Messages

31

General Mach Discussion / Re: cant open notepad in mach 3

« on: April 11, 2012, 10:57:30 PM »

You might want to check Config > General Config > Gcode Editor to make sure the path hasn’t been corrupted. The ‘Browse’ button will allow you to select/reset the path. (I like WordPad rather than Notepad for its additional features.)
Al

32

General Mach Discussion / Re: accel and velocity

« on: March 12, 2012, 10:21:09 PM »

As Hood stated your hardware specs determine the correct step/unit, other methods are approximations subject to the accuracy of your measurements. You might want to take a look at a stepper calculator http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,16315.0.html
 to verify/confirm your calcs.
Also are you allowing for backlash in your measurements? Backlash could account for what you are seeing.
al

33

General Mach Discussion / Re: Rotary engraving

« on: February 17, 2012, 09:41:24 PM »

This will replace the Y's with A's in your Gcode. Calcs feed rate and allows scaling.
al
 

34

General Mach Discussion / Re: X-Y moving before Z finishing it's plunge

« on: January 12, 2012, 12:15:44 AM »

In case Hood’s recommendation doesn’t cure your problem, I would suggest reducing the Z-axis plunge feed rate. Due to machine flex the DRO may show the comanded position before the machine actually gets there.  This lag will result in the ramp that I think you are describing.
Al Lenz

35

General Mach Discussion / Re: z &-z

« on: January 08, 2012, 12:46:43 AM »

Dave, go to Config > Homing/Limits and click the ‘Reversed’ button.
Al

36

General Mach Discussion / Re: Milling letters/design on arched face surface

« on: December 22, 2011, 07:37:20 PM »

A while back I wanted to engrave a shift pattern on a shift knob for my son and wrote up a little app to convert the flat pattern X-Y g-code to a spherical pattern. That’s the only time I used it. It may or may not do what you want, but you are welcome to give it a try.
Needless to say proceed with caution and at your own risk.
Al Lenz

'INSTRUCTIONS: Enter dia of sphere and burr (ball end mill).
'Touch off burr on top surface of sphere.
'Cut will be 1/2 burr dia, (enter zero to manually set depth).
'Pattern must be centered (X0, Y0) on sphere centerline
'Z dimensions will be adjusted for curvature of sphere
'Limit is +/- 45 deg of sphere upper surface
'Break long straight lines into short segments

37

General Mach Discussion / Re: mark topic as read??

« on: December 08, 2011, 01:17:50 AM »

Fred, I'm following this thread because like you I want to more fully understand the workings of the forum.  I had never noticed the “Show unread posts since last visit" and so of course had to give it a try. Looked great until I noticed the dates on the posts, (it has a long memory).
I was especially amused at this one from Oct 2005 where the poster was ”patiently waiting for G-Rex and Mach4” before starting on his new machine. I wonder how long at that time he had been patiently waiting?  And did he ever give up and start his new machine?  Gosh, has it actually been that long?
Al (rabble rouser) Lenz


 The Post:
Subject: 4 positions!
« on: October 27, 2005, 11:00:04 PM »   
<snip>
I know I could use a larger motor, better gearing or a brake that is applied via a relay. I just don't want to have to make that move yet because I am patiently waiting for G-Rex and Mach4. Once I know those are ready I will start a new machine and will build it right. So any simple fix would be appreciated.
<snip>

38

General Mach Discussion / Re: Ang Short Rot on G01???

« on: November 11, 2011, 11:37:46 PM »

Haley, I believe your problem is with whatever software you are using to produce your G-code. I ran into this same issue some years back and not having the top shelf ($$$$) software, wrote my own little app to convert flat pattern X,Y,Z G-code to X,A,Z for cylinders.  I found the zero crossing is a problem that must be dealt with. One way is to limit 'A' values to the range of zero to 360 deg.  I chose to  test each ‘A’ and if the next move would result in a value less than zero or over 360 deg , then insert a new block  with a ‘G92 Axx’, (where the new ‘A’ is the current ‘A’ plus or minus 360 as required to stay in range.). In your example 719.768 would have already been changed to 359.768 in a previous block and the move to 361.242 would be the short move that you want.
I’ll attach a copy of my app, don’t know if it will help, but might give you some ideas.
In my opinion, you must fix your G-code; you do NOT want Mach deciding when to take the short route and when you really DO want to move more than 180. Been there, done that .
Al

39

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach won't let me tune motors. Dialog page won't open??

« on: October 21, 2011, 03:12:17 AM »

Hood, I had that same thing happen a year or two ago, i.e. everything was normal except the inability to open the config> motor tuning.  That was on my office PC which has megs of crap loaded and therefore I didn’t suspect/blame Mach. I wasn’t able to fix it till I downloaded the next version of Mach.
FWIW just another data point.
Al

Cant think of anything that would stop the motor tuning appearing but if you attach your xml I will see if I can find something wrong.
Hood

40

General Mach Discussion / Re: HELP !! Been running Mach for 3 years, now it's locking up !!

« on: October 20, 2011, 03:10:00 AM »

Have you tried reinstalling mach?
I once had a similar problem and a reinstall cured it.
Al