Messages

421

Screen designer tips and tutorials / Re: Zero tool screen

« on: May 19, 2009, 06:50:38 PM »

Adam

Screen4 is found in the download section.  Also in the videos section there is a basic video on its use.

While you are figuring all that out here is a screenset with the DRO and LED added for you to try.

The Tool Zero macro will need to be edited if you are using medieval English measurements. 

Greg

422

General Mach Discussion / Re: Which CAD/CAM software for newbie

« on: May 17, 2009, 03:46:41 AM »

I have both Sheetcam and Cut2d

My recommendation between the two would be Cut2D.  Very easy to use intuitive interface. Just as good on a milling machine as a router.

Sheetcam has some extras if you are using a plasma  cutter.  But apart from that Cut2D wins hands down IMHO.

Nothing wrong with Sheetcam, good program, but since having the Vectric product I have never used Sheetcam since.  I use a mill, a router and an engraver.

Greg

423

General Mach Discussion / Re: Problem configuring ncpod

« on: May 14, 2009, 05:29:48 PM »

If you do not already have this diagram then it may be of some assistance.

Greg

424

Machscreen Screen Designer / Re: Screendesigner "machscreen"

« on: May 14, 2009, 03:04:58 AM »

Yes I must confess to being no fan of the "auto screen enlarge" either.

However I would not expect MachScreen to fix that for me.

Better idea to design your screen at the right size in the first place.

Right at the start of a new screen design I work out exactly how much I want to allow for start bar at the bottom, resolution etc.

Because as I said I don't see the "Auto screen enlarge" as a desirable option.  Others will disagree.   

Greg

425

Machscreen Screen Designer / Re: Screendesigner "machscreen"

« on: May 14, 2009, 02:10:00 AM »

I posted this earlier in this thread but it seems that it was either unimportant or got lost.   


>When editing a screen I usually have Mach3 running as well as the editor and reload the screenset often to check things I have edited.
>
>Using Screen4 this works OK but when using MachScreen, Mach3 is not able to load the graphic elements. BMPs, PNGs, etc.
>
>So I must close MachScreen before checking the layout in Mach3.
>
>This is a bit of a hassle.  Is this able to be fixed?
>
>Greg


MachScreen somehow does not let Mach have access to the graphics.   Screen4 does not do this.

Greg

426

NC Pod / Re: Problem configuring NC Pod

« on: May 11, 2009, 04:21:39 AM »

If you have not done so already you might also have to set "Reset Device Select"  which is found in the "Function Cfgs" menu

Greg

427

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: My first attempts at laser engraving.

« on: May 04, 2009, 03:19:33 AM »

Hey this is interesting.   

Details of where to get this sort of laser?  What to look for?

Does it need to be special to focus that well?

Greg

428

Third party software and hardware support forums. / Re: +X, -X axis moves in same direction. Why?

« on: May 01, 2009, 11:49:22 PM »

Glad you got it going Brett

Sounds like the problem is somewhere between the printer cable/control box connection and the motor out connection.

Could be a drive, buffer chip or internal connection.

Hopefully when you need it for a 4th axis you can chase it down.

Greg

429

Third party software and hardware support forums. / Re: +X, -X axis moves in same direction. Why?

« on: May 01, 2009, 10:32:54 PM »

Brett

Those readings are pretty much what you would expect so I don't see any issue there.

People will tell you that 3.3v must be a laptop.   Not realising that most desktops put out 3.3v on the LPT also.

Most modern control hardware will cope with 3.3v no problems.  However your hardware being a bit older may not.

3.3v might be right on the edge of what the hardware will cope with and the X axis components are the only ones that are JUST missing out.

Is this a laptop?  Do you have another computer you could try?  A lot of the LPT cards (PCI) will supply 5v and don't cost much.

Having said that I don't think that explanation is likely to be your problem.

Try to logically eliminate each component as the culprit.  Pretty much as Rich has described.

Try swapping pin assignments and or connections to logically isolate where the fault lies.

Greg

EDIT:  The pin voltage check probably eliminates this but double check you don't have a pin number assigned twice in "ports and pins"

430

Machscreen Screen Designer / Re: Screendesigner "machscreen"

« on: April 30, 2009, 06:29:33 PM »

Happens here too Brett

Playing around it seems that copying a DRO for instance works OK

Copying a button makes it crash.

I have not done sufficient tests to establish more than that yet.

Greg