Messages

11

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Re: Digitize Wizard Issues

« on: July 23, 2011, 02:09:23 PM »

Thank you both for you time and attention,

I am certain something is wrong with the probe process, I just don't know what. The probe moves quite easily to finger touch, and trips the diagnostic screen LED, so I don't think the spring is too strong.

I am afraid I do not understand your instructions completely. I should run the probe manually against the styrene (not with the wizard?), read the DRO at the touch point and then when? I don't know what 'gcode var 2002' means.

Sorry for being so ignorant, but I do not know exactly how to make this comparison.

If you could elaborate on your instructions, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Vic

12

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Re: Digitize Wizard Issues

« on: July 22, 2011, 11:22:34 PM »

Thanks, BR,

Ahhh, so the .tap file is not the result of the probe, it is the executable for the probe.....no wonder the Z values are all the same. Duh!

I need to find and look at the saved point file..... I think I may be saving it as the wrong file type. I haven't got to the contour file yet, but I have downloaded MachCloud and, if I understand the process, that's supposed to convert the point file to a contour file that my BobCad will import.

Apropos of my inexperience, I have a few other generic questions, tho.

The seat profile is 15" x 15". The maximum -Z dimension is -.75". Do you think a .2" step-over in the x and y axes will produce enough points to generate the surface? Those parameters generate 11K lines of code, which seems lengthy. This could be more of my ignorance showing tho.

The pressure exerted by the probe during the process seems to be inordinately high. It is actually dimpling the walnut original. Is this to be expected or is there a method to adjust the response time of the software to the probe signal to reduce the reaction time and thus the pressure exerted?

Hmmmmm, here's hoping.

Thank you,

Vic

13

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Digitize Wizard Issues

« on: July 22, 2011, 05:02:22 PM »

Hello,

I am attempting to digitize a chair seat surface. I am entering the parameters and am successful at generating the g-code for the probe process. I have tested the probe and see the LED on the Diagnostics page change color. 

My probe follows the code correctly. I do get 'Ignore Probe' errors, which stop the process until I restart the cycle.

However, when I look at the .tap file code there is no change in the Z axis, that is, the process is not recording the surface.

I am attaching the first part of the tap file saved as a word document.

Does anyone have an idea of what I am doing wrong?

Thanks,

Vicrider

14

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3, Probe, and Digitize Wizard Issue

« on: July 05, 2011, 09:48:12 PM »

Thanks Ger!

I will investigate those options. I hadn't known about them. I have BobCadCam and I think it will open an .stl file and then create g-code. I really want to use the probe functions in Mach.

Vic

15

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3, Probe, and Digitize Wizard Issue

« on: July 05, 2011, 05:22:59 PM »

Hi Jos,

I haven't gotten to the point cloud conversion software purchase yet. I have been trying to find one that I can afford (I'm kinda tapped out after buying the router and CAD software). I don't find many recommendations for that type of software on the CNC forums either.

Until I find a good digitizing software, I mean one that can translate a point cloud file into Gcode and that I can afford, I have been working from the other direction. That is, designing what I want in CAD and then creating G code from that. IMO none of it is very simple. There is more to learn than I thought necessary when I started, but that's true of anything worthwhile though.

Good luck on your search and, if you don't mind, please share your recommendations with the forum,

Vic

16

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3, Probe, and Digitize Wizard Issue

« on: June 22, 2011, 05:27:13 PM »

I received excellent help from ScottN@machsupport.com in response to my email inquiry. I moved one probe wire from pin 12 to pin 10 (pos 3 on the Gecko), reset the Ports and Pins inputs configuration, and deleted the probe plugin from the Mach3 plugins folder.

Evidently, the probe.dll file hoses up the Mach3 probe function on my computer. After removing the plugin, I was able to set parameters in the Wizard and digitize a small wrench. I reported that I was getting some 'Probe ignore' errors during the process and he also directed me to set the Debounce up to 100 and work down until the errors returned, then jump up a little. I had read this in another post, but didn't know what it meant.

I also got an answer from David at Calypso stating that his aftermarket app would probably not help me. But I liked the look and feel of his app and may now purchase that.

I apologize if my post yesterday was a little testy, but my frustration level overwhelmed me.

I am a much happier camper today! 

Thanks everyone for their time and attention.

Now, On to work.

Vic

17

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3, Probe, and Digitize Wizard Issue

« on: June 22, 2011, 12:53:40 AM »

Thanks, BR,

I will work thru this diagnostic first thing in the morning.

vic

18

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3, Probe, and Digitize Wizard Issue

« on: June 21, 2011, 11:22:34 PM »

I know I am a new user to Mach, but seriously folks, I have tried just about everything except purchasing a different CNC controller software (if there is one) and am fairly frustrated.  I am not a computer geek; I am a woodworker who is computer and mechanically literate.

I know some of you use Mach3 to digitize parts and create Gcode for copying, HOW do you do it?

I am now using a clean WinXP (how old is that?) computer with Mach3 Version R3.043.022 and the Mill-P profile. At least it has a parallel port (required by the Gecko G540 BOB, again, how old is that?). The probe is now communicating with the software (losing the LED helped). However, when using the Digitizing wizard, or the manual probe function in Mach, the software will produce Gcode, but upon 'initialize' the head will only move to the start point.  Then I get the following error 'Previous SEQ not yet complete', at which time the software locks up and does not produce a usable file. Every key stroke just iterates the error code.....

Has anyone got a clue about this error? I have searched this forum and found posts referencing this error that date back to 2008. Robotmar uses a different software, mostly in Italian and using metric values, and Vincent13 downgrades to Version 2.58 (which I do not see on the download page). I tried version 2.63 but it won't work either. Tristar500 got no answer at all in two different posts in 2009.

I have also looked at many posts regarding probes, digitize, and Wizards; I followed one poster's instructions to clean everything out of Windows, like Auto-Update, etc. No success. I have uninstalled and re-installed Mach several times, torn the controller apart, checked the BOB, cable, and ports with a multi-meter, changed and replaced everything I can find to instructions for.....

In reading this post http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,4352.0.html it seems the answer might be to buy Calypso's screen/function add-on software. Since this is fairly inexpensive, I would seriously consider purchasing it if I thought it would solve my issue. Does any one know if Calypso's MachStdMill software might solve my issue?

I much prefer Win7 but evidently Mach 3 is not compatible, even if Win7 is directed to run it as WinXP

Is this forum the best customer support Artsoft has?? I could use some real help. It feels like I have wasted a lot of time and money on something that doesn't work.

vicrider

19

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3, Probe, and Digitize Wizard Issue

« on: June 02, 2011, 02:47:58 PM »

Thanks BR,

Let's see if I can get everything,

I have not tried auto setup, Probably try that next.

My controller has a physical Red estop button that brings everything to a halt (I don't know if that qualifies as a 'remote' estop), as does the estop button on the screen.

The probe is chucked into the collet of my router, when I hit Cycle Start, nothing moves and I get the DRO error.

I am running in Mill-P profile, using the xml file downloaded from the Mach Plugins page.

Tweakie,

Which pin should the estop be assigned to if not 16?

Here's Gecko pin documentation. Pos one corresponds to Pin 10, that's where one lead from the probe is attached. The other is attached to Pos 12.





Vic

20

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3, Probe, and Digitize Wizard Issue

« on: June 02, 2011, 01:33:44 PM »

Let's see how this works.....








Hmmmm, gotta work on size next, but these are the diagrams for Parallel port pin assignments that I got from a geek friend. Anyone see anything wrong?

Still looking for Gecko documentation.

Vic