Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: Problems With Mach3 under Windows XP

« on: August 25, 2012, 12:28:54 AM »

Hi Albert,
I had two versions of Mach 3 installed - one was the trial version in \programs, the other the licensed version in \Mach3. I had strange things happening. like buttons stopping working, things freezeing mid-cut. I got rid of the extra version and things stabilised.
Red

2

FAQs / Re: Homing and <goto zero> issues

« on: March 01, 2012, 11:23:06 PM »

If you want to use one home switch with a slaved axis, there's an option in General Config, "Home Slave with Master", which will slave them during homing.

Is this what the 3 axis version of the 2010 screenset does?

3

Mach3 under Vista / Re: Mach 3 / Cut 3D crashing on Win 7 dedicated computer

« on: January 17, 2012, 11:37:52 PM »

I'm no authority because I've only just started using both programs, but save from Cut3D is what I've been doing (because you need to select the appropriate file type), and then open the code in Mach3

4

Mach3 under Vista / Re: Mach 3 / Cut 3D crashing on Win 7 dedicated computer

« on: January 15, 2012, 04:46:21 AM »

Hi Jeff,
Thanks for your input.
I actually ended up a shorter route (pun). I was in the shed without shoes (yes I know). Anyway, I touched the rails and got a buzz. Touched the control box and got a buzz, and touched the computer box and got a buzz. I fixed the earth in the control box that had broken loose in the recent move and fixed that problem.
Still had crashes, though, must to my annoyance.

My wife comes in and says,"Why don't you try plugging the power board into a separate socket from the computer?"
Humph, what does she know!
Well the crashes have stopped. Pulling 4-9 amps off a 10 amp domestic circuit must have been enough to upset the computer.

Anyway, Mach 3 was never to blame, nor was the link to Cut 3D. I got to this conclusion early in the piece by testing simulated runs with and without Cut 3D, and with and without the power board on.

Many thanks for your interest and support.
Regards
Red

5

Mach3 under Vista / Re: Mach 3 / Cut 3D crashing on Win 7 dedicated computer

« on: January 11, 2012, 11:30:46 PM »

Thanks, Jeff.
The computer is stable.  Mach3 is stable. They can both be left on and used for days on end without problems.
But if I have the CNC power supply fired up, then the computer crashes unpredictably. The power supply is hooked to 4 Gecko 203v and a PMDX128 BOB linked to the computer via parallel cable.
Previously this setup was stable, so I'm guessing that something physical has happened. A short or earth problem? How to test - by removing and replacing parts?

6

Mach3 under Vista / Re: Mach 3 / Cut 3D crashing on Win 7 dedicated computer

« on: January 10, 2012, 08:21:49 AM »

Well, I started the computer and ran about 10000 lines of G-code offline under Mach 3 across 6 files.
I started Cut 3D from within Mach 3, set up some .tap files, exited and ran another 100 000 of code offline with no problems.
I restarted the computer and air cut 2000 lines of G-code (i.e. machine was online and moving, but Z was at a safe height).  The cut completed fine and I was able to move the mouse, then the system crashed and necessitated a hard reboot.

Mach 3 or Windows related?

7

Mach3 under Vista / Mach 3 / Cut 3D crashing on Win 7 dedicated computer

« on: January 08, 2012, 06:34:20 PM »

Hi,
I'm trying to fault trace why my computer may be hanging during some runs.
The machine is a P4 running 32 bit Win 7. It is not web connected, has no anti virus installed, and I have stopped all the interruption applications I can find, including power down and screen savers. It controls the machine fine via a Gecko 203v based board.

I can access Cut 3D from the Mach 3 menus and work through the simulation processes in Cut 3D and generate .tap files.
The job will run fine in Mach 3 for 10, 15, 20 minutes, sometimes to completion, but the computer freezes and requires a hard reboot.

Does anyone have ideas about possible sources of crashes?

8

FAQs / Re: Mach 3 loading problem

« on: December 18, 2011, 06:05:17 AM »

Thank you for the clarification on the splash screens.
I guess I'll have to look elsewhere for sources of conflicts that are causing the software to freeze.
Merry Christmas.

9

FAQs / Re: Mach 3 loading problem

« on: December 01, 2011, 01:34:32 AM »

Hit submit in error. Couldn't see an edit button:
Windows 7, P5 machine dedicated to Mach 3/ Cut3D

10

FAQs / Re: Mach 3 loading problem

« on: December 01, 2011, 01:32:32 AM »

I have a similar problem but think that it is the trial version of Mach 3 conflicting with the licensed version. The reason I think this is that when I use start via a desktop shortcut or the loader, I get different opening screens. One displays version x.x and is the trial version screen to the best of my recollection. The other is a colour Version 2 screen.
I have previously uninstalled Mach 3 via the windows control panel, and reinstalled, but the problem persists. The program will run a file, but then tends to freeze, especially after standing idle for a while and require a hard reset.
If there is an artifact process, how do i get rid of it?
Or are there other likely explanations?