Messages

4081

General Mach Discussion / Re: Machine gets wacky after tool change.

« on: August 07, 2015, 02:25:59 AM »

I did not spot anything unusual in your .xml file so I am pretty sure it's not that which is causing your problems.

The unexpected and non-requested behavior mentioned in your last posts would suggest that a complete re-install of Mach3 should be done.
Make a back-up of your existing Mach3 folder (to preserve .xml settings, screen sets, macro's, etc.) before uninstalling & deleting Mach3. Then make a fresh install - I suggest version R3.043.056  (only because that's the version I use and there have been a number of reported problems with R3.043.066).

If that does not completely resolve the issues you are having then I would perhaps suspect a bad RAM memory chip ??

Tweakie.

4082

Mach SDK plugin questions and answers. / Re: Impact engraving plugin

« on: August 04, 2015, 12:05:57 PM »

Hi Vogavt,

I think the choice of and the actual setting-up of the magnet is still a matter for much experimentation but if this helps…

I use a stroke length of approximately 1 mm and strike the work when the magnet is energised. Obviously, the shorter the stroke length the faster the operation but the less the impact force. As you have mentioned, the small tool tip size allows us to get away with this but it’s still all a matter of compromise. If you are using a stepper driver to power the magnet then you will be striking the work on the release stroke so the return spring pressure will also figure in the equation.
For my set-up I have tried to keep the mass of the moving parts low, the pulse length short and the operating voltage high but I am still learning with all this.

Just as an example this image was produced using the M10P1 / M11P1 commands to operate my magnet from Gcode produced using Dot-G. The post-processor used is exactly the same as for laser work it is just the feed-rate that has been changed.

Tweakie.

4083

SmoothStepper USB / Re: Error reported by SS.

« on: August 01, 2015, 08:18:16 AM »

Hi Robert,

Hitting Stop causes an immediate termination of program execution which looses exact machine position so it is always best to use Feed-Hold (which stops the machine in a controlled manner) then, when all movement has ceased, you can hit Stop.

Tweakie.

4084

General Mach Discussion / Re: boxford vmc190 conversion costs

« on: July 30, 2015, 03:53:06 AM »

This is what I did with mine. http://www.cooperman.talktalk.net/files/14.htm

Tweakie.

4085

General Mach Discussion / Re: THC Problem

« on: July 28, 2015, 01:48:20 AM »

Chaosas,

why THC function not working in Mach3 with USB cards?

Which cards are you talking about?

If there are problems with say a Chinese Card, then go back to the Chinese / maker of that card and ask for support.

Now the following is just my own opinion on the matter............
So many of them provide pirated copies of Mach  which have problems because it is pirated software, then they sell
pure JUNK cards with poop / no / poor documentation, then they expect us to provide support for their product and solve their
problems. They just sit back and laugh and insult we dumb kind hearted folks through their actions and steal folks money.

WELL ....NOT THIS GUY........

Absolutely no support for them at my expense of time.

RICH

Well said Rich.   

Tweakie.

4086

General Mach Discussion / Re: HELP PLEASE, Mach 3 on a windows XP system

« on: July 27, 2015, 06:35:34 AM »

Excellent advice Keith.

Tweakie.

4087

Mach3 under Vista / Re: Z axis running in reverse

« on: July 27, 2015, 03:44:47 AM »

If you have your machine Z axis direction wrongly set then...

Config / Ports & Pins / Motor Outputs - change the 'Dir Low Active' state for your Z axis (cross or tick) then click Apply.

That will change the Z axis direction.

Tweakie.

4088

General Mach Discussion / Re: Newbie help setup for CNC 6040Z USB2.0 port

« on: July 27, 2015, 03:38:02 AM »

I am pleased you have resolved the problem.

Tweakie.

4089

General Mach Discussion / Re: HELP PLEASE, Mach 3 on a windows XP system

« on: July 27, 2015, 03:35:27 AM »

If it's any help these are the minimum requirements for your PC ...

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.

4090

General Mach Discussion / Re: Newbie help setup for CNC 6040Z USB2.0 port

« on: July 27, 2015, 03:26:49 AM »

Just a thought but it may help if you make your video public so that others may view it.

Tweakie.