Topics

1

General Mach Discussion / This is just plain... WRONG

« on: November 11, 2017, 08:31:20 AM »

Received this as a PM 
Is this what the education system is coming too, Having others do your lessons?
Not impressed on so many levels.

2

General Mach Discussion / Has to be a record (way too funny)

« on: December 28, 2015, 02:43:06 PM »

 
I found that "Limit Switch Issues" thread and can not believe it  
Need an emoticon that bangs it head in to a limit switch.
In two days, 15 pages of    
thanks for the holiday cheer,

3

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / The "Mach4" 3D Laser Build

« on: October 29, 2014, 07:13:32 AM »

Note: Split this off from my "Hog Heaven" post (but don't know how to move it to the Show "N" Tell (Your Machine) section)

Took a CD reader carriage and adapted it to control the Z axiis focal plane to my laser build/upgrade. Small screw with jam nut for limit switch home position. These use a stepper motor that adapt well for cnc control.  Pretty much an all day project, but does work very smooth.  I was pretty happy with the outcome, using an out of date CD reader that was just collecting dust.


Thanks Scott Nichols for the move (Admin)

4

Mach4 General Discussion / Variables reading and writing

« on: May 17, 2014, 12:05:25 PM »

Been mucking around looking in to reading and writing to variables and trying to figure out the variable#'s
Reality, I was trying to find a way to set the persistent dro's so when I restart it has the same dro coords as when it shut down.
not sure where it picked these from but can not seem to reset them, as the data is held in the xml file not the machine.ini

There has to be a way to write them to memory on shutdown or maybe write them to a file and then read the file and fill the variables with the stored locations.

-- inst 0 is the hobby version 0 is the only one, the pro versions will have more capabilities and Mach4 can then run multiplies instances.
-- this was placed under a button click to read and set, step thru and experiment.
inst= 0

--how to read variables
local valx = mc.mcCntlGetPoundVar(inst, 5021);
local valy = mc.mcCntlGetPoundVar(inst, 5022);
local valz = mc.mcCntlGetPoundVar(inst, 5023);
local vala = mc.mcCntlGetPoundVar(inst, 5024);

--how to set variables (in this case to zero)
mc.mcCntlSetPoundVar(inst, 5021, 0);
mc.mcCntlSetPoundVar(inst, 5022, 0);
mc.mcCntlSetPoundVar(inst, 5023, 0);
mc.mcCntlSetPoundVar(inst, 5024, 0);


-- this is a listing of a lot of the variables I found. As you can see there is a pattern to some like kinds
not all as most of course are zero's and there are a lot of them. Your numbers will vary for most.
I labeled some I could get a handle on. Others will have to wait for Documentation.
Writing a while loop to read all the variables > 0 and then writing to a text file or even a wizard is in the plans.

2132=900
2134=10

3005 =200
3101 =3.141592
3102 =2.718282
4001=10
4002 =170
4003 =900
4004 =911
4005 =940
4006 =200
4007 =400
4008 =490
4009 =500
4010 =990
4011 =150
4012 =1
4013 =610

--my machine always defaults to these #' on startup
5021=0.254 --machine coordinate x
5022=1.27 --mc y
5023=1.27 --mc z
5024=50.8 --mc a

5025=453.571429 --not sure what this number is

5110= headshift x
5111= hs y
5112= hs z
5113= hs a
5114= hs b
5115= hs c

5201= workshift x
5202= ws y
5203= ws z
5204= ws a
5205= ws b
5206= ws c

5221= g54x
5222= g54y
5223= g54z
5224= g54a
5225= g54b
5226= g54c

5241= g55
5261= g56
5281= g57
5301= g58
5321= g59
--and on and on they go as blocks of 20

7785=tool 1 Length
7786=Length wear
7788=1/2 Diameter
7789=1/2 Dia wear

7795=tool 2
7805=tool 3
7815=tool 4
7825=tool 5
7835=tool 6
7845=tool 7
7855=tool 8
7865=tool 9
7875=tool 10
8375=tool 60
8775=tool 100
8785=tool 101
9775=tool 200
9785=tool 201
9795=tool 202
-- and these go on in blocks of 10

