Topics

51

VB and the development of wizards / Trouble with a trigonometry calculation in VB?

« on: September 06, 2007, 05:41:07 PM »

Hi guys I'm attempting to make a small calculator to go on one of the pages, I tried to make this myself, but it doesn't quite work properly......it's so close, it just doesn't calculate correctly, I think it's got to do with how it calculates as Radians not degrees:

Lead=PI*Ø/Tan of Angle

Here's what I have so far.

Angle=GetUserDRO(1201)'read angle
Ø=GetUserDRO(1202)'read Ø
SetOEMDRO (1203,0)'Set DRO 1203 to 0
Radians=Tan(Angle)
Degrees=(Radians*180)/3.141592654

If GetUserDRO(1201) Then
   If GetUserDRO(1202) Then
   Message "O.K Parameter"
   SetOEMDRO (1203,3.141592654*Ø/Tan(Degrees))'Set DRO 1203 to Answer
   Else
   Message "Invalid Parameter"
   End If   
Else
Message "Invalid Parameter"
End If

Thanks guys.

52

General Mach Discussion / When loading a program, the spindle starts up.................

« on: September 03, 2007, 05:57:17 PM »

Hey this is really wierd.
When I load a program (Load NOT run) my spindle starts up on slow speed, I've recenly made the screen and designated M13 through to M16 for my spindle (see pic.)
Is M13 a reserved M code for some other purpose?
I did previously have it as M12 but had the same problem, so I changed it to M13 instead (But it's still doing it)
I'm thinking that I need to change to a different M code again.
Thoughts.

53

General Mach Discussion / Using a gamepad, it seems great, then it will continue movement in one direction

« on: September 03, 2007, 05:48:57 PM »

I'm testing using a Logitech Wingman cordless gamepad & keygrabber, for the most part it seems pretty good, the potential is awesome.
But the main issues I'm having is keygrabber doesn't save my settings, even if I click SAVE AS then Default.grab
Once I restart the settings return to what they were...... I even tried deleting the .grab files and starting again, but it won't save my settings for X axis.

Anyhoo's randomly after I've moved the machine in X, Y or Z using the gamepad, it will continue moving even after I've released the joystick (DAMN Dangerous).
The only way to stop it is to move the same axis in the opposite direction.
Is this a common issue with keygrabber, or is it really just my setup?
Pic's are for example of how I set the axis's.
Thanks.

54

VB and the development of wizards / Is it possible to create a button that will change the feedrate to 50%?

« on: August 29, 2007, 05:48:30 PM »

I was hoping to be able to create a 50% Feedrate button, much the same as the 100% button that resets the feedrate.
Can this easily be done?

55

Mach Screens / Is it possible to change the MULTIPASS feature to move Y axis each pass instead?

« on: August 13, 2007, 07:50:29 AM »

Here's a pic of the feature I mean, it's normally set to Z, but it would be great if I could use the same feature on Y instead.
Thanks.

56

General Mach Discussion / Anyone one else having weird problems with Mach, I think it's G41 or G42??

« on: August 01, 2007, 08:45:09 PM »

I've noticed that occasionally when running a program using G42 that I have run heaps of times correctly it stops on a certain line with the following error:
Radius to end of arc differs from radius to startLine 13
But when I shutdown Mach and reload the file, it works.

It also occasionaly gives me an incorrect profile such as the attached pic, I think I've narrowed it down to the tool offset G41 or G42.
This also comes good by restarting Mach oor occasionally reloading the file, see 2nd pic
I disabled the radius compensation, and (touch wood) it hasn't happened since.

57

Galil / Galil & Camsoft, looking to convert to Mach so...........

« on: July 20, 2007, 01:59:26 AM »

I converted a machine ages ago (about 5 years) to camsoft, it works o.k, but not hugely reliable.....
I understand the majority of things I may need, I'm just unsure as to whether I can get away with removing the Galil DMC 2162 card I am using with the Camsoft software.
How do I tell if the old stepper drives are/can accept step/direction commands?
I've attached a pic of the ICM 2900 module that is interfaced with them, I was hoping someone could shed some light on the terminals
e.g is the SIGNZ maybe Step and the PWMZ maybe direction or am I so far off it's just not funny anymore?

58

VB and the development of wizards / Possibility of a dwell countdown display?

« on: June 24, 2007, 03:54:23 AM »

Is it possible to have a timer set up for a button so as when pressed it will count down for 3 minutes and display the countdown, so as you know how long it has to go? (see pic)
Or I suppose more importantly display how long the machine has to dwell, if for example G04 P30000 is in the program, it will display 3:00 and count backwards whilst dwelling.

59

VB and the development of wizards / Is it hard to hook up and external temp guage to display in a DRO?

« on: June 23, 2007, 08:02:21 AM »

Theoretically, I thought it could be done.
I'm told the temp guage I'm looking at has 3 wires, I haven't looked into what they are yet.
Thanks.
Darc

60

VB and the development of wizards / Please help with adding 0.1 to the current DRO value, using a button.

« on: June 22, 2007, 08:38:26 AM »

I have a button script set to do this:

y=GetDRO(1201)
SetOEMDRO (1201,y+0.1)

Instead of adding the 0.1 to the existing value, it changes the value to +0.1, any idea why?
Thanks
Darc