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Messages - jevs

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241
Mach4 General Discussion / Mach 4 questions
« on: November 14, 2014, 03:00:56 PM »
I have a machine I retrofitted and setup with Mach3. I got it running, but have yet to cut anything really.

I was considering purchasing a Mach3 license, but now I see Mach4 is out. So I have some questions.

1) Does it currently work with ESS (Ethernet SmoothStepper)?
2) Can I still have a macro to work my tool changer and will my Mach3 macro I made work on mach4?
3) Is there a post processor for Mach4 for BobCAM, or is it the same as Mach3?

Since I still have a lot to learn, I figure I might as well just get to Mach4 now if I can instead of learning more with Mach3.

Looking for advice. I currently have no purchased licenses. I just got everything running using the free Mach3 version.

242
General Mach Discussion / Mach3 Addons & Mill Wizard ?'s
« on: November 14, 2014, 01:29:42 PM »
I have BobCAD/CAM. I need to purchase a license of Mach3. If you buy Mach3 now, does it come with addons, or does it have to be bought separate at $50?

If it has to be bought separate, is it worth buying if you have CAM software? I have not had time to play with mach or the addons, or research it, but I need to place an order today that will include a Mach3 license.

Is Mill Wizard worth having if you have CAM software?

243
General Mach Discussion / Re: USB or LPT2 MPG Pendant with E-stop?
« on: October 09, 2014, 10:59:51 AM »
Looking at some of the VistaCNC pendants. It looks like you can get models with an "E" on the end that allow for the E-stop to be traditionally wired even though the rest of the functions are USB.
 


244
General Mach Discussion / USB or LPT2 MPG Pendant with E-stop?
« on: October 08, 2014, 02:43:06 PM »
I am going to use a C32 breakout board with an ESS on my router. I am using DMM Tech Servo motors and their new DYN2 drives.

I am wondering if I should get a CNC4PC MPG pendant that hooks to the parallel port of the C32 board, or if I should get one of the many USB pendants?

For now I am not going to do a control panel. I will just use the pendant and the keyboard/mouse/computer screen. I may consider a touch screen (have not looked into yet). I am getting a pendant either way though, so I need to figure out which one.

I like some of the features of the USB ones out there, but the E-stop seems like it won't be safe since it is controlled through USB. The CNC4PC E-stop should work even if the computer crashes, more like a conventional E-stop button.  

I will have another E-stop on the machine that I could try to place in a good location and then go with a USB pendant, knowing that it might not be the best E-Stop setup on the pendant.  

Anyway, looking for some feedback/suggestions.

245
I am looking for some advice on the best breakout board and motion controller for what I want to do. I am not sure the DMM BOB is up to the task. If it is, then that would be great, but I think it has some limitations on the 4th axis (charge pump has to be off or something), and it has no indicator LED's which come in handy. Its also a bit spendy when I look at what you can get for $20 on eBay.

 Here are the plans for a CNC router I am going to build:

 New Windows 7 or 8 PC
 Ethernet Smoothstepper (or other, please recommend something if there is a better option? Old computers and parallel ports are not an option for me)
 DMM 220 Watt AC servo on the Z
 DMM 400 Watt AC servos on the X and Y
 Eventually a 4th axis that will probably just be a stepper motor (one of those Chinese setups on eBay)
 Maybe a 5th axis tilt plate thing (not sure if the 4th axis would be swapped out when this is in use, or it should be setup to run both without any wiring changes)
 Dust collection
 2.2K spindle motor
 VFD for spindle motor
 Water cooling system for the spindle
 Pokeys or something for the "hard" controls and/or a pendant
 Mach 3

 I could switch to steppers for the X,Y,Z but I think I will be happier with the servos and I don't think that decision means a lot for the BOB and motion controller. Except, the DMM BOB will have the right connectors for their cables/drives.

 So, I need any other recommendations for the motion control and suggestions for the breakout board to meet the above needs. I am not sure if I want to go to a USB motion controller. USB and the way computers are now is a bit out of control. I am always running into problems now that they want them to charge cell phones, increasing current capacity, don't shut down when the computer is off etc. I think I want to stick to Ethernet, although I am not closed to other good proven options.

