Topics

51

Mach SDK plugin questions and answers. / Keygrabber and or plugin?

« on: October 13, 2009, 07:23:05 PM »

I am using Art's joystick plugin. I do get movement on 2 axis" with no other features. However I notice I dont have any jog+ , jog- enabled. All my keyboard does is pg up/pg dwn for Z and arrow keys for x & y. Are there a recommended keys for specific functions? Like jog+ be the "k" key for example. I guess I never set these keys up. Do I ditch the plugin and just reconfigure thru the keygrabber? or is the keygrabber modifying the plugin? Also my jog feature on the gaming controller is slower than the jog on my keyboard? Btw I havent done any changes to anything just loaded the plugin, configged it, and plugged in my controller. x & Y on the mill and x& z if the mill is plugged in. Of course I want X,Y & Z. Any ideas for a noob? Something?

52

General Mach Discussion / Joystick and keyboard @ same time?

« on: October 13, 2009, 06:00:34 PM »

I just installed a logitech gaming controller. I used Art's plugin.
First I can move x & Y on the mill or X & z on the lathe. But not x, y & z. Can I have all?
Also my keyboard doesnt jog the machines while the plugin is active?

53

General Mach Discussion / Canned cycles?

« on: October 13, 2009, 12:26:31 AM »

I am just starting out in cnc. I have been converting a Sherline mill and lathe to cnc. It is all running fine, accuracy seems very acceptable considering its size and my general use/ needs. Patience more than anything will help with something so small. Plus inexpensive and as a learning tool easy to repair. Anyway I have run plenty of single lines of code in the MDI screen. I have also run drawings via BobCad and such but never have I run a code that keeps cutting til a specific point. I want to make a vise like (Tryally) on youtube uses. It is a simple L. I have made it approx 7" long a 4" wide. It is squared and flycut level but I did it all individually via MDI. Just trying to side mill at the moment. How would I get the machine to say go?
Y1
X0
X5
Y3
y1.01
X0
X5.01
y3
y1.02
etc?
I just want it to cut an .01?  additional amount each pass with no intervention from me until a specified point or width is reached. I am guessing that is what a canned cycle is. Any help is greatly appreciated. Not really corcerned about the .01 as much as the formula etc.

54

General Mach Discussion / Probing questions, Help!

« on: October 04, 2009, 07:29:58 PM »

Ok so my last questions about probing went unanswered maybe I will rephrase and pray someone can help. I have my probe connected and on the diagnostics page, the probe led is lit until it the styli is touched. Upon touching the probe led goes out and an led in the pins section lights up. Is this correct?  

55

General Mach Discussion / limit switches/ estop?

« on: March 12, 2009, 02:22:41 AM »

I just built a HCNC Pro 4 axis controller and all is working except the limit switches. I think its a setting issue not hardware. Ok right now I have a mushroom switch that is n.o., closing the circuit makes mach3 stop via T5 grd and pin 10. That all works great. I can reset the flashing red icon on the screen after pulling out the mushroom and everything works great. I have estop enabled and set to active low. NOW if I hook up T5 ground and pin 11 to a set of series wired switches (continuity til switch is pushed). It will work according to mach3 as long as the hcnc is not powered up? The second I actually power up the board the limit switch flashes even if nothing touched it. I cant seem to reset it. Just stays flashing. I even tried it while disconnecting and disabling my estop, still triggers a limit warning and all control stops. What am I missing? This is just the z limits at the moment. I am
using 24/2 shieded. I have tried with active low selected and not selected. Seems to be no difference. Is there a switch/selection to jog off a limit? Everything
I read acted like a series connected set of switches were the cats meow. ?