Topics

11

General Mach Discussion / Gamepad config.

« on: June 13, 2007, 07:07:14 PM »

Hi All:
I've just purchased a simple game pad (USB) and have had only limited time trying it out. I plugged it in and set up the config. for it through Mach3. It actually worked right away. The only thing is it works to jog the x and y axis, nothing else.
Can someone post a step by step instruction on how to configure the game pad and buttons?
I'd like to be able to use the game pad to move x, y, z in both jog and high speed (shift key from the keyboard). Basically, I'd like to understand how to configure the buttons to make them do whatever I want.
Not a critical thing, just adding more functionality and trying to understand more.
This game pad looks like a gamepad from Playstation. It has about eight buttons plus the direction control.
Thanks
LEW

12

General Mach Discussion / Thread milling g-code question

« on: June 10, 2007, 11:16:29 PM »

I'm wondering if anyone can help with this line of code.
I'm trying to cut a thread with .06" pitch and six revolutions.
G91
G02 X0.0 Y0.0 I0.5 J0.0 Z-0.06 L6.0 F20.0

The G91 should put the machine in incremental mode.
The G02 should create a cirle with radius of .5".
The Z-0.6 should give the thread a .06" pitch per rev.
The L6.0 should make the machine repeat the circular command six times and should give a six thread part?
When I execute this code, the machine only makes one circle and moves to the next line.
The Z does move down .06 and the machine comletes one thread.
Why is that? What have I got wrong?
Anyone?
Thanks in advance.
LEW

13

VB and the development of wizards / VB script = gcode

« on: May 10, 2007, 08:49:27 PM »

Hello:
I've been trying to write vb script in the scripter and calling gcode to perform a z axis to zero and after that move x and y to zero.
Can someone take a look at this vb and tell me if you see anything wrong?
When I execute this vb script, the z moves to zero but the x and y do not move.

code "G0 Z0.0"
While (ismoving)
Wend
code "GO X0.0 Y0.0"
End

Thanks
LEW

14

General Mach Discussion / Sindle stop and coolant stop when program pause

« on: May 09, 2007, 08:14:46 PM »

Hi All:
I am wondering if there's a good way to have the spindle and mist coolant stop when I press the space bar to pause the machine?
Thanks
LEW

15

General Mach Discussion / Couple Questions

« on: April 15, 2007, 08:01:42 PM »

Hi All:
Just wondering if there's a setting that a person can toggle between full screen and not. Thinkin that it would be nice to use the entire screen and not have to look at the menu bar. Some windows programs allow you to hit an F key and the program goes full screen. Then, when you need to use the menu bar you can hit the same F key and the menu bar appears.
Also, in the program window when I load a program there's always about four or five lines at the beginning of the Gcode file with hyphons before the actual Gcode. Any way of getting rid of the hyphons?
Thanks
LEW

16

General Mach Discussion / Wav files

« on: April 09, 2007, 05:09:31 PM »

Hi All:
Just wondering if anyone can tell me if it's possible to call a wave file from within a gcode program without going through a bunch of VB script?
Like, say if I pause a program with an m01 can I call and play a wav file while awaiting a cycle start?
LEW

17

General Mach Discussion / Variables - revisited

« on: March 27, 2007, 08:46:45 PM »

Hi All:
I've now got a handle on using variables in a G code program. However, I'm still puzzled on how I can use a variable to represent a negative number.
Why does this not work?


#1=1.312   ;FIRST HALF CIRCLE RADIUS
#2=-#1      ;SECOND HALF CIRCLE RADIUS

G90
G0 X-1.5 Y0.0
M04
G0 Z-1.0
G01 X-1.312 F2
G2 X#1 Y0.0 R#1 F2
G2 X#2 Y0.0 R#1 F2
G0 Z0.0
M05
G0 X0.0 Y0.0
M30

When Mach reads #2 it gives an error something like "No digits found where real number should be".
I've tried it by giving #2 a value of -1.312 and it works fine.
Thanks in advance.
LEW

18

General Mach Discussion / Restart issue + jogging question

« on: March 01, 2007, 07:54:11 PM »

Hi All:
I've got a problem with restarting a program.
I've included a similar program with the same type of subroutines below.
The problem is that I've had to stop the program in the middle of a drilling operation.
When I try to restart, the software starts at a place higher in the program and trys to do that operation.
Any clues?
Also, is there a way to make the jog keys be less touchy? When I want to jog to a particular location, I find myself going back and forth and tapping the arrow keys just the right amount. It's like the machine moves a lot quite quickly with just a small tap on the key. I don't really want to increment just one step for each key stroke but I would like it not to jump like it does.
Thanks
LEW

Here's the code example.