246
General Mach Discussion / Re: Pulsing too fast
« on: February 18, 2013, 11:52:36 AM »
My "Pulsing too Fast" was not really a pulsing too fast, that is just where it was when it would crash. It would just work for a couple seconds then stop and this usually left it displaying "pusing too fast", when in fact it was not pulsing at all anymore and died. Even if you fired up Mach3, it woud power up the machine for a second or two then go off, just like the drivertest was doing. I tried everything to make it work and it just did not work. I had no choice but to get a smoothstepper

247
Quote
I finally got my machine up and running and now my M6 command will only work one time.
Methinks you are running a lathe?
M6 (comment) works just fine many times for the mill.

Cheers


Not sure what you mean, as you see above I already solved this :)

248
Mach3 under Vista / Re: Windows 7 issues
« on: February 14, 2013, 01:28:21 AM »
Also parallel ports are a thing of the past and most motherboards are starting to come with no PCI slots, so then you have to buy an expensive PCI-E Card and the computer store doesn't even stock a 2 port one. You might find it on the internet, but still, the parallel port is dying and so is XP.

I was not aware there were features it would not do? There is not much of a manual. I have an ESS window for some sort of backlash compensation acceleration.....

Anyone have a list of what the most current ESS cannot do?

   

249
Solved!

What was happening is that I was just typing in M6 and the first time you do this my macro had no idea what the "GetSelectedTool" Value was since no tool had ever been selected since last boot up. I assume this defaults the value to 0 which would initiate the "Invalid tool chosen..." question. Upon the next time only M6 was entered it would ignore it because it would have the last good tool number used set as the "GetSelectedTool" Value so it would not initiate the question and just beep with seemingly nothing happening. It has been so long I forgot you should specify the tool number as a T# and I was trying either a M6 which would do something only the first time, or I was typing in M6 5 and forgetting that I need a T in front of the tool number (dumb I know).

Anyway, I solved all this so you always know what is going on by adding a message "Tool already loaded or tool not specified with T# (ex:M6 T4)" . This pops up if you select the same tool number that is already loaded or if you do not use a "T" command to designate a different tool. So now even if I do not use this for a very long time I will be reminded of what I am doing wrong.

Here is the updated Macro:
 
'Tool change macro for 7 tool turret
Sub Main()
   'Sets variable OldTool to what is currently loaded
   OldTool=GetCurrentTool()
   
   'Sets Variable MaxToolNum to the max number of tools possible
   MaxToolNum=7
   
   'Sets variable Newtool to the one being selected with M6 T#
   NewTool=GetSelectedTool()   
   
   'Get positions before moving to do tool change
   x = GetToolChangeStart( 0 )
   y = GetToolChangeStart( 1 )
   z = GetToolChangeStart( 2 )
   a = GetToolChangeStart( 3 )
   b = GetToolChangeStart( 4 )
   c = GetToolChangeStart( 5 )
   
   'If the current tool loaded is 0 or greater than 7 then tool has been lost
   'so need to ask what tool is currently loaded
   While OldTool=0 Or OldTool>7
   OldTool=Question ("Current tool unknown, enter tool in spindle 1 to " & MaxToolNum)
   Wend
   
   'Sets CurrentTool to Oldtool in case it was lost and entered above
   SetCurrentTool(OldTool)

   'When the tool asked for is invalid then this makes you select a valid tool
   While NewTool > MaxToolNum Or NewTool <1
   NewTool = Question ("Invalid tool chosen, enter tool number 1 to " & MaxToolNum)
   Wend
   
        'If the tool asked for is the same one that is already loaded then exit macro
   If NewTool=OldTool Then
   Message "Tool already loaded or tool not specified with T# (ex:M6 T4)"
      Exit Sub
   End If

'Turn off soft limits if they are on
If GetOEMLED(23) Then
DoOEMButton(119)
End If

'Moves To Z home from where ever it is
code "G53G0Z0"
While IsMoving()
Wend

'Sets ChangeNums to 0 for safety in case it is not at 0
ChangeNums=0

'Makes the magic happen and moves the proper number of times if new tool is higher than old
If NewTool>OldTool Then
   For ChangeNums=1 To NewTool-OldTool
   
   'Moves Z axis to the top of tool change
   code "G53 G1 F70 Z5.800"
   While IsMoving()
   Wend

   'Moves back to bottom of tool change area
   code "G53 G1 F70 Z3.8"
   While IsMoving()
   Wend
   
   Next
   
'Makes the magic happen and moves the proper number of times if new tool is lower than old   
Else
   For ChangeNums=(OldTool-NewTool) To 6
   
