Messages

1311

General Mach Discussion / Re: New error message: "Radius to end of arc"...

« on: February 20, 2009, 06:17:32 PM »

Out of nowhere I'm getting this error when generating a path; "Radius to end of arc differs from radius to start line xx". The same files were working yesterday. Any ideas?

Second question; it is possible to seperate M3 and M4 so that they are not mutually exclusive? I'd like to use them as general I/O.

Thanks.

Ha!  I've gotten that several times, never figured out why.  Restart Mach and all is fine.

M3, M4, M5 are just macros, in the macros directory for your configuration (mill/turn/etc.).  You can define them to do whatever you want.  You can also define your own M-codes, by simply adding appropriately named macro files to the appropriate macros directory.

Regards,
Ray L.

1312

General Mach Discussion / Re: mcodes, additional inputs

« on: February 20, 2009, 05:26:01 PM »

Ray-

Thanks.  That helped a lot.  Its nice to know I can create my own Mcodes (I don't know why I would need one yet), but basically I just wanted to map M3, M4, M7, etc, just the ones for basic machine functionality.  After reading your reply I went back to the manual and searched for 'macro'.   There are many mentions of needing a macro for various functions and not one bit of info about how to create or use them.  I also checked for a video.  There's nothing obvious there, either.  Where can I find that information?  I may have missed something right in front of me, but I've spent > 8 hrs searching documents and videos.

JA

M3 and M4 are setup through Config->Ports&Pins->SpindleSetup.  You can configure two relays, one to be activated on M3, the other on M4, and both will be de-activated on M5.  You can map these to be controlled by any output pin.  If you need spindle speed control, that is also configured in the same place.

Regards,
Ray L.

1313

General Mach Discussion / Re: If using Mach and a Smooth Stepper, did you reduce your max servo speed?

« on: February 20, 2009, 04:48:31 PM »

My machine will do 400 IPM on X and Y, but I limit Mach to 200 IPM.  400 is just too scary - that's about 6 seconds for my 49" table to run stop-to-stop.  Doesn't leave much reaction time if something goes wrong.  And there's little benefit to those kinds of speeds anyway, other than bragging rights.  At some point, I'd like to change out the reduction pulleys, and go from 2.5:1 to 4.8:1, just to bring to max speed down, so I can use more of the available motor speed range.

Regards,
Ray L.

1314

General Mach Discussion / Re: mcodes, additional inputs

« on: February 20, 2009, 04:30:40 PM »

It's not real clear what you want, but I think your first question is asking how to add an M-code that will set an output signal, right?

If so, go to Operator->VB Script Editor, and create a new macro file in the appropriate subdirectory of the Mach3\macros directory.  For example, if you're using Mach3Mill, and want to define M125, create the file M125.m1s in Mach3\macros\Mach3Mill.  This file should contain something like:

    ActivateSignal(OutPut4)

    or

    DeActivateSignal(OutPut4)

    to set or clear the pin corresponding to Output4 in your Config->Ports&Pins->Outputs configuration.  Putting "M125" in your G-code will execute this macro.  I believe you should use a number between 100 and 255, as M codes under 100 are reserved for Mach3.

    I don't believe there's any reason you can't use the "OEM Trigger" inputs as additional inputs, so you've got at least 20 outputs and 20 inputs to work with.

Regards,
Ray L.

1315

General Mach Discussion / Re: Swarf in Keyboard and Mouse!! Ahhhh!

« on: February 20, 2009, 02:34:46 PM »

I've been needing a swarf-proof keyboard myself. I was going to try a silicone one. Obviously, they wouldn't hold up to hot chips, but that wouldn't be a concern to me. It would be easy enough to make a solid platform for them.  For 10-15 bucks shipped, I may try one.
http://computers.shop.ebay.com/items/Flexible__W0QQ_sacatZ158842

Sam,

Those things work, but the feel is HORRENDOUS!  Maybe OK for pushing the occassional key to control the machine, but typing, even a little bit, on one is just awful.  You're much better off waiting for a decent industrial sealed keyboard to come up on E-Bay. They come around quite often, and are usually $40-60.

Regards,
Ray L.