G90
G0 X0.0 Y1.279
M98 P1
G0 X-4.625 Y1.279
M98 P1
G0 X-9.125 Y1.594
M98 P1
G0 X-9.220 Y-1.818
M98 P1
G0 X-4.625 Y-2.096
M98 P1
G0 X0.0 Y-2.096
M98 P1
G0 X4.625 Y-2.096
M98 P1
G0 X9.220 Y-1.818
M98 P1
G0 X9.125 Y1.594
G65 P%DRIL1
G0 X4.625 Y1.279
M98 P1
M5
G0 Z0.0
G0 X0.0 Y4.0


;"CHANGE TO THE 1/4INCH DRILL      "
;"SET 1/4 OFF DECK                 "
M01


G0 X-1.062 Y1.969
M98 P2
G0 X-7.500 Y2.282
M98 P2 
G0 X-9.25 Y0.782
M98 P2
G0 X-8.625 Y-2.406
M98 P2
G0 X8.625 Y-2.406
M98 P2
G0 X9.25 Y0.782
M98 P2
G0 X7.50 Y2.282
M98 P2
G0 X1.062 Y1.969
M98 P2
M5
G0 Z0.0
G0 X0.0 Y4.0

;"INSTALL THE C'DRILL              "
;"1/2 ABOVE DECK                   "
M01

G0 X-6.937 Y2.907
M98 P3
G0 X-2.312
M98 P3
G0 X6.937
M98 P3

;"INSTALL THE 19/64 DRILL          "
;"1/2 INCH ABOVE DECK              "
M01



G0 X6.937
M98 P4
G0 X-2.312
M98 P4
G0 X-6.937 Y2.907
M98 P4



;"INSTALL THE 5/16 REAMER          "
;"1/2 INCH ABOVE DECK              "
M01

G0 X-6.937 Y2.907
M98 P5
G0 X-2.312
M98 P5
G0 X6.937
M98 P5
G0 X0.0 Y4.0


;"CHANGE TO THE 33/64 INCH DRILL     "
;"SET 1/2 ABOVE DECK               "
M01

G0 X0.0 Y1.279
M98 P6
G0 X-4.625 Y1.279
M98 P6
G0 X-9.125 Y1.594
M98 P6
G0 X-9.22 Y-1.818
M98 P7
G0 X-4.625 Y-2.096
M98 P6
G0 X0.0 Y-2.096
M98 P6
G0 X4.625 Y-2.096
M98 P6
G0 X9.22 Y-1.818
M98 P7
G0 X9.125 Y1.594
M98 P6
G0 X4.625 Y1.279
M98 P6
M5
G0 Z0.0
G0 X0.0 Y4.0
M2


O1    ;CENTERDRILL
G90
M4
M07
G0 Z-0.45
G01 Z-#11 F#1
M09
G0 Z-0.4
M99

O2 ;     1/4DRILL
G90
M4
M07
G0 Z-0.2
G01 Z-1.0 F8.0
M09
G0 Z-0.2
M99

O3  ;CENTERDRIL THE DOWELS
M04
M07
G0 Z-0.45
G01 Z-0.850 F8.0
M5
M09
G0 Z0.0
M99

O4  ;DRILL THE DOWELS
M04
M07
G0 Z-0.45
G01 Z-1.1 F8.0
M5
M09
G0 Z0.0
M99

O5    ;REAM THE DOWELS
M04
M07
G0 Z-0.45
G01 Z-1.0 F8.0
M5
M09
G0 Z0.0
M99

O6
G90
M4
M7
G83G99Z-4.2R-.45P0Q.3F4.0G90G90
M9
G0 Z-0.40
M99


O7
G90
M4
M7
G83G98Z-3.0R-.4P0Q.3F4.0G90
M9
G0 Z-0.40
M99

19

General Mach Discussion / Variables

« on: March 01, 2007, 05:12:52 PM »

I'll post this here since I didn't get a reply on the Gcode section.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
LEW

Hi:
I recently got Mach3 running. Finding that I need to tweak old programs from AhHa system.
Have a question on variable programming. In the AhHa system I could use a variable name to represent numbers.
i.e. %down=-2.312
I would then call this variable in several places in the Gcode file.
i.e. G01 Z%down
It made it easy to change the Z value without having to find it in the lines of Gcode.
I usually place the variable at the top of the program.
Now, the question. Can I use a variable to represent a decimal number in Mach3?
I know about the pound character (#) but it can only represent an integer. Not a decimal.
Thanks
Lew

20

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Variables

« on: March 01, 2007, 08:42:45 AM »

Hi:
I recently got Mach3 running. Finding that I need to tweak old programs from AhHa system.
Have a question on variable programming. In the AhHa system I could use a variable name to represent numbers.
i.e. %down=-2.312
I would then call this variable in several places in the Gcode file.
i.e. G01 Z%down
It made it easy to change the Z value without having to find it in the lines of Gcode.
I usually place the variable at the top of the program.
Now, the question. Can I use a variable to represent a decimal number in Mach3?
I know about the pound character (#) but it can only represent an integer. Not a decimal.
Thanks
Lew