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11

General Mach Discussion / Re: Strange feedrate problem!

« on: June 02, 2013, 04:17:02 PM »

I may have found my problem. I checked the version change log and found a "bug fix for some Arcs feedrate" in Version 3.042.021 (I'm using 3.042.020).

I installed the latest lockdown version to my laptop as a simulator and ran my program. It it appears to work correctly.

I haven't updated the computer connected to my mill yet.

If I copy the Mach3 folder before I update, can I revert to the old version by simply copying the old folder back in place or does the install modify the registry as well?

12

General Mach Discussion / Strange feedrate problem!

« on: June 01, 2013, 06:03:13 PM »

I've run into a feedrate problem that I just can't figure out. I used BobCAD to generate a pocketing program for a 1/4" diameter pocket. I plunge in at 4IPM and then cut at 11IPM. The code looks good, but when I run the program the G02/03 cutting sequences crawl. For example:

G01 Z-0.1 F4.0 Plunge to depth
G02 X-0.0003 I0. J-0.0177 F11.0 Cut full circle

When I run the program, the Feedrate box on the Program Run screen show the programmed feedrate and the actual Units/Min.

As the plunge line is run, it shows the 4IPM programmed rate and an actual IPM of 3.64.
When the G02 line is executed, it shows the correct 11IPM programmed feedrate, but the actual IPM is crawling at 1.40IPM

Now the strange part.

If I run the program is Single Block Mode, the G02 line again shows the 11IPM programmed rate, but the actual is 10.64IPM which is what I would expect.

I am running CV mode and this could have something to do with it, but it's working fine on all my other programs. I don't want to start blindly changing settings and was wondering if this behavior rings a bell with anyone.

13

General Mach Discussion / Re: Jog not working?

« on: June 28, 2012, 09:49:01 AM »

Don't know if this is your problem, but I had a similar situation just the other day. Jogging with the arrow keys stopped working. I tried the Tab key to bring up the Jog panel and that didn't work either. I was baffled for quite some time.

What I found was that my program had inadvertently generated a "Soft Limit Warning". When this happens, a dialog box appears asking if you want to continue or not. This dialog box had somehow been shuffled "behind" the main Mach screen. It was waiting for a response and nothing in Mach was going to work until this dialog box was addressed. Once I clicked Continue on the "Soft Limit Warning", everything was fine.

14

General Mach Discussion / Re: Can backlash comp be turned on/off with a g-code?

« on: June 22, 2011, 09:33:50 AM »

I think if you set your backlash settings correctly, you will just leave it on all the time.

Check out this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A27nOkTFYDY

15

General Mach Discussion / Re: Elapsed Time output stopping during run

« on: June 04, 2011, 01:06:20 PM »

Quote from: joepardy on June 04, 2011, 10:26:02 AM

Not sure if you ever found a solution to your problem, but I had a similar issue. What I found resolved the problem was to disable my network card. My CNC machine is connected to my home network, so if necessary, I can update the operating system. When the network card was active, the elapsed timer would stop at random times. When it was disabled, it works fine.

Thanks for the idea. I don't have this machine connected to any network, but I do have a network card. I'll try disabling it and see what happens.

Thanks again!

16

General Mach Discussion / Re: Hood.....where is he?

« on: April 28, 2011, 09:22:47 AM »

Glad to hear you're home! Wishing you the best of luck with your upcoming surgery!

Good decision to wait at home instead of in the hospital. Every day you spend in the hospital, you are more likely to be exposed to infections.

Hope your recovery is quick! This forum just isn't the same without you

17

General Mach Discussion / Re: tool radius comp

« on: March 14, 2011, 05:50:12 PM »

If you are just using the G41/42 (without the P?.?), I think you need to have a tool change (M06 T??) in your program prior to the G41/42. Without that, the software doesn't know what tool table entry to use.

I just did some playing and found the following:

G41/42 without the P?.? parameter and no active tool (Tool 0) - It appears that the entry for Tool 1 in the tool table is used.

G41/42 without the P?.? parameter and preceded with a tool change (M06 Txx) - The tool table entry for Tool xx is used.

18

General Mach Discussion / Re: Backlash Compensation not affecting axis travel.

« on: November 10, 2010, 11:25:24 AM »

One more thing I never thought to ask. I don't use the Smooth Stepper, but I was aware (from a friend that uses one) that backlash compensation is a problem with it.

Glad you got it figured out, but I guess the only solution now is to remove as much of the physical backlash as you can