Messages

271

General Mach Discussion / Re: Anyone running a CNCshark with Mach3?

« on: June 04, 2010, 08:53:48 AM »

Yes it is USB driven.

As far as I know it is using an NCpod.  Mach has a plugin for that.

In theory it should just be a matter of plug it in and go. I have used NCpod in the past.

Just wondered if any body was doing it.

Greg

272

General Mach Discussion / Anyone running a CNCshark with Mach3?

« on: June 04, 2010, 06:39:13 AM »

Anyone running a CNCshark with Mach3?

I believe it is using an NCpod which should be no problem to run with Mach.

Greg

273

General Mach Discussion / Re: External Button for Auto Tool Zero

« on: May 31, 2010, 04:34:20 PM »

I have no experience with plasma.

Can you trigger the macro with an onscreen button during a cut?

Is there noise swamping the input while plasma is running?

Greg

274

General Mach Discussion / Re: External Button for Auto Tool Zero

« on: May 29, 2010, 08:30:44 PM »

I realized that the process works well, But only during the run of the code does not work
why?

Perhaps you need to provide some more information so that others can help.

What is the VB macro that is failing?  Does it run from the editor?   Can you call it from the MDI?  What happens when you step through it with the editor?

Greg

275

General Mach Discussion / Re: External Button for Auto Tool Zero

« on: May 26, 2010, 04:10:51 PM »

i test your Method:
i design button +LED  in Mach3Screen. i set OEMled =1200
then create macropump.m1s :
A = GetOEMled (1200)

 If A Then
 Code "M113"
 End If

and create brain that i attach it.
but mach3 shows behavior strange and error.
Where I got wrong?

Try this instead

A = GetOEMled (1200)
B = GetUserDRO (1200)

If A And (B = 0) Then
Code "M113"
SetUserDRO(1200,1)
End If

If Not A And (B > 0) Then
SetUserDRO(1200,0)
End If 

276

General Mach Discussion / Re: External Button for Auto Tool Zero

« on: May 25, 2010, 10:10:07 PM »

I also copied this file to the macro folder.

I renamed it M615.m1s.

I presume you mean your zero script. That is what is now in the macro folder and named M615.  Right?   Must be a problem with it.

Post it and I will take a look.

Greg

277

General Mach Discussion / Re: External Button for Auto Tool Zero

« on: May 25, 2010, 04:47:54 PM »

I hunted down an old post and it is copied below,

Greg


There are two components in the attached zip folder.

Macropump.m1s and ZeroSwitch.brn

For an external switch to trigger the zero routine, I also place the "Macropump.m1s" in the macro folder, and the "ZeroSwitch.brn" goes in the brain folder.

The zero script also needs to be in the macro folder.  I called it M615

Macropump is then enabled on the "General Config" page. Brain is enabled via Operator / Brain Control. A Mach restart is needed for both of these to work.

Then you can open, Operator / Brain Control / View Brain, and see the brain operate.

My external switch is connected to a spare input pin and assigned to "Input#4" in "Ports and Pins". Set to become active when switch is pressed.

The brain contains a switch delay as a safety feature. I have it set so the switch must be pressed for two seconds before it triggers.

For this reason I have removed a delay that was previously coded into the zero routine. Two delays built in was confusing for an operator.

Also the brain locks out if the spindle is running or machine is moving.

The macropump simply sets the M615.m1s going. It has a lock out thingy built in to stop Mach trying to run the script multiple times.

Now you will ask "Why both a brain and a macropump?"... "Either one or the other should do it"

A brain can not trigger a macro, so a brain alone won't do what I need.

Mach does not like delays coded into a macropump because of timing issues. It can be done but is much more complex.

The brain makes the switch delay a no brainer. Pun intended.

Also the other safety lock outs are really easy to do in a brain.

278

General Mach Discussion / Re: External Button for Auto Tool Zero

« on: May 24, 2010, 12:52:00 AM »

Have a look at these two files if interested.

One is a brain that is triggered by making input 4 active (press a momentary switch)

If, the switch is held for two seconds and the spindle is inactive and no axis movement is happening, then a user LED is activated.

Have a look at the brain in the brain editor.

The other is a macropump.  This will call your auto tool zero script from the macro folder when the user LED is activated.

You can check this macropump script out in any text editor.

The reason there are the two parts to make this work is,

The brain takes care of the two second safety delay and the other interlocks but can not call a macro.

So the macropump is used to monitor the user LED and call the macro.

As I said there may be more elegant ways to do this but it works.   Having a look at it may give you some ideas.

Greg

279

General Mach Discussion / Re: External Button for Auto Tool Zero

« on: May 21, 2010, 02:34:46 AM »

I did this for someone who wanted the Z zero macro triggered by an external switch.

It was a while ago and there may be easier ways to do it by now.

I used a combination of a macro pump and a brain.

The macro pump polled the switch to see when it was pressed.

The brain did some safety interlocks and a time delay to avoid accidental activation.

Greg

EDIT:  Sorry I was going by memory and got it wrong.  (it was a couple of years ago)

The brain polls the input (switch) and does the safety interlocks and delay.  Then sets a user LED.

The macro pump just calls the macro when the user LED is active. Because a brain can not directly call the macro.

280

General Mach Discussion / Re: a axis as a linear axis

« on: May 20, 2010, 05:33:28 AM »

I have tried CNC wrapper but  on conversion the feed rates in A axis are way to slow

CNCWrapper does not alter feedrates.   They are left unchanged.

Go to Toolpath Configuration and set "Use Radius for Feedrate"

Then set whatever the Z axis zero height is in "Rotation Radius" DRO, found on the Settings page.

If using the centre of rotation as Z zero, then put a very small number in that DRO, not zero. (zero will turn it off)

Greg