Messages

591

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 Printer Port Discussions

« on: June 16, 2014, 07:25:51 AM »

Tweaky:

   Thank you so much for the test. Its good to hear your result, it matches mine with the arm, it does run here much better than Mach3 did as well.
Im not totally sure why darwin is smoother, the code is totally new and has no old mach3 driver code in it other then the system internals of the
interrupt and even that was gone over and redesigned for better standards.
   Sorry for any errors, Im sure as Mach4 matures towards completion they will go away. Its a slow slog so we'll see where we're at soon. As to how to
control your laser, since Im now hooking up one of my own I think youll be presented with a method...though it may not be a method from before , I
havent quite decided as yet. Keep up the great work, I appreciate the feedback. You have officially become the first person to ever actually cut with
Darwin, all my testing has been in motion and math only.

Art

592

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 Printer Port Discussions

« on: June 09, 2014, 06:18:54 PM »

Dan:

  Darwin is , or should be , somewhat smoother. Its a very much cleaned up Mach3 driver using 16 bit shifters for each motor.
It can handle spindles, as any output signal can be given a frequency for that output. It has alot of capabilities that probably will
never be used, but as its probably the last printer port cnc driver to be made, I thought Id try to make it the best of its class.
When it homes or jogs in the config, its jogging in hi order , not a bang bang type of motion, thats what makes it seem smoother
I suspect.

Art

593

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 Printer Port Discussions

« on: June 08, 2014, 09:16:04 PM »

btw:
    I hear probing doesnt yet work properly in Darwin , that will be out soon.

Art

594

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 Printer Port Discussions

« on: June 08, 2014, 09:15:24 PM »

Dan:

   It works with ver 1767 , but not after. The bug has been found and it shoudl also work with the next release.
Ill reinstate the download at that time.

Art

595

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 Printer Port Discussions

« on: June 08, 2014, 05:10:06 PM »

Dan:
 
   I highly suspect the latest version of Mach4 has a bug in XP.. Ive removed the driver until its again compatable, I was running 14500mm/min in version
1767

Art
 

596

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 Printer Port Discussions

« on: June 08, 2014, 08:35:29 AM »

Tweak...

  I'll be using a test platform speed of 14000mm/min for the new plugin..  Im thinking Id like to see what I can do with subpixelation
of the data. With the Synrad I see 20Khz can be done which should allow for some interesting subpixelation routines to upconvert
resolutions on the fly. The old engraving plugin actually does a small version of that with its auto dithering of gray codes, but I think
it'd be better to actually use the power as the gray code.. anyway..lots to play with..


Art

597

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 Printer Port Discussions

« on: June 08, 2014, 06:28:22 AM »

Tweaky:

   I finally finished today digesting that very long engraver thread of yours. Facinating stuff, youve done
great work with that old engraving plugin and that Synrad of yours. I have a Synrad J48-1 on its way, Im crossing
my fingers that its a working one as the Ebay seller advertised.

   Seems to me Mach4 will require a new engraving plugin perhaps a bit more powerfull than Mach3's. We'll
have to discuss that as things develop. Ill start a new thread when I begin and document the process as you did
with your engraving machine journey. (Ill only start a new thread because your is soooo long. lol)

Have fun,
Art

   

598

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 Printer Port Discussions

« on: June 07, 2014, 03:15:42 PM »

Hello All:

  --REDACTED -- incompatible with latest hobbymach release.

  Enclosed is a test of Darwin. Its tested with Mach4  as of Today.
It does homing, probing and general motion. It is Limited to 2
axis only. Instructions are in the zip folder for how to use it, if you
currently use Mach3 with XP and a printer port it should run fine.

Good luck, have fun,
Art

599

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 Printer Port Discussions

« on: June 01, 2014, 06:16:33 PM »

   I think Ill give a shot on a vertical mounting anyway and see how it can work.
I can always reuse the power supply if I end up burning out the tube.
  That saves quite a bit of hassle on mirrors and such. I really would like to build a
laser as a complete unit for snapping on or off the gantry. An Arduino will run it and
take care of safeties and such as well as a fast PWM routine for power control.

Art

600

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 Printer Port Discussions

« on: June 01, 2014, 02:13:47 PM »

Hi Tweaky:

 As requested.. http://youtu.be/lmybFe9VTs0

  I may need your advice as I progress on this one. Im seriously considering mounting a 40watt co2 laser vertically on that
carriage. Im thinking its not violent enough to hurt the tube. That way I can write some arduino code to control a new engraving
module Im thinking of. Good for MAch4 tests and I really want a gray scale laser engraver controlled by me.

  What do you think, I KNOW your an expert on the subject. Can a Glass CO2 handle that motion this video shows or is the water
mass to high and will deflect the tube too much? I intend to strongly support the laser its entire length.

ARt