Messages

1621

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach 4 Bug Reports

« on: January 22, 2015, 10:38:47 PM »

I started testing again and ran into this quirk. I loaded the Gcode and got a strange error message (;-) There is no G74 code in the program and I cannot get past it.


Gcode:

(strange tapering of parallel movement with G41/sub)
#1=4      
#2=400    
#3=0.05  
#4=1      
#6=[#1*#3]
G90 G54 G21 G40
G41 G0 X0. Y0. P#4
M1
M98 P1 L[#1-1]
G40
M30

O1
G91 G0 X#3 Y[#3-[#3*2]]
G0 Y-18.
X5.
G1 Y12. F#2
G2 X1. Y1. I1. J0.
G1 X5.
X5. Y5.
G0 X-16.
M99

Load Error:

"C:\Mach4Hobby\GcodeFiles\12345.tap", Line 8: Spindle not turning counterclockwise in g74

1622

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: 4th axis G code for text on a cylinder

« on: January 22, 2015, 06:12:11 PM »

Look for CNCWRAPPER it converts 2.5D gcode to 4th axis wrapped code.

(;-) TP

1623

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Disable all motion untill ref all home, constant soft limits.

« on: January 22, 2015, 10:52:56 AM »

Create a Macro ( say M2010). In that macro place your RefHome code AND the code to turn ON softlimits. Make SURE you add some code to WARN the Operator that the MACHINE is about to move and they have to press a button to continue.

On the Genconfig page place  M2010 into the initicialization string.

Now when Mach3 is started OR reset the Macro will run and RefHome the machine Then set Softlimits.


To prevent the operators from monkeying withe Mach3 setup simply LOCK the control with a password. From the operators button.

(;-) TP

1624

General Mach Discussion / Re: Run From Here: strange Z axis plunge to zero ruining jobs!

« on: January 22, 2015, 10:42:46 AM »

Are you saving all the fixture and tool offsets when you shut down Mach3 ??

You will HAVE to RefHome the Machine to an exact spot AND then when you set teh Work Zero you are changing the offests. When you restart Mach33 to continue you MUST refHome again then Move to the exact spot that you set the Work Zero to to begin. 

If you do NOT save the offsets then Mach3 assumes you do not want to restart in the exact spot and simply goes where you tell it to go.

Then is the option in Gen Config to save the offsets make SURE it is set.

(;-) TP

1625

VB and the development of wizards / Re: New Wizards ??

« on: January 21, 2015, 06:56:30 PM »

You are very welcome please let me know how it works out or IF it needs some more work.

(;-) TP

1626

General Mach Discussion / Re: Plasma not cutting smoothly

« on: January 21, 2015, 11:21:28 AM »

You need to RAISE the acceleration to as fast as your machine can work without errors so it can react faster.

(;-) TP

1627

General Mach Discussion / Re: Plasma not cutting smoothly

« on: January 21, 2015, 10:57:13 AM »

The real trick to plasma cutting is to keep the motion as constant velocity (feedrate).  The plasma cutting function depends on this to cut smoothly. IF your accelleration is too slow MACH3 will slow dramatically in arcs and circles . THis slowdown effects the cut quality. SO the process ends up being a compromise on low end cutters that cannot achieve HIGH acceleration rates.

Testing and GOOD note keeping goes along way here as each type and size  plate cut MAY require a different setting to cut cleanly. Finding the MAX acceleration that your machine can handle will help as well. MORE testing (;-).

Just a thought, (;-) TP

1628

General Mach Discussion / Re: Plasma not cutting smoothly

« on: January 20, 2015, 11:04:53 PM »

That is too high for most plasma cutters. Here with a hypertherm I cut at .080 -.100 " off the top of the material. Cutting too high makes the arc wonder around when cutting causing a jagged cut most time.

Consult your plasma's MANUAL for the poper cutting heights and speeds.

(;-) TP

1629

General Mach Discussion / Re: Plasma not cutting smoothly

« on: January 20, 2015, 10:30:33 PM »

Is it just a rough cut OR a lot of slag.  Do you have AHC (auto height control) ?

(;-) TP

1630

General Mach Discussion / Re: Plasma not cutting smoothly

« on: January 20, 2015, 06:49:49 PM »

OK but first you need to define cleaner cuts.

(;-0 TP