Messages

4191

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Material Feeder Wizard Suggestions

« on: June 25, 2012, 03:50:46 PM »

AN ADDED Feature will be USING the tool table and Tool change to STORE all your material sizes and make changes to material setup as a tool change.

Look in the tool table select the material by description and load (;-)

You can also PRINT the Material Table (tool) to a file for reveiw OR to a printer.

I use that trick in plasma screens(;-)

(;-) That feature is FREE (;-), (;-) TP

4192

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Material Feeder Wizard Suggestions

« on: June 25, 2012, 02:49:38 PM »

Russ here is an example I am working on. It has all the features you asked for including an Individual FRO for Cut feed and Bar Feed. It is also a SAFE design.

It will require a continuous bar feeder though either roller or R&P.

(;-) TP

4193

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Material Feeder Wizard Suggestions

« on: June 25, 2012, 01:19:12 PM »

This approach would work fine I believe as best as I can test it here AND be safe for the Machine and OP.

Screen macro programs the part cut size (length and width) and feedrates of feed and barfeed updates #vars Verifies that the #vars are filled before posting Gcode for the part as a safety.

M501                   (open Clamps for Bar Feed , verify saw and coolant ON else stop and error to OP)
G1 Z#500 F#502  (barfeed)
G4P0                   (restart the buffer for QUICK stops)
G1 X#503 F#504  (cut the stock)
G4P0                   (restart the buffer for quick stops)
G0 X0.000            (retract saw)
M500                   (Eject part , Checks the state of the Prox switch IF not then Continue  Else STOP AND Flash a full size page LED to get their attention(;-) Limit switch
                           Will stop machine IF part size is shorter than clamp length (safety) )
M47                     (repeat from line#1)

You can EVEN add a running total parts counter with a reset button (;-)

Just a thought, (;-) TP

4194

General Mach Discussion / Re: Gcode -using a period in parameters

« on: June 25, 2012, 11:55:12 AM »

NO all #var names MUST be integers.

(;-) TP

4195

General Mach Discussion / Re: Z axis problem

« on: June 25, 2012, 12:40:12 AM »

OK 2 ways to do it  IF you want to run it from the keyboard Go to Config /Pinsports and enable the inputs for thcup and thcdown. Then click on Emulate and select a Hotkey for the event for each .

At that point restart mach3 and you should be able to raise and lower the Z running a program.

2nd option (best( is to setup to real intut switches and wire them into the port that way you can bring the switchs with you to the table for a closeup veiw and adjust it on the fly

4196

General Mach Discussion / Re: Z axis problem

« on: June 25, 2012, 12:12:11 AM »

OK DOES the machine have a TORCH Height Control (THC) installed ?

Or are you trying to control it manually ?

(;-) TP

4197

General Mach Discussion / Re: Z axis problem

« on: June 24, 2012, 10:12:31 PM »

OK all I see for everlast is they make a plasma power supply not a CNC plasma cutter.

WHere did you buy the CNC Machine?  Make and model ?? Dpo you have a picture ??

(;-) TP

4198

General Mach Discussion / Re: Z axis problem

« on: June 24, 2012, 09:56:42 PM »

OK look back at your message and see IF you gave us ANY clue as to what you have machine/thc  wise (;-)

All I can see is that you have a plasma ?? MAYBE

(;-) TP

4199

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Material Feeder Wizard Suggestions

« on: June 24, 2012, 09:45:58 PM »

IF you used a drive roller feed OR continuous rack and pinion it would be fairly simple to bar feed. Simply run the Gcode cycle till it runs out of barstock then reload.

AS long as you drive the Motion in straight Gcode it will be safe. As all the safeties of mach3 will work fine. You can even drive safety light curtains to keep hands away.

Create a genearic cut program using #vars for the cut variables Bar Feed and cut feed.
M501                   (open Clamps for stock entry and reset Z axis to Zero
G1 Z#500 F#502  (barfeed)
G4P0                   (restart the buffer for QUICK stops)
G1 X#503 F#504  (cut the stock)
G4P0
G0 X0.000            (retract saw)
M500                   (Checks the state of the Prox switch IF not then cycle the barfeeder1 cut cycle)

The Macros on the screenset will program the #vars then turn control over to the Gcode side of MACh3 for the motion control. It will EVEN create the custom CUT file based on the preset paramaters ready for the machine to cut.

I have USED this approach before and trust it.

Axis feed the Cut axis to control Feedrate.
Same with Barfeed

There is always a way, MAYBE  (;-) TP

4200

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Material Feeder Wizard Suggestions

« on: June 24, 2012, 05:18:06 PM »

RUSS are you retrofitting this machine or do you have a choice of design for the feed section??

(;-) TP