Messages

151

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: switch an output when G31 (probing) is active

« on: May 03, 2019, 06:40:46 PM »

Check the state and store in a variable. Then send message only if it and current state ~=

Stay away from loops when possible and don't spam the core (with 300 unnecessary messages).

152

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Fusion 360 Cutter Comp "P" Value.

« on: May 02, 2019, 11:23:25 AM »

To find the differences in 2 screens scripts......... open each in Mach4 and then operator, view screen script, copy all and paste into notepad ++. With both versions of script open in a tab use their compare plugin. Every difference (no matter how small) will be made obvious.

153

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 Timer Script

« on: May 01, 2019, 04:51:47 PM »

Yup, Craig is right. And I would not use the PLC loop count if accuracy is critical.

You could do some testing and adjust the script but things could change it (like adding more script to the PLC script itself). Would it ever change enough to matter in most cases? No but each line of code takes time to process.

Any of the following would yield more accurate results I think..... os.date, os.difftime, mc.mcCntlGetRunTime at the expense of added complexity.

All ways would have a rounding error.

Lots of ways to skin this cat. Knowing how good is good enough may be the determining factor.

154

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 Timer Script

« on: April 30, 2019, 12:50:43 PM »

This might help if you go with my suggestion.

Code: [Select]

local scrName = scr.GetScreenName()
local inter = scr.GetProperty(scrName, "PLC Interval")

155

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 Timer Script

« on: April 30, 2019, 11:42:38 AM »

I'm not sure about the RestartTimer but think I know how i would handle it.

In the PLC script keep up with spindle on time. If it's on increment a var. Once that var == Time wanted / scan time start a one shot timer for the amount of time I want the lube on, turn the lube output on and reset that var to 1. The timer would just turn the lube output off.

156

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach 4 Mill CSS

« on: April 30, 2019, 10:55:19 AM »

In lathe it is handled in the default screens PLC script. I'm not sure but you may be able to adapt it to work for your purpose in doing some mill turning. The API says its for lathe but it may well work for mill too. Take note that it uses the X axis current position to determine diameter. Depending on how your doing things that may not work for you. But you could adapt it. Just pointing it out. It uses some screen elements so you would need to....

1) Save your screen as something new and unique.
2) Modify the new screen making sure it has all the elements needed (and named correctly).
3) Test

Here is the code that does the magic in lathe............

Code: [Select]

-------------------------------------------------------
--  Calculate CSS
-------------------------------------------------------
local NativeUnits, rc = mc.mcCntlGetUnitsDefault(inst)
local units, rc = mc.mcCntlGetUnitsCurrent(inst)
local xDia = mc.mcAxisGetPos(inst, 0)
local dia, rc = mc.mcCntlGetDiaMode(inst)

if (dia == 0) then
 xDia = (xDia * 2)
end

if (NativeUnits == 200) and (units == 210) then
 xDia = (xDia * 25.4)
elseif (NativeUnits == 210) and (units == 200) then
 xDia = (xDia / 25.4)
end

if (units == 200) then --Gcode is in inch mode (G20)
    mc.mcSpindleCalcCSSToRPM(inst, xDia, true)
elseif (units == 210) then --Gcode is in mm mode (G21)
    mc.mcSpindleCalcCSSToRPM(inst, xDia, false)
end

-------------------------------------------------------
--  CSS DRO
-------------------------------------------------------
local FeedRate, SpinRPM, CurrentCSS
FeedRate = scr.GetProperty ("droFeedRate", "Value")
FeedRate = tonumber(FeedRate)
SpinRPM = scr.GetProperty("droSpinRPM", "Value")
SpinRPM = tonumber(SpinRPM)
CurrentCSS = (FeedRate / SpinRPM)
if CurrentCSS ~= LastCSS then --We need to update our user DRO
    LastCSS = CurrentCSS --So we only update DRO when needed. Stops blinking DRO
    if (FeedRate > 0) and (SpinRPM > 0) then
        scr.SetProperty("droConstantSurfaceSpeed", "Value", tostring(CurrentCSS))
    else
        scr.SetProperty("droConstantSurfaceSpeed", "Value", "0.0000")
    end
end

157

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: plasma thc

« on: April 29, 2019, 11:05:33 AM »

Also, there are 3 different operation modes.

Manual, simple up and down buttons on the screen.

Digital, which takes an up or down signal from a TCH unit (like the proma).

Analog, which reads the actual voltage from a register. This can be used with any device that can tell Mach4 what the current actual voltage is using a register. So if your motion device has an analog input you can use to get the actual voltage from the plasma unit and can pass that value to a register you're good. Some use a simple PLC for this (like the click from Automation Direct).

The screen doesn't care what device you use. And the THC module doesn't even care if you use our default screen. Everything is controlled through registers. You can run THC using any screen. The values don't have the been shown in the screen anywhere. You can just enter values directly into the registers if you want. Design your own screen and if you want to display the register value, just link the screen element to that register. It's very flexible and as Steve said, should work for most.

158

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: os.execute pdf

« on: April 03, 2019, 08:51:31 AM »

Code: [Select]

local major, minor = wx.wxGetOsVersion()
    local dir = mc.mcCntlGetMachDir(inst);
    local cmd = "explorer.exe /open," .. dir .. "\\Docs\\MyDoc.pdf"
    if(minor <= 5) then -- Xp we don't need the /open
        cmd = "explorer.exe ," .. dir .. "\\Docs\\MyDoc.pdf"
    end
    wx.wxExecute(cmd)

159

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: scr list

« on: March 29, 2019, 10:24:57 AM »

Nice Craig! 

160

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: scr list

« on: March 28, 2019, 08:25:00 PM »

If you open a script in zerobrain editor and type scr. you will get a complete list I think. No docs on them but they are pretty self explanatory.