Messages

11

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Digital Z Axis Control Questions

« on: January 07, 2010, 03:39:51 AM »

I don't understand the part with the limit switches. If I get it, I can help you out.

12

General Mach Discussion / Re: How to get rid of the THUMP during E-Stopping a G-Code Cycle.

« on: January 05, 2010, 03:13:05 AM »

if i change No FRO on Queue, i can't control the feedrate overrides. Mach3.042.029

13

Tangent Corner / Happy New Year 2010!

« on: December 31, 2009, 11:07:35 PM »

Happy new year to all the guests and members of Machsupport forum, and I wish you the best of 2010, where everything will go smoothly throughout the year! \

Charles

14

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Could someone explain what is a macro pump

« on: December 31, 2009, 11:05:24 PM »

When he means "runs in the background of mach" it means the custom VB code written and saved as macropump.m1s is being executed repeatedly, say 20-25 times per second, depending on the complexity of the code.

The macro will start running when Mach3 is loaded, and will stop running until you exit Mach3.

I'm not quite sure if macropump will still be running if the E-Stop is pressed, can someone clarify this?

Its best to keep the code as simple as possible, in order for Mach3 to be more versatile.

Just my 0.000000 cents XD

15

Feature Requests / Re: Search function

« on: December 31, 2009, 10:56:32 PM »

Can I modify the script to count how many M03's are there? and detect which line number the M03's are?

16

General Mach Discussion / Re: How to get rid of the THUMP during E-Stopping a G-Code Cycle.

« on: December 31, 2009, 10:52:08 PM »

Because feed hold cant stop instantly... What I mean is: When I press Feed Hold, it doesn't pause immediately, instead it will run abit more of the G-code before it stops 100%.

17

General Mach Discussion / How to get rid of the THUMP during E-Stopping a G-Code Cycle.

« on: December 15, 2009, 09:13:04 AM »

I'm sure many of you have experience this, during a g-code cycle process, be it Plasma, Router, Laser, Mill, or anything, at one point of time the CNC may face into accidental danger, and you may need to E-Stop Mach3.

I'm using steppers for plasma cutting, and everytime I e-stop, a thump at all 3 axis immediately brakes, and when i want to perform a recut, most probably I will not be at the exact stop of where I would like to continue or restart the cutting at.

Any ideas to remove the sudden shock-stop at my motor? thanks.

Charles

18

Feature Requests / Feature Request - Better way of Setting Printer Port Address

« on: December 15, 2009, 09:05:31 AM »

Hello everyone,

I know that everyone can get the printer port address easily from Device Manager, by reading the top-left hex address.

But there are certain issues with certain PCI printer port cards, where they will randomly change the printer port address.

For example, today the LPT2 is 0fff, so i configured 0fff on Mach3. And it works flawlessly.

But out of random timing, the LPT2 will change to some other hex address, like ec00, or whatever it is.

So i was wondering if Brian can bringing a new approach for setting printer port address:

Mach3 detects the available LPT Cards, eg. LPT1, LPT2, LPT3 and lists them in a combo list box, then the user will just have to select which LPT to use.

Again as i've said, its easy for people to lookup for the hex address relative to the Printer Port Card in Device Manager, but, doing this will simplify the process, and also prevents the problem of random hex addresses from PCI Printer Port Cards.
(Note: I have proven this fact of wasting PCI cards, because I live in an area where unluckly, there are many thunder storms and lightings. The storm travels through the phone line, busts my modem, which is also connect to my computer through a RJ-45 Ethernet Cable. I have already changed more than a dozen of PCI ethernet cards and yet my motherboard is okay.)

I find External PCI Printer Port Cards produce better signals, eg - 5V signals, because embedded printer ports are mostly 3.3V.

Yes, breakout board with optocoupler or buffer will do, but if there is any electronic malfunction, where an current shocks and destroy the motherboard? I feel it better to waste the external PCI printer port card better than wasting a motherboard.

Thanks for reading this post, and I hope you guys will stand up for my request!

Thanks!!!

Regards

Charles

19

Machscreen Screen Designer / How do I edit the VB?

« on: June 26, 2009, 12:27:13 PM »

Yep, but I don't know how to change the VB Scripts. The DRO fonts are kind of fatter then the original. Other then that, perfect!

20

VB and the development of wizards / Problem with Do Until Loop

« on: October 21, 2008, 06:22:47 PM »

Hi guys,

I have written a untrue Timer System for my Oxy Dwell. Oxy is critical during dwelling and I need to Extend the delay times if its not enough. So I have written a macro here, which is used in M03:

Sub Main()
Dim Delay, RT, ET, TStop, TSet, TExtend
TStop = 0.2
TSet = getUserLED(821)
TExtend = getUserLED(822)

Delay = getUserDRO(1051)
RT = Delay
ET = 0
ActivateSignal(Output1)

Do Until (RT <= (TStop)) Or (TSet = 1)
   RT = RT - 0.2
   ET = ET + 0.2
   Call SetUserDRO( 1055, RT )
   Call SetUserDRO( 1056, ET )
   code "G4 P0.1"
   While IsMoving()
   Wend
Loop

If (TExtend = 1 And TStop = 0.2)Then

   ET = ET + 0.2
   Call SetUserDRO( 1055, 0 )
   Call SetUserDRO( 1056, ET )
   code "G4 P0.1"
   While IsMoving()
   Wend
End If

If (TSet = 1)Then

   ET = ET + 0.2
   Call SetUserDRO( 1056, ET )
End If

End Sub         

1051 Recieves a Delay Value from a Custom DRO.
RT stands for Remaining Time, which is used on Custom DRO 1055.
ET stands for Elapsed Time, which is used on Custom DRO 1056.

getUserLED(821) represents Input #1.
getUserLED(822) represents Input #2.

What it does:

TStop is a value that I should Stop Counting from.
TSet is hooked up to Input 1.
TExtend is hooked up to Input 2.

Ive configured a time delay, for instance - 10 seconds, on DRO 1051.
When the M03 runs, Remaining Time will start displaying 10 seconds, Elapsed will display 0 seconds.

As it goes, RT will be minus by 0.2, and ET will be added by 0.2.

SetUserDRO 1055 and 1056 will put a new figure unto Elapsed and Remaining Time.

To make it more realistic, a 100ms delay is added unto the script.

The whole script repeats until TStop reaches 0.2, or Tset = 1(Input1 is triggered).

Set and Extend features is:

While the Timer is counting, If I press Set, the value on the Elapsed Time counted halfway will replace the old Delay Time.
If the Timer has finished counting, If I press Extend, Elapsed Time will continue to count Until I press set and the New Elapsed Time will replace the Old Delay Time.
If the Timer has finished counting, and a second delay has passed, the VB will ignore the signals from Elapsed Time and continue the next VB instruction.

I have been experimenting for weeks, argh, I still fail. Anyone can help me out?

I say thank you a zillion times in advance.

Charles