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Topics - rhtuttle

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81
General Mach Discussion / M3 M4 switching
« on: March 04, 2016, 05:38:16 PM »
Have a bench top lathe (Seig C3, 7x14) that I have converted to CNC.  Currently run with a Gecko 540, Mach 3 and UC100.  Would now like to automate the spindle direction change through Mach.  Current machine has a 350 watt brushed DC motor with a 3 position switch reverse-off-forward.   I am upgrading the motor to 750 watt, 7.5 amp, brushed DC out of a treadmill which has a controller with speed control and magnetic speed sensor.

In spindle setup for Mach3 you specify relay #1 and #2 for m3 and m4 commands.  What would you recommend to use in this application?  Any help appreciated.

TIA

82
VB and the development of wizards / Mach3 turn macro - Pause restart
« on: March 10, 2015, 02:04:38 PM »
Good afternoon all,

When I run this in Mach3 turn VB editor it executes but does not pause for any of the restarts.  When I run from the MDI line a message "Pause in Macro/Script". If run in a gcode fiilewith just one line M401 (the macro file) I get the same message.

Can someone tell me why this doesn't run in Mach 3 turn?

Sub main
'Domed Winding check
'0.5614 fixture diameter
'0.2804 fixture radius
'0.725 Raw NickelBlank Dia
DoOEMButton(1001)
code "(Mount back cut tool)"
systemWaitFor(restart)
DoOEMButton(1001)
Code "(Jog to Fixture surface)"
systemWaitFor(restart)
' Set Z to Fixture Radius
setDro(0,0.2807)
DoOEMButton(1001)
code "(Mount Front Cut Tool, position to back edge of mounted nickel)"
systemWaitFor(restart)
setDro(2,0.000)
' set spindle speed to 400
DoOEMButton(1001)
Code "(Turn Spindle on to 400RPM)"
code "m3 S400"
systemWaitFor(restart)
code "g01 f2 x0.285"
code "g0 x0.3625"
code "M5"
DoOEMButton(1001)
code "(stop spindle)"
systemWaitFor(restart)
End Sub

main 

83
General Mach Discussion / 4th axis - GCode degrees vs distance
« on: March 02, 2010, 11:59:07 AM »
I have never looked into a 4th rotating axis until lately and have some real basic questions.  I have read several of the posts here but seem to be getting more confused rather than less. 

1. Can anyone point me to some literature that explains coding concepts for an A-axis?

2. If I use a 10/1 reduced drive for the axis with 1.8 degree stepper and 10 microstepping I would use 20000/360 for steps per revolution, correct?

3. Do you express the A distance in degrees, circumference distance, or, can you do either?

4. Code example for: 1" diameter stock that you want to spiral at a 45 degrees ( move x 3.1416 inches and rotate A 360 degrees) like screw cutting.

5. Code example for: 1" diameter stock that you want to rotate A-axis 0.2 inches on the surface, do a sub routine to cut along the X-axis, then rotate A 0.3 inches.

If you can provide insight on any of the above it would be very much appreciated.

TIA

RT


84
Would like to programmatically set Mach to a jog feed override mode (not sure if this is the right terminology).  ie Hold the shift key down and then jog so that you are in a rapid jog when you hit one of the arrow buttons.

example: jog x positive in continuous mode in rapid mode.  I have tried:

doOEMButton(204)                            // Jog mode Continuous
doOEMButton(202)                            // Feed override Jog
doOEMButton(307) or jogOn(0,0)        // Jog X-axis positive

The 202 has no effect, is there another command to put Mach into the jog override and one to take it out?

85
Others / New Mach User Interface - MachMe - Beta
« on: April 16, 2009, 04:17:59 PM »
This UI is  'Windows' oriented.  Contains seperate widgets for Jog, Spiindle, GCode.
It allows for the creation of USER DEFINED BUTTONS panels that contain buttons that contain GCode, VB Script or OEM buttons. These may be saved and reloaded when desired.  No need for scream4.
It also has a user defined LEDs panel for containing OEMLEDs.
Widgets can be scaled larger or smaller and there are multiple skins to select from to change the appearance.

