a project and then the router went haywire! I need help ASAP!

« on: August 15, 2013, 04:33:13 AM »

Not quite the right thing.  

Open Mach3 and get the profile name you are using (bottom right).
Open the Mach3 folder and search for an .xml file with that profile name (*********xx.xml).
Copy it.
Rename the copy to tigerpaw.xml.
In the forum - select Reply.
Use Additional Options to attach 'tigerpaw.xml' to your post.

Tweakie.

3632

General Mach Discussion / Re: got 75% through a project and then the router went haywire! I need help ASAP!

« on: August 15, 2013, 02:11:55 AM »

If you post your .xml file it would make it easier to diagnose the problem 

Tweakie.

3633

General Mach Discussion / Re: Newbie Needs Help With Laser Firing!

« on: August 11, 2013, 06:21:52 AM »

Obviously it depends on your particular laser driver board but usually…

After applying power there is a short delay then the diode laser comes ON.
Connecting the TTL pin to GND turns the laser OFF – removing this connection turns the laser ON (basically an Active High configuration as far as Mach3 is concerned).

You could either use an unused axis Direction pin connected to the TTL input or you could use the GCode M11P1 / M10P1 command set to switch Output #1 (which is in turn mapped to an output pin that is connected to the TTL input). Each method has it’s own advantages and disadvantages but my preference is for using the M11P1 / M10P1 command set.

Tweakie.

3634

Mach3 under Vista / Re: Getting concentric circles from the file

« on: August 11, 2013, 02:16:03 AM »

No, the mode does not change on it's own.
Dependant on how your CAD / CAM software generates the arcs, the CAD / CAM post processor usually inserts the G90.1 or G91.1 as appropriate then Mach knows what to do without any operator intervention but in your case it seems to have been missed.

Tweakie.

3635

General Mach Discussion / Re: 2 machines?

« on: August 10, 2013, 06:47:30 AM »

No reason why not. 

(I use 3 different machines, only one at a time, from the same PC by selecting different Mach3 profiles - this method of operation complies with my single licence terms).

Tweakie.

3636

Mach3 under Vista / Re: Getting concentric circles from the file

« on: August 10, 2013, 05:41:07 AM »

Sounds like you need to change the IJ Mode in the Mach3 General Config page. 

Tweakie.

3637

General Mach Discussion / Re: lookin for a windows 2000 camera driver

« on: August 10, 2013, 05:36:47 AM »

Ahhh - the joys of USB camera's.

In general, the later USB2 camera's contain their driver software and load it automatically as part of the device recognition procedure.

As I found, this does not always work as intended and it took me 3 different camera's before success was achieved - this thread relates http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,22932.msg161339.html#msg161339

If it's any help a general camera driver has been attached.

Tweakie.

3638

General Mach Discussion / Re: To XP or not to XP

« on: August 08, 2013, 11:06:40 AM »

Hi Nick,

If it was me and this is just my preference, then I would purchase an older (cheap) 32 bit PC (which has a spare PCI slot) and fit a PCI parallel port card then install WinXP Sp2 as the OS. The onboard Ethernet and USB as well as the PP then cater for just about every occasion.

Tweakie.

3639

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach4 Wizard screen shot

« on: August 08, 2013, 10:57:52 AM »

Nice work Brian (and the team) I just can't wait. 

Tweakie.

3640

General Mach Discussion / Re: loading problem

« on: August 08, 2013, 02:28:14 AM »

That's a strange one Rod. 

I don't even have a file 'probediag.dat' on my PC although I do have 'probediag.txt'.

Perhaps make a back-up copy of your existing Mach3 folder and store it somewhere safe, then delete the original Mach3 folder and re-install Mach3 (following any special recommendations / instructions if you are not using the WinXP OS).

Tweakie.