Messages

21

General Mach Discussion / Re: Post processor files type in vectric products

« on: November 03, 2012, 10:47:24 PM »

While on the subject, I've wondered why Mach defaults to the .tap extension. A search for .tap files came up with this: “Commodore 64 Cassette Tape Image”. Seems a bit obsolete so there must be another explanation?
Al

22

General Mach Discussion / Re: What would cause this ? ? ? ? Actually 2 questions

« on: October 08, 2012, 08:51:25 PM »

Ther is only one number for steps per unit that will be correct for an axis. I prefer to calculate it as that will make it as accurate as your hardware but if doing the set steps utility then as long as your measuring is accurate the steps per will be. Measuring however is unlikely to be as accurate as calculating as most people do not have the means to measure that accurately.
Hood

You may find this calculator useful in determining the exact steps per unit.
http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,16315.0.html
Al

23

General Mach Discussion / Re: Laser build

« on: October 05, 2012, 03:22:48 AM »

 

24

General Mach Discussion / Re: Laser build

« on: October 04, 2012, 05:40:42 PM »

Create this Macro:

SetOEMDRO(825, Param1 ())
end

Name it, (for example "M666.m1s")

Adding this line:
M666 P0.80
in the G-code will run the macro and enter 0.80 in the A diameter DRO.
Al

25

General Mach Discussion / Re: G01 Arc no arc?

« on: July 25, 2012, 07:07:49 PM »

Maybe the G01 should be a G02 or G03?

26

General Mach Discussion / Re: Manually writing g code for first time

« on: July 01, 2012, 04:34:27 PM »

Make sure that there is a carriage return after the M99.
You will see lots of code ending with a %, i.e.

M99
%

That gives a visual verification that the M99 does indeed have a CR.
Al

27

General Mach Discussion / Re: Gcode Viewer

« on: June 07, 2012, 11:46:00 PM »

Does anyone know of a simple Gcode viewer to display a gcode file toolpath.

It does NOT need to do anything other than display the toolpath. It WOULD need to be able to allow you to page up and down through a directory of files and load and view as you go.

I know some may have literatly hundreds of Gcode programs stashed away and it would be handy to have a simple viewer to sort thru them.

I have often wished for the same thing. My ’descriptive’ titles aren’t so descriptive after 6 months or so.
Ideally it would be similar to AutoCAD’s ‘File Open’. That is, as you scroll thru a list of files a thumbnail appears in the Preview panel. No need to even open the file except to view it full-size.
Now that is something that would be really nice.
Al

28

General Mach Discussion / Re: Can I buy a manual for Mach3

« on: May 20, 2012, 02:50:04 PM »

Can I buy a paper Manual for Mach3? If so where at? Thanks

Not that I know of, but they can be downloaded for free. Go the Artsoft home page > Support > Documentation.
Someplace like Kinko’s or Office Depot will print and bind them for a very nominal fee.
You might want to get both the install config manual and the users guide.
HTH Al

29

General Mach Discussion / Re: Where is debounce interval located can't find it anywhere?

« on: May 15, 2012, 12:54:20 AM »

Config>General Config - upper right corner.

30

General Mach Discussion / Re: Queue depth going to zero -- causes start/stop motion

« on: May 04, 2012, 03:44:59 PM »

Don’t think feed calc is supported for the C axis. Inverse time mode is the alternative.
This was discussed a year or so ago
http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,19321.0.html
Al