Messages

961

General Mach Discussion / Re: Future of Mach3 ??

« on: July 11, 2015, 10:13:11 AM »

Win 7 (32bit)  works and I believe 8.1(32bit) for using the LPT version..

But as Gerry states there are OTHER solutions for CNC control that are VERY MODERN.

(;-) TP

962

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Looking for a new machine

« on: July 08, 2015, 09:56:25 PM »

"" I need something thats strong enough to do aluminum and is accurate. And not junk. ""


You just described a commercial grade machine (;-)  When you mention Aluminum and accurate and NOT JUNK you moved into a whole new class of machines. And unless you buy used they are not cheap.

(;-) TP

963

General Mach Discussion / Re: Plasma Torch Start Macro

« on: July 08, 2015, 09:50:43 PM »

First you are going to have trouble FINDING the TOM(top of material) without Z axis control. THAT is assuming you don't have a Z.

Set up the ouputs to activate the air cylinder and torch on
Setup the input for arckOK signal (THCon)

Set up the M3 to activate the signals for air cylinder(lower torch), then activate the the Torchon signal.


Your gcode would be

G0 X10 Y10  ( move to cut start point()
M3  (lower cylinder and  torchON )
G4P1  ( pierce dwell)
G1 X20  (start cutting
etc
etc
M5  (torch off, raise torch)

When you have THCon turned on Mach3 senses for an arkOK signal, when found it allow Mach3 to start motion. IF you loose ArcOK it stops.

YOu can set up the rotary cutter as M4.


(;-) TP

964

General Mach Discussion / Re: Plasma Torch Start Macro

« on: July 07, 2015, 07:40:06 PM »

Most of what you are doing is ALREADY controlled from inside of Mach3 OR from Gcode  so I am not sure what you are trying to do.

(;-) TP

965

General Mach Discussion / Re: How to setup a Drag Knife in Mach3

« on: July 07, 2015, 09:49:10 AM »

Mach3 ONLY follows directions(Gcode) It is up to YOU to create the Gcode need to draw what you need/want. Most time the CAM does all the hard work creating the Gcode. You just have to set it up to output Gcode suited to a drag knife type operation so it KNOWS how to compensate the drawing to the cut file.

(;-) TP

966

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Line following (tracing)

« on: July 05, 2015, 12:57:42 PM »

It can be cheap (free ) to do and it has already been done. Wizards exist (CopyCatM4) and Screen pages have been created to do that. The auto version where the Video scanner drives Mach4 is being worked on as we speak.

(;-) TP

967

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Line following (tracing)

« on: July 04, 2015, 12:44:34 PM »

Yes it can be done automatically or manually. In auto mode you need a plugin to interface the Camera Scanner (like Scan Anything) to M4. In manual mode you need a Wizard like CopyCatM4 to do the the line,arc,circle,drill point acquisition. Then you can auto convert to either a Gcode or a DXF file
IT can be done in many different ways.

(;-)TP

968

General Mach Discussion / Re: Limit switch being triggered whilst homing?

« on: July 04, 2015, 12:18:29 PM »

Actually the home position is where the axis comes to a stop after it resets the switch NOT on switch closure. THAT was recently discovered by users.

(;-) TP

969

General Mach Discussion / Re: Need confirmation

« on: July 04, 2015, 11:01:51 AM »

Wes have you tried a Trip value test ? Set up a stop block and do the same G31 routine into the block.

DON'T run the G01 routine though (;-) Crunch.

(;-)TP

970

General Mach Discussion / Re: Limit switch being triggered whilst homing?

« on: July 04, 2015, 10:57:16 AM »

It sounds as if you have very slow acceleration/deaccelleration. THAT would explain the long overtravel to a stop when homing.  ALSO you may have to set a debounce to account for any switch bounce?? Best to fix the switch problem but debounce can help in testing.

IF when homing you get a switch bounce it automatically will set back to limit and IF there is another make of the switch (rebound) it will trip the limit.

(;-) TP