Messages

41

General Mach Discussion / Re: Soft Limit Warning

« on: June 11, 2009, 09:54:47 AM »

It's hard to tell from the XML what the Soft limit parameters of your machine are set at (I think that info is stored in a different Config file and I dunno which one).  What are the specs on your machine?  How much travel do you have available?

The G-Code has a comment line that says that the total depth of cut is 12.?? in a positive value but the G01 Z commands are all in Negative numbers (which is correct) but not being familiar with your CAM package this is nothing more than an observation of inconsistency on my part perhaps you could verify that the PP is in fact processing correctly?

In any case the there is some conflict between your code and the settings on the machine- I suggest you load your code and go to the Toolpath screen.  It shows the "Extents" of the the code and you will see immediately what Z axis command is calling a soft limit conflict.  That will help to narrow things down a bit.

It's really gotta be one of two things - The soft limit settings on the machine are not correct or the code is calling for something out of range

HTH,
Sid

42

Finished Screens / Re: Mach3 Aqua

« on: June 11, 2009, 01:14:36 AM »

This is a REALLY nice Set.  Elegantly Simple but not 'dumbed down'.  I wish I were 25% as creative!  WOW!!

Sid

43

General Mach Discussion / Re: Is this a (Z axis) problem (bug) or a Preference that I just don't understand?

« on: April 01, 2009, 01:48:40 AM »

Right On!  Thanks Brett!

Regards,
Sid

44

General Mach Discussion / Re: Is this a (Z axis) problem (bug) or a Preference that I just don't understand?

« on: March 30, 2009, 05:20:42 PM »

OK Brett, So are you gonna give it up?  How did you make that button do that?  Macro??  Howzabout posting that bad boy for all of your other commrades!!??? 

:-)

Sid

45

General Mach Discussion / Re: Is this a (Z axis) problem (bug) or a Preference that I just don't understand?

« on: March 30, 2009, 01:49:16 PM »

Hood you are DA MAN!  Very perceptive indeed!  Safe Z in Work Coords.  So I have a work around but actually I still think that Z should move last regardless of Safe Z preference settings.  Whatcha think- Macro???

Regards (& Thanks),
Sid

46

General Mach Discussion / Is this a (Z axis) problem (bug) or a Preference that I just don't understand?

« on: March 30, 2009, 01:25:12 PM »

Hey All,

I've been away for a while and finally had a chance to update to the new 3.042 version.  It seems that a change has taken place in the way that the GoTo Zero command is being executed. 

Previously when one selected Goto Zero was selected the X & Y axis would trundle off to their respective positions and then Z would drop on in.  I found this to be exactly what I wanted since it kept my Z retracted (clearing clamps, Jigs and such) whilst X & Y did their thing.

Now in the new & improved version, Z moves down first and then X & Y rip across my table.  The first time I tried this I promptly broke my Bit by slamming into one of my Destaco Clamps  . Am I crazy to think that moving the Z first is backwards?

So... I've looked in the config for an option to select which axis moves first and can find none.  Am I missing something or do I need to create a custom Macro to do this?   Thanks in advance for your help/advice.

Regards,
Sid

47

SmoothStepper USB / Re: Override Limits issue - does it relates to SS?

« on: November 22, 2008, 04:02:08 PM »

It works but it's funky.  You have tho click the reset button 2 times.  Then it should allow you to move off your limit switch.

HTH,
Sid

48

General Mach Discussion / Re: reading excel files in Mach 3

« on: October 06, 2008, 10:45:20 PM »

Hi,

How about saving your file in a DELIMTED text format (.txt).  Use something like a , (comma) as the delimiter.  Then open the text document in wordpad or Word and do a "Find a Replace" .  Search for the , and replace it with a space.

HTH,
Sid

49

General Mach Discussion / Need PoppaBear to reply to this! Re: closing the loop in mach?-

« on: August 22, 2008, 01:19:42 AM »

There is a new product/device called a CNC Brain that claims to be able to do exactly what you want.  It is still in R&D and there was talk of a plugin for Mach being developed with the help of PoppaBear/Scott but I have not seen/heard anything about this being completed yet.  Maybe Scott could comment on the status of the plugin development?

FYI...  http://www.safeguardrobotics.com/default.aspx?tab=home

HTH,
Sid

50

General Mach Discussion / Re: Softlimits not working with smoothstepper

« on: August 14, 2008, 10:53:53 PM »

Hi,

I did some BETA testing for Greg a while ago on a plugin that has the soft limits working.  In this version of the plugin the soft limits performed virtually the same as they do when using the PP.  There were a couple of quirky things though and I reported all of my findings back to Greg.  I think he is/should be VERY close to releasing a new plugin that has soft limits implemented.

HTH,
Sid