Messages

3741

General Mach Discussion / Re: DIY Diode Laser setup with TTL

« on: January 08, 2016, 03:52:55 AM »

Only thing is there is a dwell time as to when the laser starts up and then the machine moves

That is the reason for using the M11/M10 commands - there is no dwell time.

transferring the G-Code  to the cutting machine and loading into Mach3 makes the G-Code do funky things like Add Circles and such

If you get the crop circles goto Config. / General Config. and change the IJ Mode then regen. the toolpath.

Tweakie.

3742

Mach3 under Vista / Re: Adding second driver or port to Mach 3

« on: January 08, 2016, 02:04:01 AM »

I have found way to many posts asking for input that are old and have never been answered.  That kind of worries me about support.

It does not happen that often but sometimes posts just get missed 

Tweakie.

3743

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Re: Got license, Won't do over 20k lines of code.

« on: January 07, 2016, 01:13:08 PM »

I think it is unlikely to be the software (but anything is possible).
Can you think of anything you have done to your PC between the time it was working Ok and now ??
Is your PC memory up to par ?? Have you tested it for errors ??

Tweakie.

3744

General Mach Discussion / Re: DIY Diode Laser setup with TTL

« on: January 07, 2016, 12:42:38 PM »

So many questions.

Your TTL switching of the laser is probably best done by setting Output#2  to Port 1 Pin 17 then within the Gcode using the M11P2 command to switch the laser ON and the M10P2 command to switch the laser OFF. These commands can be automatically inserted into you Gcode by modifying the standard BobCad post processor (check with BobCad – they have already modified a post processor for someone else). The M11/M10 commands only take effect upon axis movement so they are fast acting and work well for me.

If you are looking at software other than BobCad then check out PicLaser http://www.picengrave.com/ also look at their methods of laser control etc.

Tweakie.

3745

General Mach Discussion / Re: mach 3 axis not running as DROs

« on: January 07, 2016, 09:10:06 AM »

You mentioned, back in post #8, the behaviour of the Ref All Home button. As standard this references each axis in turn (one at a time) and because of the design of your machine this behaviour is not suitable.

Referencing axes is not a procedure I ever need to use so I am no expert here – you will perhaps need to study the Mach manual http://www.machsupport.com/help-learning/product-manuals/ to get a grip of setting-up homing and using offsets but you may wish to consider making the following changes to the script in the Ref All Home button. Click Operator / Edit Button Script and then click the now flashing Ref All Home button. This will display the existing script. Delete all the existing script and insert…

                                            RefCombination(5)
                                            RefCombination(10)

Save the changes. This button will now reference your axes in their matching pairs X/Z and Y/A (and hopefully not break the wire).

Tweakie.

3746

General Mach Discussion / Re: mach 3 axis not running as DROs

« on: January 07, 2016, 05:37:38 AM »

That's great news, I am pleased you have it working OK now.

Tweakie.

3747

General Mach Discussion / Re: mach 3 axis not running as DROs

« on: January 07, 2016, 04:47:35 AM »

Just type in  cc00  then click OK 

Tweakie.

3748

General Mach Discussion / Re: mach 3 axis not running as DROs

« on: January 07, 2016, 03:45:31 AM »

I would be inclined to fit the card, let Windows find it and install it's own driver or insert the driver disk only if it asks for it.
May not be the right way to do it but, if it's any help, thats what I would do.

Don't forget to check the port address. 

Tweakie.

3749

General Mach Discussion / Re: mach 3 axis not running as DROs

« on: January 06, 2016, 05:23:10 AM »

It took a while to download the 950MB video but, as you say, it does show the problem.

Use a voltmeter to measure the voltage on any LPT parallel port Direction pin (between one of the pins 3,5,7 or 9 and one of the Pins 18-25). If the voltage is approx. 0v to 3.3v (dependant on jog direction) then it may well be a voltage issue as I mentioned in my previous post.
If the voltage is approx. 0v to 5v then it is not the parallel port voltage that is causing the problem. This will at least eliminate one possibility.

The Ref All Home button contains a script which is intended to act individually on the axes just as you describe.
In your case you have 2 pairs of axes and each pair should act together so it will mean altering the button script to perform the required action.


Tweakie.

3750

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: The CNC router that ate the family room

« on: January 06, 2016, 02:36:53 AM »

Nice work Todd.

If you keep building them bigger and bigger you may have to consider moving house 

Tweakie.