Messages

4151

General Mach Discussion / Re: The keyboard shortcut for the A, B, C axis does anyone know

« on: November 23, 2012, 05:36:23 AM »

Try; Config / System Hotkeys.  (eg. click A++ then press your desired key, then repeat for the others etc. etc.)

Tweakie.

4152

General Mach Discussion / Re: toolpath is incomplete

« on: November 23, 2012, 02:12:33 AM »

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Purchasing the Mach3 licence will solve your problem http://www.machsupport.com/purchase.php

Tweakie.

4153

General Mach Discussion / Re: laser setings

« on: November 22, 2012, 01:55:17 AM »

You need to use Mach version R3.043.056 or later for the commands to work correctly.

Yes, you can replace the M3 with M11P1 and the M5 with M10P1 within your GCode. These commands switch output #1 so that has to be set (Config / Ports & Pins / Output Signals) to the LPT output pin that connects to your laser trigger.

Tweakie.

4154

General Mach Discussion / Re: laser setings

« on: November 21, 2012, 01:45:11 AM »

Using a relay is not practical because of the associated delay.

If you work your way through this thread (may take some time) you will see most of the available options for laser control including using the M10P1 / M11P1 commands for vector work as well as using the Mach3 Impact / Laser plugin for raster work http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,12444.0.html

Hope this helps.

Tweakie.

4155

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Impact Engraving.

« on: November 20, 2012, 11:27:50 AM »

The magnet Andrea and I are using together with more details of the process are shown in this thread http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,16446.msg111240.html#msg111240

Tweakie.

4156

General Mach Discussion / Re: Losing Steps on x

« on: November 20, 2012, 10:46:53 AM »

Thanks tweakie, that helps. Do you guys think adding a wireless network card could cause issues also? I forgot that I added that also to the machine.

In my opinion yes, but like all things, I think you just have to try removing it and see if the problem goes away.

Tweakie.

4157

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: congreve clock

« on: November 20, 2012, 05:14:46 AM »

Very nice workmanship Graham. That is certainly going to be a time piece to be proud of.

Tweakie.

4158

General Mach Discussion / Re: Z-Axis Repeatability: Small Changes

« on: November 20, 2012, 03:33:55 AM »

Hi Richard,

Make sure that your V bit is actually being held securely in your collet (and that the collet is the correct size for the tool) - It is often the simplest things that cause us the problems. 

Tweakie.

4159

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Controlling an Industrial Arm using MACH3

« on: November 20, 2012, 02:38:38 AM »

Just a note for others that follow - this thread relates http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,9758.0.html

Tweakie.

4160

General Mach Discussion / Re: Losing Steps on x

« on: November 20, 2012, 02:12:44 AM »

I have a card at home I can try. Lets hope this works.  Any idea why this causes a problem?

When using an LPT Parallel Port, Mach3 takes control of the Win OS in order to output it's pulse train (step and direction signals) and if the PC has other refresh / update priorities there can be a conflict. Any interruption in this pulse train can lead to lost steps so fitting a graphics card can reduce the loading on the OS.

The definitive explanation is probably a lot more complicated than this but it is more or less the gist of it. 

Tweakie.