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General Mach Discussion / Interface question
« on: June 02, 2009, 03:28:46 PM »
I recently downloaded the latest lockdown version of Mach 3 (3.042.20). I've been playing with it to get familiar with the interface before I connect my machine and controller. So far I've noticed two things that don't jive with the tutorial videos that I've watched.
1) When the first gcode program, the tool display does NOT show a red box around the part drawing (showing part limits). Instead, there are red lines on two sides only (X minus side and Y minus side of the display).
2) When a program is running, the tutorials said that clicking in the tool path display will remove the highlighted lines that show previous program moves so you can clean up the display. When I click in the display, nothing happens. I have to change the view (tool to table and then back to tool) to get it to clean up the display.
I may find more differences as I continue to "play" with the software. Are these just differences in how the latest version works (compared to whatever version was used for the tutorial), or do I have problems with my install of Mach?
One other thing happened that disturbed me. While running a part that contained G2/G3 arcs, I was switching back and forth between the Program Run screen and the Tool Path screens. On one occasion, after switching screens, an arc cut continued cutting off the part rather than transitioning into the next arc. I have not been able to reproduce this, but it worries me a great deal!
1) When the first gcode program, the tool display does NOT show a red box around the part drawing (showing part limits). Instead, there are red lines on two sides only (X minus side and Y minus side of the display).
2) When a program is running, the tutorials said that clicking in the tool path display will remove the highlighted lines that show previous program moves so you can clean up the display. When I click in the display, nothing happens. I have to change the view (tool to table and then back to tool) to get it to clean up the display.
I may find more differences as I continue to "play" with the software. Are these just differences in how the latest version works (compared to whatever version was used for the tutorial), or do I have problems with my install of Mach?
One other thing happened that disturbed me. While running a part that contained G2/G3 arcs, I was switching back and forth between the Program Run screen and the Tool Path screens. On one occasion, after switching screens, an arc cut continued cutting off the part rather than transitioning into the next arc. I have not been able to reproduce this, but it worries me a great deal!