Messages

1

Finished Plugins for Download / Re: USB JoyPad and game device plugin - New Version 2.0

« on: April 02, 2013, 02:54:20 PM »

MadTooler (and others):
I have tried to replicate the problem on my setup, but it won't fail   ...
To find the bug in the plugin code I need a simple and repeatable step by step way to provoke the error. Preferable when Mach3 is in simulation mode (no output driver) - this is also much safer to experiment with  

Please post the step by step instruction here in the thread. Thanks.


area51,

It is 100% repeatable on my system.  Anytime the jog mode is in Step then the axis appear to begin running to no end when engaged via the SL/R safety and the relative analog stick movement.  This happens whether it is a very small quick movement with the stick or a long held movement.  To get it back to normal, I hit the reset and switch back to Cont. Jog Mode and make sure not to try the Alt R/L.

The problem does not appear to exist in Cont. Jog Mode.

I am running Mach3 Version R3.043.066 on an XP(tablet) laptop.
Smooth Stepper USB.

Attached is a shot of both the pluggins on my system and the settings within Mach for your pluggin:

2

Finished Plugins for Download / Re: USB JoyPad and game device plugin - New Version 2.0

« on: March 29, 2013, 01:21:31 PM »

If it was possible to have the deadzone adjustable that would be really cool.  I am running with a "Rock Candy" PS3 controller I found at best buy.  It nicely matches the logitech profile without the need for any additional drivers in both XP and Win7.  I decided on this one instead of the logitech after reading a lot of reviews on the two and the bonus of a much longer cable.  Anyway, it's main flaw, besides being cheesy gaudy, is that the analog sticks are tight to get moving.

Side note... I initially had been using my PS3 wireless bluetooth controller.  That thing has a great feel on the analog sticks.  It was really, really, really smooth with the JoyPad pluggin.  I only went to a plugged in version because of dealing with recharging and the MotionInJoy driver needed that some find suspect.

Any thoughts on my previous post about runaway axis when in Inc. Step mode?

3

General Mach Discussion / Re: Auto Tool Zero Touch Plate/Probe Driving A/4th axis

« on: March 28, 2013, 04:48:23 PM »

Update 2

While I have not run across anyone else with this problem, nor any better idea of what is causing it, I have revised my script to toggle the Inhibit A automatically to allow for the tool probe to work properly.

This will do for now, but it is a bandaid.  I would appreciate any possible input as to what the underlying problem may be.

Thanks.

CurrentFeed = GetOemDRO(818) 'Get the current feedrate to return to later
CurrentAbsInc = GetOemLED(48) 'Get the current G90/G91 state
CurrentGmode = GetOemDRO(819) 'Get the current G0/G1 state
PlateThickness = GetUserDRO(1151) 'Z-plate thickness DRO. This line can be omited if no DRO on screen
Ainhibit = 0


If GetOemLed (89)=0 Then 'check if Inhibit A is already active
DoOemButton (253) 'Press Inhibit A button
Ainhibit = 1
End If

If GetOemLed (825)=0 Then 'Check to see if the probe is already grounded or faulty
DoOEMButton (1010) 'zero the Z axis so the probe move will start from here
Code "G4 P2" ' this delay gives me time to get from computer to hold probe in place
Code "G90 G31Z-.6 F5" 'probing move, can set the feed rate here as well as how far to move
While IsMoving() 'wait while it happens
Wend
ZProbePos = GetVar(2002) 'get the exact point the probe was hit
Code "G0 Z" &ZProbePos 'go back to that point, always a very small amount of overrun
While IsMoving ()
Wend
'Call SetDro (2, PlateThickness) 'use this line if DRO is used
Call SetDro (2, .0595) 'use this line for no on-screen plate thickness DRO, change 1.5 to your plate thickness
Sleep 100 'Pause for Dro to update.
Code "G1 Z0.2 F80" 'put the Z retract height you want here, must be greater than the touch plate thickness
While IsMoving ()
Wend
Code "(Z axis is now zeroed)" 'puts this message in the status bar
Code "F" &CurrentFeed 'Returns to prior feed rate
Else
Code "(Z-Plate is grounded, check connection and try again)" 'this goes in the status bar if applicable
End If
If CurrentAbsInc = 0 Then 'if G91 was in effect before then return to it
Code "G91"
End If
If CurrentGMode = 0 Then 'if G0 was in effect before then return to it
Code "G0"
End If

If Ainhibit Then 'If A was inhibited in this script then reset
DoOemButton (253) 'Press Inhibit A button
End If

           

4

General Mach Discussion / Re: Auto Tool Zero Touch Plate/Probe Driving A/4th axis

« on: March 26, 2013, 03:23:05 AM »

UPDATE

I found if I inhibited the A axis on the Settings Screen, the Auto Tool Zero works fine.  I can still jog the A, but cannot run code (I think) or send it gcode from MDI.

