Messages

761

SmoothStepper USB / Re: G-Code execution halts

« on: September 03, 2009, 12:42:44 PM »

What version of mach and plug-in are you using. There has been one other report of a SS stopping after G0's. I have tested many SS's and have never seen this. It makes me believe that 'something' is amiss in the profile. Can you start withe a fresh clean mill profile and see what happens? I would suggest just getting the Ports and Pins set up first in the new profile and test the operation of G0's. Then if that works right copy over your macros.

762

General Mach Discussion / Re: Do i need a bigger pc for mach..

« on: September 02, 2009, 03:52:25 PM »

What are you using to post the code? For the parts you show I can't imagine that it should be a file that large. Can you do any arc filtering before posting?

As for the reason, with a 15mb file a 1mb of ram there is going to be quite a lot of, crap now the proper term evades me.....'page swapping', swap file action going on, especially if Mach is trying to load the whole file at once. You could try increasing the amount of memory dedicated to the swap file and/or adding another gb of RAM.

763

General Mach Discussion / Re: Do i need a bigger pc for mach..

« on: September 02, 2009, 09:03:04 AM »

Well with such humongous file you will have a problem if you have the tool path displayed. Turn it off and see what happens.  Problem is that Mach can't update the display will the millions of lines of teeny-tiny segments and keep up with everything else too. Brian has been working on putting the graphics into their own thread and I think we will see a new version of Mach in a few months that is much better in that regard.

The other thing you can do to help is take the pulsing load off the PC by using an external motion control board, like a SmoothStepper. Mach may still choke on displaying your super huge files though, but it will take a load off the PC.

764

SmoothStepper USB / Re: Overrun Limits Using SS

« on: August 31, 2009, 12:20:24 PM »

There is a recently discovered problem in the SS plug-in. Mach had a setting called 'Disable Limits' that is no longer used or accessible by the user, but defaults to 'ON' (which is bad). This is causing the SS to not treat a limit as a limit but rather just decelerate the motor to a stop (hence the over run). Greg is working on it now.

765

General Mach Discussion / Re: Unable to connect to CNC

« on: August 25, 2009, 02:08:39 PM »

Without looking at a wiring diagram of your system it would be really hard to help. There are many different ways it could be set up. Can you scan and post the info you have?

766

General Mach Discussion / Re: Unable to connect to CNC

« on: August 25, 2009, 01:30:42 PM »

You need some way of seeing if the parallel port pins are changing states. If you have a voltmeter you can check the direction pin, it should change from 0V to 5V as you change directions on that axis. Did you set this computer up yourself or did it come with the machine? What type of parallel port are you using? Is it built into the PC or is it an add-on card?

767

General Mach Discussion / Re: Smooth Stepper reset

« on: August 23, 2009, 06:34:36 PM »

Well, I have already stated twice what it does, what the heck maybe the third time is the charm...It clears the flash memory. You have to have the jumper in place when the SS is powered up. It is something you will most likely never need to do.

768

General Mach Discussion / Re: Smooth Stepper reset

« on: August 23, 2009, 02:14:47 PM »

The one they sell is 6'. I have them in 10' and 15' as well. Shorter is better. VFDs are noisy critters though, the USB isolator Greg is working on may be a good fit in your application.

769

General Mach Discussion / Re: Smooth Stepper reset

« on: August 23, 2009, 12:50:48 PM »

The noise is there when running with the LPT as well. It is just being picked up by the USB cable. Look to see if your VFD manufacturer has a 'line reactor' available.

770

General Mach Discussion / Re: Smooth Stepper reset

« on: August 23, 2009, 11:51:13 AM »

All USB cables (any one that displays a USB logo) is shielded, but it is not enough in all applications.You can try adding a ferrite core over the USB cable, that can help but it can also slew the data making it harder to read. You can also buy shield braid that slips over existing cables. I used to use it all the time on plasma torch leads. Greg is working on an inexpensive USB isolator right now. I think it will be a big hit with all sorts of industrial USB applications.

For spindle motor noise you need to nip-it-in-the-bud by placing a line filer close to your spindle motor. The 10A line filter kit is here: http://soigeneris.com/cncparts2.aspx, I've attached a pic of how I installed it on my Taig.