Messages

1611

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: ScreenSet Question

« on: May 11, 2014, 08:44:24 AM »

Relative to Terry's questions does the Z Order under properties apply?
OR
Maybe someone explain Z Order as I remember this "greying out " things.

RICH

1612

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: More Problems with Radius Compensation G42 / G41

« on: May 10, 2014, 07:02:14 AM »

The reason you don't hear a lot about problems using radius comp is because we lazy folks use CAM to generate pre-compensated code rather than hand code. Echoing what Graham said pay, attention to lead in and out.

RICH

1613

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Image Buttons and images on screen

« on: May 09, 2014, 08:13:33 AM »

May want to consider adding a Tab like this and populate whatever you want for help.
It can be images or whatever. You'll need to play with the images some....been a while since I played with the screen editor.

RICH

1614

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Load GCode from fixed directory - for TP

« on: May 09, 2014, 07:40:07 AM »

BRIAN,

Please will someone say it.. WxLua was the correct scripting environment!

It's fantastic Brian and a good choice. 


Just remember that there are a lot of folks that have no programing experience. So just take that into consideration
by asking what needs to be done so that Mach4 is functional for those folks.
Lua to me is something that occurs in Hawaii. 
Left my programming skills on the VAX mainframe  a long time ago.......... hey, hey, you were just a concept at that time.

- One could go to http://www.lua.org/manual/5.1/manual.html#5.5 for a manual and then find some Lua basic tutoring.
  For a non programmer it's more than disheartening.

- Maybe better than a manual would be examples of basic stuff  that folks can manipulate and learn from.
  Surely this will come about over time.
 
So keep the examples coming as they are appreciated guys and surely your talents will be called upon.

Want to go to the feast ...just studying how to get there,
RICH
 

1615

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 Printer Port Discussions

« on: May 09, 2014, 06:01:43 AM »

Thanks Art.
Look forward for the release.

RICH

1616

General Mach Discussion / Re: Current Hi/Lo setting?

« on: May 05, 2014, 06:19:30 AM »

Roger,
Don't know what "pin" you are talking about relative to current setting.
Some drives will limit the current when the motor  is not being pulsed / used to a lower value after a time period and then switch back to a higher current setting when pulsing starts again and you have a choice of setting the Auto Current reduction to on or off.

Mach3 has nothing to do with the current setting as Mach provides the pulses to the drive and the drive manages the power.
When current is reduced the motor holding torque is reduced.

I don't know what the TB drives do. You will need to sort through all the info to find out.
Sorry, but personaly I just don't address issues with the TB drives, and will reframe from making comment about them.
Ask the Chinese ..............

RICH

 

1617

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Comments about Mach4 in Demo

« on: April 30, 2014, 08:42:04 AM »

Nothing can stand still, it either moves forward or withers and dies since this is just a rule of nature.
That said, accept nature's rule.
--------------------------------------------------------------

A lot of folks will stay with Mach 3 for a long time until absolutely forced to deal with the inevitable.
If Mach3 does what they want it to do for them they may not upgrade. They see new computer,
new Mach, new controller board, new software, new printer, new scanner, new + new +new = $
in the big picture, and face it, one just gets tired of  the "change" since value recieved is not justified in their big picture at their operating level. So I think that is truely what is in the thought cloud above
folks heads.

---------------------------------------

A lot of time has been spent on Mach4.
I just hope that whatever external motion devices that will be available are cost effective, work first time around ( ie; that it does not mean you purchase something, then need to update, and update, takes years for it to do what is required and spending money on it it along the way.

So take your time motion device folks to compliment Mach4.

----------------------------------------------

Just my penny FWIW............,

RICH

1618

General Mach Discussion / Re: Y AXIS with 2x Ball Screw Alignment

« on: April 30, 2014, 07:43:12 AM »

I think you should know the system before you make any changes. By that I meaning, check each component / part of the system by isolating each part to check for backlash / play / belt and bearing  adjustment, etc.

As Russ said you can shim the bearings to take out or remove play. It cannot be zero! You shim and then see how much torque it takes to rotate the shaft while also checking backlash. I use a torque gage which provides data as compared to how it feels. Make note of the backlash (it should be small).

After  the bearings are adjusted then you check the ball screw. You have what you have for the ball screw unless the nut is adjustable. Make note of of any backlash.

Do the above for both axis.

You are direct driven on the one axis. FWIW I have found problems with flex couplings in that they are not repeatable some times ( all depends on the amount of torque ). Direct drive that axis using  a solid coupling for testing the incremental and also the overall travel for checking the calculated steps per unit.
Make note of incremental variance in both the forward and reverse travel and any backlash on reversal.
Your checking the lead acurracy. Do the same for the other axis without the belts ( seems like you can easily mount the motor  on the other side the same way for testing.

Backlash will adds up so be meticulous. You now know what each axis can do. You may even tweak the
steps per unit for each axis as compared to calculated based on testing.

Now add the belting. Belt tension can affect accuracy. For short lengths i have found its in steps but can't  say how much for long belts. Two discs of know diameter ie; a  linear movement of belt equals rotation of disc can comparitively show  differenece between the movement of the two axes.
Easy to do ....place large ones on the idler pulleys and one axis. Align the marks and and see the differences between the marks on the pulley ( you can calculate the step differences) Play with tension to see the affect.

Summary:
Both screws move the gantry and you know they are refined / adjusted as best you can. You know
backlash for each axis and also linear movment accuracy for each axis.
You add the belting and now check the affect of belt tension and also check  linear movement of the belt as compared to linear movement of the gantry. See what is the worst component of the belting system. Note that a complete  rotation of the large belt should be repeatable as compared to the same linear movement of the each axis.

Hopefully the above reply gives you the gest of what to do....

RICH

1619

General Mach Discussion / Re: Surely some Mach3 genus can answer this question?

« on: April 21, 2014, 03:24:00 PM »

beauman58,
I "personaly" will not respond to problems with the cheap chinese TB*********x controllers as i have  spent hours
helping a few young folks get theirs working. That was done out of feeling sorry they spent their small amount
of funds on junk! No more / never again. In fact I generaly ignore any posts about those junk controllers.

Here is why:
The pure junk controllers are sold to folks and the sellers and fabricators expect others to spend their time and
expertise to refine their product. They are leaches who use others to make money and support their product.
 
They then go on to sell pirated software or sometimes even provide setups that don't work. They don't care,
and again, expect nice folks like the ones on this site to address the needs of  their prey.

That said.......

Yes, this is a place to asks questions about Mach and you will certainly get the best answers in the world.
The problem you will have is that a lot of folks in here have the same opinion that was described above about the
controllers. The users of this forum are very generous in coverage of CNC matters and go out of their
way to help folks. Make note that they do this activity for free, but, they do not like to be or want to be taken
advantage of. BTW, they are not genus's, but rather some of the best you could hope to find in the area of
expertise they have to offer.

So feel free to use other forums if you so desire.
Have you considered using the genus of  the  TB6560 forum?
How about the forums created by the vendor you bought the controller from?

 When you find that you have become expert in Mach by all means post a link here.
 I am sure the 1000's of mach users will want some of your time.

RICH

1620

General Mach Discussion / Re: Surely some Mach3 genus can answer this question?

« on: April 21, 2014, 07:53:03 AM »

This "genius" would suggest that you contact the maker or the party you bought that board from and ask they provide 
resolution to their boards problem.

Please do not continue to make multiple posts about the same boards problems.

RICH