Messages

4961

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: How to use my CNC mill as a vertical lathe

« on: October 24, 2011, 10:28:17 AM »

Afraid you are on your own with that one. You will have to open a new session of mach turn then configure it for your machine. Then you can select what session you want to run mill or turn.

(;-) TP

4962

VB and the development of wizards / Re: File open dialog

« on: October 24, 2011, 10:23:53 AM »

What type file are you talking about ? Gcode , txt file, data file???

From CB you can open a file directly and read and write to it. OR you can open a Gcode file with notepad and edit it.

(;-) TP

4963

General Mach Discussion / Re: Problems with Measurements when cutting with MACH 3

« on: October 23, 2011, 08:35:34 PM »

Double check your acad draw for errors. Check all Dims

Double check your Gcode output from Lcam , Do the math verify the cut sizes are correct in the Gcode

Finally IF those 2 check out it only leaves the machine. Check the couplings and check for lost steps on the axis.

Just a thought, (;-) TP

4964

Third party software and hardware support forums. / Re: USB TO PARALLEL

« on: October 22, 2011, 05:26:49 PM »

MOst of those problems are easy. In MOST cases I find IF you force them to read they will IF you just keep throwing them fish then they  won't ever learn to fish(;-)  Normal for this generation(;-).

I call it the instant grits generation. Somewhere along the line you just have to STOP helping them UNTIL they start to help themselves. I usaully comes with a suggestion to perhaps learn to play golf instead of learn CNC because learning CNC is tuff.   OH YEA they say? I 'll show you. "OK" let me know IF you get stuck. (;-) OR they just learn to play golf(;-).

OH MAN where do you get jobs that pay in beer and pizza ?? (;-)



(;-) TP

4965

Third party software and hardware support forums. / Re: USB TO PARALLEL

« on: October 22, 2011, 01:36:14 PM »

Yous guys are what make Mach as good as it is. The amount of talent, patience and experience yall offer to the folks getting started is awsome.

Yes please take a bow you deserve it.

MACH3 is about where it can be made to take care of itself for the masses. A little more stablity and a little more work on manuals AND then a basic manual telling how to put it ALL together and design a part then cam that part then MAKE it.

Then a good library section to hold it ALL in one place.  Would it not be nice if someone ask aquestion on tool comp and you were able to answer with Go over to the libary and download the ToolComp manual and look on PAGE 27 . That will explain what you need to know. If you need help get back with me. AND you now has a good BASE to explain things further.

OR go over and get the Screens/config manual page 31. top rh side 3rd row down THERE is where you make that change at.

I have found THIS generation of DIYs is NOT anything like the last generation(;-) where they had more mechanical knowledge to start with. NOT knocking this GEN it just has to be approached differently. They did not learn electronics or mechanics in High school or trade school or from life itself. They also do NOT like to read. LARGE manuals tend to intimidate them over smaller handout 10-15 page ones that ONLY explain a single subject. (personal observation here)

Back when raising kids IF the wife wanted that lamp fixed or Change its looks I had to LEARN to do it. Today they just go to Wallyworld and BUY another and most times they do NOT get what they really wanted BUT that is the way it is they just accept it.

OK enough rambling, (;-) TP

4966

Third party software and hardware support forums. / Re: USB TO PARALLEL

« on: October 22, 2011, 09:55:56 AM »

I run V.020 as well here. Very stable and the bugs are KNOWN.( YES it has bugs ,lots of them).  BUT here ALSO it runs in a very basic mode as well. IF you venture out of MACH3's comfort zone then expect trouble The MORE you load MACH3 the worst the bugs become. IF you are running macros then staight CB macro run dependably. MIXED CB and Gcode with motion you are own your own and it becomes VERY CPU specific and time sensitive (at least it does here).

It does parametric Gcode Very well but really needs the Basci conditional code added.. It does SIMPLE subs OK, But fails on complex subs.

It does BASIC tool comp ok but fails with deep subs and parametric Gcode.

It runs BASIC macros ok BUT is terrible with mixed code macros CB and Gcode.

I also found IF you load up mach with a lot of gadgets and plugins and such (like RAY(;-)) THEN prepeare to be in for a LOT of work chasing things you would normally never see. BEEN there done that many times over the last 5 years.

I found IF you use the computors basic resources a great deal  can be done.  BUT if you add a lot of extra gadgets that require a lot of MACH's resources(attention) WELL you can figure that one out(;-).

Some say it ain't so BUT the proof is in the pudding.

IF I were the head  nut I would simply DRAW a line in the sand and annouce that THIS is what MACH3 will be.  Then spend some time to flush out the remaining bugs and FIX them if it can be done(Don't yank their chain, give them an honest try to get it done)

Then close out MACH3 and it will BE what it will BE..   THEN UPDATE THE DARN MANUAL to reflect HOW Mach3 is to work AS A CNC machine controller AND its limitations.

THEN get to work on Mach4. AT that point one should have free rein to get it done.

Just to make a POINT MACH3 is a great thing to own it allowed MANY thousands of people to experience the CNC world without breaking the bank. It allowed a NEW level of low end CNC machines to be used in a shop enviroment to HELP make a living for many people.

Probably the BEST $159 you could possibly  spend in your lifetime(;-).

But it IS what it IS.

Your mileage may vary due to local conditions, (;-) TP

4967

Third party software and hardware support forums. / Re: USB TO PARALLEL

« on: October 21, 2011, 05:08:40 PM »

Rich I still don't think there is.  That controller is a USB or ethernet controller similar to the SS just in a smaller more compact  package.

(;-) TP

4968

Third party software and hardware support forums. / Re: USB TO PARALLEL

« on: October 21, 2011, 10:41:43 AM »

RIch you made a good point . I had hoped to get a mach libary section for manuals started with little support offered . IT could ONLY help the support end a ton.

But here comes a completely UNKNOWN product and gets a front page position.

It would be different IF they were here every day to support it BUT we all know how that turns out. Every Body ELSE ends up having to do all their support work.

Might be time to think about it, (;-) TP

4969

General Mach Discussion / Re: How to get the onscreen MPG to stay up?

« on: October 20, 2011, 07:39:26 PM »

Hood has the right idea(;-) I do that trick on screens where i NEED it to update teh toolpath when I change screen Pages.

(;-) TP

4970

General Mach Discussion / Re: HELP !! Been running Mach for 3 years, now it's locking up !!

« on: October 20, 2011, 07:13:38 PM »

The last place it checked for the files was probably no longer available as it always GOES to the last directory it used(windows thing ) So IF it searches and can no longer find the dir it starts a sreach over all the possible combintions in the putor and network.

NOw that is has reset the dir it uses it works fine.

Probably a network thing. I see something simalar when I use a thumbdrive to load files and then remove the drive. Mach still goes looking for that drive next time I load a file.

You can reset the location on the XML file next time that happens.

(;-) TP

(;-)TP