10275=tool 250 Length
10276=length Wear
10278=1/2 Dia
10279=1/2 Dia wear

10315=tool 254 Length
10316=length Wear
10318=1/2 Dia
10319=1/2 Dia wear

15000=2418317446859018500000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
15001=2418347089633870200000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
15002=2418376732408721800000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
--up to variable 15038 with those in variations

below are some screen shots of where to look at your variables
and yes you can have multiple ranges and multiple display groups displayed
Pin it to keep them on the top of screen.

--just a random lot of variables and the values
15043=92
15045=17
15046=90
15047=91
15048=94
15049=20
15050=40
15051=49
15052=50
15053=98
15054=15
15055=54
15056=64
15057=97
15058=69
15059=-1.#QNAN0
15060=-1.#QNAN0
15061=-1.#QNAN0
15063=13
15064=10
15065=900
15067=-1
15068=-1
15069=-1
15102=-1
15104=-1
15105=-1.#QNAN0
15106=-1.#QNAN0
15107=-1.#QNAN0
15108=-1.#QNAN0
15109=-1.#QNAN0
15110=-1.#QNAN0
15111=-1.#QNAN0
16127=5000
16288=3600
16293=5

5

Mach4 General Discussion / Creating a Probe File

« on: May 15, 2014, 08:28:06 PM »

--Inspired by Nicks (Bodini) Tool table exporter
--Place under a button
--can be called from a probe input in the future development

local AXIS_X = mc.mcAxisGetMachinePos(inst,0);
local AXIS_Y = mc.mcAxisGetMachinePos(inst,1);
local AXIS_Z = mc.mcAxisGetMachinePos(inst,2);

filename = "ProbeData.txt";

file = io.open(filename,"a"); -- create new file or add to it
ProbeData = string.format("X%4.4f Y%4.4f Z%4.4f \n",AXIS_X, AXIS_Y, AXIS_Z);
file:write(ProbeData)

file:close()

6

Mach4 General Discussion / Screen Set Ideas

« on: May 06, 2014, 06:08:35 PM »

Thought Id show a couple screen ideas I am working on, so others might get some inspiration of their own.

Possibilities are endless. 

7

Mach4 General Discussion / Mach4 Keyboard Emulation

« on: May 03, 2014, 02:58:32 PM »

Was asked about Keyboard emulation setup.

Thought Id show everyone how to setup and use the Keyboard as inputs.

Disable Mach4 first
Menu -- Configure Plugins
Make sure it is Enabled
Press Configure button
Press Add Button
Highlight each box from left to right
Input a New InputName
Press the Key you want to use
Shift Alt & Ctrl key options will have to be hit twice to set
when done mach4 will have to be restarted to save the these new settings

Menu -- Configure Mach
Input Signals Tab
Enable Input
Select Device from a pull down list
Select Input Name you created in the Keyboard Plugin from its pull down list
Set Input Active High or Low

that's about all there is to it.

8

Third party software and hardware support forums. / Would these work for 24volt limit switches to 5volt input to a Break out Board

« on: February 12, 2012, 10:33:23 AM »

Found these on ebay was wondering how these would work for limit switches.


LM2596 DC-DC adjustable power step-down module NEW (#140695723769)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LM2596-DC-DC-adjustable-power-step-down-module-NEW-/140695723769?_trksid=p4340.m1374&_trkparms=algo%3DPI.WATCH%26its%3DC%252BS%26itu%3DUCC%26otn%3D15%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D6278583638713891219

9

MACH TOOL BOX / Multi pass facing program

« on: October 31, 2010, 10:54:06 PM »

I have to clean up lots of top surfaces that need multiple passes to get flat. So I wrote this program to do what I needed. If nothing else it's a good example of doing multiple subroutines using variables. Hope it helps someone, I find it so much easier. I just enter in the width and Length of the face along with the number of passes I need to make to clean it up.
    Wish I could use if/then statements like I use with macro B but this does work well for me in Mach3. I tried to document to help ya. But I hope you will get the idea. Beats the Wizards for me.

