Messages

1531

General Mach Discussion / Re: MDI glitches

« on: January 02, 2016, 02:25:38 PM »

What motion controller are you using?

First thing would be to go back to version 3.043.062.
2nd thing would be to ask the manufacturer of the motion controller.

1532

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 and the THC...

« on: January 02, 2016, 07:50:56 AM »

Is it in Incremental mode (G91)?

1533

General Mach Discussion / Re: A Few General Questions

« on: January 01, 2016, 08:49:51 PM »

Yes, you can home both master and slave to one switch by checking "Home Slave with Master" in General Config.

when the Y is homed, it will use the XYZ Y pin, then use the extra Y to home the other side (slaved axis), did not quite understand this (it drives both motors to the initial switch, then only the second motor, which should just be off of the second switch?!?)

No, when you have a separate switch for the master and slave, they both home at the same time.

1534

Mach Screens / Re: Test Inputs

« on: January 01, 2016, 08:48:10 PM »

You can use a keyboard key to do it.
Go to Ports and Pins > Input pins, and check "Emulate" for the input. Then click Hotkey, and you'll be prompted for the key.

1535

General Mach Discussion / Re: How do you Cut a Slide Rail?

« on: January 01, 2016, 06:40:03 AM »

You might want to wrap it with a wet towel to keep it cool while cutting.

1536

General Mach Discussion / Re: A Few General Questions

« on: January 01, 2016, 06:33:37 AM »

Does Mach3 keep the motors locked at zero speed whenever it is active? If so, how do people operate, shut down Mach when not running the machine?

This is not really a function of Mach3, unless your stepper drives use an Enable signal, and you wire those to Mach 3's Enable inputs.

Typically, when your drives are powered, they lock the motors. Some drives use current reduction to reduce motor heat when the motors are idle, but again, this is not a Mach3 function.

What I do, is start Mach3, and when it's running and out of Estop, I turn on the power to my drives.
To shut down, I turn off the power to the drives, and then close Mach3.

Your motors should never be powered when Mach3 is not running.

Home switches - my machine has two Y's, so I will have to slave to A axis correct? I think I read that you cannot series the home switches (to one input) with a slaved axis? So , if true, and I understand, I will use three inputs for the switches (X,Y,Z) and the last for my touch plate? correct?

A lot of people with limited inputs use one input for X, Y, and Z, and one for the A axis. your slave and master need to use separate inputs if you want Mach3 to square the gantry when homing.

Touch plate...my TinyG resets (to 0) the machine home when the touch plate is run...is this the way Mach works? I would thing a better way would be to leave the machine home (alone) and set the G54 Z offset to 0?!? How does Mach do it (Z axis touch plate)?

Mach3 has no default touch plate functionality. It's up to you to either find one or write your own. The vast majority (all that I've seen) just zero the Z axis (set the G54 (or current coordinate system) offset). Home position is usually set with a Z axis home switch, at the top of the Z travel.

1537

Mach Screens / Re: DRO "outline"

« on: December 31, 2015, 02:57:55 PM »

In Mach3.
Config > General Config > Boxed DRO's and Graphics.

1538

General Mach Discussion / Re: Strange Axis movement

« on: December 31, 2015, 10:48:19 AM »

Most people use absolute most of the time.
But each has their place.

1539

General Mach Discussion / Re: Strange Axis movement

« on: December 31, 2015, 10:24:20 AM »

X-5" (expecting to be at 0)

In Absolute mode, this should end up at -5, moving 10"

1540

General Mach Discussion / Re: Strange Axis movement

« on: December 31, 2015, 10:13:50 AM »

Are you sure that you're in incremental mode?

When you do X 5, does it go to 5?

Either your steps/unit is wrong, or you're losing steps.