Topics

21

Mach4 General Discussion / Has anyone used 4 Axis in Mach4

« on: December 12, 2017, 05:17:41 PM »

Hi,
Has anyone used 4 or 5 Axis in Mach4?
If you have, how can you tell if the G-Code is ok, if you cannot display it correctly in the Mach4 Toolpath?
Does anyone that uses 4 Axis with Mach4 do any fine large Carvings?
If so how do you stop fine tapered ballnose cutters from breaking or burning the wood since Mach4 does not use the Z Axis as the control for surface speed?
We have a Router Table and have all the hardware to change it to Mach4 to do 4 Axis carvings with Mach4, but without these program changes in Mach4 we cannot see how we can and will unfortunately have to continue with Mach3.
Does anyone support the Mach4 program changes?
Although we have Mach4 running on our Mill we have not used it to do 4 Axis for the same reason.
Regards,
Mauri.

22

Mach4 General Discussion / Mach4 using G02/G03 with R Radius

« on: November 05, 2017, 01:59:41 PM »

Hi,
Has anyone used G02/G03 with R Radius?
Does anyone have an example of G-code that can cut a complete circle.
Or any other examples specific to Mach4 using G02/G03 with R.
Regards,
Mauri.

23

Mach4 General Discussion / Mach4 V3468 cannot get it to shows Controller Plugins?

« on: August 08, 2017, 07:58:59 PM »

Hi,
I am trying to test Mach4 V3468 however it will not show my Controller Plugin and will remove all my settings in the Input and Output Signals.
Does anyone else have this issue, if not what could I be doing wrong?
I can see the new plugin in the directory, however it can not be seen or added by this version of Mach4.
Any assistance would be appreciated.
Regards,
Mauri.

24

Mach4 General Discussion / Mach4 V3468

« on: August 04, 2017, 06:21:29 PM »

Hi,
Does anyone have any more detail on what the following changes to Mach4 V3468 do?
SETVN Range (Start-End)
New angled meter added as a screen control in Hobby and Industrial 
Tangential planner optimized for CV
Regards,
Mauri.

25

Mach4 General Discussion / Has anyone machined using Mach4 anything with 4 Axis

« on: August 04, 2017, 06:10:27 PM »

Hi,
I am interested if anyone has used Mach4 to CNC Machine 4 Axis objects.
Regards,
Mauri.

26

Mach4 General Discussion / Mach4 V3390 and HiCON

« on: July 12, 2017, 03:53:21 PM »

Hi,
For those yet to decide on what controller to use with Mach4, then you should take a good look at Mach4 and HiCON (Vital Systems) as a great combination.
The system is rock solid, I can run Mach4 on the Mill as well as numerous other applications at the same time keeping the CPU continually at 100% and high disk loads and Graphics usage with no affect on the milling process.
We have been CNC milling highly detailed 2.5D images with Brass for the last month Non Stop with long runs exceeding 12 hours with TBN cutters down to .05mm radius with a very good finish, so both Mach4 V3390 and HiCON with latest drivers and firmware are processing true to the G-Code.
We have yet to try 4 Axis as Mach4 still does not display the Toolpath correctly, I am sure one day it will.
Regards,
Mauri.

27

Mach4 General Discussion / ModuleWorks Feature Request

« on: June 01, 2017, 10:50:02 PM »

ModuleWorks Simulator Module.
ModuleWorks are fully responsible for everything related to this product.
This log is a Feature Request/improvement wish list.
If for users who would like to see modifications/changes/additions/features/fixes added to ModuleWorks Simulator please enter your wishes here.

To start off this is my current list.

Things that need to be done.
1)   Supply an operating Manual for users.
ModuleWorks will provide one once it has some user feedback on what they would like fixed and changed.
2)   Make the Parameters in the “Simulation Configuration” on the Cylinder maintain values entered on “Radius and Height”, currently they revert back and with the Z guessing the “Radius/Height” has to be changes 10 times as well.
3)   Provide an accurate way of setting up the Z Tool Height and not have to guess 10 times or more.
4)   Provide a sample G-Code that is exactly the same as the Picture provided on what the program can do on the Mach4 website and the "Simulation fields" to produce it.
http://www.machsupport.com/3d-cutting-simulator-moduleworks-plugin/
5)   Provide all the “Simulation Fields” available.
        a.   There must be more, otherwise it would be impossible to replicate the Picture as shown on the website.
6)   Improve resolution for smaller cutters especially ball nose.
7)   Provide “Simulation Fields” for Tapered cutter D-Bits and Tapered Ball Nose if they exist.
ModuleWorks may introduce a Tapered Ball Nose “Simulation Fields”

Like to have
a.   4 Axis ModuleWorks simulations.
b.   If tapered ball nose and D-bit “Simulation Fields” do not exist then would like to see them added as many hobby users use them.
Make it suitable for Engravers/Carvers.
c.   Higher Resolution for carving and Engraving plus jewelry.

