Messages

3821

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

« on: December 19, 2015, 11:02:26 AM »

Your laser would be switched on/off using a TTL signal (5volts or 3.3volts) not sure why you would want to use a relay.
Modifying your Vectric post-processor to replace any Z axis movements with a small A axis movement would seem the easiest way to use the A axis direction signal as the laser trigger.

Tweakie.

3822

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.

3823

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.

3824

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.

3825

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.

3826

FAQs / Re: Missing pulse engine and drive test

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

I think you should paint it. 

Tweakie.

3827

FAQs / Re: Missing pulse engine and drive test

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

Not needed with the UC100.

Tweakie.

3828

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

3829

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.

3830

HiCON Motion Controller / Re: HiCON Board Review

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

Now that's what I call a recommendation. 

Tweakie.