Messages

3961

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 Printer Port Discussions

« on: July 05, 2014, 06:45:22 AM »

A big thank you goes out to Art for all his continuing hard work with the Darwin driver, which just keeps getting better and better. Excellent work my friend.

Another short video, this time using the PWM signal to control laser power thus enabling seamless engraving and cutting operations. https://youtu.be/8fUg6ebWut0

Tweakie.

3962

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach 4 Bug Reports

« on: July 03, 2014, 08:13:31 AM »

Hope your not suggesting that the Hobby user of Mach4 then has to shell out $1500 - $3000 on a PC. 

Tweakie.

3963

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach 4 Bug Reports

« on: July 03, 2014, 02:58:14 AM »

Hi Steve,

Thanks for the detailed explanation.

I understand what you say and I appreciate the dilemma regarding the specification of the average modern computer but unfortunately that is probably exactly the type of computer the potential customers for the Hobby version will have and will expect to be able to use.

I wonder if the software teams writing the combat games, which can be quite OpenGL intensive, are facing the same issues ?

Tweakie.

3964

General Mach Discussion / Re: Losing Input Pins

« on: July 03, 2014, 02:15:01 AM »

Hi BLM,

Just my opinion...

The genuine USB Smooth Stepper is manufactured by Warp9 - what you have is a Chinese imitation which, I am led to believe, is inferior in many respects and this may be the root cause of your problem.
It appears you have destroyed some of the inputs so I think you should consider a new board is necessary and perhaps also consider using additional opto-isolators for your inputs in order to protect a new board from similar damage.
It may be a voltage spike type of problem in which case check all your wiring, earthing and grounding in particular the way in which you have earthed the various components of the whole system - ideally a single point earth (star), avoiding any earth loops would be preferable and treat earth and signal GND as two separate circuits.

Hope this helps.

Tweakie.

3965

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 Printer Port Discussions

« on: July 02, 2014, 01:33:06 PM »

Hi Art,

Great news on the PWM. 

In your zip file you do not appear to have included the 'mcDarwin.m4pw' file which is required for the plugins folder. Also only Mach4 v1872 is currently available to us mortals. 

Tweakie.

3966

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Tangential control

« on: July 02, 2014, 11:58:28 AM »

Sorry, I don't use RhinoCAM so can't help on that one. Perhaps if you contact MecSoft they will be able to advise.

Tweakie.

3967

SmoothStepper USB / Re: USB S.S. Driver Accumulation Errors?

« on: July 02, 2014, 11:31:36 AM »

Hi Keith,

I am pleased that you found a solution. 

Thank you for posting the information as I am sure this will be of assistance to others that follow.

Tweakie.

3968

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Tangential control

« on: July 02, 2014, 11:27:22 AM »

Just in general but most CAD / CAM programs have optional post processors to create either arcs or arc tangent curves in the toolpath.

If it's any help I have found that with arc generated circles, creating a lead-in with the same radius as the circle solves the problem as the cutter rotates to the correct direction before entering the work.

Tweakie.

3969

General Mach Discussion / Re: New people welcome !! Come in here and introduce your self!

« on: July 02, 2014, 11:13:33 AM »

Hi Jimmy,

I am very pleased that you have managed to get it working OK.   

You could try Config. / General Config. - Auto Screen Enlarge and see if that helps but I would just change the screen size in Windows / Properties / Settings.

Best regards,

Tweakie.

(n.b. This section is generally just for introductions so if you post any questions you may have as a new topic in the General section you will get the benefit of the hive mind rather than just my advice / opinions).

3970

Galil / Re: Galil Plugin is awesome!

« on: July 02, 2014, 02:21:11 AM »

Excellent tip Rational1 - thanks for sharing the info.

Tweakie.