Messages

601

General Mach Discussion / Re: Step/Dir control of spindle?

« on: March 18, 2018, 07:39:32 AM »

So my Q is what is the least effort to get to where I want to be - precision spindle speed and STABLE threading,

I've never done any threading, but I've read tens of thousands of Mach3 forum posts over the years. My understanding is that threading in Mach3 is fundamentally flawed, and best results require constant spindle speed. Meaning the more powerful the spindle, the better the results will be.

602

General Mach Discussion / Re: Step/Dir control of spindle?

« on: March 17, 2018, 07:53:04 PM »

But for a spindle, Mach3 would have to be sending out a fast and continuous stream of step pulses with no further limits. And if you are asking for S24000, then Mach3 would have to be issuing 24000 Step pulses per minute. That's 400 Hz. I am not sure it can do this. Or can it?

How are you determining that number?
Mach3 at it's lowest kernel speed, 25Khz, can output 25,000 steps/second.
The frequency of steps required depends on what you are doing with them.
Here's board that converts step/dir to 0-10V analog.
https://cnc4pc.com/catalog/product/view/id/7/s/c6-variable-speed-control-board/category/155/

It outputs 10V with a 25Khz pulse stream.


As Craig said, Mach3 (or 4) can output up to 4Mhz pulse streams. 4 million steps/second.

So I am not understanding how Mach4 can drive a spindle.

Just like in Mach3. Mach tells the ESS what to do, and the ESS generates the required pulses.

603

General Mach Discussion / Re: Losing offsets

« on: March 15, 2018, 07:42:16 PM »

Check "Persistent Offsets" and "Persistent DRO's" in General Config.

604

General Mach Discussion / Re: MACH 3 RECOGNIZING HOME SWITCH BUT NOT STOPPING

« on: March 15, 2018, 07:40:42 PM »

Try replacing the .xml file with a known good backup.

605

General Mach Discussion / Re: Scripter Compile Error bites again :(

« on: March 14, 2018, 12:03:16 PM »

Analog servos limit your options. CNC Drive is supposedly working on an analog board, but I have no idea what it will cost, or when it will be available.

606

General Mach Discussion / Re: Scripter Compile Error bites again :(

« on: March 14, 2018, 08:42:53 AM »

Create it in Notepad, it looks correct in both Notepad and the editor.
Create in the Editor, and it only opens correctly in the Editor.

Not if you invested in a CS-LABS controller

I would think you could get 75% of it's original cost on Ebay.

607

General Mach Discussion / Re: Scripter Compile Error bites again :(

« on: March 14, 2018, 06:49:29 AM »

Notepad works perfectly fine. I've used it for all of the macros I've written, and never had a problem.
The Mach3 editor doesn't use carriage returns, and saves macros as one long line of code.

Would there ever be a Mach5?

Since most Mach3 users don't appear to want to move to Mach4, it's highly unlikely.
By the time Mach4 is 100% complete, it will probably have taken 7+ years of development. As a ground up new program, this was their chance to make the best Mach that they could.
Maybe that's what they did, but it's not the Mach4 that many wanted.

608

General Mach Discussion / Re: Scripter Compile Error bites again :(

« on: March 13, 2018, 06:59:03 AM »

What about CS Labs new software?

609

General Mach Discussion / Re: Missing NcUsbPod.dll

« on: March 12, 2018, 09:16:29 PM »

Go ethernet instead of USB, as it's potentially a more reliable connection.

610

General Mach Discussion / Re: Scripter Compile Error bites again :(

« on: March 12, 2018, 08:50:36 PM »

From what I've read over the years, it seems that some people run into this all the time, and most never see it.
Of course, that doesn't help at all.

One thing about version 3.043.022 mentioned earlier. It has a serious bug that can cause Mach3 to hang on M6's, depending on the contents of the M6Start macro.
While testing when I first found it, I could get it to freeze when the M6Start had just one line of code. It definitely doesn't work with the M6Start in the 2010 Screenset.