Messages

1051

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3R3.037 & Windows Task Manager CPU % Load

« on: March 04, 2008, 07:08:03 PM »

Hi, All

I've narrowed this problem down a little, It seems to be more prevalent in G-code files with A axis moves.

Mach3 in Feed-Hold or Stop usually reduces CPU usage to 00-06 %.

The Issue I'm having is when running the following code on Feed-hold or Stop in Tool Path screen the CPU stays at 70-90 %.
(Bigger view screen more CPU usage).

This also cause's, MDI, MPG and Safe Z hight to not work after Stop is Pressed, Sometimes.

The only way to get the CPU back down to 03-06 % is to change screen view's.

Even after changing screen's an additional Stop is Sometimes needed Again to regain, MDI,MPG and Safe Z Function.

Maybe some other's could try this, Cause one "squeaky wheel" will never/almost never get the Grease/Fix.

Ctrl-Alt-Delete to bring up Task Mansger, Size it down, Options Tab check it for "Always On Top", Use Process or Preformance Tab to View.


G90 (INC First)
G00 x0
g01 z -.25 f100
g91 ;inc move set
G01 x2.5 A720 f1000
g90 ;abs move re-set
g00 z0
g01 z -.25 f100
G01 x5 A1440 f1000
g90 ;abs move re-set
g00 z0
g00 x0 a0
M30
%

Hears a screen set to view it with.

Thanks, Chip

1052

General Mach Discussion / Re: limit switch trouble

« on: March 04, 2008, 05:29:49 PM »

Hi, Adam

Your use of pin 11 for all axises in incorrect, Should be Ground.

Pin 10, X--, X++, X home in series other end to Ground.

Pin 12, Y--, Y++, Y home in series other end to Ground.

Pin 13, Z--, Z++, Z home in series other end to Ground.

Hope this Helps, Chip

1053

General Mach Discussion / Re: Feed Rate

« on: March 04, 2008, 05:01:52 PM »

Hi, Adam

Your Velocity and Acceleration settings in Config, Motor Tuning set's your max speed's.

If you haven't setup/calibrated your Step's Per to inch or mm, You need to do that first. (Steps Per set to number of steps to move one Inch or MM)

On the Program Run page set the feed-rate to 150.00 or higer for fast machines.

(This puts your feed-rate setting well above what your Max Velosity will be).

Hit the TAB key for pop-out Jog window, Set the Slow Jog Rate to 100 %.

Jog Mode to Cont. (Axis will move as long as you hold the key down).

Now your Setup to use the axis arrow key's or mouse arrow button's to set up your velosity and acceleration, (Setting up vel/accl is a balancing act).

Set your vel. to 45 and accl to 15 for a start (Vel is typically 3 times higher than accl (more or less)).

Increase the accl up till your servo trips or your steppers slip then back it off 10 % or so, Then set the vel up till it trips or slips also, Back it off 10% or so or till you think it's fast enough (Speed's can get scary on big servo or steppers).

Then after you get the max'es set, Your slower G01 with F speeds should be fine.

With G00 moves you'll get max speed for your Machine up to your Velosity Setting.

Hope this Helps, Chip

1054

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 is not working

« on: March 04, 2008, 04:50:11 PM »

Hi, PJ

If you have a Standard Install of Mach you'll find the xml's in C:\Mach3 folder.

Find the Mach3Mill.xml, Make a copy of it and Re-Name the copy to a unique name,  PJ Mach3Mill.xml should work.

Use the "REPLY" Button then Attachment Option, "Browse" to C:\Mach3 and find the file, Double click on it and Post.

Hope this Helps, Chip

1055

General Mach Discussion / Re: Motor config page will not open.

« on: March 02, 2008, 05:59:29 PM »

Hi,  Rob

Have had this happen a couple of times myself.

As Hood stated, A re-install fixes It.

Chip

1056

General Mach Discussion / Re: Change "TAB" Hotkey

« on: March 02, 2008, 05:38:42 PM »

Hi, Hood

Make the button Oem 323 will do it.

Thanks, Chip

1057

LazyCam (Beta) / Re: LazyCAM stopped posting GCode

« on: March 02, 2008, 05:20:47 PM »

Hi, Scot

Did the file I sent load in Mach ?

Thanks, Chip

Edit: See you got it going Good.

1058

LazyCam (Beta) / Re: LazyCAM stopped posting GCode

« on: March 02, 2008, 04:31:59 PM »

Hi, Swbogart

I loaded your file it post to mach3 just fine, Well Mach didn't like one line in the code and wouldn't show a view of it.

Are you seeing any code in Mach3 G-code window at all ?

Try this G-code file below, it's got a few problems, skipping some of the holes, just see if it will load.

Thanks, Chip

1059

General Mach Discussion / Re: Z axis direction

« on: March 02, 2008, 03:50:29 PM »

Hi, Adam

If your Z axis shows Pos values going "up" to home, That is correct.

Your G-code Z values need to be Z-## in your Posted G-code.

If your using LazyCam, Layers Tab at Bottom Set cut depth to a negative value " -##", and click on "Set Layer" and or "Set All Layers".

Then Jog Z down to the top of your Part's top Surface and Zero Z Axis.

After you get your G-code stratined out, Your machine will show neg. cut's.

Hi, Gram

Haven't used your method, Can see that it will work Fine, Just it's Bottom's Up,  Instead of Top's Down.

Hope this Helps, Chip

1060

General Mach Discussion / Re: usb to parallel

« on: March 02, 2008, 03:04:21 PM »

Hi, Spanky

As far as I now, A usb to parallel adapter cable Won't Work.

There are several usb type control's for Mach3, Thy all have there own CPU to store and send commands from Mach to your step & dir boards.

NC-Pod and SmouthStepper are 2, That I now of.

Hope this Helps, Chip