   'Moves Z axis to the top of tool change
   code "G53 G1 F70 Z5.800"
   While IsMoving()
   Wend

   'Moves back to bottom of tool change area
   code "G53 G1 F70 Z3.8"
   While IsMoving()
   Wend
   
   Next
End If

'Move Back to Z Home
code "G53 G1 F70 Z0"
While IsMoving()
Wend
   
'Should be a succesful tool change at this point so this sets the NewTool as the current tool
SetCurrentTool(NewTool)

'Turn back on soft limits
DoOEMButton(119)
End Sub           

250
Solved!

What was happening is that I was just typing in M6 and the first time you do this my macro had no idea what the "GetSelectedTool" Value was since no tool had ever been selected since last boot up. I assume this defaults the value to 0 which would initiate the "Invalid tool chosen..." question. Upon the next time only M6 was entered it would ignore it because it would have the last good tool number used set as the "GetSelectedTool" Value so it would not initiate the question and just beep with seemingly nothing happening. It has been so long I forgot you should specify the tool number as a T# and I was trying either a M6 which would do something only the first time, or I was typing in M6 5 and forgetting that I need a T in front of the tool number (dumb I know).

Anyway, I solved all this so you always know what is going on by adding a message "Tool already loaded or tool not specified with T# (ex:M6 T4)" . This pops up if you select the same tool number that is already loaded or if you do not use a "T" command to designate a different tool. So now even if I do not use this for a very long time I will be reminded of what I am doing wrong.

Here is the updated Macro:
 
'Tool change macro for 7 tool turret
Sub Main()
   'Sets variable OldTool to what is currently loaded
   OldTool=GetCurrentTool()
   
   'Sets Variable MaxToolNum to the max number of tools possible
   MaxToolNum=7
   
   'Sets variable Newtool to the one being selected with M6 T#
   NewTool=GetSelectedTool()   
   
   'Get positions before moving to do tool change
   x = GetToolChangeStart( 0 )
   y = GetToolChangeStart( 1 )
   z = GetToolChangeStart( 2 )
   a = GetToolChangeStart( 3 )
   b = GetToolChangeStart( 4 )
   c = GetToolChangeStart( 5 )
   
   'If the current tool loaded is 0 or greater than 7 then tool has been lost
   'so need to ask what tool is currently loaded
   While OldTool=0 Or OldTool>7
   OldTool=Question ("Current tool unknown, enter tool in spindle 1 to " & MaxToolNum)
   Wend
   
   'Sets CurrentTool to Oldtool in case it was lost and entered above
   SetCurrentTool(OldTool)

   'When the tool asked for is invalid then this makes you select a valid tool
   While NewTool > MaxToolNum Or NewTool <1
   NewTool = Question ("Invalid tool chosen, enter tool number 1 to " & MaxToolNum)
   Wend
   
        'If the tool asked for is the same one that is already loaded then exit macro
   If NewTool=OldTool Then
   Message "Tool already loaded or tool not specified with T# (ex:M6 T4)"
      Exit Sub
   End If

'Turn off soft limits if they are on
If GetOEMLED(23) Then
DoOEMButton(119)
End If

'Moves To Z home from where ever it is
code "G53G0Z0"
While IsMoving()
Wend

'Sets ChangeNums to 0 for safety in case it is not at 0
ChangeNums=0

'Makes the magic happen and moves the proper number of times if new tool is higher than old
If NewTool>OldTool Then
   For ChangeNums=1 To NewTool-OldTool
   
   'Moves Z axis to the top of tool change
   code "G53 G1 F70 Z5.800"
   While IsMoving()
   Wend

   'Moves back to bottom of tool change area
   code "G53 G1 F70 Z3.8"
   While IsMoving()
   Wend
   
   Next
   
'Makes the magic happen and moves the proper number of times if new tool is lower than old   
Else
   For ChangeNums=(OldTool-NewTool) To 6
   
   'Moves Z axis to the top of tool change
   code "G53 G1 F70 Z5.800"
   While IsMoving()
   Wend

   'Moves back to bottom of tool change area
   code "G53 G1 F70 Z3.8"
   While IsMoving()
   Wend
   
   Next
End If

'Move Back to Z Home
code "G53 G1 F70 Z0"
While IsMoving()
Wend
   
'Should be a succesful tool change at this point so this sets the NewTool as the current tool
SetCurrentTool(NewTool)

'Turn back on soft limits
DoOEMButton(119)
End Sub           

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