One additional note, the first session that I inhibited and then enable the A, everything was working.  I closed the session and restarted to find it broken again.  It works properly inhibited still, yet not if I re enable.

Thanks again.

5

General Mach Discussion / Auto Tool Zero Touch Plate/Probe Driving A/4th axis

« on: March 26, 2013, 01:08:30 AM »

I am working out the kinks with a 4 axis router run by a SmoothStepper USB.  I thought everything was about done, but my "Auto Tool Zero" started acting up after I installed the A/4th axis drive.

If the 4th is not 0 or 360 on the DRO, both Z (super duper slow, almost not at all) and 4th move when the macro is started.  Mostly the 4th to the extent that the macro would seem to run a very long time before Z has moved the distance in the macro.  I don't really know if this is a problem with my macro or a bug in Mach R3.043.066 on an XP machine.  Also, it acts this way even when I am running offline.

Here's the code I am using (inches):

CurrentFeed = GetOemDRO(818) 'Get the current feedrate to return to later
CurrentAbsInc = GetOemLED(48) 'Get the current G90/G91 state
CurrentGmode = GetOemDRO(819) 'Get the current G0/G1 state
PlateThickness = GetUserDRO(1151) 'Z-plate thickness DRO. This line can be omited if no DRO on screen

If GetOemLed (825)=0 Then 'Check to see if the probe is already grounded or faulty
DoOEMButton (1010) 'zero the Z axis so the probe move will start from here
Code "G4 P2" ' this delay gives me time to get from computer to hold probe in place
Code "G90 G31Z-.6 F5" 'probing move, can set the feed rate here as well as how far to move
While IsMoving() 'wait while it happens
Wend
ZProbePos = GetVar(2002) 'get the exact point the probe was hit
Code "G0 Z" &ZProbePos 'go back to that point, always a very small amount of overrun
While IsMoving ()
Wend
'Call SetDro (2, PlateThickness) 'use this line if DRO is used
Call SetDro (2, .0595) 'use this line for no on-screen plate thickness DRO, change 1.5 to your plate thickness
Sleep 100 'Pause for Dro to update.
Code "G1 Z0.2 F80" 'put the Z retract height you want here, must be greater than the touch plate thickness
While IsMoving ()
Wend
Code "(Z axis is now zeroed)" 'puts this message in the status bar
Code "F" &CurrentFeed 'Returns to prior feed rate
Else
Code "(Z-Plate is grounded, check connection and try again)" 'this goes in the status bar if applicable
End If
If CurrentAbsInc = 0 Then 'if G91 was in effect before then return to it
Code "G91"
End If
If CurrentGMode = 0 Then 'if G0 was in effect before then return to it
Code "G0"
End If
     

Side note:  I never found a specific location within machsupport to download a clean probe script.  The one I am using is from scouring threads and has some undesirable operations, but it seemed well enough until I get the time to better understand all the variables and syntax.

Thanks to anyone that may be able to help.

6

Finished Plugins for Download / Re: USB JoyPad and game device plugin - New Version 2.0

« on: March 25, 2013, 09:09:18 PM »

Update- Seems that the stuck runaway is due to the "Inc. Jog" being active when trying to move in continuous motion jog. Inc. Jog gets turned on when I hit the Alt button to jog in steps, but then never gets turned off, and that messed up the continuous jog. If I manually turn it back off in Mach, then the continuous motion jog seems to work alright.
Is this normal?

Same here, almost.  I cannot get Mach to respond with Inc. Jogs (I mean holding one of the Alt keys while moving an analog stick it does not move).  It only changes the jog settings to Inc. which results in runaway movements when I use SL and SR.

I am running the latest version of Mach on an XP machine.

Is there any near future revision for this?  Seems kind of major.

Thanks.