Messages

6801

General Mach Discussion / Re: Display Spindle Temperature on Mach3 ??

« on: May 19, 2010, 09:34:10 PM »

Just an idea but from past experiements trying to do a timed loop in VB may tie up a lot of CPU time.

An option would be set up a Brain to do a 10 sec timout loop  and set a UserLed on. Then when the simple VB script sees the Led go active THEN it reads the last line of the text file into a variable and then VB can do the compare and act on it.

What does each line of the text file look like?

Just a thought

6802

VB and the development of wizards / Re: check if G68 is active

« on: May 19, 2010, 07:28:10 PM »

Testing here it looks fine for a tool change in Machine coords You just can't G28.1(refhome) you can G28 and G30 if needed.

And as Dave stated watch out for the jogging it JOGS in the original machine plains and NOT in the rotated plain.

(;-) Hope that helps

6803

General Mach Discussion / Re: RUN REVERSE, Serious problem

« on: May 19, 2010, 07:18:18 PM »

I think the problem IS that mach does not know how to deal with the TOM routine(top of material) and the constant resetting of the Z with G92.

In order for the TOM with a G31 OR G28.1 to work it HAS to cycle the code first to find the surface then Reset the Z with the G92. SO when the planner runs the code backwards it does not know to CYCLE the TOM routine first as it processes the code in reverse.

Here it also does not cycle the Torch start/stop properly it just leaves the torch on til the EOF.

We have learned to just repeat the section of code rather than ReverseRun.


Hope that helps

6804

VB and the development of wizards / Re: check if G68 is active

« on: May 18, 2010, 04:50:12 PM »

IF I remember correctly the G68 does not effect machine coords only work coords so it should NOT effect a tool change posittion in machine coords.

There are other functions that don't work under a g68 I have a list somewhere IF I can find it I will post it.

There is little to no documention on the G68 effects so proceed with caution (;-)

6805

General Mach Discussion / Re: Spindle

« on: May 10, 2010, 11:01:03 PM »

One method for spindle control we used a while back was to Monitor Spindle RPM and convert it to % based on" IndicatedRPM/programed RPM" then link the FRO to that % value.

We used a button to turn it on/off when needed.

Cruise controll (;-) IF the spindle slows below a deadband then mach adjusts(slows) the FRO to compensate allowing the spindle to catch up a bit then mach will readjust the FRO back up to what % represents the current Indicated RPM.

It worked better than the closed loop spindle control.

I think I can dig the code up again if interested.

6806

Screen designer tips and tutorials / Screen Designer TIP

« on: May 09, 2010, 01:57:27 PM »

When creating new sceensets it would be nice IF you encluded a very small set of buttons on the main screen to be used as function buttons.

I set up a set of 12 small buttons hardly visable. Then asign a HOTKEY = to ALT&F1-12. That means to use press ALT & say F1. That will gives you 12 functions at the press of the button.

I personally have 24 function keys F1-F24 so with the addition of ALT&F  and Ctrl&F and Ctrl&Alt&F   I have 72 functions available at teh press of a buttonSet

ALSO set the buttons to use VB script. Then program each button to call a macro   Code"M2000"   Use say M2000 - M2012 macros.

Now when the USER needs a function they just create a macro say M1201(for use with alt&F1) and it will call the macro assigned to that button.

This saves the user from having to figure OUT how to use Scream4 and adds function buttons to your screens for extra functions.

You could also go ahead and Create the macroset M2000-2012. Insidethe macro just put include the code:

Message" This Funtion Is Unused, You may add code to M2000 to create a FUNCTION BUTTON"

Now when they press the button the message will appear in the MACH status Message Bar

AND it adds value to your screenset

Hope it helps

6807

MACH TOOL BOX / Macro, Button Code to send the Program EXTENTS XY to the MessageBar

« on: May 09, 2010, 01:32:21 PM »

' Macro to send Program Extents (SIZE) to the message Bar
Message" X: " & (GetOemDro(10) - GetOemDro(4)) & " Y: " & (GetOemDro(11) - GetOemDro(5))
END

6808

MACH TOOL BOX / MACRO, New WorkLog with tool change output

« on: May 09, 2010, 12:38:33 PM »

First create a new button on the main screen OR use an existing EMPTY button. I used the AutoToolZero button as it is NOT used. This button is used to START any program that you want logged. Just load your program and if you want it logged then Push the Button to start the program. It will turn ON the  LOG function and start the log. IF there is NO worklog.txt file  IT will create the file for you.

