Messages

4311

General Mach Discussion / Re: Recommendations on BEST Breakout Board by General Mach3 Users !

« on: April 20, 2011, 07:02:52 AM »

Check out the PMDX-126, but I'm not sure you can do all you want from a single board.

You might want to look at the Centipede board. http://www.ksilabs.com/

4312

General Mach Discussion / Re: Home switches!!

« on: April 19, 2011, 09:41:48 PM »

Do you want it to back farther away from the switch after homing?
If so, change the Ref All script to something like this. This will move the Y 1 unit off the switch.

DoButton( 24 )
DoButton( 23 )
Code "G53 G0 Y1"
While IsMoving()
Wend
DoButton(22)

4313

General Mach Discussion / Re: Questions about hotkeys and keyboard assignments

« on: April 19, 2011, 09:39:21 PM »

Bottom of the page there are 3.
http://www.machsupport.com/downloads.php

I use Screen4, but a lot use Klaus' Machscreen. There's also the old Screen3.

4314

General Mach Discussion / Re: Questions about hotkeys and keyboard assignments

« on: April 19, 2011, 08:49:10 PM »

The default key for Reset is "`". (Above the tab key)

To set hotkey for DRO's (and to change default hotkeys for other buttons), you need to use a screen designer. That's where Hotkeys are set.
Config >Hotkeys is mainly for setting Jog keys.
You can use it to select DRO's. and toggle through them with the arrow keys, but I just tried it with mixed results.

4315

General Mach Discussion / Re: Automatics z zero

« on: April 19, 2011, 10:33:05 AM »

My screenset has a macro that does it. You need two z zero plates. One fixed, for tool changes, and one movable, for the initial zero. There's a video here showing it working.
http://home.comcast.net/~cncwoodworker/2010.html

4316

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Move wizard to other folder than c:\Mach3

« on: April 18, 2011, 11:48:35 AM »

Screen 4 is not very wizard friendly. I was able to create one, in the appropriate addon folder, but if I didn't change the default location, I couldn't see the bitmaps.

4317

General Mach Discussion / Re: Pockets Made Easy

« on: April 17, 2011, 03:19:39 PM »

One thing to consider, is that with V-Carve Pro, you can do your design work and CAM all in one. Most V-Carve Pro users son't use any other drawing programs, as it has all the tools built in.

So, you might spend a lot of time learning a drawing program, end up buying V-Carve pro, and have to learn to draw in that.

However, learning as many programs as possible only helps. And If you do go with V-Carve pro, you can always import from other drawing programs.

4318

General Mach Discussion / Re: Pockets Made Easy

« on: April 17, 2011, 11:06:31 AM »

The toolpaths for a 1/32 tool will be different than those for a 1/2" tool. As was previously mentioned, you can't just add an M6.
V-Carve Pro (and Aspire) allow you to specify a larger clearance tool along with the standard smaller tool. Two separate toolpaths are created, with the larger one first.

Here's how to do it with more basic software.
You need to draw separate pockets and islands for each tool.

For the 1/2" tool, make the pocket about .02" smaller, and the islands about .02" bigger. Create the toolpaths for the 1/2" tool with these.

For the small tool, you'll use the regular pocket outline. But, for the islands, you'll want to offset the pocket enough to get any material that was missed by the 1/2" tool. Depending on the design, it can be as little as .04", and as much as 1/2", or maybe even more. Use the original pocket and the "offset island" for the toolpath with your 1/32" tool.

Hope this makes sense.

4319

General Mach Discussion / Re: Shopbot with Mach3 homing issues

« on: April 16, 2011, 12:24:36 PM »

I have a SuperPID controlled by Mach3, and it works great.

4320

General Mach Discussion / Re: Shopbot with Mach3 homing issues

« on: April 16, 2011, 10:26:04 AM »

Soft limits need to be set to match your machine, based on where your home switches are. Don't worry about them for now.  Try to get the homing correct first.

I believe your friend is incorrect. I think the G202 has the morphing as well. The only difference is that the G202 has less protection from damage.