Messages

261

Mach4 General Discussion / Question on 4 Axis Toolpath?

« on: January 22, 2017, 04:55:55 PM »

Hi,
For the last 18 months plus, the Mach 4 program has been unable to produce any 4 axis Toolpath that has any resemblance to the actual object, see pics below Venus Bust.
Is there anyone going to fix the issue?
Can anyone advise that Mach 4 program can actual cut a 4 Axis Toolpath?
Regards,
Mauri.

262

Mach4 General Discussion / Question on Toolpath?

« on: January 22, 2017, 04:35:16 PM »

Hi,
Is there a way to only display the Gcode Toolpath as it is being processed (cutting) and not the full Toolpath of the loaded Gcode?
Regards,
Mauri.

263

Mach4 General Discussion / CV On/Off Button

« on: January 21, 2017, 04:28:44 PM »

Hi,
I am trying to make a CV On/Off button but it does not seem to work?

PLC code
local cvState =  mc.mcMotionGetCVAngleEnable(inst)
if (cvState == 1) then
        mc.mcMotionSetCVAngleEnable(inst,1)  -- Turns CV On
    else
        mc.mcMotionSetCVAngleEnable(inst,0)  -- Turns CV Off
end

Toggle ON and OFF button code
Down Script
mc.mcMotionSetCVAngleEnable(inst,1)  -- Turns CV On
Up Script
mc.mcMotionSetCVAngleEnable(inst,0)  -- Turns CV Off

Can anyone assist in making this work?

Regards,
Mauri.

264

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: High GPU usage workaround

« on: January 21, 2017, 05:45:01 AM »

Daz,
I worked out the problem using the Lua Debug Test.
The issue is that Lua Script File as copied from the Forum, all the lines must have had spaces instead of Tabs.
Once I replaced the individual spaces with Tabs on the Script it all worked fine.
I then had another look at your Video and was the Tab marks.
All good now.
Regards,
Mauri.

265

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: High GPU usage workaround

« on: January 20, 2017, 06:50:26 PM »

Daz,
I installed the button and script code, however I get the following message.

Script syntax error!
Lua: Syntax error during pre-compilation
[string ""]:1261: unexpected symbol near char(194)

Script Error
Lua:Error while running chunk
attempt to call a nil value
stack traceback:
The PLC is now disabled. Correct the script error and restart.

Not sure what it means?

Regards,
Mauri.

266

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: High GPU usage workaround

« on: January 20, 2017, 02:00:05 PM »

Daz,
Thanks for that, I think this will help those who machine large GCode files for 3 Axis and more importantly those who cut 4 Axis which is much more resource hungry especially with NVidia cards.
Regards,
Mauri.

267

Mach4 General Discussion / Errors in Machine.ini file

« on: January 19, 2017, 09:07:39 PM »

Hi,
I have noticed at least 3 lines with spelling typo's in Machine.ini files, do they have any affect on the Mach4 Program?
UseCvAnlgeStop=0
CvAnlgeStopDeg=0.0
FixtureOffest=G54
There may be others as I only had a quick visual.
Regards,
Mauri.

268

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: High GPU usage workaround

« on: January 19, 2017, 08:54:16 PM »

Steve,
Thanks for your efforts.
My test with AMD Radeon HD 8490 using a 3 Axis G-Code file with 2,900,043 lines runs the GPU to 44% and Temp going from 45 to 52 Dec C.
The same file on GTX 970, GTX 640 and a Notebook NVidia all  shows 100% GPU usage.
All have the very latest drivers with OpenGL at 4 plus, so naturally then have to go backwards to use the old 1.5 OpenGL.
Previous test also showed that just using Intel Graphics via their CPU was also similar to the AMD in GPU usage.
Also included is a test with 4 Axis simultaneous with 469867 lines of G-Code pic below with the AMD card.

My question is can I toggle from one Screen that has Toolpath display and then one that does not while the machine is cutting?

Even though with the AMD card the Core GPU clock is intermittently utilized with no toolpath display, the GPU Percentage goes up and down and the Temperature is reduced, it will still be better than showing it all the time and having all these consistently higher.

Will I lose Steps?

Regards,
Mauri.

269

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Version 2 has no tenths jog increment

« on: January 19, 2017, 05:57:51 PM »

Todd774,
The MPG has been working fine since late 2015.
It was changed last year from Mach4 Control to Plugin Controller control last year.
The Controller now performs the incremental movements based on the Mach4 settings when in Plugin Controller mode and not simulation.
The MPG incremental accuracy in conjunction with steps per unit determines how accurate it will be.
So if you have a fine pitch BallScrew and high =>10 Microsteps then it moves in finer increments values due to a higher level of pulses.

For example, let’s say you used 100 counts/mm (2540/inch) this means:
0.1mm = 10 pulses
0.01mm = 1 pulse
0.001mm =? Invalid level of precision
In your case of 10000/inch then 0.01 = 3.9 pulses

You can view this in the diagnostic on your Controller if they show all the motion like HiCON (not sure what the PMDX411 shows).
I presume that 10,000/unit you are using on the Motor settings is in Inches, if so, 20,000/unit or more would be better.
Regards,
Mauri.

270

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: High GPU usage workaround

« on: January 19, 2017, 02:46:11 PM »

Smurph,
What I have also found is that if you at running "Cycle Start" the G-code at Full Toolpath display, that is when the GPU is at its highest usage, as you Zoom in more and more on the Toolpath display then the GPU usage decreases.
Regards,
Mauri.