Messages

1011

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Re: PHOTOvCARVE problems!!

« on: December 22, 2014, 02:36:38 PM »

you hope not all computers can run M3 very well the one I am change is faster than the one I am replacing it with
what web site are you getting usb/pp cable from

1012

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Screen Set Ideas

« on: December 22, 2014, 02:14:22 PM »

your going to end up with a do everything M4 how much more can you add. And as you said its a lot of hard work I still cant get what I am trying to do to work I know what's wrong just not how to fix it ill get next year some time.

anyway thanks for shearing 

you should see if you can program it to make your coffees at smoko

1013

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Re: PHOTOvCARVE problems!!

« on: December 22, 2014, 02:08:48 PM »

there are a lot of different controllers that work with M3 ever pp, USB, Ethernet or pp to usb. gecko will change the g540 one day but there is a few controllers that you can just plug the G540 into to change it to USB or Ethernet. I have done it will be doing it again when computer dies on my machine with a G540.

you have something very wrong with your computer running M3 you may need to do a reinstall again make sure you get ride of the M3 folder nothing on the computer to do with M3 at all then do a reinstall.

I am going to be doing a computer change over to day with a computer with no issues with M3 from a computer that cant handle M3 very well at all the computer I am changing to is very old

1014

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Re: PHOTOvCARVE problems!!

« on: December 21, 2014, 05:26:38 PM »

they do its a ESS http://warp9td.com/index.php/order   that's just one of them that can connect up with a G540

there are other ones available ever Ethernet or usb

1015

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Re: PHOTOvCARVE problems!!

« on: December 21, 2014, 04:25:23 PM »

Ok, tried your xml.  It locked me up and wouldn't let me do anything.  Estop and nothing would unlock.
Went back to the new fresh off the website xml and and one thing is clear.  It wont hold settings.  So that means it is either mach3, my computer or the g540.
Nothing has worked right.  I have sent a call for help to gecko and nothing since yesterday.
I am going to find another computer to use if I can.  I have checked it out and if it IS the computer it is between the computer and the software or the computer and the gecko.
I don't know where to go from here.

this means you are getting close to finding the problem it cant be the G540 that just does what the computer tales it to do so its M3 or computer if you do what I suggested to do and its still bad then and it wont hold the setting try another computer do a fresh install of M3 and setting if its still bad try a different version of M3

1016

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Re: PHOTOvCARVE problems!!

« on: December 21, 2014, 04:19:49 PM »

right try this put the 540.xml in your M3 folder load up M3 chose the 540 profile once its loaded clear E stop, close M3 back down start M3 again select 540.xml clear E stop.

then go into ports and pins your outputs and inputs should be ok just go through with the manual check each setting is correct look at the manual so you know what each setting is.

just make sure the stepper motors are going the correct direction and that your home switches are set to hi or low what ever they need to be trip them so you can see if they are working go to the diagnostics page so you can see if the are working don't use the machine to do it use what ever trips them be it finger or magnet.

your spindle setting should be fine just have a look and check.

once you have that correct go into general config go through and check the settings are correct use the manual to help just make sure your motion mode is set to constant velocity, distant mode is set to absolute and ij mode is set to inc.

change look ahead to 100 and all other settings look through the manual so you know if you need them or not just go through it once that's done restart M3.

now go to config click on safe z set up tick allow_safe Z moves, check safe z dro is in work coordinates, set safe z to .125, and tick go to safe z when stop button is hit.

with all of that done go to set steppes per unit do one axis at a time tale it to move 0.1 measure that put in box how fare it moved click ok then do it again do 0.1 again if its correct increase the distance it moves so if you tale it to move 4 inch it does repeat on all axis when that's finished restart M3

after all that load a G code done in cut2D a small file say a 1 inch squire outside cut do it as an air cut first don't cut anything if it looks correct do a cut setting z zero to top of work pieces in M3 and cut2D measure the squire check the it is 1 inch by 1 inch and how deep you make it, if its correct good if not re check your calibration.

do it again if its was not correct, if it was correct load a G code up what ever you wont 2 do run it as an air cut just mark the start point if when the file is finished it goes back to the same spot thats good.

close M3 down start again do the same G code again if its still good, try running a .pvc file if it goes wrong ( tale the machine its going for a one way walk )LOL.

if it goes mad and you have it all set up correctly work heights and home and all of that set correctly do a complex cut2 file lots of x,y and z movements do it as a file as big as a .pvc file see what happens  


  

1017

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Re: PHOTOvCARVE problems!!

« on: December 21, 2014, 02:25:34 PM »

I always set Z zero to top of work piece
I have the X and Y zero set for dead center of the table (measured with a micrometer) and leave it there.  Never had to change it but once and its been set back again since.  Thats where the table lives after work is done.  It gets sent to HOME before I shut things down.

**that correct

I have never messed with "machine" zero and wouldn't know how.  Would have to refer to the manuals for that.

**look up what Machine Zero and work Zero means it is something you should know its in the manual

Yes, a G540. Once I placed the gecko xml in place I was able to make things function like the jobs and hot keys and reading instructions although it doesnt do the work like it did before.  I just fired up the mill and PC so I will look at the other stuff you mentioned.

**definitely set safe Z Zero

1018

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: The "Mach4" 3D Laser Build

« on: December 21, 2014, 02:20:54 PM »

ill take two please LOL
looking good

1019

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Re: PHOTOvCARVE problems!!

« on: December 21, 2014, 02:09:04 PM »

Wright stuff you probley know but

do you set Z zero to top of work pieces (this is work Z zero)

where do you zero the X and Y axis for work zero (work X, Y zero)

do you home your machine (machine Zero)

change safe Z set-up to .125, set it to safeZ DRO in work coordinates and tick safe_Z Moves ( this will move the machine Z up .125 when you push stop)

you said you have a G540 have you loaded the tried the 540BVFD.xml from gecko (I have added it )

can you answer the question above as this is something I need to know if you do or have done

when I set up my machine I only had to change a couple of setting using the 540BVFD.xml I have never changed since I first set it all up that was 4 years ago

 

1020

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Re: PHOTOvCARVE problems!!

« on: December 20, 2014, 01:46:12 PM »

when you get back at it the only thing I can think that you can do is re install mach3 and try doing a double start every time you use M3 (start M3 up close it down start it again) I have to do this my self on one machine.

just so I can think of something else you can try what is the machine you have

someone else might jump in with some ideas but I think its the computer you are using as there is nothing wrong with your G code some of the settings I change made it work here better with me doing some sims and your original xml work fine here as well and as you said it was doing other stuff fine.

you have a G540 that's a really good controller so it should not be that (if it was other cuts would not work)

you drive the machine slow so it cant be missed steppes  

your files work fine for others

so the only thing that's left is the computer


if anyone else has some idea please post