Messages

5961

General Mach Discussion / Re: Engraving text

« on: April 21, 2011, 11:30:06 PM »

OK found a bunch of old code done 2 ways one is throught VB macro and the other is through Gcode Subs.

The Gcode subs has always been rock dependable so I will clean up that version first.

The way it will work is you load all the subs A-Z into the sub directory. You would then set a few variable to define the width height and spacing

#500=1.000 #501=.100 #502=1.00
#1=8.0 #2=-.02 #3=15 #4=40 #5=1.0 #7=30

You only have to define these once per session of mach. Mach holds them inMEM until it is shut down. We can also make these so mach will always remeber them until you change them.

Then all you have to do is call the sub via the M98 call



M98 (C.txt)
M98 (A.txt)
M98 (T.txt)

Mach will then cut CAT.  

I f this is what you are looking for then I will clean it all up and post it.

(;-) TP

5962

General Mach Discussion / Re: Engraving text

« on: April 21, 2011, 06:33:47 PM »

You can pass the text to the macro via the Gcode # variables.

M2222  #1=a #2=b #3=e        etc,etc


Somwhere I have an engraving macro we worked with years ago.  Originally it was writtne in Fanuc Macro B but I  converted it to machism (;-). I can dig it out if you are interested. I was a time saver to be able to call the engraver at will from the Gcode file.


Just a thought, (;-) TP

5963

General Mach Discussion / Re: Z axis control PROBLEMS under THC control

« on: April 20, 2011, 07:48:19 PM »

Ian after much testing I think I have had the problem all along. But most of the time I did lots of small moves that had a lot of retouch to set the top of material. Lately they cut s have been long runs on thick plate and each section can run 3-5 minutes.This gives the Z time to loose enough steps that the head drags the surface when the cut ends and the head pulls back to safe height. 

(;-) TP

5964

General Mach Discussion / Re: Z axis control PROBLEMS under THC control

« on: April 19, 2011, 07:02:22 PM »

I have had the z apart to clean and check it is smooth as glass. I can spin it up and down with my fingers.

Accel still the same vel still the same.    I can cut about 2 minutes before the Z has dropped all the way to the surface .500" drop. It is loosing step on the up cycles. You can hear the motor it sounds nasty when under thc control (;-).

I think I will try the old reload Mach trick and see IF that cures it.  Only thing is it is a real PAIN to reload all the CandCNC stuff.

(;-) TP

5965

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: I Wish There Was A Wizard For This!

« on: April 18, 2011, 08:14:59 PM »

Here is a sub routine to do the circle method. Code is by Henrik.

(;-) TP

#1000 = 75  (Diameter)
#1001 = 4   (Degrees per cut)
#1010 = #1001
#1020 = [90 / #1001]
G17
M98 P1234 L#1020  (Call subroutine)
M30

O1234
#1002 = [0-90-#1010]
#1003 = [COS[#1002] * #1000 / 2]  (Calculate radius)
#1004 = [SIN[#1002] * #1000 / 2]  (Calculate Z height)
G1 X[0-#1003] Y0 Z[0-#1004] F250  (Position, remove '0-' to do internal)
G2 X[0-#1003] Y0 I#1003 F500    (Do Arc)
#1010 = [#1010 + #1001]           (Increment counter)
M99
%

5966

General Mach Discussion / Z axis control PROBLEMS under THC control

« on: April 18, 2011, 07:46:43 PM »

Has anyone had any problems with Z axis loosing steps under THC control???.  Here the Z wants to run in exess of the  ACCL and Vel settings in the moter setup parameters. It makes the stepper skip, studder and squaw and loose steps.

The THC setting is at 20% now and still loosing steps, it used to run fine at 50%.

I have run the machine with THC off and no lost steps. I have testd the machine with advanced 3d Gcode and no lost steps after hours of running.

Anyone else notice this ??

(;-) TP

5967

General Mach Discussion / Re: how to trigger a feed hold?

« on: April 16, 2011, 09:04:15 PM »

IF it is a VFD for the spindle be advised that feedhold is NOT imediate in nature the axis can run on for many seconds depending on the look ahead settings. This could cause damage to parts and machine.

Just a thought, (;-) TP

5968

VB and the development of wizards / Re: M03 macro and changing pulleys

« on: April 16, 2011, 07:45:51 PM »

OK I go what you are doing(;-) I was hopping between projects and was not paying attention to detail.

I'll test it here later tonight.

(;-)TP

5969

VB and the development of wizards / Re: M03 macro and changing pulleys

« on: April 15, 2011, 06:04:47 PM »

It looks like you are calling a macro from inside of a macro. NOT a recomended practice in Mach3. Only in the very latest version is there "some "support to do this.

I would suggest combining all the code in the M3 macro and getting it sorted out there (;-) I can see where it would require a bit MORE timing controll but should work fine from the M3.

(;-) TP

5970

VB and the development of wizards / Re: M03 macro and changing pulleys

« on: April 15, 2011, 12:17:36 PM »

I still need the sequence of events that make it all work to test it.

(;-) TP