Messages

1681

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: What post processor for BobCAD CAM V31 and Mach4?

« on: February 27, 2020, 09:07:24 PM »

Hi,
the Mach3 and Mach4 Gcode dialects are almost identical therefore you can use a Mach3 post.

Craig

1682

General Mach Discussion / Re: new to CNC machines need help

« on: February 26, 2020, 08:21:41 PM »

Hi,
Windows10 WILL NOT run Mach's parallel port. Niether will Windows7 UNLESS it is 32 bit.

Mach3 is in two parts, the GUI/Gcode interperter/trajectory planner is just another Windows application and can run on almost any PC.
Mach's parallel port is another beast altogether, it lives in the kernel level 0, and almost has to shoulder Windows out of the way to
do its job. It accepts numeric data from the trajectory planner and uses interrupt driven timers to generate the required pulse
streams which are communicated to the outside world  on a parallel printer port.

While the Windows application will run on any PC the parallel port driver WILL ONLY run on Windows 7 32bit and earlier and in most cases
on a desktop PC only.

If you buy an external motion controller like an Ethernet SmoothStepper or a UC300 the PC is relieved of the duty of generating pulse streams
and thereafter you can use any PC, Windows 10...64bit....laptop/desktop. Another advantage is the a parallel port is VERY sensitive to hardware
and particularly other software and/or services installed or worse running on the PC, it will stutter and stall at any interference whereas an external
motion controller is VERY much less subject to such interference.

Do yourself a favor and buy an external motion controller and DON'T buy el-cheapo Chinese rubbish, they don't work and you won't get any help from them.

Craig

1683

General Mach Discussion / Re: new to CNC machines need help

« on: February 26, 2020, 01:07:18 PM »

Hi,
you haven't provided much information.

What PC are you using?
What version of Windows are you using?
Did you re-boot the PC as you are required to do so per the installation instructions?

Craig

1684

Mach3 under Vista / Re: Tool speed set higher then the motor running speed? Missing steps

« on: February 24, 2020, 08:38:21 PM »

Hi,
 maybe I'm misunderstanding you....are you talking an axis or a spindle?

Axes move at so many mm/min but spindles at so many rpm.

If you have tuned an axis motor to a max of 1998mm/min and your Gcode calls for a G0 of 2500mm/min the axis will travel
at is 'tuned max' namely 1988mm/min

Craig

1685

Mach3 under Vista / Re: Tool speed set higher then the motor running speed? Missing steps

« on: February 24, 2020, 04:47:19 PM »

Hi,
no, Mach's parallel port will run up to a maximum of 1998mm/min even if the Gcode or MDI calls for faster.

Craig

1686

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: G code will not run

« on: February 21, 2020, 04:22:35 PM »

Hi,
you can change the colors at will if you wish.

The attached screenshot is the properties panel for the Enable/Disable button as yo find it in Screen Edit mode.
Note the colors that have been chosen for Button Color Up and Button Colour Down, they are editable properties
that are chosen using a color palette. Easy!

Craig

1687

General Mach Discussion / Re: I can Jog Fine but everything stutters when running GCode or even calibrating.

« on: February 20, 2020, 04:25:02 PM »

Hi,
sounds like you motors are losing steps.....if you can rule out mechanical issues?.

Start by tuning your motors very slow and work upwards until they start losing steps, then back off a wee bit.

Craig

1688

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: How to determine enabled/disabled state?

« on: February 18, 2020, 12:28:00 AM »

Hi,

Oh what a feeling!

Great stuff. Many newcomers to Mach4 bemoan the apparently confusing structure of Mach4, Lua and the use of API's etc.
In truth if you don't need any 'frilly bits' then you don't have to do any coding at all. But you have persevered and have got a result
and I share your sentiment 'Oh what a feeling!'.

Learning to code in Lua and Mach4 is a learning challenge, no doubt. The satisfaction in mastering it was, for me at least, very much an unanticipated
pleasure.

Craig

1689

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: How to disable any movement before the machine is homed?

« on: February 16, 2020, 08:50:03 PM »

Hi,

How can I disable any motion before the machine is homed?

That's easy,  in the screen load script or the first run of the PLC script deactivate any and all servo/stepper enables.

But now what? You want to home your machine....but you can't you have just disable ALL movement.

What you really want is to stop any MDI commands, any Gcode jobs or any jogging to occur before the machine is homed...
am I correct?

Craig

1690

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Go to work zero not working after updating

« on: February 16, 2020, 01:16:06 PM »

Hi,
did you have any special code in your original build to enact Goto Work Zero?

Craig