Next add in the M6start code to the M6start macro

NOW  create an M1030 macro. It will automatically be called by the M30 in the program. You must enclude an M30 and your program end for this to work.

Once you have started the program with the LOGFILE button you do not use it again until the next program start. To restart after the tool changes you do the standard cyclestart as you normally do.

IF you do not want to log the file then just use the Cycle start button. The M1030 will sense that you did not use the LogFile button and wil NOT add any info to the file.

******************************************************

'Macro ProgramRun use for start worklog code
Open"C:/Mach3/worklog.txt" For Append As #1
Write #1,"" & Date &"....." & Filename &"," &"StartTime " & Time()
Close#1
SetVar(499,0)
DoButton(0)
End

*******************************************
'M6Start Macro

  tool = GetSelectedTool()
  SetCurrentTool( tool )


Open "C:/Mach3/Worklog.txt" For Append As #1
Write #1,"__________ToolChange "  &  "T# " & GetSelectedTool() & "," & Time()
Close #1
End
 

*******************************************

'Macro M1030 use to build the M1030 macro that the M30 calls at program end

Sub main()
If GETvar(499) <> 0 Then End
If GetVar(499) =0 Then

Open "C:/mach3/worklog.txt" For Append As #1
Write #1,"          " &Filename &"..........EndingTime" & Time()
Close #1

setVar(499,1)
End If
End Sub 
 
*******************************************
WorkLog Sample Output

"5/9/2010.....C:\Mach3\GCode\TestWorkLog.txt,StartTime 12:01:42 PM"
"__________ToolChange T# 1,12:01:43 PM"
"__________ToolChange T# 2,12:01:55 PM"
"__________ToolChange T# 3,12:02:00 PM"
"__________ToolChange T# 4,12:02:05 PM"
"          C:\Mach3\GCode\TestWorkLog.txt..........EndingTime12:02:10 PM"

Hope that helps

6809

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Time estimation until tool change

« on: May 09, 2010, 12:16:23 PM »

OK Lets start with the Code for the WorkLog,

First create a new button on the main screen OR use an existing EMPTY button. I used the AutoToolZero button as it is NOT used. This button is used to START any program that you want logged. Just load your program and if you want it logged then Push the Button to start the program. It will turn ON the  LOG function and start the log. IF there is NO worklog.txt file  IT will create the file for you.

Next add in the M6start code to the M6start macro

NOW  create an M1030 macro. It will automatically be called by the M30 in the program. You must enclude an M30 and your program end for this to work.

Once you have started the program with the LOGFILE button you do not use it again until the next program start. To restart after the tool changes you do the standard cyclestart as you normally do.

IF you do not want to log the file then just use the Cycle start button. The M1030 will sense that you did not use the LogFile button and wil NOT add any info to the file.

******************************************************

'Macro ProgramRun use for start worklog code
Open"C:/Mach3/worklog.txt" For Append As #1
Write #1,"" & Date &"....." & Filename &"," &"StartTime " & Time()
Close#1
SetVar(499,0)
DoButton(0)
End

*******************************************
'M6Start Macro

  tool = GetSelectedTool()
  SetCurrentTool( tool )


Open "C:/Mach3/Worklog.txt" For Append As #1
Write #1,"__________ToolChange "  &  "T# " & GetSelectedTool() & "," & Time()
Close #1
End
 

*******************************************

'Macro M1030 use to build the M1030 macro that the M30 calls at program end

Sub main()
If GETvar(499) <> 0 Then End
If GetVar(499) =0 Then

Open "C:/mach3/worklog.txt" For Append As #1
Write #1,"          " &Filename &"..........EndingTime" & Time()
Close #1

setVar(499,1)
End If
End Sub 
 
*******************************************
WorkLog Sample Output

"5/9/2010.....C:\Mach3\GCode\TestWorkLog.txt,StartTime 12:01:42 PM"
"__________ToolChange T# 1,12:01:43 PM"
"__________ToolChange T# 2,12:01:55 PM"
"__________ToolChange T# 3,12:02:00 PM"
"__________ToolChange T# 4,12:02:05 PM"
"          C:\Mach3\GCode\TestWorkLog.txt..........EndingTime12:02:10 PM"

Hope that helps

6810

VB and the development of wizards / Re: VB Scripting Basics

« on: May 08, 2010, 09:27:56 PM »

You can set up a simple BRAIN that monitors the DO button AND

If it is ON then produce and action

IF it is OFF then cancell the action

Hope that helps