Messages

171

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Windows 10 home and mach4

« on: October 31, 2019, 05:25:32 PM »

Windows 10 Home will work fine. And you CAN download and install Windows 10, Pro or Home, install, and use forever WITHOUT a license key or activation. The ONLY thing you can't do is change the desktop background, which shows the Activation nag message!! This is NOT very common knowledge.

https://www.thewindowsclub.com/how-long-can-you-use-windows-10-without-activation

172

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Keyboard Jogging Not Working

« on: October 31, 2019, 09:50:46 AM »

I'm not sure unplugging it will work, but give it a try. I actually removed the plugin in the Mach plugins folder, did the keyboard thing, saved, exited, put the plugin back, restarted. You might be sure you have the latest plugin from Lee at VistaCNC, but really not sure he ever fixed this. There is some kind of conflict with that plugin and the keyboard plugin somehow!!

Tom

173

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Keyboard Jogging Not Working

« on: October 31, 2019, 08:36:21 AM »

I had this problem, the keyboard mappings not saving, one time and it ended up being a VistaCNC pendant plugin conflicting somehow. I removed the plugin, did my keyboard mapping, quit Mach4, restarted, re-enabled the plugin, all was good. I haven't fuddled with this for a long time as I don't change keyboard mappings on a whim, but something to think about.

174

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: New mach4 ERROR's after install

« on: October 30, 2019, 10:24:49 AM »

For the ever brave, 4336 seems to have fixed this video error!!

175

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: VFD in box or not

« on: October 28, 2019, 06:58:49 PM »

Mine is NOT in the box, maybe 4 feet beside/behind/above the control box. Originally I didn't have room IN the box so couldn't have squeezed it in if I wanted to, and now that I've rebuilt the box with much more room, I didn't move the VFD. It's in it's own metal box but NOT in the box with the rest of the stuff. Seems like the way to do it to me, but I've seen pics of lots of boxes with the VFD in them, so............maybe? Noise is tricky to track down, so my opinion is NOT in the main box.

Tom

176

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: New mach4 ERROR's after install

« on: October 27, 2019, 08:35:20 AM »

I really have no idea, but VERTEX SHADER leads me to think video driver, GLSL is Open GL, video stuff. Maybe try installing the latest driver for your video card? I've also heard of issues with onboard video in some PC's also, but if it worked before, that MIGHT rule THAT out.

Tom

177

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: How to change post processor to go to Z zero only at program end.

« on: October 23, 2019, 08:15:19 AM »

It's in the post processor file which is merely a text file you can edit very easily. The post processor file then generates the gcode to run the machine. You only need to edit the post processor file, and only once. The Fusion post processor file is cleverly hidden, however! Again, Google is your friend.

"fusion 360 post processor location"

Tom

178

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: How to change post processor to go to Z zero only at program end.

« on: October 22, 2019, 06:37:11 AM »

You CAN do it with Notepad++, but Visual Studio Code works much better. There is a plugin for Visual Studio Code that makes working with Fusion posts much easier. You can run test gcode in VSC and see, in the code, where it's happening.

There's a pretty big learning curve here, but that said, what you want to do would be really simple.

Google is your friend and the more you learn the more you know!!!

Tom

179

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Limit Switch Settings

« on: October 16, 2019, 09:38:04 AM »

It might be better to wire your switches Normally Closed so that if a wire breaks or comes loose, it trips the limit switch input in Mach4, but I suppose that's note strictly necessary! It IS nice you have them wired to individual inputs, unlike in series like lots of folks do to save inputs!! Wired that way you can see which one trips or which one is disconnected or has a broken wire right on the diagnostics tab.

Should be able to go to diagnostics, if the led for a switch is lit when you go there, and assuming your not SITTING on the switch, you're configured backwards, reverse active high/low. If it lights the led when you trip the switch by hand, it's good.

180

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach 4 Compatible Motion Controllers

« on: October 12, 2019, 08:34:25 AM »

Even IF your time is only worth $.10/hr the Chinese motion controllers will cost WAY more than an ESS! Get one, even if only for Andy's great support, but even without that they just work and work great.

OH, and the move to Mach4 is a great move, just don't expect it to be Mach3, the biggest newcomer obstacle!