Messages

11

Mach4 General Discussion / lua in Mach 4

« on: August 09, 2022, 12:38:37 PM »

really simple question, I think.
I am building a m6 in Lua in Mach4
I have a 4 tool changer it has air cylinders that need to be activated, I have them on output 2 - 5
I want to build a variable name to activate the correct cylinder for the tool change
tool 1 is output 2
Line one does not work, it assigns the variable Tsig1 the text value
line two does work it returns a number

I am putting the text that is shown in parenthesis in a variable but it is text
how do I tell the program that I want it to see the text as a output variable thingy?

local Tsig1 = ("mc.OSIG_OUTPUT2")
local Tsig2 = mc.OSIG_OUTPUT3

So really x="mc.OSIG_OUTPUT2"
Local Tsig1 = x
or I tried Tsig1 = (x) and every other kind of bracket or parenthesis
I also tried string.format
and every other thing I could find on the web
No dice
Thanks

12

General Mach Discussion / Re: probing with sound logic PC-2-Route Model M2

« on: January 07, 2010, 03:50:34 PM »

Thank you but not so useful. perhaps my question should be posted in another place as I am using a breakout board so I do not have direct access to the pins on the parallel port. I am looking for someone using a Bob Campbell breakout board to tell me what terminals to hook up the probe to on the breakout board. I can probably figure out how to configure the Mach3 after that. Or perhaps I can't hook up a probe to that breakout board?

13

General Mach Discussion / probing with sound logic PC-2-Route Model M2

« on: January 07, 2010, 10:58:34 AM »

New to probing but need to digitize a point cloud diagram of a shape. I have taken the sample point cloud shape of the hand and sucessfully made a tool path and cut. Now I need to digitize my own shape. I have a Bob Campbell Sound Logic board and it is obvious that somehow Mach3 needs to recieve input as to when the probe contacts the part. Where do I provide that input to Mach3 I assume I will attach 2 wires to a NC probe and when the circut goes open the Z travel will cease and coordinates will be written to a file.
The question simply stated Where do I attach the leads of the probe to the system?
Thanks

14

General Mach Discussion / Re: Set jog speed

« on: January 05, 2010, 01:24:08 PM »

Thank you that is handy to know. Is there a comprehensive list of keyboard shortcuts somewhere?

15

General Mach Discussion / Re: Set jog speed

« on: January 05, 2010, 11:29:35 AM »

that makes sense, I could not see the whole control (on screen when you hit the tab key) however I did see a 50% on it which would give me the 30ipm as the motors are set at 60. I could not see the whole control on my screen and did not know how to move it, someone here told me how to move that control already. I am not at the machine today but I will try it tomrrow and i am sure I will be all set. Thank you.

16

General Mach Discussion / Re: Set jog speed

« on: January 05, 2010, 08:26:24 AM »

when I am in the motor tuning window and jog there it goes really fast. When I am in the program/run screen and I jog the feed rate display reads about 30 units/Min as I am jogging. Every other CNC machine I have used has a way to adjust the speed in the jog mode. Does MACH3 allow adjustment of jog speed?

17

General Mach Discussion / Set jog speed

« on: January 04, 2010, 09:22:40 PM »

Running MACH3 locked version two questions.
I did read the manual but either I missed these or
It seems no matter what I change my jog is always about 30 IPM how do I change this setting?  Thanks.
My screen is 1024 x 768 when I press the tab key I get half of the pendant control on the right side of the screen, can this be dragged? reconfigured?

thanks

18

General Mach Discussion / Re: different behavior in motor setup screen and run mode

« on: January 04, 2010, 09:03:59 PM »

You were absolutley correct my processor was maxed out just jogging. I put a more powerful machine in place and now it is much better.

19

General Mach Discussion / different behavior in motor setup screen and run mode

« on: January 03, 2010, 01:13:25 PM »

I am a bit confused about one thing. when I go into the motor set up area and jog the axis, any one, I can enter 80 IPM for the speed and jog the motors without missing steps no problem, set my acceleration so high it actually shakes the machine no missed steps. When running a program if I go over 30 IPM even with gentle acceleration I get missed steps I mean blatant you can hear the motor ratcheting. Is there a setting I am missing in the run mode?
Thanks in advance for any advice

20

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: New people welcome !! Come in here and introduce your self!

« on: January 03, 2010, 01:08:58 PM »

Alan Bredbury here Tool and Die Maker by trade went back to school and got my Masters in Business Management. Worked as a project Engineer in the automotive aftermarket for 18 years then the company got bought and moved out of Connecticut. I had some CNC exposure but then became a division manager for a company that had 4 different CNC machines and spent a lot of time drawing and tool pathing in Mastercam X. I had a lot of Autocad experience in the late 90s and early 2000s. I had been buying parts for a while to put a machine together and as of February 2009 I became unemployed once again. I have built my machine X axis 50" Y axis 40" Z axis 18" Gecko 203V 640in/oz motors MACH3. It works great just got it calibrated and running. But (I will post this in the correct area as well) I am a bit confused about one thing. when I go into the motor set up area and jog the axis, any one, I can enter 80 IPM for the speed and jog the motors without missing steps no problem, set my acceleration so high it actually shakes the machine no missed steps. When running a program if I go over 30 IPM even with gentle acceleration I get missed steps I mean blatant you can hear the motor ratcheting. Is there a setting I am missing in the run mode? Anyway Greetings all.