Messages

4931

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Mach3 machine material surface ZERO script

« on: February 07, 2013, 06:39:43 AM »

Hi Andre,

If it is of any help to you this is the button script that I use (second half of page) and how I have implemented it   http://www.tweakie.byethost10.com/17.htm

Tweakie.

4932

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Mach3 machine material surface ZERO script

« on: February 07, 2013, 05:43:19 AM »

Which Mach screen .set are you using ?

Tweakie.

4933

Share Your GCode / Re: How to speed up simple G Code

« on: February 07, 2013, 03:05:57 AM »

Hi Jack,

I think John has described the operation of these commands perfectly and I can only repeat what he has already said.

The M and E commands perform exactly the same function (M10P1 = E1P0 and M11P1 = E1P1) so to avoid confusion I will just stick with the M commands.

A typical GCode sequence could be something like this;

G0 B0   (zero imaginary Axis B)
M11P1 
G0 B1   (Output #1 switched on at this point)
M11P2 
G0 B0   (Outputs #2 switched on at this point)
M10 P1
G0 B1   (Output #1 switched off at this point)
M10 P2
G0 B0   (Output #2 switched off at this point)

Etc.

There has to be an axis movement following the M10 / M11 command in order for it to execute and I often use an ‘imaginary’ axis B which has been configured at minimal steps per unit with maximum Velocity and Acceleration if there is no ‘real’ axis movement to follow the M command (this may sound a bit strange but some software (such as DotG) requires a trigger point whilst the X,Y & Z axes are all stationary).

Execution time differences, measured some while ago, was 100mS for the M3 command and 2mS for the M11P1 command so there could be some advantage for your application and the best bet would be to just try it and see if you can achieve any improved results.

Tweakie.

4934

Share Your GCode / Re: How to speed up simple G Code

« on: February 06, 2013, 02:29:38 AM »

Hi Jack,

It is as John has said - these commands are indeed faster but the M11P*/ M10P* command set execute in a different way and are perhaps primarily intended for laser switching.

The M3/M7/M8 are ‘stand alone’ commands (they will execute when called).

The M11P1 (turn on Output #1), M11P2 (turn on Output #2) etc. are ‘linked’ commands (they will only execute after an axis has started it’s movement).

So it may be possible to increase speed by using these commands but it would depend on the design of your machine and the speed of the solenoid operation etc. etc.

Tweakie.

4935

General Mach Discussion / Re: Skipped Parts

« on: February 04, 2013, 08:07:16 AM »

Hi Wilfried,

As far as I am aware – if it shows in the toolpath window then Mach3 will output the correct step and direction signals to follow that display.

My guess is that you are either loosing communication between your PC and the machine or else that your PC is off doing another task whilst it is running the Mach3 GCode.

Tweakie.

4936

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Isolation Routing PCB's and Local System Rotate.

« on: February 03, 2013, 01:35:58 AM »

Hi Richard,

I am pleased that you have managed to resolve the problem. 

Tweakie.

4937

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: The Laser Project.

« on: February 02, 2013, 07:23:49 AM »

At the risk of rambling on a bit, I have been closely following the absolutely excellent and quite pioneering work which is being done with low power diode lasers by John, Jeff, Dave and others in different parts of the world - for those that may be interested these threads relate;

http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,23456.0.html
http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,23584.0.html

Whilst I am quite certain that it can be done, replicating their work using a CO2 laser is not without it’s difficulties (cracking a nut with a lump hammer comes to mind) but, hopefully, I will get there.  

Tweakie.

4938

General Mach Discussion / Re: Z Height Setting Woes

« on: February 02, 2013, 03:11:01 AM »

Hi Gerry,

I am absolutely certain that there is no fault or problem with your Probing code - the issue I am suspecting lies with later versions of mach3.

I do a lot of engraving work which necessitates my use of a probing script after every tool change or when engraving different thickness laminates and I noticed a similar problem (to the one mentioned here) at the beginning of last year.

It appears that one of the Mach3 feed-hold flags is not cleared by the ‘Cycle Start’ or ‘Reset’ buttons, it becomes persistent but it can be cleared by the ‘Stop’ button. This particular flag does not affect the running of Program GCode but it does affect the way in which CB scripts perform.

My solution / work-around was to include the stop command within my probing script and this magically resolved the problem I was encountering.

I have no idea if the problem mentioned in this thread will be resolved by the same course of action but CNCjunky now has ‘DoOemButton(1003)’ added to his script and I await the results of his tests.

Tweakie.

4939

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Isolation Routing PCB's and Local System Rotate.

« on: February 02, 2013, 01:51:20 AM »

Hi Richard,

In Config / Config Plugins – for the WebCamPlugin click on ‘CONFIG’ and check the ‘Keep focus on Mach’ box.
Then when you open Klause’s window the focus is automatically transferred to the Mach screen and the keyboard jogging is enabled.

Tweakie.

4940

General Mach Discussion / Re: Z Height Setting Woes

« on: February 01, 2013, 06:52:06 AM »

Could you attach a copy of the probing script that you are using please.

Tweakie.