Messages

191

General Mach Discussion / Re: Debug Assertion Failed! Error window popping up

« on: March 19, 2015, 01:14:21 PM »

I always keep a backup of the XML, but what other files would be needed? What about my plug-ins (ESS, pokeys, etc)?
This does not sound fun. I hate to redo everything. I just got it running good and this will surely consume a precious night of time

Also, could you elaborate on what is going on and why the reload is necessary?

192

General Mach Discussion / Debug Assertion Failed! Error window popping up

« on: March 19, 2015, 11:40:20 AM »

I am getting this error. It seems to happen around the tool change sequence. The program still runs and works, this was just popping up repeatedly. Retry does nothing and just pops this up again. Pressing ignore lets the window go away and things resume as normal, but it will pop up again.

Debug Assertion Failed!

Program: C:\Mach\Mach3.exe
File: fclose.c

Expression stream is NULL

For information on how your program can cause an assertion failure, see the Visual C ++ documentation on asserts.

(Press Retry to debug the application).

Any ideas what is causing it?

I know this is not a lot of information for troubleshooting, but please ask me any questions that might help.
I notice my mouse stops working repeatedly making beep also, not sure if that is related. It does not happen at the same time, so I doubt it.
I am using the latest version of Mach 3 on a Windows 7 fast computer and Ethernet smoothstepper. No problems with machining or crashing or anything that I know of, it still ran the program through fine other than clicking ignore on this.

193

General Mach Discussion / Re: Need help setting up tools for first time

« on: March 19, 2015, 12:41:51 AM »

I posted a video. I was trying to make the video, keep a hand on the e-stop, get a little lube in there and blow chips at the same time I missed the first spot drills and the last chamfer. I had to secure it a little better for the last chamfer. I got a little deeper than I wanted and it was barely hanging on.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9PmjT-yrIM&feature=youtu.be

By the way, sorry for that large picture. I thought I was picking the smaller one.

194

General Mach Discussion / Re: Need help setting up tools for first time

« on: March 19, 2015, 12:05:27 AM »

Figured it all out and made my first part tonight
It was the tool offset on/off. I had to have it the opposite of what I had it when I zero'd to the work piece. It was offsetting it out of range.

195

General Mach Discussion / Re: Need help setting up tools for first time

« on: March 18, 2015, 09:34:36 PM »

I am getting a Z min soft limit error and I cannot tell why. I wonder if my tool retraction is too much for the air cut offset I am picking. Is there an easy way to see this within mach?

196

General Mach Discussion / Re: Need help setting up tools for first time

« on: March 18, 2015, 11:31:33 AM »

Yeah. I am not using a "Master tool" at this point. I am just using one of the tools loaded for the job since I am not really making these permanent setups or anything yet. I am just muddling through my first part figuring it all out. I have a touch off plate and probe. I will utilize those at some point I think.
So, just to review this is what I have done so far last night

Set the tool offset by measuring off the table for every tool using 1-2-3 blocks

Set the origin of the part using an edge finder

Set the Z offset from the part with a 1-2-3 block using one of the tools that I already put the offset in.
 -this is the step I am unsure of. I am not sure if I should have the tool offset off or on when I do this.

When I get this all setup, my plan is to set the z offset from the part an inch or two high and then let the program run through cutting air.

Make me nervous to let the machine go on it's own for the first time with all the tool changes etc. I am still not 100% on setting the work height.
The gotozero button scares me also. I hit it and it goes to x and y zero fine, but then z zings down and seems like it is going beyond the part surface. I hit the e-stop real quick when it got close and it seems it deflected off the corner just a hair and left a little gouge. Not sure how far it would have went if I did not e-stop. Too scared to let it go.
I am not sure why you would want Z to drop when you select gotozero.  Even if it was right, the tool would be touching the part I think.

197

General Mach Discussion / Re: Need help setting up tools for first time

« on: March 17, 2015, 10:02:45 PM »

so what I am doing now is this....

ref zero all
using a 1-2-3 block on the 3" length (tools won't reach at 1")
putting the tool down until they are at the top of the block.
making sure the number of tool is selected.
set gage block height to 3"
hit the set tool offset button
put in the diameter
save this

seems right...and yes I am looking in the manual as well. Let me know if this is right.

198

General Mach Discussion / Need help setting up tools for first time

« on: March 17, 2015, 09:22:47 PM »

I am trying to get my first part made. I have the basic CAM stuff done. I need to modify a couple things.
I got all my tools loaded in the changer in the sequence I want to use them.

So, now what? I don't want to crash this thing.
How do I tell mach the settings it needs for each tool?
Right now I am just using a 1" 1-2-3 block to set the height. I will work on something more advanced later.
It says something about a master tool.
I imaging you have to set an offset for each tool, then use one of the tools as a master tool that touches to the zero on the part, then it will use the offset values for all the tools to know where they will be?? right?

So, what is my first step?

199

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach ignoring limit switch broke my machine :(

« on: March 15, 2015, 10:06:00 PM »

Never mind on the homing. They were nice enough to make it so you can move the dogs that trip the switch to the other side of the axis. Problem Solved..

200

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach ignoring limit switch broke my machine :(

« on: March 15, 2015, 09:36:08 PM »

I do have a problem now that I am not sure how to fix. For some reason the natural home for this machine is at what would normally be it's positive extremes. The spindle is over the back right corner of the table.
Unless I change something, all machining will be negative.