Messages

5991

Finished Screens / Re: MachLight

« on: December 02, 2007, 07:59:33 PM »

Cool screen, but images are not assigned or missing on the jog flyout screen.

5992

General Mach Discussion / Re: Hey, new, just a question

« on: December 02, 2007, 05:22:26 PM »

Two inexpensive programs that would work are Vectrics Cut3D and MeshCAM. Cut 3D supports more file formats.

www.vectric.com
www.meshcam.com

5993

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: M3, M4, M5 have permanent pause and require a Cycle Start to continue

« on: October 18, 2007, 06:05:01 PM »

I had this problem  on a PC with Mach installed without the driver. It started around either version 2.20 or 2.40, don't remember now. It paused on all M3's and M5's, and no buttons with VB script would work. Reverting back to an older version would fix it, but none of the newer versions would work. Installing the driver fixed the problem, but it would not work if installed without the driver.

5994

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Need help with tool diameter offsets G40, 41,42

« on: October 17, 2007, 09:45:44 PM »

You need a lead in move for the comp to be applied. Something like this:

G40 (make sure comp is off)
G0 X-5 Y-5
G42 R4 (turn on comp right and call out tool radius)
G0 X0 Y0
G0 X20
G1 Y16
G40 (turn off comp)

Then repeat as needed.

5995

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Zero Radius Arc

« on: October 14, 2007, 11:55:46 AM »

Try changing your IJ mode in Mach3 to absolute.

Also, K is also used for arcs in the XZ and YZ planes, G18 and G19.

5996

General Mach Discussion / Re: barcode reader

« on: September 13, 2007, 09:44:57 PM »

This is the way our Masterwood works. The barcode is the name of the file (barcode is just a font) with an * before and after the filename, presumably to aid in finding the start and end of the filename?? So you'd need Mach3 to read the input from the scanner, and pass that filename to the plugin or script that is waiting to open the file. Our machine will run the program, then remove it and wait for the next scan. It has to be put into barcode mode before it works. Not sure if this helps or not.


How do you plan on creating the bar codes? We use CadCODE, which converts .dxf's to machine code, and adds the barcode info into an optimized cutlist for a CNC saw, which prints barcoded labels for the parts while they are being cut.

5997

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: I need to cut 3D!!!

« on: August 26, 2007, 08:31:27 PM »

If you learn to model in 3D in AutoCAD, then you'll need a 3D CAM program like Meshcam to create the g-code.

5998

General Mach Discussion / Re: Cutter Compensation - Help please

« on: August 20, 2007, 09:27:02 PM »

Did you download the g-code file I posted? That has the inside cut. You can apply the comp before the plunge, but you still need a lead in move. You can turn it off after you lift the tool, though.

When you're not using comp, the g-code specifies the position of the center of the tool. The lead in move lets the tool move from the center to the offset position. It can't be during a plunge, because mach wouldn't know which way to offset if your moving straight down.

5999

General Mach Discussion / Re: Comp Bug

« on: August 19, 2007, 10:11:28 AM »

I downloaded the latest version (2.40) and this has apparently been fixed. Lesson learned. Always try the latest version before reporting bugs.

6000

General Mach Discussion / Comp Bug

« on: August 19, 2007, 09:47:22 AM »

Art, if you want to take a look at this, here's a comp bug someone at CNC Zone posted.