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Messages - Mauri

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311
Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 how good is your PC
« on: September 12, 2015, 09:42:26 PM »
Hi,
A XP Pro PC minimum specs MUST have OpenGL 1.5 or greater otherwise you will get the following message with Mach4.
“Vertex Buffer Objects requested but not available”
This is related to Toolpath screen display on Mach4.
Regards,
Mauri

312
Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 Jog Increments
« on: September 10, 2015, 06:45:02 PM »
Hi,
Mach4 MPG works perfectly in the increment movements, except for Backlash compensation of the DRO Mach4 Screen.
The accuracy is dependant on the Steps Per at the Motor Settings and the amount of Pulses Generated.
So for example if you are working in MM then most CNC setups the best you will get is .01mm spot on accuracy incremental movements.
The Mach4 increments will not be accurate if you have fractional pulses.
To Check this out do the following for mm machines.
lets say you have 800 Steps per mm then 800 * 0.01mm increments = 8 Pulses (this will work 100%)
But if  you have 800 Steps per mm then 800 * 0.001mm increments = 0.8 Pulses (this will not work and will not be accurate)
So no matter what equipment you have mm/inch, Stepper/Servo Microsteps or Not  in the end the more Steps per you have the higher the accuracy you will achieve with your incremental steps.
Regards,
Mauri.



313
Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 how good is your PC
« on: September 09, 2015, 12:31:12 AM »
I checked the XT PC which has 2GB Ram and Dual Processor Pentium.
Loading a 91 meg G-Code File, it took awhile using 53 to 65% CPU, however after the file was loaded 4Axis G-Code and run under Simulation it only used 0 to 1% CPU.
So this old XT PC is not an issue as the file has 5,249,274 Lines of G-Code in it this is larger the majority of Mach4 user will ever run.
I am not sure how it would run with a controller, but at this stage do not see an issue.

I also tried a 5Axis Simultaneous G-Code file and using the WX6 Screen, however after loading Mach4 came up with the following message "Vertex Buffer Objects requested but not available".
An incorrect picture appeared not representing the G-Code on the Screen.
The Mach4 would then not run nor close down so there are issues here.

The are many users out there that have XT PC's on there Mills and Router Tables that want this program Mach4 to fully function.
Also if it does work then I am sure there will be many new users with XT PC's wanting to use Mach4.

Regards,
Mauri.

314
Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 how good is your PC
« on: September 08, 2015, 06:06:59 PM »
A lot of users are still using old machines on their equipment (XT) with only 2GB Ram
They do not have video cards as well, and are using the Intel chip video.
They will still run Mach4.
The question is will they run very large G-Code files like in 3D engravings with Million plus lines.
I am still waiting for Mach4 to get some fixes before convert the wiring on our mill to our new controller, we can then test large 4 axis simultaneous files.
Currently without a controller connected (simulation mode) it seems to run large files with CPU from 30% to 50% on these old PC's.
On Mach3 these G-Code files work OK on these machines. (the only issue was you could not display the tool path on the screen).
Mach4 does not yet have any toolpaths on 4/5/6 axis yet, but this would have to be able to be switched off when it is implemented.
With so many machines out there, testing is the only solution to you question.
Regards,
Mauri.

315
Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 New Tabs
« on: September 06, 2015, 06:52:22 PM »
Das,
Where do you put the scr.SetProperty('Screens', 'Current Tab', '0') ?
I tried it in a number of places and it still comes up with that Probing Screen?
Regards,
Mauri.

316
Mach4 General Discussion / Re: The great screen debate
« on: August 30, 2015, 09:59:05 PM »
Blockhead,
I am talking about the Graphical Display portraying the G-Code movement, I can only get 2.5D and when I bring up 4 Axis G-Code it will not display anything.
Unless I missed something!
Regards,
Mauri.

317
Mach4 General Discussion / Re: The great screen debate
« on: August 30, 2015, 07:32:53 PM »
I do not see any method of displaying Rotary 4/5/6 Axis on the current Mach4 Screen.
At minimum it should at least be able to show 4 Axis like Mach3.
Regards,
Mauri.

318
HiCON Motion Controller / Mach4 Build 2660 and HiCON MPG
« on: August 27, 2015, 10:03:39 PM »
Hi,
The Mach4 build 2660 (fixed) now works correctly in JOG/MPG/DRO with HiCON Integra using .01mm increments.
If you have no backlash, then the screen DRO will display precise movements .01mm at a time both forward and backward.
If you have backlash set in config (Mach4/HiCON), then it will apply it and will display that value plus .01mm increments after the second click, so the screen may not show correctly to the two clicks, but if you have a dial indicator testing the movement it should move by those two clicks.
I.e.
.01
.01+bachlash (say.02)
Would equal .04mm on the screen DRO, but .02mm on the Dial Indicator.
At .001mm it is less accurate, but still usable.
Thank you Brian and Marc for the assistance in finally get this issue resolved.
Regards,
Mauri.

319
Mach4 General Discussion / Re: The great screen debate
« on: August 27, 2015, 05:03:44 AM »
I do engravings that can take a long machining times (8 to 24hours), so I agree that Screen Set needs "simulate program run time" to be added.
This would be very helpful as it was with Mach3 (which was reasonably accurate) in working out how much time the machining will take.
If it takes too long, then this will provide the user with that important information so that other approaches can be undertaken in machining like multiple partial cuts.
Regards,
Mauri.

320
HiCON Motion Controller / HiCON Intergra Card with Mach4.
« on: August 23, 2015, 08:01:50 PM »
Hi,
Recently we purchased a Vital Systems HiCON Integra card as others were not yet completed or functional with Mach4.
We wanted to make a new Controller for our Mill to use with Mach4.

Our requirements were:-
Have a Controller with 4 Axis with the option to go to 5/6.
Have full front Panel 5 Button control the same as Mach4 controls.
Have the front Panel Buttons LED lights function correctly as well as have LED’s for other items.
Be able to have +5V Homing function with +24V inputs to controller.
Be able to have limit controls 24v inputs to controller.
Be able to fully control a high speed Spindle/VFD.
Be able to have full and proper E-Stop.
Have a fully functional MPG with E-Stop.
Have cost effective Stepper Gecko Motor Drivers (G203V and GM215).
Have a good Power Module for the Motors (PMDX)
Be able to Dump Motor Back voltage (PMDX).
Be able to disable Gecko Drives (+5V).
Be able to attach a Probe.
Have sufficient documentation and support (Marc/Rufi/Brian) to get the Controller completed and functional.

Make sure you fully read all the documentation HiCON/Mach4 as the answers are there.

Well this was a journey that required a lot of planning, simulation and circuit testing, providing a lot of fun along the way.
HiCON Integra Card and its Documentation, plus the Mach4 Documentation made it possible to do all we wanted.

We now have a fully functional Controller and are waiting on two items in Mach4 to be able to go into production.
1)   CV to be completed
2)   MPG to function correctly with .01mm and .001mm.

So in summary if you want a Mach4 Motion card that works then Vital System HiCON Integra delivers.

Mauri.


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