Messages

4511

General Mach Discussion / Re: After all these years...(2009)

« on: July 07, 2014, 01:29:31 AM »

I agree with your findings - Unless you have a good reason to update then stick with the version you currently use and yes your license and .xml files will work just fine on your new HD.

Tweakie.

4512

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach 3 Scaling Problem

« on: July 05, 2014, 11:46:58 AM »

Hi Greg,

The axis Scale DRO's take a bit of getting used to but for example +1.0000 is full size, +0.5000 is half size, +0.2500 is quarter size etc.

Hope this helps.

Tweakie.

4513

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.

4514

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.

4515

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.

4516

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.

4517

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.

4518

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.

4519

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.

4520

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.