Messages

561

General Mach Discussion / Re: Loading and Saving Work offsets Directly from VBScript

« on: May 11, 2017, 03:47:03 PM »

There is no way to bypass the OPEN then SAVE?

If memory serves me well, I believe that is correct and that is why I have  the button.
To lazy to go find my notes........

RICH

562

General Mach Discussion / Re: How to create customized drawing of G-code?

« on: May 11, 2017, 08:55:32 AM »

But I need to get the data about a loaded g-code and custom draw it.

You can make a drawing of a gcode program. This is called backplotting. It basically provides the instructions to
the CAD software on how to draw each coded line. So you get a drawing  of the pathing. You can buy a backplotter program  like NC Plot ($300) or some others.
I use a custom backplotter ( sorry,  can't  share it ).

RICH

563

Members Docs / Re: Using the Parallel Port with Mach3.

« on: May 11, 2017, 08:38:40 AM »

I have had good success using the following PP cards with Windows XP.

Rosewill RC-302 - Low-Profile PCI Card - Single Parallel (SPP / PS2 / EPP / ECP) Universal  
                  5V PCI slot only
                  approx $14.00


Rosewill RC-304 - 2-Port Parallel (SPP / PS2 / EPP / ECP) Universal PCI Card
                  5V PCI slot only
                  approx $22.00

I prefer the 2 port card.You can find them on Ebay and other places. Some other makes were not to my liking.

RICH

564

General Mach Discussion / Re: Loading and Saving Work offsets Directly from VBScript

« on: May 11, 2017, 07:44:18 AM »

Attached pic is what I use for my lathe screen and serves me well.

Buttons allow for Work Offset selection and current fixture values are
shown for the selected offset.

- Created a label, the value is   COSYS  to show current work offset
- Added a button to  Open / Change Fixturing
  OEM-Code 122
-Added DRO’s for input of the offset values
  Standard Code 30
-Added buttons to be able to set / select what offset I want to use at any time
  Standard Code 33

How it works:
Select the offset you want to use / change by clicking one of the offset buttons
 ( never needed more than six offsets). You input  offset values in the DRO,s 
and they are changed/added to the table, then click the Open /Change Fixturing button
and the table will open and you save the table. Note that you must open and save the
table when the table is open, that’s just the way it is.. When you click one of the
offset buttons, that offset it becomes the current work offset, is shown on the
screen label and the values of the table are shown.
 
In use:
G54 is the default offset when Mach3 opens. So say I machine a part with gcode and
want to duplicate the  piece, I just click the offset desired and rerun the same code.

Must add that it all depends on what you want to do and how you want to work.

RICH

565

General Mach Discussion / Re: G command to toggle soft limits....... Is it possable

« on: May 08, 2017, 11:02:58 PM »

Why not just use the screen button to set soft limits?

There is no G code or specific M code.

You could create a Macro, include it as part of the Initialization String. Could also then use the macro
in start of any gcode file.

For the mill screen Soft limit Image button is  OEMButton 119  and the LED is OEM Code 23.
Also from a list additional button codes are 1029 and also 13000.So I guess one could check the soft limit state
and then use  DoButton ( ) or  Do OEMButton () to turn soft limits on if off with the macro.

RICH

566

General Mach Discussion / Re: HELP!!! ASAP!!! TIA!!! Tool display image

« on: May 08, 2017, 10:10:40 PM »

I would suggest you just do something new / simple in LC and post to Mach and see if it displays in the graphic area as a test.

Did you do the above?

Can you post the gcode that will not display?

RICH

567

General Mach Discussion / Re: Steeper y stopped working for no apparent reason

« on: May 08, 2017, 09:02:46 AM »

Now let's just say that I had been using the same set up since last year and it had been working just fine,
how likely could it be that my set up is wrong  now? If I used it previous ocations without any issues.

I would guess unlikely from a controller point of view. Sometimes an xml file will get corrupted and it has
happened only once in many years to me. If any changes are made a backup of the pre-change xml is saved
in the folder callled "xmlbackups" where Mach3 is installed. You can go back in time and try one of them
to test.

RICH

568

General Mach Discussion / Re: Steeper y stopped working for no apparent reason

« on: May 06, 2017, 07:48:46 AM »

I'm not sure about how this is set up or  so not sure about steps per unit or any of that for what I've been reading this is kinda crucial to know and I will do my best to figure this things out

See if basic jogging and axis moves via commands and jogging work for a basic mill.
Set the drives up amps etc and then tune the steppers accordingly for a simple mill
including steps per , velocity, accel and use the axis calibration if you want.
You will gain valuable experience that will be appplied to understanding of the plasma!

Plasma is somewhat more involved since there is piercing, and other settings that come
into play for the cnc plasma to function correctly. Just another learning curve
you need to understand.

If all works well as a simple milling machine then your problem is the plasma setup.

All that arcing etc can cause RF which can do a number on electronics, but, leave
that as a comment for awareness for now.

RICH

569

General Mach Discussion / Re: HELP!!! ASAP!!! TIA!!! Tool display image

« on: May 06, 2017, 07:18:34 AM »

Do you have a valid Mach3 License?
Do you have a license for LazyCam? ( you need one if your going to use any of the advanced features in the modules )

As commented before to you , read the LC Manual.

I would suggest you just do something new / simple in LC and post to Mach and see if it displays in the graphic area as a test. If it doesn't then.......

I don't know what. or if any affect. the  power outage may have had on your computer.
So I would suggest you just re-install Mach3 and then LazyCam.

RICH

570

General Mach Discussion / Re: zeroing axis ( A axis ) in G Code

« on: May 03, 2017, 07:31:02 AM »

First check General logic configuration and understand the impact of checking any of the "Rotation" boxes and the distance mode also.
Create a macro to do whatever you want to do, then call the macro in your program code.

RICH