Messages

41

Works in progress / Re: Plain vanilla lathe screen. Operates by keyboard or mouse.

« on: September 15, 2006, 12:21:25 AM »

Ok, I'll try this again. I had 2 versions uploaded to this site.
This is the corrected screen set for plain vanilla screen.

John,

Thank you much for the info. Thanks to Benny for making the original screen designer available.
I was able to combine the 2 designer's as John said. Now using F8 and F9 keys you can input
values for the X and Z axii. This makes the screen fully functional using the key board only, if
desired.

Thanks again guys.
Al

42

Works in progress / Re: Plain vanilla lathe screen. Operates by keyboard or mouse.

« on: September 14, 2006, 10:01:21 PM »

Hi Benny,

I would like to a few people try this out before posting in the screens page.
Also I may add a couple of things, like tool offsets.

Al
 

43

Works in progress / Re: Plain vanilla lathe screen. Operates by keyboard or mouse.

« on: September 11, 2006, 06:52:15 PM »

ynneb,

You do have to use the mouse to click in the coordinate window.
Then type in the new value and hit enter. If I come up with a
way around this I will post it.
Thanks
Al

44

Works in progress / Plain vanilla lathe screen. Operates by keyboard or mouse.

« on: September 10, 2006, 11:38:16 PM »

Hi all,
I just finished my first screen set for Mach 3. It is for a 2 axis lathe. Very very basic. My goal was to create a screen
that would control the machine completely from the keyboard with only one screen. This is not fancy at all but works
very well, at least on my machine. Maybe some one else can use it also. I used "F" keys. Other keys are designated
with a single quote. Exm: 'Regen uses key R. 'Spindle on/off uses key S etc., < feed rate lower >feed rate higher etc.
 
Al

Please see my latest posting for the current version. 9/15/06

45

General Mach Discussion / Re: New to everything, and a big question

« on: September 09, 2006, 02:33:47 PM »

Hi all, I am seeing a lot of posts from Newbies struggling with machine/software set ups.
As a newbie to Mach myself I understand your frustrations. My advantage is I have 30+
years experience in machining and cnc programming so I have managed to get everything
working by reading between the lines (experience). I suggest to you all that you look through the tutorials
section, particullary the video section of this forum.
 Seems as though this forum is mainly being watched and replies posted by those I would call experts with Mach.
They tend to forget what it was like to be a newbie themselves as they seem to be so deeply envolved with
the computer aspects of "tricking things up". In other words it would be great to see an expert or two
reply to some of these newbie questions in a slower, from square one, teaching type, manner.
To the Newbie a suggestion I have is contacting a ebay seller that goes by "Deepgroove1" for
your Taig/Xylotex/Mach set up questions. Quite some time ago I contacted him and he was very helpful
even though I had not purchased any thing from him. He is quite knowlegeable on Mach/ Xylotex / Taig
set ups. The only way I know of to contact him is through one of his listings. This is a current
ebay listing item #160026946378.
Thanks for listening.
Al

46

General Mach Discussion / Re: working screens available ???

« on: September 07, 2006, 11:55:26 PM »

Thanks Hood. I'm on my way to creating my first operating screen.
Psad, Look in the Download, Videos for Screen4 video to learn how
to use screen4. It's pretty cool.

Al

47

General Mach Discussion / working screens available ???

« on: September 06, 2006, 12:42:09 AM »

Hi, I am just trying out and learning Mach (2). Using it to control a lathe with Xylotex drivers. Wow is it smooth. What I need is a screen or screen set that is completely controlable via the keyboard. I don't feel comfortable operating a machine tool with a mouse. I feel it can be quite unsafe as dropping something as light as a pocket scale can click the mouse and it is just another item to clutter your work space.
A lot of the Mach2 screens give keyboard hotkeys (short cuts) but most don't work. I tried Mach3 and none of the screens for it have hotkeys designated.
What I am gathering from this forum is a lot of you are creating your own screens. I don't have the time or desire to do this. I need to spend my time making parts. So if anyone has a lathe, keyboard controlable, screen I would really like to try it out.
I am new to Mach and if I am overlooking or misunderstanding something please let me know.

Thanks
Al

48

General Mach Discussion / Re: New to Mach2. Some simple questions.

« on: September 04, 2006, 10:35:46 PM »

Thanks Brian,
<cr> at the end of M30 fixed it.
I am working with the trial version of Mach2. Is Mach3 available
in a trial version ?

Al

49

General Mach Discussion / New to Mach2. Some simple questions.

« on: September 04, 2006, 05:07:01 PM »

Hello all,

I am new to Mach2 and very impressed so far. I have a couple of questions.
Not all keyboard commands are working. In particular "altR" to run program
and "alts" to stop the program. I would like to get to the point where a mouse
is limited in it's use. Also programing M30 or M2 does not rewind the program.
All work when clicking with the mouse.

Thanks for the help.
Al