Messages

201

General Mach Discussion / Re: Auto Tool Changer Help

« on: July 28, 2014, 12:41:39 PM »

The macro that's already in the folder will be the generic one that gets installed whenever you create a new profile. You could just delete, but it's probably safer to rename it to something else for now or move it to another folder.

Regarding the Inputs and Outputs, you'll need to configure the relevant signals in Ports and Pins, on the Input Signals and Output Signals respectively. I've just realised that there are only 4 inputs available, but I doubt you'll of used any.
For editting the file, you can use the default windows notepad (if you open the Open... in the menu, near the bottom of the screen that pops up, change the drop-down box from Text Documents (*.txt) to all files - when saving, you'll need to ensure the same box is changed so you don't get .txt added to the end of the file name), or alternatively double click the file click choose program before selecting Notepad.

202

General Mach Discussion / Re: running 2 CNC machines from 1 pc

« on: July 20, 2014, 06:26:08 PM »

Easily.
Just create different profiles, and select the relevant one when you load Mach.

203

General Mach Discussion / Re: Auto Tool Changer Help

« on: July 20, 2014, 06:23:56 PM »

Modified file is attached for an 8 position tool changer.

The only bit you'll need to change is the Input and Output you'll be using. There is one place where the Output will need changed, and two places where the Input will need changed.
The file will need copied to <mach3install folder>/macros/<folder named the same as the current mach profile you're using>/ (there should already be various macros in it)

You'll need to change theTool Change (top left) setting in General Config... to AutoTool Changer, so the M6 macros are used.
In your G-Code or MDI, you then simply call Txxnn where xx is the tool position, and nn are the tool offsets from the tool table.
For example T0101 will call tool position 1, along with offsets 1, whereas T0106 would call tool position 1, but with tool table offsets for tool 6.

You can use just Txx, which means the same number is used for tool position and offsets i.e. T01 is the same as T0101, however I prefer to use the full version.

204

General Mach Discussion / Re: Spindle speed crossover eliminating

« on: July 18, 2014, 06:43:12 PM »

I know my old setup was a step-dir to 0-10V converter controlling a KBIC board, and given it was done via a SmoothStepper, Mach itself couldn't close the loop, and the SS plugin never had any sort of calibration.
The only area I noticed a major variation was below around 500rpm, as the spindle would struggle to start at anything below 100rpm requested, and would spin around 80rpm if requested to do 200rpm getting to about 50rpm difference at 500rpm, before being within 20rpm for the rest of the range from around 700rpm up. I never worried about it, as the speed was very repeatable so I just altered commanded speeds in my code files to suit.

Anytime you add open loop analogue into the circuit, you have potential for variation.

My new lathe has a KFlop which closes the loop perfectly, however that's a far more capable controller than the PP or SS.

205

General Mach Discussion / Re: want to go to laptop

« on: July 18, 2014, 01:27:37 PM »

As Jeff says, an external motion controller is the only option when you don't have a 32bit machine with a proper parallel port (by proper I mean one that connects directly to the motherboard, i.e. not via USB).

The benefit of getting an external motion controller though, is you could use your 64bit machine. It's only the parallel port driver that requires 32bit.

206

General Mach Discussion / Re: Spindle speed crossover eliminating

« on: July 18, 2014, 01:19:07 PM »

I think this depends on what motion controller you're using. I know with my old Smoothstepper setup that I just had to live with it, as there was no way to calibrate the spindle. I think even the Parallel Port spindle calibration doesn't actually do anything, so it's just a case of working around it.

207

General Mach Discussion / Re: Auto Tool Changer Help

« on: July 18, 2014, 01:11:07 PM »

First off, you'll need to wire in the tool changer, which will depend entirely on what spare input and output you have available, and if the TC will connect directly (those datasheets give no details about how much current is involved).

Then you'll need an M6start.m1s macro to handle the control.
Something along the following lines-

Code: [Select]

oldtool = GetCurrentTool() 'Get the current tool position
newtool = GetSelectedTool() 'Get the new tool position

'We'll do a bit sanity checking to ensure a valid tool has been requested
if newtool < 1 or newtool > 6 Then
DoOemButton(1003)
MsgBox"Tool call out of range"
End
End If

if oldtool = newtool Then 'if we've already got the requested tool loaded
End 'then we can quit this macro without doing anything
End If

'if we've made it this far, then we can actually make things move
While oldtool < newtool or oldtool > newtool ' while we're not at the correct tool
ActivateSignal(Output10) ' activate output to start move
Code "G4 P1" ' first half of the required delay
If not IsActive(Input10) ' if our input signal has not gone active, then we have a problem
DoOemButton(1003) ' so stop the current program
MsgBox"TC input status not changed" ' display an error message
End ' and end the macro
End If
Code "G4 P1" ' second part of delay now we know the TC is doing something
While IsActive(Input10) ' we now need to wait until the TC locks
Wend ' so sit in an endless loop while the Input is still active
If oldtool = 6 ' if oldtool is equal to 6
oldtool = 1 ' we need to loop over to 1
Else
oldtool = oldtool + 1 ' else just add one
End If
Wend

' when we finally get past the last while loop
SetCurrentTool(newtool) ' set the current tool to the new tool
End ' and finally quit this macro

I've just thrown this together, so can't guarantee it will work.
Couple points to note -
I've just used Input10 and Output10, which you'll need to change to whatever Input and Output you use.
I've assumed a 6 position tool changer that only turns in one direction (hence the while loop that continually runs while the new tool doesn't equal the old tool)
The only bit I'm not sure about is the oldtool = oldtool + 1, as I'm not sure if it'll work (it should do, but cypress basic has a few quirks and doesn't always follow more normal programming convention!)

208

General Mach Discussion / Re: M6 for lathe different for M6 for Mill?

« on: July 07, 2014, 08:24:34 AM »

It's correct.
Lathe requires the tool position, and the tool offsets, as you could have the same tool in different postions (mostly used for ATCs)

Mill, the tool is always in the same position, it's just the cutter size that varies, so there's only one set of figures for each tool.

209

General Mach Discussion / Re: Turning center/milling online

« on: June 05, 2014, 01:46:18 PM »

That made me smile.

I'd call it pessimistic optimism

210

General Mach Discussion / Re: Turning center/milling online

« on: June 03, 2014, 04:51:37 PM »

I'm not sure just how capable Mach3 is in terms of live tooling, as I can't remember ever seeing a lathe with live tools running on Mach3.

I know Mach 4 turn will be capable of it, however that's going to be at least another few months before it's even remotely ready.