Messages

131

General Mach Discussion / Re: #variable use in Mach3

« on: March 30, 2013, 08:59:07 PM »

Also:

#1 = [0 - #2]
#1 = [#2 * -1]

Regards,
Ray L.

132

General Mach Discussion / Re: Cannot do G1with zero feed rate?

« on: March 30, 2013, 01:45:19 AM »

When you just type "X1", it will be interpreted as whatever the last modal command was.  If the last modal was G0, then it will do "G0 X1".  If the last modal was G1, it will do "G1 X1".  If the last modal was G2, it will do "G2 X1", which is not a valid command.  If you use the Init string to force the modal to a known state, then you'll know what it is, and behavior will be predictable.

Regards,
Ray L.

133

General Mach Discussion / Re: Cannot do G1with zero feed rate?

« on: March 30, 2013, 01:03:22 AM »

No telling what modals are set on startup.  Try typing "G1 X1 F10", instead of just "X1".  Normally, you'd want the Mach3 startup string (in Config->GeneralConfig) to define the initial configuration, including G20 or G21, G0 or G1, set the Feedrate to some reasonable value, like F10, etc.

Regards,
Ray L.

134

General Mach Discussion / Re: Relay Board

« on: March 29, 2013, 08:56:23 AM »

http://www.amazon.com/SainSmart-8-Channel-Relay-Module-Arduino/dp/B0057OC5WK

Regards,
Ray L.

135

General Mach Discussion / Re: Tool Offsets

« on: March 27, 2013, 01:02:56 AM »

The fact that you're using G55 is irrelevent - G55 has no relation to tool diameter offsets.  To apply tool diameter offsets, you must have G40/G41/G42 in your G-code.  It is not a "global" setting that you can turn on and off with a button like length offsets - it has to be applied to specific moves in the G-code, and there are a number of rules about how it must be used.  You'll need to find a book or online article that explains how to use it - it's non-trivial to use it correctly.  Better still, use CAM to generate your G-code, and let the CAM software do the heavy lifting for you.

Regards,
Ray L.

136

General Mach Discussion / Re: Visual Studio 2010 or newer

« on: March 26, 2013, 07:33:57 PM »

And it cannot be "Express" - MUST be the full version....

Regards,
Ray L.

137

General Mach Discussion / Re: Tool Offsets

« on: March 26, 2013, 09:07:09 AM »

Perhaps because the question doesn't really make sense.  G55 has nothing to do with tool offsets.  Tool diameter offsets are controlled by G40, G41 and G42.  Tool length offsets are controlled by G43 and G49.  G55 is one of many fixture offsets.

Regards,
Ray L.

138

General Mach Discussion / Re: inconsistent steps, unsure if Mach3 problem

« on: March 20, 2013, 10:49:54 PM »

"I have tightened up the gibs significantly to get around a generally poorly manufactured machine." - That would be my first guess as to your problem.  What you describe are classic signs of "stiction", which means the axis is not moving as freely as it needs to for precise moves.  You have to tighten the gibs WHILE watching what backlash is doing, which means starting out loose, and measuring backlash.  There will be a lot.  Now tighten the gib a LITTLE, and measure backlash again.  Keep going, and at some point you will see backlash start to decrease.  Keep going, and at some point, you will tighten the gibs a little more, and backlash will *increase*.  At this point, friction is preventing the axis from moving freely, and tightening the gibs further will cause backlash to increase rapidly.

Regards,
Ray L.

139

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 Bug? Causing overrun of drives

« on: March 17, 2013, 09:31:31 PM »

Ray,
I have to ask Why you quit using Mach?

Mostly two reasons - First, I was "lucky" enough to get bit by a bug, at a high rate, that almost nobody else was seeing.  Despite months of effort by Brians part, and Gregs, we were unable to isolate it.  It finally came down to I needed to be able to get my work done, and the bug was nmaking that extremely difficult.  Second, I'd wanted for some time to write my own CNC Controller app, to customize it to my work-flow.  I switched to a KFlop, which eliminated the bug, since I no longer used Mach3 and it allowed me to write my own controller app.  The big may, or may not, have been fixed by now, but it seemed to affect very few people anyway.  I was just "lucky".  So, I now have a very reliable machine, and software that works the way I want it to.  It was a lot of work, but well worth it to me, especially since, as of a few days ago, I have two machines.

Regards,
Ray L.

140

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 Bug? Causing overrun of drives

« on: March 17, 2013, 06:46:09 PM »

Brett,

I can't recommend a version - I stopped using Mach3 well over a year ago.

Regards,
Ray L.