Messages

231

General Mach Discussion / Re: Help with 4th axis

« on: August 07, 2010, 11:52:09 PM »

Astroguy

You posted one xml, so I presume this is the one used for everything.

I know nothing of the Taig machine, but that acceleration seems to be extremely low on X, Y and Z axis.  Is that normal?

You have CV set.  Do you have a reason to set "G100 Adaptive NurbsCV" ?

The rotary axis acceleration in comparison to the other linear axis is very high.  400 as against 3.  This could be a problem.

Artsoft have told me mixed stories on CV and rotary axis. 

First I was told CV will not work with a rotary axis.

And then, that the acceleration settings should be as closely matched to the linear axis as possible for CV to work.

Might be worth trying to match them a little more closely.

Greg

232

General Mach Discussion / Re: Help with 4th axis

« on: August 07, 2010, 07:06:04 PM »

Astroguy

Could be a lot of things but here is a couple I can think of.

Are you using another profile with the rotary axis?  If so are they exactly the same settigs for the Z axis? Including the pulse lenght? 

Are the step and direction active high/low the same?

Are you using constant velocity? 

Greg

233

General Mach Discussion / Re: g code will not load completely on tool screen

« on: August 07, 2010, 03:34:09 AM »

Morgan

This usually means that Mach3 is not licensed.   It will be coming up against the 500 line limitation of the demo version.

Greg

234

General Mach Discussion / Re: Help with 4th axis

« on: August 06, 2010, 08:02:30 PM »

I downloaded CNCWraper and tried some simple text on a bar of aluminum but it wants to put the 0 position in the middle of the part.

Not just the center of the A axis but in the center of the X axis as well?

This is not something that CNCWrapper is doing.  It is the result of where you set your origins in the CAM that produced the original toolpath.

CNCWrapper when converting code, or "wrapping" it, does only two things.

First it changes the designated axis definition.  Example, I set it to change X to A.

Second it scales all the positions for that axis to read in angle rather than linear units.  It arrives at this scale value using the diameter/radius value that you enter. This is the ONLY thing the diameter/radius setting is used for, to establish the scale factor.

The important thing relating to your query, is that CNCWrapper DOES NOT alter the Z axis position values.


In the CNCWrapper help files it does recommend using the centre of rotation as the Z axis zero.  And for most jobs I agree with this recommendation.  

However if you choose to use the surface of your existing cylinder as Z axis zero, that is fine.

So as far as wrapping with CNCWrapper is concerned, where the origins are set is something to be established in your CAM program.

HTH

Greg

235

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Modifing Operator Editable Button Macros

« on: July 27, 2010, 10:09:36 PM »

No.

What I meant was, it is a good idea to zero the axis DRO before calling the probe move.

You will get users trying the script and saying "why does mine sometimes probe in the wrong direction?"

They may not manually zero the axis and say it is at -2 before the probe move.

The probe move might be "G31 Z-1".  If they are in G90, then it will unexpectedly go in the wrong direction.

I have seen this exact scenario come up on the forum many times.

Greg

236

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Modifing Operator Editable Button Macros

« on: July 27, 2010, 09:21:39 PM »

Looks good Airnocker

If you are thinking others may pick up this macro and use it then I would advise putting either;

DoOEMButton (1008)

or

SetOEMDRO (800,0)

at the beginning of each probe section (with appropriate number), followed by a "Sleep 100"

Save a bit of grief.

Greg

237

General Mach Discussion / Re: Sending an Axis To It's Current Zero Location

« on: July 15, 2010, 10:25:51 PM »

I dislike that "GotoZs" button and soon dispensed with it. 

A bit of screen editing will easily give you individual "X to zero" or "Y to zero" buttons.

That is what I have on my screens.

Otherwise use the MDI.   For example;  G0X0 or G0Y0 etc.

Greg

238

Mach SDK plugin questions and answers. / Re: Shuttle Pro2

« on: July 12, 2010, 04:40:52 PM »

George

This is the code I use to open the video window, SendKeys "+%(P)V"

I have never tried to do this from the Shuttle but the same process should work.

Greg

239

Mach SDK plugin questions and answers. / Re: Shuttle Pro2

« on: July 12, 2010, 02:59:11 AM »

I have a shuttle pro 2 that I have setup with Mach3, I have made a zero touch probe and it works great. Does anyone have a script
for the shuttle pro that will engage the Auto Zero Tool button for Mach3

Place your Auto Tool Zero script in a text file and name it M1001.m1s or any number that suits you.

Put that in the macro folder for the profile you use.  Mach3Mill probably.

Then set the Shuttle Pro button of your choice to call that macro.

And while you are at it, change your button script to Code "M1001"

From then on any alterations you make to the macro will be consistent, wherever they are called from.

Greg

240

Finished Screens / Re: Mach3 Aqua

« on: July 08, 2010, 09:31:37 PM »

Uncheck "Boxed DROs and Graphics"  in general configuration.

Greg