Topics

71

General Mach Discussion / Mach3 And SmoothStepper Getting Out Of Sync On Jogging....

« on: January 15, 2009, 03:52:35 PM »

I'm using the lockdown version of Mach3, and the v015me SS plug-in.  When I do a (manual) tool change, I often have to jog to position the tool over the work so I can set the Z position.  Occasionally, after doing this, Mach and the SS seem to be out of sync, as the DROs will show the correct position, but if I start the program, the machine moves to the wrong position.  For example, suppose it is at X=0 when the tool change occurs, and I jog to X=2, set the Z height, then hit Run.  If the next move is to X=4, it will instead move to X=6, though the DRO will indicate X=4.  Oddly, if I then do a G0 X0, it does correctly go to Z=0 and it's fine after that.  I have experienced this problem intermittently for months.

Is this fixed in the current SS plugin?

Regards,
Ray L.

72

General Mach Discussion / How Many Tools Does Mach Allow?

« on: January 06, 2009, 05:57:35 PM »

I use SheetCAM to generate my G-code, and I've written some software to create SheetCAM tool sets from an Excel spreadsheet, with things like RPM and feed rate calculated based on SFPM and other factors.  I've created a huge toolset (about 250 tools), with numbers ranging from 1 to about 850 (yes, there's a good reason for that....), and Mach is really not happy with such large tool numbers.  Anyone know what the limit is?

Regards,
Ray L.

73

General Mach Discussion / Optical Limit Switches

« on: November 13, 2008, 11:25:59 PM »

Does anyone here have a design for good, coolant-proof optical limit switches?  I hate to re-invent the wheel....

Regards,
Ray L.

74

General Mach Discussion / Pulley Settings

« on: November 12, 2008, 09:12:45 PM »

What are the pulley settings for, and how are they used?  Do they do more than scale the RPM DRO?  How do you tell Mach which pulley is engaged?

Regards,
Ray L.

75

General Mach Discussion / Line Numbers in G Code

« on: November 05, 2008, 11:17:59 AM »

Do I understand correctly that G code does not require line numbers - i.e. - they can be deleted?

Does Mach pay attention to them?  Will it care it, for instance, they are out of sequence?  My post outputs line numbers, but it would sometimes be convenient to move blocks of code, to re-order operations to reduce unnecessary moves, but that would leave the numbers out of order.  I can, of course, write a simple Perl script to fix that, but I am one lazy SOB....

Regards,
Ray L.

76

General Mach Discussion / Peck Drilling

« on: November 03, 2008, 07:58:19 PM »

When peck drilling, say a 3/8" hole, in 6061, what feed rate, peck depth and retract depth would be appropriate?  I've been using about 5IPM, 1/8" peck, 0.05" retract.  That still results in some pretty good "strings", and drilling holes takes quite a while.
What would you guys use?

Regards,
Ray L.

77

General Mach Discussion / To Ramp, Or Not To Ramp. That Is the Question.... And Others...

« on: October 16, 2008, 04:47:46 PM »

1) I'm using SheetCAM to generate G-code for my mill.  I've just gotten the Z axis CNC'd, so I'm learning how to program in 3D now.  SheetCAM supports ramping, but I'm not real clear on when this is advantageous, as opposed to just plunging in Z, then moving in X/Y.  Ramping is kinda fun to watch, but slows things down quite a bit.
So, when/where/why should I ramp.

2) When drilling aluminum (6061), I usually end up with huge masses of "strings" wrapped around the bit.  How do I prevent this?  I'm generally "pecking" 1/8-1/4", but even that is enough to generate a huge quantity of "aluminum wool".

3) When cutting, for example, the perimeter of a part, I usually end up with a small "divot" in the profile at the start/end point, even when I arc in and out.  I do have a small amount of backlash (under 0.001"), but this seems like more than that.  How can I avoid this?  Am I not doing the best kind of entry/exit?

Regards,
Ray L.

78

General Mach Discussion / Using "Scream4"

« on: June 05, 2004, 04:55:19 AM »

Is there anyone here "fluent" in using screen4.exe that can answer some (I think) pretty basic questions?

Regards,
Ray L.

79

General Mach Discussion / USB "Pendants"

« on: October 12, 2008, 01:38:59 PM »

Has anyone used one of these: 

http://www.contourdesign.com/shuttlepro/
http://www.contourdesign.com/shuttlepro/shuttlexpress.htm

as a pendant for Mach?  Seems to me it would work nicely, and the configuration software appears to be very flexible, especially in allowing a single button to cycle through a list of operations so, for example, one button could be used to cycle through a list of jog step sizes or rates.  Seems to me the jog/shuttle wheels would also make a pretty nice way of jogging, albeit on only one axis at a time.

Regards,
Ray L.

80

General Mach Discussion / Macros For Dummies

« on: October 11, 2008, 11:10:42 AM »

How do I create a macro?  I currently use (well, used to use....) brains for the I/F to my crappy pendant.  Since that is no longer working right with SmoothStepper, I want to translate it to a macro instead.  Writing the code is, I think, trivial, but where do I then put it/what else do I have to do to "integrate" it into Mach?

Regards,
Ray L.