Messages

3741

Forum suggestions and report forum problems. / Re: Mach4 Release Dates and content

« on: December 19, 2015, 02:45:10 AM »

I don't know why this has not been done - it was sort-of implemented some while ago in the Newfangled ftp downloads section but that seems to have just dwindled.

Perhaps the most complete release schedule is maintained by Steve (PMDX) which is here; http://www.PMDX.com/Downloads_Mach4/Mach4_Hobby_Releases/

Tweakie.

3742

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Add a laser to my CNC

« on: December 19, 2015, 02:07:13 AM »

Within Mach4 two very special commands (which do not have any noticable delay) have been added to switch lasers (and other fast acting devices). These commands switch an Output# of your choice which you have mapped to an output pin number (to provide the actual signal output).
The Mach4 command M62P1 will switch on Output#1 and the command M63P1 will switch off Output#1. Both of these commands need to be followed by an axis (any axis) movement (because activation only occurs at the instant of initial axis movement).
There are other methods and the following short video was made (before the M62/M63 commands had been written into Mach4) using the A axis direction pin for laser switching. My Gcode included the command A0.01 to turn the laser on and A0.00 to turn the laser off. My laser output power was varied between cutting and engraving toolpaths using the spindle speed S### commands.

https://youtu.be/8fUg6ebWut0

Tweakie.

3743

General Mach Discussion / Re: M3 M4 M5 spindle relay solved

« on: December 19, 2015, 01:37:08 AM »

Hi Manny,

Thanks for posting this information which I am sure will help others that follow.

Tweakie.

3744

General Mach Discussion / Re: Im stuck - Just cant get anywhere..

« on: December 18, 2015, 01:23:01 AM »

I am sure it is all a bit daunting to start with but you will soon get the hang of it all.

The (parallel port) driver is not required for USB operation.

Your USB device will have it's own driver, this should be installed (according to the manufacturers instructions), When starting Mach3 a screen will ask if you want to use this device, say yes and then proceed to the config. plugins to set everything up.

Tweakie.

3745

FAQs / Re: Missing pulse engine and drive test

« on: December 17, 2015, 09:45:31 AM »

I think you should paint it. 

Tweakie.

3746

FAQs / Re: Missing pulse engine and drive test

« on: December 17, 2015, 02:24:46 AM »

Not needed with the UC100.

Tweakie.

3747

General Mach Discussion / Re: what computer for Mach3 - is "all in one" OK - is a parallel port mandatory?

« on: December 16, 2015, 02:26:51 AM »

Going back a few years the ‘on board’ graphics were not that good, they were slow, lacked memory and took away much needed processor time so ‘non-integrated’ was the way to go. Also it was common to turn off the Toolpath Display when running long Gcode programs to avoid the graphics issues.

Technology has changed a lot (as it always does) with much increased graphics speed and memory (required for us big kid’s gaming activities). This, together with multi-core processors, has made the latest ‘all-in-one’ a very serious contender for dedicated machine control (using an external motion controller of course).

Tweakie

3748

General Mach Discussion / Re: Im stuck - Just cant get anywhere..

« on: December 15, 2015, 08:29:49 AM »

Hi Scott,

Welcome to the forum.

I’m not 100% certain of this but I think that when you installed Mach 3 if you did not install the parallel port drivers then DriverTest.exe will not have been loaded into the Mach3 folder ( could explain why you can’t find it ).

Regarding the EStop, try increasing the Debounce Interval (Config. / General Config –  top right) to 2000 or so and see if this resolves the issue. If it does improve the situation then you have an electrical noise problem which needs to be dealt with (increasing Debounce is just a sticky plaster remedy – it does not cure the problem).

Tweakie.

3749

HiCON Motion Controller / Re: HiCON Board Review

« on: December 15, 2015, 02:00:41 AM »

Now that's what I call a recommendation. 

Tweakie.

3750

General Mach Discussion / Re: Selecting the right equipment for a Bridgeport BOSS retrofit

« on: December 15, 2015, 01:54:35 AM »

If (at this moment in time) you just want the basic X - Y - Z milling then I would go for Mach4.
If you want the X - Y - Z and to incorporate all the air controlled functions (at this moment in time) then I would go for Mach3.

(Mach4 is coming along slowly but, in my opinion, it is not yet ready to fully take over from Mach3)

From the official documentation...

Software Requirements

Mach4 Recommended Requirements:

PREFERRED: 32 or 64-bit Laptop or Desktop – Using an External Motion Controller
•   Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
•   An appropriate external motion controller
•   Mach4 Plugin for the selected Motion Controller
•   2Ghz CPU
•   1GB RAM
•   Video Card with 256MB RAM(Large G-code files, especially 3D files will require a video card with 512MB RAM or higher)
*Use of Parallel Port for machine control only with desktop style computers with 32-bit versions of windows 7 and below.
32-bit Desktop – Parallel Port Recommended Requirements
•   32-bit version of Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7
•   Mach4 Parallel Port Legacy Plugin (cost applicable)
•   2Ghz CPU
•   1GB RAM
•   Non-integrated Video Card with 256MB RAM(Large G-code files, especially 3D files will require a video card with 512MB RAM or higher)



Mach3 Minimum Recommended Requirements:

Requirements if using the parallel port for machine control:
•   Desktop PC (Laptops are not supported) with at least one parallel port
•   32-bit version of Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7 (64-bit versions will not work)
•   1Ghz CPU
•   512MB RAM
•   Non-integrated Video Card with 32MB RAM(Large G-code files, especially 3D files will require a video card with 512MB RAM or higher)
Requirements if using an external motion device for machine control:
•   An appropriate external motion controller (options can be found on the Plugins page)
•   Desktop or Laptop with Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8
•   1Ghz CPU
•   512MB RAM
•   Video Card with 32MB RAM(Large G-code files, especially 3D files will require a video card with 512MB RAM or higher)

Tweakie.