Regards,
Mauri

28

Mach4 General Discussion / Module Works Simulator

« on: May 29, 2017, 08:24:01 PM »

Hi,
How to make it work:
1)   Populate your End Mills/Ball Nose Mills into the Mach4 Tool Table under “View” in Mach4.
2)   You must make your G-Code M06 T01 correspond to Tool#1 etc.
3)   You must populate Diameter/Corner Radius/Flute/Length/Shoulder Length and if you want Holder Length/Holder Diameter.
        a.   Tools can only be End Mills and Ball Nose Mills.
        b.   Corner Radius on a Ball End Mills is half the diameter.
4)   To get colors you must Populate Tool Color R/ Tool Color G/ Tool Color B (e.g. ) 150/100/0
5)   Other settings are under “Configure” “Plugins” Simulator ModuleWorks. Used to setup Stock Material and Cutter Height.
6)   Also under “Diagnostic” Simulator ModuleWorks. Used to save STL after simulation has started to finish.
7)   Must set up CV as it simulates the actual machine cut.
   Precision in the “Edit Tool Table Field” 4=4 decimal places (see picture)

Positives to this program.
1)   Relatively low cost.
2)   Produce nice out put down to 3mm Ball nose.
3)   Can save and import STL files.
4)   May suit a lot of users who do simple CNC milling.
Things that need to be done.
1)   Supply an operating Manual for users.
2)   Make the Parameters in the “Simulation Configuration” maintain values entered.
3)   Provide an accurate way of setting up the Z Tool Height.
4)   Provide a sample G-Code that is exactly the same as the Picture provided on what the program can do on the Mach4 website.
http://www.machsupport.com/3d-cutting-simulator-moduleworks-plugin/
5)   Provide all the “Simulation Fields” available.
        a.   There must be more otherwise it would be impossible to replicate the Picture on the website.
6)   Improve resolution for smaller cutters especially ball nose.
7)   Provide “Simulation Fields” for Tapered cutter D-Bits and Tapered Ball Nose if they exist.

Like to have
a.   4 Axis simulations.
b.   If tapered ball nose and D-bit “Simulation Fields” do not exist then would like to see them.

Negatives to this program.
1)   Poor resolution with cutters smaller than 3mm Ball nose.
2)   Program uses line flats like STL triangle to make its shape and not Curves.
        a.   This is particularly noticeable with small cutters (see pictures).
        b.   This could be addressed if there is some resolution setting in the Module or maybe this Module is a cut down version of ModuleWorks Full Simulator.
        c.   12 Year old simulators are far superior down to (e.g) 30D 0.1mm Dia 0.05mm Radius are near perfect in this old simulator but not in ModuleWorks Module. (see pictures).
3)   Because of the resolution this program is not suitable for Engraving/Fine Carving/Jewelry.

In summary as this is only a Beta release hopefully a number of items I have highlighted will be addressed, otherwise a good start.
Regards,
Mauri.

29

HiCON Motion Controller / Mach4 V3390 now officially released

« on: May 24, 2017, 04:16:30 PM »

Rufi,
Not sure if the New Production version of V3390 differs from the test version, I will test it after we complete our mill work.
Regards,
Mauri.

30

Mach4 General Discussion / Buffer Error Controller and Mach4 Out of Sequence

« on: May 01, 2017, 06:41:35 PM »

Hi,
Has anyone had Buffer Errors with Mach4 and Controller getting out of sequence causing Mach4 to go into an E-Stop condition?
If you continue from this point by Enable again Re-Start, it will run a further 50 to 100 lines of G-Code and then the same error occurs and goes into E-Stop (I have done this multiple times with the same result).
Only way to get out of it is a restart of Mach4 and Controller.
I have 200 Lines Look ahead in Mach4 is this too much?
Regards,
Mauri.