Messages

3541

General Mach Discussion / Re: Zero Tool VB Script

« on: September 10, 2012, 08:38:00 PM »

Z-3 means probe down 3" (or 3mm)

2002 is the number of the variable that stores the Z axis position when the probe is triggered.

2 is the number of the Z axis DRO.

Z1 means move to Z= 1

3542

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Where to start?

« on: September 10, 2012, 06:27:13 PM »

There's a video on creating a toolchange macro, and the sample code is also available for download. It might get you started.
http://www.machsupport.com/videos/
Sample macro - http://www.machsupport.com/downloads/M6Start.zip

3543

General Mach Discussion / Re: Help I need to get setup!!

« on: September 10, 2012, 06:24:03 PM »

You might want to watch the "Homing, Limits and Offsets" tutorial video.
http://www.machsupport.com/videos/

3544

General Mach Discussion / Re: Help I need to get setup!!

« on: September 09, 2012, 08:36:10 PM »

It appears that your 0,0 position is the center of your table, and it should be the lower left corner for that file.

3545

General Mach Discussion / Re: Help I need to get setup!!

« on: September 09, 2012, 07:43:56 PM »

You jog to where you want the 0,0 position to be and click the X zero and Y zero buttons to set them to 0.

3546

Mach SDK plugin questions and answers. / Re: Phidgets USB and Mach3, need a Post Processor

« on: September 09, 2012, 06:19:11 PM »

I want to use Arduino, what do I flash the AVR with?

Basically, your on your own, and you'll need to write your own code, as I'm not aware of anyone using an Arduino for motion control with Mach3. It really makes no sense, as a parallel port offers better performance than you'll get from an Arduino, and all you have to do is plug it in.

How do you write a plugin for a micro, specifically the Arduino?

You study the available samples, and figure it out. Writing a plugin is not a trivial task. I have no idea how to write one.
You asked how to use your Phidgets with Mach3. A plugin is the answer. You didn't ask if someone would do all the work for you.
As far as I know, you don't "intercept" any packets. Your plugin should send the required data to the device.

You say there are several USB devices that work with Mach, what are they? It's one thing to claim things work, it's another to reference them.

Smoothstepper - www.warp9TD.com
KFLOP - www.dynomotion.com
Nevex - http://www.nevex.com.br/
PureLogic - http://www.plmotion.com/

There are others as well as ethernet motion controllers that work with Mach3. All interface with Mach3 via a plugin.

Pretty crappy attitude if you ask me, and after spending almost four years messing around with this I think it is evident that I am on my own and that no one is willing to help.
As a hobby, this sucks.
Unless you know people or are in the trade don't take up the hobby, no one will help you

Tens of thousands of people are using Mach3 with the parallel port, or with one of the USB or ethernet motion controllers I mentioned above. You want to do something that NOBODY ELSE is doing. Because of that, yes, you are on your own.
By a $20PC with a parallel port on Ebay, or one of the motion controllers that already work with Mach3, and you'll get all the help you need.

Ask questions about topics that are obviously way over your head, and then argue with people that try to steer you in the right direction, and no, you won't get any help.

3547

Mach SDK plugin questions and answers. / Re: Phidgets USB and Mach3, need a Post Processor

« on: September 09, 2012, 04:27:10 PM »

I've answered this several times, in several places.
You need to write a Mach3 plugin for the device you want to use.

Fwiw, there are several USB devices which work with Mach3. It's up to the hardware developer to write a plugin for Mach3 to use their hardware.

3548

General Mach Discussion / Re: E-Stop Settings

« on: September 09, 2012, 12:13:51 PM »

I wonder if there is a setting I’m missing or this is common on an all metal machine which are more rigid than my previous cnc which was made with plywood

Is the whole machine shaking as single solid unit, or are individual components shaking? If it's individual components, then it's probably less rigid than you think.

3549

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: mach3 hangs

« on: September 09, 2012, 06:05:23 AM »

I'm going to guess that it might take several minutes to load, even with the toolpath display off. Just wait.
I believe Mach3 can load 10 million lines of code.
On my 1Ghz PIII, I have to turn off the toolpath on anything over 250,000 lines, or the PC is very slow to respond, and movements can be erratic. With the toolpath off, everything runs smoothly.

3550

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 ignoring safe Z

« on: September 04, 2012, 04:52:14 PM »

Mach3's safe Z setting has no effect when g-code is running. The machine will move exactly where the g-code tells it to.