Messages

3351

General Mach Discussion / Re: 2nd Tool Head and related offset settings

« on: January 08, 2013, 04:53:41 PM »

There are several ways to go about it. But, since Mach3 doesn't actually support the use of two spindles, it's not as simple as you might have hoped.

how does one tell the machine to start in a particular job with one head, then continue with the other?

If you want to automate the process, doing it as a tool change is probably the best bet. I know some have used G52 in their tool change macro to set the spindle offsets. Something like this:

tool = GetSelectedTool()
if tool=1 then
code"G52 x0 y0 z0"
end if
if tool=2 then
code"G52 x10 y0 z0"
end if



Do you have two independent Z axis? If so, you'll either need to right your g-code to control them separately, or you'll need to use the SawpAxis() command.

You're going to need to devise a system, and make sure you can get your g-code to accommodate it, and then write a tool change macro to do what you want.

I'm currently building a dual Z axis router, and plan on using G52 in the tool change macro like above. Basically, check the tool #, and do everything necessary to get the offset set correctly.

3352

General Mach Discussion / Re: Define location of zero in Z axis, in milling.

« on: January 06, 2013, 08:32:59 AM »

If you use the Big Tex Mach Blue screenset, or my 2010 Screenset, you don't need to set the tool table, as the tools are measured ans zero is set automatically. This does require a second probe plate mounted permanently on your machine for reference, though. But imo, it's much simpler tan messing with the tooltable

3353

General Mach Discussion / Re: How to split gcode into 2 parts or more..

« on: January 06, 2013, 08:24:22 AM »

A 7 hour cut in Aspire is likely to be a 3D finishing operation. The toolpath area is determined by a boundary vector. By drawing multiple boundary vectors across the area, you can create smaller areas that can be run separately.
However, if you're carving wood, it's possible that it could move overnight from stresses in the previous cut area, and you may see the border between the multiple sections.
You also need to rezero the tool the next day to exactly the same place, or you'll again see a border.

3354

General Mach Discussion / Re: Anybody ever seen this???

« on: January 04, 2013, 11:36:03 AM »

Your parallel port may not have enough power on the direction pin. Try increasing the pulse width in motor tuning.

3355

General Mach Discussion / Re: material translation matrix

« on: January 03, 2013, 07:17:09 AM »

The more probing options the better.

3356

Finished Screens / Re: Mach3 2010 Screenset - Now available

« on: January 01, 2013, 06:44:10 PM »

I re sent it to you.

It's not designed to fill the monitor, unless you have a 1024x768 monitor.
It should be run with Auto Screen Enlarge disabled in General Config. If you have a widescreen monitor, there are a few widescreen versions you can load that are bigger.

3357

Finished Screens / Re: Mach3 2010 Screenset - Now available

« on: January 01, 2013, 09:25:48 AM »

Just go to View>Load Screens, and choose 1024.set
The only thing that will be different would be the M6 macros. If you're not doing toolchanges, then you'll be fine.

If you need to do toolchanges from the standard 1024 screenset, then you should use two separate profiles, so they each have their own macros.

3358

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach 3 Blue screen probing

« on: December 30, 2012, 12:52:34 PM »

I looked at the X- button and it has an F4 in it.

   CurrentFeed = GetOemDRO(818)    'Get the current feedrate to return to later
   Code "F4"

Change the 4 to whatever you want it to be.

Note that you'll need to edit the code in each probing button.

3359

Building or Buying a Wood routing table.. Beginnners guide.. / Re: Cutting Shell with CNC

« on: December 29, 2012, 08:16:56 AM »

Use crazy glue to hold it down, and acetone to free it when you're finished.

3360

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Need help with manual toolchange macro

« on: December 27, 2012, 08:58:56 AM »

I don't know if there's any way to do what you want, other than doing a feedhold, then stop, then restart using Run From Here.