Messages

31

General Mach Discussion / XBOX 360 PLUGIN Reset Button

« on: May 26, 2011, 10:56:38 AM »

Hi,

I purchased a used XBOX360 Controller that plugs into my USB Port.  I downloaded the associated plugin here at the ArtSoft website.

It is a wonderful addon and works as planned except for one thing.

Is there anyway to get the XBOX360 Controller to RESET the Mach3 Control (with the Auto Limit Override function activated) with a configured button i.e. X when a limit switch is triggered?

If I reach and activate a limit switch I can't use the assigned button i.e. X on the XBOX Controller to RESET the Mach3 Control.  If I use the button on the Mach3 Screen I am able to RESET the limit switch.  I have the Auto Limit Override function activated.

Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated?

Thanks in advance for help.


John

32

General Mach Discussion / Re: Auto Tool Zero Help

« on: April 23, 2011, 09:09:20 AM »

Hi Gerry,

Sorry, I didn't detail out the error messages as I should have.  I will try to better document my issues in the future.  Guess it like going to the doctor and telling you are sick???   Then the doctor says whats wrong???

Guess I have been fighting this a little long being a (know nothing) electronics guy.

Thanks for being patient with me.
 
At last I am having a little success.

John

33

General Mach Discussion / Re: Auto Tool Zero Help

« on: April 23, 2011, 09:03:49 AM »

Hi,

EUREKA!
I just got back from the shop and saw your message.  Thanks for your valued input.

I decided to get brave and try my other alternative earlier this morning. (Maybe, I should have put one of the leads on the Capacitor to the Ground and the other to Input 13?)

Tweakie, yes you are correct that did work.

One issue I did have was that I took a measurement on the Touch off Plate and it read 0.120 Inches.  In order to get the touch off routine to work accurately I had to increase the number in the touch off plate thickness setting to 0.136 Inches.  Not a big deal as it now takes accurate consistent measurements.

I am not exactly sure what version of Mach3 I have.  I originally loaded the Demo version (not sure which version I picked) then purchased the license for MACH3 from CNC4PC and inserted that license code into the demo software that I originally loaded.
Is there a screen or tab somewhere that will tell me what version of Mach3 is currently loaded.

I found a revised script at the link originally given me and will give it a try now that the mechanicals of the tool setter seem to be working correctly.

You Guys are the BEST!

34

General Mach Discussion / Re: program stops running

« on: April 22, 2011, 09:11:15 PM »

Hi,

How did the Driver Test Go?

John

35

General Mach Discussion / Re: program stops running

« on: April 22, 2011, 08:53:45 PM »

Hi,

Couple of questions about your new computer.

1:  What operating system are you using?

2:  Is your new computer running 32 bit?  I could be wrong but it is my understanding that Mach3 won't work with 64 bit.

John

36

General Mach Discussion / Re: Auto Tool Zero Help

« on: April 22, 2011, 08:41:17 PM »

Hi,

I purchased the 0.01 UF Capacitor and placed it in the circuit.  Not being an electronics guy I probably hooked it up incorrectly.
Here is what I did.  Prior to putting the Capacitor in the circuit I did a test by touching the auto zero plate to the end mill in the collet which had the ground wire attached.  The TOUCH light lit up in the Dialog Box and also the Digitize light lit up in the diagnostics screen.

Also, checked the ports and pins settings.  The probe is set up on port 1 and Pin 13. Active Low

I have a CNC4PC C10 Breakout Board with the inputs in the Pull Up configuration.

I have two wires.  One is hooked to Input 13 and the other is hooked to GROUND (not the 5 volt terminal) per instructions in the CNC4PC C10 Break out Board Manual.

I took the ground wire off the terminal on the break out board and attached one of the wires on the capacitor to that and attached the other wire on the capacitor to the ground terminal.
I also tried putting the capacitor on the Input 13 wire and had the same results.  In either of these configurations, when I touch the auto zero plate to the end mill the TOUCH light does not light.  Also, the macro still does not work.

Maybe, I should have put one of the leads on the Capacitor to the Ground and the other to Input 13?

I have also attached the script that is currently attached to the Auto Tool Zero Button.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Any Ideas???

37

General Mach Discussion / Re: New user

« on: April 22, 2011, 06:53:25 PM »

Hi,

Welcome to the Mach3 Forum.

I am a newbie myself to this forum and have already got a lot of good information from the people here.

Art at CNC4PC is a GREAT guy and has been very helpful to me.  If you take his advise I am sure he will lead you in the right direction.

John

38

General Mach Discussion / Re: Auto Tool Zero Help

« on: April 21, 2011, 12:46:01 PM »

Hi Gerry,

Thanks for your valued input.  I did a little more reading in that URL you linked me to.  I saw where one of the guys put a 0.01 UF Capacitor in the circuit and that got rid of the noise he had.  Well, we are off to Radio Shack.

John

39

General Mach Discussion / Re: Auto Tool Zero Help

« on: April 21, 2011, 12:15:02 PM »

Hi Gerry,

I visited the link you provided and downloaded the modified 1024zip file and copied the screen set into my Mach3 folder and picked that screen set and now have it loaded on my machine.  I took the original script file and modified it for (Inch) system per instructions saved it and cleared the existing code from the script and pasted the attached files (tried both of them and the worked the same.  I am sure it must be some type of rookie mistake on my part.  

I zero the Z axis DRO.
I click on the plate thickness input dialog box and input the thickness of my plate i.e. 0.125 inches located on the program run screen.
I click on the Auto Zero Tool Button.
The macro starts to run and the pause lite come on as expected, I hear (one) click on the router motor but (no movement in the minus Z direction like it is going to touch off the tool).  The next message I get in the ERROR dialog box is the the Z Axis is now zeroed.  The original modified 1024 screen was in metric and I made the changes listed below to (inches) in the script.  One of the guys on the other form that I was linked to mentioned he had to put a 1 K resistor in the circuit. Could this what is wrong with my current setup?  If so, it is off to Radio Shack?  Are there possibly any other settings in either the input or output screens that I need to make to get this to work?

Code "G31Z-.25 F10" 'probing move, can set the feed rate here as well as how far to move
Code "G0 Z1" 'put the Z retract height you want here

I have attached the (2) scripts that I tried in the modified 1024 screen set.

John

40

General Mach Discussion / Re: Auto Tool Zero Help

« on: April 21, 2011, 08:15:59 AM »

Hi Gerry,

Thanks for the quick reply and URL Link.

Ultimately, I would like to go to your screen set with all the tool changing options.  Just trying to get my feet wet at first and get the machine running with the basic options as I am a newbie to MACH3 and electronics is not my stong suit.

Working on the Tool Setter first, then the Super PID like you have installed, then the 2010 Screen set.

John