Messages

291

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: CV G64 and Exact Stop G61

« on: December 28, 2016, 02:36:18 PM »

Chaoticone,
Thanks for your reply.
Before I do machining I would like to see that the Tool in Toolpath G-Code displayed in Mach4 actually cuts on the same path.
Having produced many detailed cravings/engravings in 2.5D and 3D in Brass, we have optimized our milling machine as best we can and with Mach3 the results are not perfect but acceptable.
When running Mach4 and viewing the "Toolpath display" which is machine independent and has no short falls it should follow the path precisely if in "Exact Stop" and very close in CV mode if the CV settings are optimal.
That is what I am trying to accomplish, so until I can get a good path it is not much use in cutting actual maternal.
Any other assistance would be appreciated.
Regards,
Mauri.

292

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: CV G64 and Exact Stop G61

« on: December 28, 2016, 06:07:14 AM »

Dude1,
I have performed many 2.5D and 3D 4 Axis Carvings using Aspire and madCAM with Mach3 and have been able for Carve in Brass and Timber for many years with reasonable results.
On the Brass we finish the output using a stereo microscope and fine needles as well a special stones that you can make into a fine point.
On Timber we use fine paper to improve the 2.5D and 3D carved shapes.
We are perfectionists and we were hoping Mach4 was going to make the finish that much better than Mach3 thus reducing the microscope work.
I tried an example medallion that uses a .1mm Tip cutter with CV and found that it did not follow the same path as the G-Code, I may need to make some adjustments to the 0 to 179 Degrees in the CV settings.
Have you tried doing this with Mach4
Regards,
Mauri.

293

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: CV G64 and Exact Stop G61

« on: December 27, 2016, 10:00:34 PM »

Hi,
I performed some more tests using a G-Code file that I made up.
This file performs much better than the Road Runner example?
I used Mach4 V3233.
G64 CV with 0 Degrees at 100 performed better than G61 Exact Stop, you have to enlarge each angled corner to see the differences.
Although the Exact Stop should be true to the G-Code profile in this case it does not.
Both performed better than Mach3.
Test File below.
I will have to see how it performs with 2.5D profiles and will comment further after I have made some tests.
Regards,
Mauri.

294

Mach4 General Discussion / CV G64 and Exact Stop G61

« on: December 26, 2016, 09:12:57 PM »

Hi,
Has something changed with CV G64 and Full Stop G61 on the Mach4 program?
Using Road Runner example.
Earlier versions of Mach4 you could run Exact Stop G61 and it would follow the line precisely in Simulation Mode.
Now on the latest versions of Mach4 it goes faster around on the lines (using the same Road Runner example) but does not track them?
It is like it is in some sort of CV Mode even though it is G61?
When trying out the CV Mode G64 I cannot get it to track the lines?
Has anyone tested what Speed settings on the Degrees in the CV Wizards would be required to track the Road Runner lines precisely or close?
When preforming 2.5D/3D engraving/carvings there are many thousands of varying cutting angles, similar to Road Runner so there must be some sort of settings that would do the task.
Can anyone help?
Regards,
Mauri.

295

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 4/5 Axis

« on: October 10, 2016, 11:19:29 PM »

Hi,
I presume that since no one has responded, that it means no one has used mach4 on any 4/5 axis Cutting on General Machining or Carving/Engraving 3D Models!
Please let me know if this is not correct or when anyone will do it and what they have found in relation to my post below.
Regards,
Mauri.

296

Mach4 General Discussion / Mach4 4/5 Axis

« on: October 05, 2016, 03:44:22 PM »

Hi,
Has any one used Mach4 in actual machining of general 4/5 axis objects and/or 3D engraving models using 4 or 5 axis?
I have waited 18months and still not able generate a toolpath display using G-Code of any 4/5 Axis object, am I the only one?
Below are some simple examples of 4 Axis just a Circle, but it displays it as a line (first check them out on mach3).
The other mach3 great accurate option that is not in mach4 is the A axis variable speed that utilises the Z axis, this is essential for carving models with fine detail when using small cutters for constant surface speed.
The third issue is the useless continuous toolpath display loops that can utilise up to 100% of any GPU including CPU/GPU even after it has just loaded a file and is not run (highly apparent on 3D model fine engraving G-Code).
Finally the amount of time it takes to load a large file 3 times slower that mach3.
These issues makes mach4 unusable for any 4/5 axis model carving/engraving and mach3 in these areas is still the one to use (and when you have made dedicated hardware for mach4 then you cannot use both on the same machine).
Maybe if we get an option to turn off the Toolpath display and its looping, then we may be able to do some actual machining (that is if someone has actual machined 4/5 axis items).
Your thoughts.
Regards,
Mauri.

297

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: part damaged when rotation axis mach4 (Rot 360 rollover and; Short Rot on G0)

« on: March 16, 2016, 06:39:42 AM »

Bart,
I have tested the Mach4 on Rotary Continuous for you and you must Not tic Rotary Axis Rollover A.
If you tic it, then it will only go -360 to 360 no matter what the G-code says.
If unticked it will run continuously in line with the G-Code. i.e. if the G-code says A 720.0000 then it will do 2 revolutions on the A Axis and also displays this on the Mach4 screen going to 720.
My test was with Mach4/Controller and one Motor attached to the A Axis.
I am awaiting some changes to Mach4 before I do a complete test on my Mill but I think this test confirms my findings.
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Mauri.

298

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Can't see toolpath

« on: January 03, 2016, 02:19:41 PM »

Hi,
You have to have OpelGL 1.5 on your graphics driver or greater for graphics to display.
Regards,
Mauri.

299

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Newbie trying to understand mach 4

« on: January 01, 2016, 01:49:33 PM »

Hi,
Do not buy any new hardware as Mach4 has OpenGL Toolpath display programing issues and is being fixed. This applies to all recent PC's/NB's that use the latest OpenGL 3.5 up.
This also applies to all NVIDIA/AMD & Intel video processes.
You will find that a 256KB Video card will be OK, so wait until then.
Regards,
Mauri.

300

General Mach Discussion / Re: DRO vs GCode on Z with Mach 3.46.066 and ESS_v10r2d1d

« on: October 22, 2015, 08:16:07 PM »

Rob,
Posted reply to your post in Warp9 forum.
Problem is with both USS and ESS drivers.
Regards,
Mauri.