Messages

661

General Mach Discussion / Re: Auto Zero and joystick help needed

« on: May 03, 2008, 08:49:12 PM »

G'day Steve

Can't help you with the joystick other than to say look in the plugin's part of the downloads directory.

There are a number of threads on the Auto Zero function, some on this forum.

For my take on it look at this thread,  http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36099

For an alternative to the G100 look at the Smooth Stepper.

Google "TTF to Gcode" and you will get lots of leads.

Greg

662

General Mach Discussion / Re: hooking up limits

« on: May 03, 2008, 06:38:52 PM »

To send a signal to Mach you must make the input change state. 

So if it is high (5v) you must pull it low (0v) and vice versa.

Input pins on a standard LPT are high when not connected. 

Some BOBs pull the inputs low with on board resistors. So they are now low when not connected.

Can your optical limits be wired to pull the pin to ground (0v) when active ?

Or you may be able to install a pulldown resistor of the appropriate value so that the pin is low until the switch becomes active and pulls it high.

You need to refer to the documentation of your BOB.

Greg

663

SmoothStepper USB / Re: Picture of your controller/SmoothStepper?

« on: April 26, 2008, 06:15:04 PM »

I hope you are going to bring that along to the Melbourne CNC BBQ John.   

What is the board mounted just below the Smooth Stepper?

Greg

664

Mach Screens / Re: How large touch screen do I need?

« on: April 24, 2008, 05:41:41 AM »

Here is a pic of my 800 x 600 12" screen.

That is the Program Run page of my custom screenset that is showing.

Greg

.

665

Mach Screens / Re: How large touch screen do I need?

« on: April 23, 2008, 03:44:23 AM »

I use a 12" touch screen.  Very happy with it. 800 x 600 resolution.

To use any touch screen, no matter what size you will need to use a different screenset.

The buttons etc on the standard screen do not lend themselves to touch use.  Too small.

And this is doubly so if you use a small screen like mine.

Look in this screen section of the forum for some that people have made for touch.

Greg

666

NC Pod / NCpod to Xylotex

« on: April 13, 2008, 05:14:32 AM »

Anybody running an NCpod direct connect to a Xylotex driver board?

Wondering if there are any issues I should be aware of.

Presume I just connect step, direction and ground for each axis.

All limits, estop and outputs direct from NCpod to relevant purpose.

Greg

667

Mach Screens / Re: Screen 4 Frustration

« on: April 03, 2008, 04:29:28 AM »

 
... Screen4 is like a woman with PMT........You have to tip toe around trying hard not to offend it......

I use a large screen so have not seen some of the issues with elements jumping out of place when scrolling.

Greg

668

General Mach Discussion / Re: About "slow jog" button.

« on: April 03, 2008, 04:08:34 AM »

Make two on screen buttons.  One called "100%" and the other called "20%"

Set them to "VB Script function edited in Mach3"

Then in Mach use "Edit Button Script" and insert the following code,

Call SetOEMDRO (3,100)

Call SetOEMDRO (3,20)

Greg

EDIT:  While I slowly typed, Jimpinder answered with a more sensible answer than mine. 

669

General Mach Discussion / Re: Backlash compensation for a rotary axis ?

« on: April 01, 2008, 07:01:46 PM »

Just for fun I made a little video. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kd2jyn8l0I4

I don't know how to make it show on this post like others do.

670

General Mach Discussion / Re: Set Z to zero automatically?Auto tool zero questions

« on: March 31, 2008, 04:59:01 AM »

Greg,

In an earlier post you made a screen file OLFlaser.set available for download. I have tried this offline in MACH and I have a question. This screen set has a button AUTO TOOL ZERO but I am unsure of the purpose of this button and it's script. I think I wrongly assumed that it would auto zero the Z but  is not a script as you have included in your post above. Since the LASER ZERO F12 is setup to move the spindle (tool center) to the point that was jogged to using the laser, I am not sure what the purpose of this button is? To be fair, I don't yet have a LASER CROSS HAIR (just bought 2 on ebay) nor do I have a Z zero  set plate yet so I am not actually performing the moves just trying to under stand the logic/scripting. Appreciate your comments. My ultimate goal is to get the LASER CROSSHAIRS and AUTO Z SET working with a new SHUTTLEPRO jog pad that I hope to pick-up tommorrow.

Cheerio
Gerald

Gerald

I have no recollection of the screen set you refer to.  I have posted a few variations at peoples request.

However the "Laser Zero" button would be as you said.

The "Auto Tool Zero" button should run a button script with the script as has been posted above.  Or a close variation of it.

Greg