There is a help file that explains each feature.

Zip file contains an installer and ReadMe.txt
It does not modify any Mach files or settings.
Upon installation you will have a menu folder for MachMe, that contains an uninstaller that removes the application.  There is an option on installation for a desktop shortcut.

I would appreciate any feedback on:
   Whether this approach is useful.  If so I can extend the UI to incloude DRO and Var panels.  Other widgets: Offsets, Tooling, Limits...
   What 'essential' controls are missing.
 
My machine does not have a spindle so any feedback on that widget is greatly appreciated.
I would like to know how this runs on other machines.  Specifcally older, slower and small memory machines.

TIA
RT

86
Mach SDK plugin questions and answers. / Com Interface Questions
« on: February 17, 2009, 04:49:43 PM »
I am experiencing some difficulties using the  com interfaces:
        mach:=TCMach4Doc.create(self);
        mach.ConnectKind:=ckRunningInstance;
        mach.Connect;
        iMach:=mach.GetScriptDispatch as iMyScriptObject;

It instantiates and connects to a running instance fine.  I am able to utilize all of the functions and procedures of the scriptObject.
If however I try to disconnect and then reconnect, Mach fails and closes.  If I set my mach variable to nil, mach fails and closes.  If I close my app, Mach fails and closes. 

If I use a connectKind of ckNewInstance I get a dialog box with several unknown profiles.  I can create a profile but then I get an invalid license prompt, followed by a user agreement dialog and then several failed dll calls.

How robust are the interfaces? 
Has reference counting been implemented for each new interface?
Am I using these incorrectly?

TIA

RT

PS.  I have written several com applications and am able to utilize com interfaces with many other applications like M$ excel,word, powerpoint. 

87
VB and the development of wizards / Probe macro
« on: May 08, 2008, 01:58:22 PM »
This is my first attempt at writing a macro for Mach3.

All suggestions welcomed.

My approach is to take my home made probe that has 3 contact points, one on each side on one for the top.
The probe straddles the workpiece which is narrow.
I will be using the A-axis limit input to determine when the probe has made contact



sub Main
  dim yStart,yMin,ymax,yMid,z as double;

  rem get the yAxis value
  rem increment until probe connects

  yStart=getOEMdro(86)
  yMax=yStart
  while not getOemLed(837) do
    yMax=yMax+0.0001
    Code "g0 y"&yMax
  wend;

rem reset and go the initial yAxis value
rem decrement until probe connects

  yMin=yStart
  code "g0 y"&yStart
  while not getOemLed(838) do
    yMin=yMin-0.0001
    Code "g0 y"&yMin
  wend;

rem calculate midpoint and move to it
rem set yDro to 0

  yMid=yMax-yMin
  code "g0 y"&yMid
  setOEMDro(801,0)

rem get the zaxis value and plunge until probe connects

  z=getOemDro(802)  ' zDRO value
  while not getOemLed(839) do
    z=z-0.0001
    Code "g0 y"&z
  wend;

rem Set the z dro to the standard's height

  setOEMdro(802,1)
end sub


88
G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Newbie basics
« on: February 26, 2008, 05:14:12 PM »
I hope this is the right area to post this question.

As someone new to CNC I think one example would help me a lot.  If someone has an example of the following and is willing to share I think I can glean a lot of what I seem to be missing.

2 pieces of code.

first: code for a router based machine to mill a 3/8 by 1 inch mortise 1/2 inch deep using a 1/4 inch straight bit.
second: code for a matching tenon.

Assume that the the workpieces have been set up with x and y at lower left corner of 3/4 by 2 in piece with z zeroed at the workpiece surface.

Dimensions are not critical, just the process.  Multiple passes, finish pass, direction of cut.

If this is a unreasonable request let me know.

Also, is there a book or site that you could recommend that might cover such processes?

TIA

RT

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