Code: [Select]

   (CUTS Top Face of stock)
    (STARTED AT Z0 TOP OF rough PART)

    M03 (start spindle)
    G1G90X0Y0Z0.25F60. (Go to lower left corner of stock)
    Z0 ( Feed to face of rough stock)

    (load variables)
    #1000=[16] (Length in X in this case inches)
    #1001=[13] (Width in Y)
    #1002=[-0.1] (depth each of cut pass)

    #1004=0
    #1005=0.65 (offset cut distance smaller than .75 cutter diameter)
    #1006=[#1005*2] (Compute step over)
    #1007=[#1001/#1006] (Compute passes)

    M98 P5 L8 (call subroutine CUT DOWN IN Z in this case 0.1 * 8 = .8")
    M05 (stop spindle)
    G0G90Z.25 (move back up)
    X0Y0 (go home)
    M30 (All done)

    O5
    M98 P10 L1 (call sub to feed down)
    M98 P20 L1 (call sub to face part)
    G0G90Z0 (Move out of the way)
    X0Y0 (Go Home)
    M99

    O10
    #1004=[#1004+#1002] (Calculate New cut depth)
    G1Z[#1004] (MOVE TO CUT DEPTH)
    M99

    O20
    M98 P30 L[#1007] (call sub to cut reps ACROSS)
    M99

    O30
    (THIS IS THE SUB TO CUT FACE)
    G1 G91Y[#1005] (Increment over in Y)
    G90X[#1000]F80. (Cut across part)
    G91Y[#1005] (again increment over)
    G90X0 (Cut back across part)
    M99

10

Share Your GCode / Multi pass facing program

« on: October 31, 2010, 07:56:03 PM »

    I have to clean up lots of top surfaces that need multiple passes to get flat. So I wrote this program to do what I needed. If nothing else it's a good example of doing multiple subroutines using variables. Hope it helps someone, I find it so much easier. I just enter in the width and Length of the face along with the number of passes I need to make to clean it up.
    Wish I could use if/then statements like I use with macro B but this does work well for me in Mach3. I tried to document to help ya. But I hope you will get the idea. Beats the Wizards for me.

Code: [Select]

   (CUTS Top Face of stock)
    (STARTED AT Z0 TOP OF rough PART)

    M03 (start spindle)
    G1G90X0Y0Z0.25F60. (Go to lower left corner of stock)
    Z0 ( Feed to face of rough stock)

    (load variables)
    #1000=[16] (Length in X in this case inches)
    #1001=[13] (Width in Y)
    #1002=[-0.1] (depth each of cut pass)

    #1004=0
    #1005=0.65 (offset cut distance smaller than .75 cutter diameter)
    #1006=[#1005*2] (Compute step over)
    #1007=[#1001/#1006] (Compute passes)

    M98 P5 L8 (call subroutine CUT DOWN IN Z in this case 0.1 * 8 = .8")
    M05 (stop spindle)
    G0G90Z.25 (move back up)
    X0Y0 (go home)
    M30 (All done)

    O5
    M98 P10 L1 (call sub to feed down)
    M98 P20 L1 (call sub to face part)
    G0G90Z0 (Move out of the way)
    X0Y0 (Go Home)
    M99

    O10
    #1004=[#1004+#1002] (Calculate New cut depth)
    G1Z[#1004] (MOVE TO CUT DEPTH)
    M99

    O20
    M98 P30 L[#1007] (call sub to cut reps ACROSS)
    M99

    O30
    (THIS IS THE SUB TO CUT FACE)
    G1 G91Y[#1005] (Increment over in Y)
    G90X[#1000]F80. (Cut across part)
    G91Y[#1005] (again increment over)
    G90X0 (Cut back across part)
    M99