Topics

11

FAQs / How much G-code with the trial download?

« on: April 03, 2009, 03:49:03 PM »

I heard it was 150 or 500 or something. I got the trial last week, love it!! I made about 5 or six programs and they are not huge( mabye 20 to 40 lines each). I tried to put in an M30 command, because I was at the end of writing a program, and it wouldn't save that command. I wondered if The trial was running out. If I buy the whole version, do I have to wipe the trial download off first? Thank you for helping me. I really appreciate you fine folks. Take care!

12

General Mach Discussion / What does offline mean?

« on: March 27, 2009, 03:46:13 PM »

Sounds like a dumb question, I know. I ran through my program really smooth a few times, then hit the offline button and ran it again. The program is running but the the tool is doing nothing, and the toolpath display comes up now real nice. All I want to know is, will I be able to run Mach normally without being hooked up to the internet(offline). Because right now I have only played with Mach while being in a wi-fi zone. The shop where I plan to take the system I won't be hooked up to the internet. At least not in the near future.

13

General Mach Discussion / My program won't run

« on: March 26, 2009, 05:58:54 PM »

I wrote up a simple program with my Kentech Kipware M software. It transfered onto my Mach3 screen easy enough. After setting offsets and zeroing, I figured I would just hit cycle start and go. I must be missing something, because all I get is a "Bad character used" message. The Kipware default is Fanuc. I think it must have something to do with a step I'm missing between writing program, and transferring it to Mach, but I'm new and don't know what to do. Thanks a lot for helping me with this.

14

General Mach Discussion / I can't get my xbox control to work

« on: March 25, 2009, 10:52:14 PM »

I am new to this, and am in the process of trying to make my cnc router move.  I added xbox 360 plugin, Mach 3 recognizes the xbox controller, I configured the buttons, and no movement. No messages or anything. The Zenbot driver is turned on, everything's plugged in. I havent configured the steps/inch yet, mabye thats it? I couldn't figure out how to configure the steps/inch settings. I have the numbers, just don't what to do with them. Thank you for any help you can give, I really appreciate it.

15

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Are there any such thing as pre-made programs?

« on: March 19, 2009, 09:13:23 PM »

I'm very new, and forgive me, but I want to know if there are pre made programs out there. Like designs and shapes(celtic knots, crazy figures, trees, whatever) already created, wrote up, and for sale. Like say you just bought a file or assortment of files, skipped the cad/cam process, and it was ready to pop into mach 3 and go. Don't get me wrong, I'm not lazy and I like playing with cad/cam, but was wondering about this from a business standpoint. I'm sure something like this must exist, I just don't know what the name for this is and where you find them. I appreciate any help you can give me. Thank you.

16

General Mach Discussion / mpg's and parallel ports

« on: March 17, 2009, 09:53:35 PM »

I would like to add a remote jog pendant to my cnc router. I only have one parallel port and it's tied up with the cnc controller. I see a usb driven pendant from Logitrol, but what other options do I have. Can I utilize my serial ports? Can I add a parallel port and is this easy? Thank you for all the help.

17

FAQs / Cut 2d to Mach3?

« on: March 10, 2009, 09:08:17 AM »

I am so new to this, I have yet to get the computer or the programs yet for my cnc router. My question is, do all I need to basically get started is one computer and 2  programs ( say Cut 2d and Mach3)? I used to draw up the part, print it, and use the coordinates to program the cnc mill where I worked. Will I be able to draw up the part on Cut 2d and enter the data directly to Mach 3 on the same computer? Or would I be drawing it up, printing it, closing the Cut 2d program, opening Mach3 and entering the data needed? How does this work? Thank you for your help.

18

FAQs / Is 512mb enough?

« on: March 06, 2009, 06:58:32 AM »

Hi. This is a simple question. Is a computer with 2.4ghz and 512mb ram enough to operate cut2d and mach3? I need to know so I can buy a computer. It will be dedicated just to these programs. Thanks.