Messages

1641

General Mach Discussion / Re: input read frequency?

« on: May 07, 2010, 11:39:08 AM »

Thanks Hood - Looks like I was being a bit optimistic with my 100Hz.

Cheers

Ian

1642

General Mach Discussion / input read frequency?

« on: May 07, 2010, 11:34:12 AM »

I'm sure I've read this somewhere but can't find it. How often does Mach read input signals - I have in mind it's somewhere like 100Hz but I'm not sure. Specifically if it makes any difference - how often does Mach read THC UP/DOWN?

Cheers

Ian

1643

General Mach Discussion / Re: Reversing Y Axis

« on: May 07, 2010, 11:27:49 AM »

Hi Russ - I see where you're going but it's making my brain hurt trying to figure it out  TGIF - certainly you can get Mach to jog y-ve when you hit the up arrow etc. just by changing the keymapping but that's where I come to a stop - sorry.

Cheers

Ian

1644

General Mach Discussion / Re: edge finding/2.5D probing

« on: May 07, 2010, 11:16:29 AM »

Hi Denis

When you say...

When I run my created probe25d.tap file

I'm a tad confused. You don't create probe25D.tap. It's already created for you as part of the package and should NOT be changed. Before we go any further can you just confirm you're running the unchanged file please.

Cheers

Ian

1645

General Mach Discussion / Re: Reversing Y Axis

« on: May 07, 2010, 10:45:29 AM »

All of the parts / blanks then register to this point which would make X0,Y0 the upper left of the part/dwg.

Is this correct Russ? Sure, that's where the registration point is - top left, but does that neccessarilly make that point 0,0? Can that point not be anything you like? i.e. lets say your part is 1.5 inches "high" then is that registration point not 0,1.5? and everything else is just normal. So if for example you somehow home to the registration point, can't you just set home to be 0,1.5 instead of the "normal" 0,0? Or am I missing the point?

Cheers

Ian

1646

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Time estimation until tool change

« on: May 05, 2010, 10:54:59 AM »

The best I can suggest is that you turn off your controler, select auto toolchange in configs and modify the M6start macro. Then you can do a real time simulation run prior to your actual cutting which will record the time of the toolchanges. Not ideal but at least it is 100% accurate. (remember to switch back to manual toolchange before your real run)

here's a skeletal addition to M6start.m1s. I'll leave it to you to convert to HH:MM:SS

Open "toolchangetimes.txt" For Append As #1
Print #1, Timer & " " & getselectedtool()
Close #1    

Just don't let your wife see it she'll probably point out that it's not an optimal or ideal solution  

Cheers

Ian

1647

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Time estimation until tool change

« on: May 04, 2010, 07:27:52 AM »

Hi Wolfgang - not sure how you'd do this and as no one else has come up with a solution...
I remember reading somewhere how you could come at it from a different angle. Stick a mobile phone somewhere appropriate on your rig and a "finger" somewhere on your Z assembly. Pre set a text and toolchange gcode to hit the send button. Now your mill texts you when it needs a toolchange - cute or what? 

Cheers

Ian

1648

General Mach Discussion / Re: edge finding/2.5D probing

« on: May 04, 2010, 05:09:16 AM »

OK - got it - the crux is that you have overhang or undercut - whichever, which is why I asked if you used a probe with a "special" tip - i.e. one that can *reach* into the undercut without the shaft fouling. I understand your analogy with the pipe but clearly if the sides were *truely* vertical then there'd be no need to probe in multiple Z levels - they'd all be the same 

As I've said I will sort this asap but meanwhile I'll take a look at the routines and see if there's a quick kludge for you as I'm a bit strapped for time at the mo.

Cheers

Ian

1649

VB and the development of wizards / Re: P, Q, R parameter

« on: May 04, 2010, 04:54:21 AM »

If you don't actually want or need the parallel behaviour of the multiple macros, it seems a bit overkill to start messing with home rolled semaphores just to get a "sub call". Why not just put your library routines in... erm... a library i.e. a DLL?

Cheers

Ian

1650

General Mach Discussion / Re: Simple... Plasma application question

« on: May 03, 2010, 12:28:38 PM »

Is there an "Enable THC" output from Mach, and if so, which output is it (by default)?
Is it "Set OUTPUT5 when in THC" on "Ports and Pins" page, "Mill Options" tab?

Yes I think so - certainly if you set this up it gets toggled with the THC on/off button (OEM code 123). That said some THCs don't neccessarily use it - my THC300 for example has no specific enable. It's just that Mach ignores any up/down signal from the THC if the enable button is off.

Will this output act as the THC inhibit in regards to the anti-dive feature?

Off the top of my head it could work that way if you like. Thing is, different THCs handle things in their own way - some use the plain vanilla functionality built into Mach - some add to that via plugins and some via brains for example. As you're implementing your own it's kind of up to you how you do it.

Hope this helps

Cheers

Ian