Messages

7611

General Mach Discussion / Re: custom application

« on: October 22, 2010, 02:47:00 AM »

I have tried various combination of commands in order to switch my laser on and off with the minimum possible delay.
I was getting good results with the M10/M11 combination up until I loaded a later revision of Mach (can't remember the original version number)  when unpredicted results started to occur. Despite a considerable amount of time being spent on various combination's of commands and tests the problem has yet to be resolved. This has led me back to the 'axis direction pin' method of control which is undoubtedly the fastest and most reliable method.

I have described the method I use here http://www.cooperman.talktalk.net/files/27_files/Page652.htm

This may be of some assistance to you if you need to achieve absolute minimal delays in triggering an external control coincident with axis movement.

Tweakie.

7612

General Mach Discussion / Re: G code pause for specified amount

« on: October 21, 2010, 11:42:06 AM »

You can use decimals.

Tweakie.

7613

General Mach Discussion / Re: G code pause for specified amount

« on: October 21, 2010, 10:57:19 AM »

For a delay or dwell in G-Code use code G4.

eg. to insert a delay of 5 sec use the line:

G4  P5

Tweakie.

7614

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: My latest Cue Building CNC

« on: October 21, 2010, 03:56:14 AM »

Really great looking machine. Some pictures of your cues would be nice too.

Tweakie.

7615

General Mach Discussion / Re: 4th axis setup cheat sheet

« on: October 20, 2010, 11:00:14 AM »

For such purposes as cutting spur gears, machining splines or flats on round stock etc etc the position of the rotary axis is usually expressed in degrees. A GCode command such as G0 A10 will rotate the axis 10 degrees and so on. To set up the axis within Mach it is necessary to specify the ‘Steps Per’ (degree) and this is achieved by taking the steps of the stepper motor and multiplying by the micro stepping setting (if any) and then multiplying by the gear ratio then dividing the result by 360. In my case this is 200 (steps) x 8 (micro steps) x 60 (reduction ratio 60:1) / 360 (degrees) = 266.6666 steps per.

Although angular mode is the most common and also the most useful way in which a rotary axis is used there are alternatives….

When engraving on the surface of a cylinder, for example, it is convenient to have the rotary axis set for movement in mm but as this will vary, depending on the diameter of the work, there is a trick to getting it just right. One method for finding the ‘Steps Per’ is to calculate how many steps are necessary for the axis to complete one revolution and divide this figure by pi. In my case this is 200 (steps) x 8 (micro steps) x 60 (reduction ratio 60:1) / 3.142 (pi) = 30553.787 steps per to enter in Mach. Now this figure represents a linear movement of 1mm around the circumference of a 1mm diameter cylinder. In order that this can be used for any diameter of cylinder another calculation has to be performed and that is 1 divided by the diameter of the work (1/diameter). The result of this calculation is then entered into the rotary axis scale DRO within Mach. My version of Mach did not have an A axis scale DRO (like the X,Y &Z axis have) so this had to be added using Screen4 (for reference the A axis scale DRO is OEM Code 62 and it’s associated LED is OEM Code 44).

As an example, to engrave on the surface of an 80mm diameter cylinder it is 1 / 80 = 0.0125 so 0.0125 is entered in the A axis scale DRO now a GCode command of G0 A10 will rotate the axis so that the surface of the 80mm diameter work rotates 10mm. Using this method means that simple, conventional, engraving programs and existing GCode programs can be used for engraving onto curved surfaces such as tumblers, cups etc.

Although perhaps not quite as accurate as when the axis has been set up for angular movement in the first place - entering pi / 360 or 0.00873 into the A axis scale DRO will allow the axis to then operate in degrees ie. G0 A10 will rotate the axis 10 degrees.

Hope this helps,

Tweakie.

7616

General Mach Discussion / Re: Build own router

« on: October 20, 2010, 05:32:31 AM »

Hi Simon,

Welcome to the forum.

There is some info under Members Docs on touch plates  http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,10088.0.html
And this is how I set tool height ( scroll down page to Tool Height Setting) http://www.cooperman.talktalk.net/files/17.htm

Hope this helps,

Tweakie.

7617

General Mach Discussion / Re: Is this possible?

« on: October 18, 2010, 12:00:33 PM »

Not quite sure of the question there Larry.

Do you want the hotkey to operate an external relay or something ? or do you want an external switch / button to have the same function as a hotkey ?

Tweakie.

7618

General Mach Discussion / Re: Is this possible?

« on: October 18, 2010, 10:54:14 AM »

How would I check an input from a VB script?

I think you may have gone full circle here because the best way must be to use the G31. (If GetOemLED (825) = True Then.......).

Tweakie.

7619

General Mach Discussion / Re: Is this possible?

« on: October 18, 2010, 03:19:56 AM »

I have to disagree with Ray (in a nice way) because there is the probability that "everything is possible".

With regard to the question - the Probe input is Input 22 and it's pin assignment is stored in the .xml. It would not be too difficult to create a VB routine to modify the .xml (change the pin assignment) but it may need a restart for the change to take effect.

Tweakie.

7620

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Intro

« on: October 17, 2010, 11:01:00 AM »

Hi John,

Welcome to the forum.
The usual place for intro's is here http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,2475.0.html but who cares, it is just nice to have another member.

Are you still having problems with the Write Wizard or have you got it sorted now ?

Tweakie.