Messages

3681

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

« on: June 25, 2013, 02:38:01 AM »

Hi John,

Thanks, that is a very good suggestion and something I will look into.
Basically, my initial thoughts are that for diode laser operation (slower feed-rate) changing the calculation ratio between output power (amount of ‘dot-gain’) and feed-rate will achieve the desired result (a bit like the way in which the ‘greyscale compression’ function currently works for the CO2 laser). Anyway this is something I will investigate, as time permits and report back.

Tweakie.

3682

General Mach Discussion / Re: Emergency stop erroneously activates

« on: June 23, 2013, 02:16:10 AM »

The first thing I would suspect is the WatchDog timer - it is of debatable use - Config /General Config – uncheck the ‘Use WatchDogs’ box.

If that does not solve the issue then the next thing I would do is fit  0.1uF miniature ceramic capacitors - connected between each used switch input and GND at the breakout board.

Tweakie. 

3683

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

« on: June 22, 2013, 12:21:10 PM »

Although there are still only a handful of us worldwide that are using the Mach3 Impact / Laser Engraving plugin I thought you may all be interested in the latest update.

Because the output from the plugin is bi-directional, the exact registration of the horizontal lines produced is dependant on device activation speed and from version 1.1 to date this line registration had been set to a compromise between the speed of a laser trigger and the speed of an impact magnet trigger.

Arising out of necessity, I have recently had to adjust this line timing to better reproduce some fine detail work with Lithophanes and in order to preserve the plugin’s compatibility between Laser and Magnet operation I thought it would be wise to include a user adjustable horizontal alignment feature.
To this end I have now added a group of 4 buttons to the GUI - these new buttons will allow the registration of the raster lines to be advanced by +1 or retarded by up to -2 image pixel widths (with the default being zero) and this should now be sufficient adjustment to cater for the correct operation of both devices.

I still have a bit of tidying-up to do (I always seem to get into a terrible mess between the manual coding and the automatic coding from the wizards when using Microsoft’s Visual C++), and I need to do some more testing but the latest version of the plugin (1.2c) will shortly be freely available to any that are interested.

Tweakie.

3684

VB and the development of wizards / Re: M10P1 NOT WORK USB MOTION CARD :o

« on: June 18, 2013, 11:28:52 AM »

My apologies, you had posted a link to the card in your first post - I overlooked that.

Sorry, but the M11P1 / M10P1 commands will not operate as intended with the LeafBoy card.

(Your best alternative for high speed switching would probably be to set-up a dummy axis and then use it's Direction pin for triggering your device).

Tweakie.

3685

VB and the development of wizards / Re: M10P1 NOT WORK USB MOTION CARD :o

« on: June 18, 2013, 08:07:36 AM »

Is it possible to run commands as you think m10p1 with usb? I do not understand what I should do.

As said in my previous post, currently the answer is no, it is not possible.

Which external motion controller are you using ?

Tweakie.

3686

General Mach Discussion / Re: Cycle timer

« on: June 18, 2013, 07:54:07 AM »

I'd like to have a second timer as well. The average time from program start to program start. That way you'd get an idea of the total time per part, including you sips of coffee, reloading, browsing forums while the machine sits etc.

Nice one Gary - A "Wasted" timer - I bet the boss would love to see on of those 

Tweakie.

3687

VB and the development of wizards / Re: M10P1 NOT WORK USB MOTION CARD :o

« on: June 18, 2013, 07:44:43 AM »

Ian,

The M11 / M10 commands are pretty much an exception in so far as they are not treated by Mach3 as ‘stand alone’ commands. They must be followed by the Px parameter (where x = the Output# that is switched) and they then only come into effect upon subsequent Axis (any axis) movement.
Greg (at Warp9) has not succeeded in getting Mach3 to pass the associated Px parameter (together with the M11 /M10 commands) to his external motion controller so assuming this is always going to be the case then other external motion controllers may suffer with the same issue. (Greg’s solution is to define the Px parameter in his SS config. file then associate it with the M11 / M10 commands at run-time within the SS engine).

Tweakie.

3688

VB and the development of wizards / Re: M10P1 NOT WORK USB MOTION CARD :o

« on: June 18, 2013, 05:02:38 AM »

Just a note…

The M11 / M10 commands (with config. defined output pin of choice) now seem to work just fine with the latest revisions of the Smooth Stepper software.

Tweakie.

3689

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: CAD file convertto DXF, but G code is not reading

« on: June 17, 2013, 01:58:13 AM »

Hi mvd535,

Welcome to the forum.

To change the motor direction for your Z axis - In Mach3  click Config / Ports & Pins then change the active state of Dir Low Active for your Z axis then click Apply.

In Mach3 click File / LazyCam you should be able to load your DXF's there to create the necessary GCode. There are help documents for using LazyCam here http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,12078.0.html

Tweakie.

3690

General Mach Discussion / Re: motor tuning - pulse setting relation to kernel speed

« on: June 16, 2013, 12:47:54 PM »

I think this problem stems from blended axes speed when using constant velocity mode. Perhaps reducing your axes velocity settings would be the safer (more reliable) approach.

Just my opinion.

Tweakie.