Messages

821

VB and the development of wizards / Re: OEM/User/otherwise knowledge

« on: August 12, 2015, 08:51:47 AM »

Here is the scoop on While Ismoving() as I remember it. In the beginning the WIM() did not have a built in sleep AND it hogged teh CPU during the wait. THen Brian added in an auto sleep to the mix BUT this caused other problems and it was later  removed. So that is why I still add in the sleep() to the WIM() and it works well here.

Also I find that IF you have a group of Gcode moves you can group them together with a WIM() at the end of the group.

Slower PCs work better than faster PCs when handling Macros it is a timing issue with macros.  That is WHY one script will run perfect on ONE PC but not another without some tuning.

Sleep() allows the PC to wait with out hogging the CPU.

After anything that has to update or get a values add in a sleep(100) minimum to give it time to do it or create a semiphor to control the flow.

Never call another macro from inside a macro There IS a CALL for that in later versions that make it work.

The G4P# call is for use in the Gcode side. It stops the Que fill at that line call and then restarts the que fill  from that point. YES it does create a wait BUT WIM() and sleep() are the better choice in the macro side as they do NOT effect the Que fill.

The Gcode side and the Macro side are 2 seperate control functions that are merged together when you use Gcode in a Macro script. REMEMBER that (;-) Not all things will work as you assume they would/should (;-).



Just a few thoughts, Your Mileage may vary.  (;-) TP

822

VB and the development of wizards / Re: OEM/User/otherwise knowledge

« on: August 11, 2015, 04:15:20 PM »

FIrst, while Ismoving()  is NOT what you think it is, very little to do with actually moving.  It is waiting for ALL internal processes to stop NOT just motion (;-) ANd G4P# is the wrong approach for a macro. It is a GCODE wait call not a CB script call. There IS a difference.


(;-) TP

823

VB and the development of wizards / Re: OEM/User/otherwise knowledge

« on: August 11, 2015, 08:44:55 AM »

HI Wes as a test try adding this after every call to update teh Dro. What version are you using ??

While Ismoving()
Sleep(100)
Wend

(;-) TP

824

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Mach 3 lathe post front/rear tool post problem

« on: August 09, 2015, 10:52:09 PM »

HIYA Mike I have not forgot you dude I am trying to find someone that is more familar with turn to help you out. I am way too rusty on it to be of much help. UNLESS no one steps up THEN I will drag out the books and give it a whirl.

Hang in there, (;-) TP

825

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: GCODE

« on: August 08, 2015, 01:42:42 PM »

OK you will really have to pay attention to details but this is how to do it. In your case you would not be calling internal Programs you would be calling external programs AND THEY have to be set up as a sub as well.  The #vars are the key to making it work. The Sub name is incremented by 1 each loop. so the name changes as well. I tested it and it does work here.

G0 X0 Y0

#100 = 1
#101 = #100
M98 P#100 L2
(End Test)

M30

o001
(TestLoop1)
#100 = [#100 +1]
M98 P#100 L1
M99
%

o002
(testLoop2)
M99

o003
(testLoop3)

M99
%

826

General Mach Discussion / Re: Perfect Lathe threading

« on: August 08, 2015, 12:25:49 PM »

hIYA hood I was not implying that what you showed was trivial it is not.  What I described with M3 was exactly that a magic trick. Can it be done in mach3 sure the magic trick can be done.. I even explained how it could be done.   Can encoder threading be done from Mach3. I fully believe it can BUT it would be a BEAST to make it all work reliably as you stated WITH dedicated exact hardware and really NOT worth the effort to develope it for the 10 people that might actually use it. Mach3 is dead and will never be revived or worked on again so what would be the point(;-).

The odd thing is every since Mach3 allowed outside controllers every OEM said oh yea we will have encoder threading out next week. THAT was what 10 years ago ??

I guess next week FINALLY showed up at a very high price for a hobby lathe.

I think Art saw it the same way.  Single index threading CAN work depending on the machine and the precision of the thread that is required.  Hobby threads sure Precision Gauged threads not so much.




Same with rigid tapping in mach3 it CAN be done but not easily with a normal spindle setup as you do not have full control of the spindle. EVEN if you have spindle following you do not have TRUE rigid tapping as you can NOT control the exact stopping point of the spindle rotation so you cannot predict the EXACT depth it will stop at. You can get close but that is not true ridgid tapping.

Move to a step/direction SERVO spindle then it becomes a piece of cake for Mill or Turn. 1 Mcode to set from RPM mode to index mode function ( no swap axis involved)  and I can USE canned Gcode cycles to do the drilling and do the tapping. We have already made that work years ago.

I can do peck tapping and return from anywhere and retap the same hole again EXACTLY true and never tweak a thread.  BUT it also takes a properly setup machine to do it.  


 AND just a note I garrenty you it does not work in the way one would think it does (;-). It to is a magic trick.

SOME magic tricks are best left a secret. (;-)

(;-) TP

827

Building or Buying a Wood routing table.. Beginnners guide.. / Re: Future upgrade of first build

« on: August 07, 2015, 02:26:07 PM »

Having the Machine SING to you is the CHARM of a stepper machine (;-) . I can tell what it is doing simply by the Song it is singing.

AND you can actually play real music with it. 

If you cannot afford Ball screws then consider acme screws with antibacklash nuts in a proper pitch for CNC. 

Just a thought, (;-) TP

828

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Tangential CAM program

« on: August 07, 2015, 11:48:57 AM »

First I would back up a few versions and retest. V.066 is NOT a stable version it has its problems. 

Sheetcam is very cost effective . But the Tang plugin IS an extra cost with it as well.

I remember tang working OK in older versions ?  Could be wrong but I do believe that Art would have fixed that in his day if it was broken back then.

Just a thought, (;-) TP

829

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Use SystemWaitFor / IsActive ? And what about negative ToolLengthOffset ?

« on: August 07, 2015, 11:43:27 AM »

AH ok , A simple while / input  = false  Wend  loop  will work. I would just plan a timed escape sequence in the script to allow you to escape from the endless LOOP in the event something went wrong and you needed to abort the ATC function. OTHERWISE you will be stuck in that endless loop.

I do not see any problem with a negative value for the tool length offset. Just test it to make sure.  Not everything in the manuals is correct. 

(;-) TP

830

General Mach Discussion / Re: Perfect Lathe threading

« on: August 07, 2015, 11:29:21 AM »

Yous guys are funny. I said magic trick and that is what it would be(;-). Art did say it was possible in m3 but never would reveal the secret. I think For fear of the kaos it would create with everyone try to do it. More support. I think I figured out his secret.

THink about an MPG. You can simply and accurately drive the Z with an MPG correct ?  So if the Spindle was the mpg(encoder) AND you did the math correctly to match rotation of the spindle to movement of the Z you have the magic trick. I did BUILD the basics and it would do exactly what you saw Hood do. And in respect for Art that is where I stopped with it.

And yes it is easy with a step/dir spindle either stepper or servo.  You can make it deadly accurate with a servo spindle by having it do indexing as well. Then you can Sync the spindle rotation to the Z axis motion through a MATH channel. THEN the spindle rotations will folllow the Z no matter where it goes. I have done THAT as well in TURN AND in MILL. THE Torus mill that comes with a servo spindle , I help develope a rigid tapping scheme that not only does rigid tapping BUT USES mach3 Gcode canned cycles to do tapping. THAT was the magic trick. The spindle could do RPM or indexing without SWAP AXIS or flipping a switch. You could command EITHER from Gcode.

There ARE still some secrets in the DIY world (;-) Not ALL the cats have gotten out of the bag.

(;-) TP