Messages

1341

General Mach Discussion / Re: program skipping commands (not steps)

« on: March 29, 2015, 01:48:53 AM »

Try using another program to test. I have seen it when the Gcode file itself was corrupt and it would skip the corrupt part.  Remaking the program over from new would fix it.

Just a thought, (;-) TP

1342

SmoothStepper USB / Re: Cable length issues

« on: March 26, 2015, 09:34:45 PM »

They do make USB range extenders for longer cable runs.

Just a thought, (;-) TP

1343

General Mach Discussion / Re: Machine started crashing, numbers appearing in tool table - I'm baffled

« on: March 25, 2015, 08:07:55 PM »

Mach3's XML CAN become corrupted and you may see strange numbers in places that they never were before. Reload your KNOWN good backup XML not the autosaved version.

Just a thought, (;-) TP

1344

Newfangled Mill Wizard / Tool Tablle Export / Import function

« on: March 22, 2015, 02:01:00 AM »

HIYA ROn would it be possible to create an tool table export /import feature for teh Wizard ??

It would need to export the current Jobs tools or the current tool table.  A CSV file would be great. We only need to export the Tool#, Diameter, Description, (tool Type # if you create that for us)

Also could we get a new category in the tool table as an INTEGER to define a BITMAP picture that will be showable in Mach3/4 when you access a tool in the control.

In Mach3/4 it would take that NUMBER and load a bitmap drawing of the TYPE of tool it is. Such as  

1 = BITMAP of a mill cutter , Flatnose
2= Bitmap of a Mill cutter , Roundnose
3 = Twist drill
4 = Straight drill
etc
etc

Then you could use the SAME bitmaps in the WIZARD to also show the tool type as a picture when you selected them. It could work both ways.

(;-) TP

1345

General Mach Discussion / Re: Still having trouble with Z offset

« on: March 21, 2015, 10:30:46 PM »

G43 H1  means to invoke the tool height offset of TOOL#1 as defined in the tool table. What ever offset you have set for tool #1 is what it uses to COMP the tool height. Take a pen and scratch out things that you find to be wrong. The manual is not 100% correct (;-) as you will find.

NOW remember you can call ANY tool# from there whether it is right or wrong.  (;-) Rule #6 pay attention to what you tell the machine to do Cause it WILL do it reguardless of how big a hole it bores in your table.

I would practice with a piece of styromfoam over and over again to get it drilled into your head. THEN it will become habit and easy peasy for the rest of your cnc days (;-)

Another thing concerning the soft limits. In order for them to be correct every time you MUST refhome the machine to the same exact spot every time when you start up the machine.

1346

General Mach Discussion / Re: Still having trouble with Z offset

« on: March 21, 2015, 09:38:23 PM »

Using the shortest tool creates a problem with Z travel. IF you are at the top of Z and setting with the shortest tool AND you then switch tools to the longest tool then there MAY not be enough Z UP travel left to do the comp and you will hit the limits.

Using the Longest tool the Z can only comp in the DOWN direction of Z and you CANNOT hit the Z up limits.

IF you are going to use the longest tool THEN it MUST be set as the master with 0.000 offset.


The reason for the Soft tlimits warning IS you are moving BEYOND the range of Z travel that you set in soft limits.

Just a thought, (;-) TP

1347

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Display html page using LUA

« on: March 20, 2015, 08:29:44 PM »

I think you need Lua sockets, that we do not have, to process HTML same with SMTP.

Just a thought, (;-)TP

1348

General Mach Discussion / Re: CNC Wrapper Arcs problem

« on: March 20, 2015, 11:12:21 AM »

HIYA RUSS, DIDN'T Ya read the manual ??

Joking aside in SIM it will all look like you have Changed nothing.  The Magic is in using the Y to drive the A. That way you have use of arcs which makes a very smooth function for A. The toolpath Screen will show it as a FLAT projection in XY BUT it will MACHINE around the A when used

DO you have a 4th axis setup and running ? And it still does not work ??

(;-) TP

1349

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: tool library Mach3 vs CAM

« on: March 19, 2015, 01:00:10 PM »

When a program RUNS it looks at the Tool# in the program then goes and gets the actual INFO from the Mach3 tool table.  Your CAM needs to be set up to use what MAch3 uses for tools OR you take what the CAM uses and MANUALLY update the MACH3 tool table.

Some controllers have a tool table import/export function to update tool data from Cam to Controller and vise versa if needed.  Some only allow manual updating(you working for the computer instead of it working for you)

The tools must match both ways.

(;-) TP

1350

General Mach Discussion / Re: Debug Assertion Failed! Error window popping up

« on: March 19, 2015, 12:48:59 PM »

You need to backup what special files you have created including the XML . Then Delete Mach3 completely and Reload a brand new copy.

(;-) TP