Messages

2261

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Comments about Mach4 in Demo

« on: April 30, 2014, 04:05:39 PM »

I also noticed that the Gcode comments are not displayed on screen.

(;-) TP

2262

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Comments about Mach4 in Demo

« on: April 30, 2014, 03:44:46 PM »

HIYA Brian , looking at the fixture and tool tables I see that we can now use the keyboard to move around in the values windows to do updates to the values which is VERY GOOD  BUT I do not see a way to EXIT out with a mouse.

Also reviewing the G98/99 calls I see we can now GOTO a sequence line.  Can I assume the the sequence number is the LINE # ??

Can we expect conditional in the near future to make that useful.

Also the calls are not consistant.

M98 Pxx Qxx Lxx      Where Q calls the GOTO line #

M99 Pxx                Where P calls the goto Line #

Would it not be more consistant for the Q to be used in both cases to call the GOTO line#  ??

2263

General Mach Discussion / Re: Relay for Spindle (Plasma torch on) buzzes, rattles, on off really fast

« on: April 30, 2014, 12:04:34 PM »

Sounds like a High frequency start is wrecking havic with the relay when the arc is started. Try running then program WITH the Plasma machine turn off. IF the relay does NOT rattle then there is the problem .

Sometimes adding a capacitor across teh relay input lead can stop the problems with HF starts. DO a search on HF starts and fixes with plasma cutting machines.

Also check as HOOD suggested with crossed or duplicated  ports/pins settings.

(;-) TP

2264

General Mach Discussion / Re: New RoutOutCNC

« on: April 30, 2014, 11:53:56 AM »

Spending some time with the mach3 manual OR other CNC manuals that explain BASIC CNC and playijng with the machine to learn its operations is going to go a LONG way to helping you understand the process. It has a rather steep learning curve at times.

0,0,0   (;-) WHich one ? Machine coords, user coords, G28, G30 or Fixture offset(g54,g55,g56,etc), G10 ?? It all depends on what you need to do.

First thing to do is tell MACH3 where it really is in your 3d space. (Set the machine corrd base). It can be done several ways, Home switches, touching off to a preset spot on the table, manual touch off to the part, probing either the table or part.  Basically this allows Mach3 to know where it is compared to your table or part.  Once set it remembers where it is in Machine coords reguardless of what you do with offsets.etc. Once you turn OFF mach3 then it is lost and must be reset on startup.

Once done with that  NOW you deal in user coords. These area variable as to your needs.  TO machine you first establish the Point of origin. THis syncs your Gcode to a specific place on the table and when at this point the DROs will read 0,0,0.  Now you can shift this point on the fly with things such as Fixture offsets (G54,G55,G56,etc) This effectively MOVES the point of origin across the table to a new starting point and Mach3 keeps the record of where it moved to in case you need to go back there. You can also use G52/92 offsets to offsets the point on the table.

So you can set up several Fixture offsets for each part on the table and then reset the Point of origin to each part when it time to do the work.

For example I start in G54 and setup the original 0,0,0 and machine the first part. Then switch to G57 which shifts the Poin of Origin to the next part to machine and then machine that part.  THis way when you DRAW and Cam the part all the parts can be drawn to have the Point of orgin of the part to say the lower left corner of the part and you do NOT have to know where the part will be machined on the table. 

This can also be done with part offsetting with G52/92 or G10.


That is just a nutshell view of the operations . TIme,study  and practice will be your friend in this game.

Just a thought, (;-) TP

2265

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Comments about Mach4 in Demo

« on: April 30, 2014, 11:31:54 AM »

For the Record I just HOPE that when Mach4 hits the market that ALL primary CNC calls and controls are Complete and ready to sling chips. Things like G68 , G31, all Canned cycles working,etc

COntrols such as Run From Here, Reverse RUN,etc

AND we are not left to our own to have to try and create such things in LUA.

LUA is NOT simple to the average person from my experience (non programmer). YES I think it is great that MACH4 still allows for one to create something SPECIAL and that will open up a SPECIAL function market$$  for clever programmers but all the NORMAL modern CNC based controls should be up and running and working correctly.

(;-) TP

2266

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Comments about Mach4 in Demo

« on: April 29, 2014, 10:05:46 AM »

I UNDERSTAND your points BUT (;-)

Why would you want to leave ALL those LPTers stranded in the desert. All their hardware is going to work as long as thier PCs still functions(not dead) and they can still find parts to fix the PCs. AND they are still the CORE of Mach users.

I am NOT saying not to move on as everyone else in the modern world HAS moved to a motion control card.

(;-) TP

2267

General Mach Discussion / Re: Parametric Variables Table??

« on: April 29, 2014, 09:52:20 AM »

Hiya Graham, Here with values in XYZA DROs the #5023 is empty Zero. Checking with both the Mach VAR monitor and my Var Report.

(;-) TP

2268

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Comments about Mach4 in Demo

« on: April 28, 2014, 10:01:04 PM »

Brian Actually Steve DID mention possibley NOT having a LPT version in this post. My opinion is Mach4 without a LPT driver would be a HUGE mistake in marketing BUT that is your call.

IF all the art explained about the LPT driver is good then a dedicated motion controller FUNTION is going to have to really be good to beat the lpt ver.

I do understand that with a OEM controller the burden of support goes to the OEM not artsoft as they only supply the Control CORE ??

BUT I would dare say there are probably MORE lpt users out there than all the  other types put together.

Just my opinion, you mileage may vary due to local conditions.

(;-) TP

When will we get a LPT plugin to use ??

(;-) TP

There might not be one.  Not decided yet.

Steve

2269

General Mach Discussion / Re: Odd glitch in movement?

« on: April 28, 2014, 04:33:36 PM »

The question remains is the chatter in the cut related to the belt drive rebounding OR is it THC osillation due to the THC coming back online after the arc ??  I would lower the THC SPEED a bit and go back up on acell just to see IF it is any better.

Here that cut would be a nice sharp corner about as sharp as it it drawn .BUT that is this machine not yours. Here the settings are Vel 200 Acell 30IPS/S. It would depend on the drives/motors here everything runs from nema 34 high torque motors and gecko drives and the CLong axis has 2 slaved nema 34's.

Looking better though, (;-) TP

2270

General Mach Discussion / Re: Parametric Variables Table??

« on: April 28, 2014, 04:27:02 PM »

Most that have any known meaning are listed in the Mach3 manual.

Other wise I plug in a value in a DRO somewhere and then go LOOK for it to show up in the Variable report


(;-) TP