Messages

111

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

« on: January 30, 2012, 07:43:42 AM »

Thanks Tweakie

Got the latest version now.  It even looks like the one in the PDF.  

I am not quite at the stage of firing up the laser tube for the first time..........but getting real close.

Reading your guide, and trying to get my head around it all.  

Just finished writing a post processor for my Vectric CAM program, to do vector cutting.  Using M10P1 and M11P1

Greolt

112

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

« on: January 30, 2012, 06:35:55 AM »

Tweakie

I hope it is the right place to ask questions about the engraving plugin.  If not could you let me know where is the best place or thread.

I am just starting to try and figure out how to use the engraving plugin on a laser.  As far as I know, I have the latest plugin version and PDF documentation.

The PDF talks about CV, and the pictures of the plugin show a selection box for it.  However my plugin does not have that selection box.

Also it looks like the auto aspect ratio is gone.   Does this sound right?

I have some reading to do.   

Greolt

113

General Mach Discussion / Re: Getting 4th Axis to work from Vectric Vcarvepro 6.5

« on: January 02, 2012, 04:09:12 PM »

I forgot to mention,

If your version of Mach has the DRO labelled "Rotation Diameter" then you are using an old version.

The rotary axis feedrate compensation was totally screwed up.  This was fixed about two years ago.

At that time the label was changed to read "Rotation Radius"

It probably should be called something like "Z axis origin offset"

Greg

EDIT:  That does not mean that the toolpath visualisation did not work.  It did.

114

General Mach Discussion / Re: Getting 4th Axis to work from Vectric Vcarvepro 6.5

« on: January 02, 2012, 04:04:29 PM »

Here is a basic toolpath thrown together in Vcarve.

This is the toolpath as shown in Mach3 and also the setting in the "Toolpath Configuration"

Greg

115

General Mach Discussion / Re: Getting 4th Axis to work from Vectric Vcarvepro 6.5

« on: January 01, 2012, 05:08:18 PM »

Hi,

Struggling to get Mach3 to work using the 4th axis using a text toolpath generated by Vcave pro. Vectric seems to generate it ok and it looks like it is wrapped. After saving in the correct wrap.txt file the wording in the file does not appear when we open the file in Mach3, it all seems to be in a lump or thin line? Tried toolpath setupmenu checked 'A' rotation is enabled and selected the axis and the z zero for the job as the centre of the axis  but no luck.

What are we doing wrong?

One of two things or possibly both.

Need to set the correct axis of rotation under the "Toolpath Configuration"

And secondly you need to set the Z axis offset DRO "Rotation Radius" on the settings page, to whatever Z axis origin is offset from centre of rotation.

Worth noting that Mach will only give a visual representation of A axis rotations, not B or C.

Greg

116

Machscreen Screen Designer / Re: Button code to send focus back to Mach after opening Camera Plugin

« on: November 30, 2011, 09:33:38 PM »

I had some private communication with Klaus about this but forgot to post here.

Klaus sent me a new version of the plugin which now returns focus to Mach.

How good is that !!!!!!!!

Klaus your contribution to the Mach user community is amazing.    Thank you very very much.

Greg

117

Mach3 under Vista / Re: Aspire file to Mach3

« on: November 28, 2011, 03:00:38 AM »

Woody

Send me a PM with your email and I will have something for you

Greg

118

General Mach Discussion / Re: Video window

« on: November 23, 2011, 04:27:16 AM »

Klaus

Is it possible to have the camera plugin return focus to Mach after opening?

I call a macro from my pendant, which activates the relevant Mach page, and starts the plugin (using LED 1102)

This leaves the plugin "always on top" as it should.  But the plugin retains focus, which means I must click on somewhere on screen with the mouse to get focus back to Mach.  Can't use USB pendant while plugin has focus.

Hope that makes sense.

Greg

119

Machscreen Screen Designer / Button code to send focus back to Mach after opening Camera Plugin

« on: November 22, 2011, 01:13:40 AM »

I use Klaus' Camera Plugin and design screens with MachScreen.  Both great pieces of software.

Fixed permanent camera on a router for origin setup.

I have the following code on button to call the page that I use with the camera,

DoOEMButton (3)           'this calls the page
SetUserLED (1103,0)      'turn 1103 off which every other page turns on (1103 exits plugin)
Sleep 200                     'needs this delay for plugin to start reliably
SetUserLED (1102,1)      'this starts the camera plugin

This all works like it should.  Goes to page 3 and starts the camera plugin.  But I would like it to return focus to Mach3. 

Presently one click sends me to the right page and starts the plugin, but leaves focus with the plugin.  Which means I can not jog with a pendant until another click on Mach3 screen returns focus.

Is there a line I can add to return focus to Mach3?

Thanks,

Greg

120

Machscreen Screen Designer / Re: MachScreen releases

« on: November 09, 2011, 05:02:37 AM »

Klaus

How about a way to constrain movement to either vertical or horizontal when dragging with the mouse. Perhaps a with hotkey.

I often find I want to move an object vertically but not lose horizontal position.  So I press the up arrow and wait for ages while the object crawls up the screen. 

Greg  (who loves MachScreen)