Messages

221

General Mach Discussion / Re: We need Linux port

« on: July 25, 2007, 02:45:24 PM »

Just a note, there is so much value in for instance Windows XP that most users are not aware of. The price of the OS is very reasonable. Consider the VBScript function, the JIT environment, cross language portability within the .net development. If you get to know it, you learn how to appreciate what the OS has taken care of. I have started programming in assembler in the late seventies, that is native code. The difference between then and know in what the OS can do is purely astounding. I suppose you can guess by know that I am a Microsoft fan!

William

222

General Mach Discussion / Re: Rapid movement (G0) tied to FRO

« on: July 17, 2007, 03:52:08 PM »

Thanks jim, I wish it was that simple. I know about the motor tuning. This is an odd one, it only seems to happen once I have edited the .set files.
From there on, I just cannot get the g0 to go at high speed. The g0 will be exactly the same speed as the FRO. Toggling the Rapid overide don't work, checking and unchecking the "FRO persist " in the general config menu has no effect, entering speeds in the "Rapid overide" DRO has no effect. Seems Like I will have to do a Sherlock Holmes on this one.

William

223

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3Screen.exe and dupliate another "hotkey"

« on: July 17, 2007, 03:43:00 PM »

Just to add some detail, a clip of a screendump. This case I just checked the "GOTO Z" button. Without any modifications, on clicking ok out of the edit button parameters I get this message. On some other buttons, the same.
Anybody with some info??

William

224

General Mach Discussion / Re: OEMLed 111

« on: July 16, 2007, 05:19:42 PM »

Thanks ART,

That's what I'm aiming for!

William

225

General Mach Discussion / Re: Abnormality (Exact stop vs constant velocity)

« on: July 16, 2007, 03:48:29 PM »

After you changed the settings and clicked OK, go to the "view" menu and click "save layout". I had the same problem.

William

226

General Mach Discussion / Re: OEMLed 111

« on: July 16, 2007, 03:43:15 PM »

I have achieved the functionality I needed for the automated plasma application as per earlier message in this thread. That is with the m3/4 and m5 macro's.
If feedhold is pressed, Torch off instantly. Machine can be jogged off path. The torch will only fire once the machine is back on the toolpath and the toolpath was in a m3/4 block. If it was in a m5 block or rapid traverse, the "Cycle start" will not fire the torch. Marvelous! Mach3 just seemed to become so much more attractive to me!!

William

227

General Mach Discussion / Re: OEMLed 111

« on: July 16, 2007, 03:32:33 PM »

Seems like the WIKI page relevant to this should be ammended. For OEM LED 111 it reads, "Feedhold when part of block is executed".

William

228

General Mach Discussion / Mach3Screen.exe and dupliate another "hotkey"

« on: July 16, 2007, 02:09:56 PM »

I'm running Mach3Screen.exe to customise my screens, but something odd has been happening. On some buttons, when I doubleclick to access the parameters, even if I don't change anything and just click ok out of the dialogue, I get a message "Hotkey just duplicated x,y....this vary from button to button.... Am I setting hotkeys that I'm not aware of with the left mouse button?

Best regards
William

229

General Mach Discussion / Rapid movement (G0) tied to FRO

« on: July 16, 2007, 02:03:26 PM »

I'm having great fun creating spiderwebs for myself and get caught in it! Can anyone please refresh my bland mind and tell me where to set the G0 rapid movement speed??
When I'm running a part program, the G0 speed is the same as the FRO in the m3 block, which is way below the machine's max speed.

The rapid overide in the settings page is not activated, but whether it is or not, I still don't get any higher than the selected fro when I'm in the g0 movement.

Any input will be appreciated.

William

230

General Mach Discussion / Re: OEMLed 111

« on: July 11, 2007, 05:01:02 PM »

Thank you Art,

If you need any info on the type of interface needed for plasma and flame cutting, that includes the new HPR range from Hypertherm (High performance High definition) of plasma cutters, I can assist you.I have build many flatbed CNC machines, but used the Burny and Wescan controllers. Hypertherm is coming for a visit in the next three weeks to check if the machine I'm building with the Mach3 controller is suitable for the HPR range. They implement a strict control over OEM flatbed builders who wants to fit the HPR130 and HPR260 to their machines and I think they might be a bit nervous about the Mach3 solution. I'm hoping to get it up and running by the time they arrive. I have some HPR machines in my area, as I am a OEM bussiness partner with Hypertherm, but they are running on the Burny phantom controllers. I have the machine on the rails and I'm busy with the interface. Hence the questions. I can overcome the "Feedhold" scenario by intercepting the torch on/off with the dsPIC (MicroChip) controller and halting MACH3 with the servo hold on input #1, and do the off path movement, and return to toolpath with the dsPIC, thus MACH3 will be in a paused state and will be unaware of the movement.
But the ideal solution would be to minimise external components and let Mach3 do most off the work. This will be less confusing to the operators, especially in South Africa where most machine operators are not PC literate.
I'm using the Z axis to drive the Torch suspension up and down, and the anti-dive works well too. I manufacture the torch suspension as well as all the drive cards and other relevent components. The dsPIC handles the Modbus interface as well as the THC. The dsPIC's are 16 bit processors running at 40 MIPS.

Best regards,
William