1316

General Mach Discussion / Re: Swarf in Keyboard and Mouse!! Ahhhh!

« on: February 20, 2009, 01:03:45 PM »

Buy a sealed, industrial keyboard.  They show up on E-Bay periodically.  Mine was $40, and is liquid-tight, so totally oblivious to chips, coollant, oil, etc.  For the mouse, get an optical mouse, so no little ball to clog up.  A trackball will still be subject to chips getting into it.  Or, you can use a joystick, trackpad, etc.

Regards,
Ray L.

1317

General Mach Discussion / Re: dual arm control

« on: February 20, 2009, 12:38:12 PM »

Seems to me the Mach3 part of it is pretty straight-forward, and there's no question Mach3 is more than capable of controlling the machine.  Mach3 can control six axes, and you have six axes to control.  The real challenge is the G-code generation, which is mostly an exercise in kinematics and coordinate system transformation, and not something anyone here is likely to be able to help with.  The motion of each arm can be exporessed by some fairly simple equations of motion, so you can come up with a means of mapping any given X/Y position in the drawing to a set of coordinates for one of the two arms.  You clearly need to be able to partition the drawing into sections to be drawn by each of the arms, such that they won't crash into each other while drawing.  This pretty much has to start with splitting the drawing down the middle between the two gantries, then perhaps shifting that dividing line one way or the other to "load balance", if the line density is not pretty consistent on the two halves.  Then, you have to translate the 2D vectors comprising the drawing into the 3D movements of the arms, doing the necessary kinematic permutation from cartesian coordinates to the machines coordinate system.  Given the euqations of motion for the arms and gantries, this should not be fundamentally difficult.  Finally, you need to output the G-code, merging individual moves for the two arms into single G-code move commands that will complete in essentially the same period of time, so you keep both arms busy drawing at full speed as much of the time as possible, rather than having one axis running full speed, while the other moves a low speed because it has a shorted line to draw.  All perfectly do-able, but that last part is, I think, not trivial to do efficiently.

Something to consider - it would probably be a lot simpler, and more efficient, to have two computers, and two copies of Mach3 running, one controlling each arm, so you don't have to do as much coordination between the two.   This would make it a LOT easier to keep both of them moving all the time, and eliminate that last nasty step in the G-code generation.

Regards,
Ray L.

1318

General Mach Discussion / Re: G31 Bug?

« on: February 20, 2009, 11:09:06 AM »

I take it you mean the Mach 3 drivers installed - because it seems to work alright on both my computers, one with and one without machines attached, but both with drivers..

Correct.

1319

General Mach Discussion / Re: CNC'ing both quill and knee

« on: February 20, 2009, 11:06:58 AM »

I don't think I want to use a belt as small as a XL for moving such weight.   Granted there is the screw and gears but its still a awful lot of force on such a tiny belt especially considering the accelleration.

You would be very surprised what these belts can handle, I know I was. Granted I am using a GT3 belt from gates rather than the standard timing belt but I was surprised when Gates told me that for the 17Hp servo I have on my spindle that the 20mm wide 8mm pitch belt would actually be a 60% over engineered solution with the pulleys I was using.This belt has replaced 6 x B section V belts that the lathe used with the induction motor that was originally on it.
  Best thing to do is go to Gates website and register and then download their sizing software.
Hood

And the "weight" being moved is totally irrelevent.  All that matters is the torque at the motor.  If the belt is going to fail, it's going to fail at the motor.  If an XL belt is sufficient to move X & Y, then it's quite capable of moving Z, using the same motor.  Don't design by "feel".  Read the manufacturers recommendations, and the actual ratings for the belts.  It's all in the specs.

Regards,
Ray L.

1320

General Mach Discussion / Re: Greenhouse automation with Mach3

« on: February 20, 2009, 12:08:26 AM »

Hello guys...

quick question...

Can mach 3 switch outputs on and off depending on what time of day and what day of the week it is?

I ask, because a friend of mine wants to automate a greenhouse... and i was wondering if mach could be used in the application.

He has not given details on what exactly he wants... but im pretty sure its just a monitoring of some sensors, and the control of some outputs governed by at what time they turn on, and for how long.

Best regards
Fernando

You're describing a common household lawn sprinkler timer...