Messages

3381

General Mach Discussion / Re: Feed Hold in arcs

« on: December 16, 2012, 01:02:01 PM »

No the arc problem IS a mach3 problem. I outlined a proceedure to make it work in one of his other posts on the subject.

(;-) TP

3382

General Mach Discussion / MAch4 new name ??

« on: December 16, 2012, 12:18:22 AM »

Are we going to see a NEW fancy/Cool name for mach3 V4 ?

Surely you can't  just roll it into another version update of Mach3 ?  Well If you do I want to READ the version update on that release.

NO, say it ain't so Joe , (;-) TP

3383

General Mach Discussion / Re: Thinking of a new wrapper function for MAch3.

« on: December 15, 2012, 09:01:10 PM »

Well I have it in Mcode form and wizard Form.  I am still testing for glitches and thinking of any more safety code to be added.  BUT so far it is a hoot.

3384

General Mach Discussion / Re: BT30 spindle from scratch - with power drawbar and ATC of course

« on: December 15, 2012, 02:32:16 PM »

"DANGER Robin Hood DANGER"

(;-) TP

3385

General Mach Discussion / Re: Home switch as input

« on: December 15, 2012, 02:31:11 PM »

As Long as your Z does use the switch for limits as well you are ok. Do as Hood suggest and use the HomeLed as the reference.

Then if you are missing steps mach3 will not return to G28 home(ledoff)  OR it will crash through the switch(;-)

The option is to Refhome the Z at tool change time . Bring the Z close to home with a rapid move then refhome(Z)  That way you KNOW for sure that it is at position EVERY TIME you change tools (;-)

BUT the best thing is to FIX the missed steps problem.

(;-)TP

3386

General Mach Discussion / Re: Thinking of a new wrapper function for MAch3.

« on: December 15, 2012, 02:16:48 PM »

OK a Question for posible users.

WOuld you want this as a macro call  M107P# Q# for ON and M108 for OFF

Or a Wizard?

Or both ?

OR OTHER ??

(;-) TP

3387

General Mach Discussion / Re: Thinking of a new wrapper function for MAch3.

« on: December 15, 2012, 01:45:28 PM »

ONE thing I have noticed for good resolution it will require a good bit of gearing reduction.  Depending on what resolution you need and what size (diameter ) piece you are cutting.

(;-) TP

3388

General Mach Discussion / Re: Thinking of a new wrapper function for MAch3.

« on: December 15, 2012, 01:38:11 PM »

There must be something BAD wrong in my thinking as this has been much too simple. I don't have a mach3 4th axis here to do actual testing but in sim the basics are done,just putting in some safety code for dummies like me.

(;-) TP

3389

General Mach Discussion / Thinking of a new wrapper function for MAch3.

« on: December 15, 2012, 01:57:40 AM »

SOme of the new cncs have a Gcode wrapper function where you can redirect the Y axis code to the A axis for polar machining.  Haas runs it as G107

I think it can be done with Mach3 and use an Mcode to convert mach3 to think that the A axis is really the Y axis  (not a problem there)

AND the key part the Axis could then run as a linear axis as Y . That way you can run Original Gcode without having to convert the Y arcs to line segments as MACH3 cannot do X/A or Z/A arcs. BUT if mach thinks that is is really Y then it will not know the difference and could cut some great smooth art on the rotary.

Best part it would run Gcode directly from a 2.5D cam.  No conversion needed

SO what do you think something needed/cool or delusional in need of medical help (;-).

Yes I know, late at night, can't sleep, need something to do type thingy.

Just a thought,(;-) TP

 

3390

General Mach Discussion / Re: Feed Hold G83

« on: December 14, 2012, 10:30:31 PM »

OK here is the secret handshake for Feedhold on an arc. You press feedhold and wait until it stops. Then press stop. To restart use run from here, on the prep move MAKE SURE the rapid height is ABOVE your part or else you will crash your part.

Then press cycle start to return to the start of the arc and continue. SO FAR it has worked every time here to properly restart deep in a helix(worse case senario) mid arc.

NOW resist the urge to simply Cycle start after the feed hold (;-) The stopping is not the problem RESTARTING IS you will crash your part when MAch just wonders off in the field.

Just a thought, (;-) TP