Messages

1031

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 Customization/Macro Programming Documentation

« on: August 24, 2009, 10:20:09 PM »

Has anyone here ever used the CoupleSlave() function?

Regards,
Ray L.

1032

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 Customization/Macro Programming Documentation

« on: August 24, 2009, 06:24:53 PM »

Actually, a tutorial manual is in my charter, but as Simpson indicated, it has to come *after* the reference documents are done.  The tutorial will cover a lot of ground, but the most important thing is showing people how to make use of the reference manual, how to understand the functions and variables, and giving pointers on good programming practices, so they can come up the learning curve faster.  It will cover, if anything, more than most users will ever want or need to know, from how to create custom screensets, to writing all kinds of macros, up to and including probing and toolchanger macros.  This, combined with the many, many changes we're making in the VB envorinment, will make writing macros a LOT easier than it has been up to this point.

I will "publish" the documents, chapter by chapter, as I complete them, starting as soon as the first version of v4 that includes all the new VB features is released.  By that time, the reference manual will for sure be done, which will include full documentation on all new, old and deprecated functions, variables, OEM codes, etc.

Here is the overall outline I'm working from:

Introduction
Areas of Customization
    Screen Design
    VBasic Macros
    Plug-Ins (mentioned, but not described in detail in this document)
Screen Designer Basics
    Visual Controls
    Labels
    Images
    LEDs
    DROs
    Buttons
    Mach-Specific Controls
    Screen Designer Tools
        Screen4
        MachScreen
    Advanced Techniques
        Combining Buttons and LEDs
        Implementing Radio Buttons
Mach3 VBasic Macros
    Macro Basics
    Button Macros
    M-Code Macros
    The Mach3 Macro-Pump
    Communicating With and Controlling Mach3
        OEM Codes   
        Mach3 Macro Functions   
        Variables
        Moving the Machine
        Executing G-code
    Advanced Macro Topics
    Macro Execution Environment
    Nested Macros
    Terminating Macro Execution
Customization Examples
    A Basic Edge-Finding Macro
    A Basic Tool-Length Setting Macro
    A More Comprehensive Set of Probing Macros
    Probing A 2D Part Outline
    A Simple Tool Changer Macro
    Multi-Function Button Macros For A Pendant
Programmers Reference Manual
    V4 OEM Codes Defined
        Buttons
        LEDs
        DROs
        Vars
    V4 Scripting Functions Grouped Alphabetically
    V4 Scripting Functions Grouped By Function
Legacy Support
   Running Legacy Macros
    V3 OEM Codes Defined
        Buttons
        LEDs
        DROs
        Vars
    V3 Scripting Functions Grouped Alphabetically
    V3 Scripting Functions Grouped By Function

Regards,
Ray L.

1033

General Mach Discussion / Re: 5vdc source

« on: August 24, 2009, 12:36:03 PM »

Best to use a separate supply, and just tie the grounds together.

Regards,
Ray L.

1034

General Mach Discussion / Re: Single Axis question

« on: August 24, 2009, 12:11:24 PM »

Whether it's a reasonable thing to do, I don't know, but one way you could do this is to put a switch on the machine, connected to the Mach3 PROBE input, to tell you when you've reached the end of the cut.  Then do the actual cut with a G31 move.  You'd have to start the spindle first, and reverse the spindle to move back to the starting point.   As long as you only cut one direction, backlash should not matter.  I suppose you could also do in in units/rev mode, and do away with the switch.  The trick will be coming up with a foolproof means of determining the end of cut, before you run into the chuck.  Or, just cut away from the headstock, and stop it manually after you run off the end of the part.

Regards,
Ray L.

1035

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 Customization/Macro Programming Documentation

« on: August 24, 2009, 11:59:47 AM »

Well, I now know just about everything there is to know about *all* of the VB functions available to us!  There are quite a few useful functions that have never been documented before, and quite a few others that will be discarded, as they either duplicate other functionality, are obsolete, were for special testing only, or were never completed in the first place.  There are "holes" in the functionality that we'll be able to plug up.  There are a number of functions that are sparsely, and/or incorrectly, documented.  There is a LOT we will be doing that will make this stuff a LOT easier to understand, and much more "approachable" for newbies.

And, one thing that will make several of us happy - Brian agrees that the serial port support needs to be completely re-done.

Regards,
Ray L.

1036

General Mach Discussion / Re: Wizard for editing a ready tap file.

« on: August 24, 2009, 11:49:19 AM »

IN the current VB structure?  NO.

Hope that helps, (;-) TP

Oh, it *could* be done, but you'd have no hair left by the time you finished.  You'd be FAR better off doing it off-line.  I don't even want to *think* about writing a G-code parser in VB.  YUCK!

Regards,
Ray L.

1037

General Mach Discussion / Re: Second Parallel port

« on: August 23, 2009, 05:36:08 PM »

It might also be necessary to put pull-up resistors on the lines, to ensure they see a strong logic 1 when the switches are not pulling them to ground.

Regards,
Ray L.

1038

General Mach Discussion / Re: Need HELP Steppers Stalling on Shallow Moves

« on: August 23, 2009, 04:31:48 PM »

hmm, ok, well the problem gets solved by slowing down the rapids, so I think I'll just stick with that, thanks for the help.

That would really worry me.  You may have solved the immediate problem, but there is something wrong somewhere, and it will undoubtedly come back and bite you in the ass at the worst possible time.  I don't believe you've seen the last of this problem....

Regards,
Ray L.

1039

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 Customization/Macro Programming Documentation

« on: August 23, 2009, 01:10:04 PM »

Ray, 

That sound very nice indeed!! Sorry if I came across a "Critical", it was NOT meant that way at all.

Looking forward to your work.

scott

Scott,

No problem, I don't mind at all.  I'm just surprised there's such a brouhaha over a single word, when the meaning is explained in the following sentence.  To me, the important thing is for the functionality to be *precisely* defined.  "Activate" may be a comfortable word for some, but in this context it is meaningless.  Does that mean drive it high?  Driive it low?  Turn on the "Enable"?  Who knows.  "Assert" does have a very clear meaning to those who are accustomed to reading data sheets and software manuals - It means drive it to its active level, whether that is high or low.  For those unfamiliar with it, this is an opportunity to learn a new wiord, because they'll probably see it in other places eventually.  Learning is good!  :-) 

It's impossible to do something like this and make everyone happy, but having this stuff actually documented will life SOOOOOO much easier for everyone in the long run, even if they have to learn a few new terms along the way (and it will be just a few, after all).  I sure wish I'd had it about a year ago.

Regards,
Ray L.

1040

General Mach Discussion / Re: Smooth Stepper reset

« on: August 23, 2009, 01:02:33 PM »

Sid,

Inside the PC enclosure is fairly "quiet", so it's a very safe place to mount the SS.  Inside your "main panel"....  Not so much.  The PP cables are reasonably noise-immine, as long as you use a good shielded cable, and don't connect the shield at the main panel end.  If you want to brute force it, enclose the SS in a metla box.  Just a grounded sheet-metal enclosure (preferably steel) over it should help a lot.  Make sure the USB cable *inside* the "main panel" is as short as possible, and that the main panel itself is well grounded.

MOST problems I see on the forums are due to inadequate shielding and grounding, not SS, not PC, etc.

Regards,
Ray L.