Messages

2411

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 on Win7x86 crashes when opening dialogues

« on: June 15, 2019, 09:39:41 AM »

Hi,
I run my machine on a dual core Atom mini-ITX board with on-chip graphics and 4G of RAM and it doesn't crash
as you have described.

Mach is not a processor hungry application, you simply don't need an 8 core CPU.

It sounds to me that you are loading your PC down with multiple threads......you could try closing one thread down before starting
another.

Craig

2412

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 - MPG - Precise control as it is on an industrial CNC...

« on: June 15, 2019, 09:30:57 AM »

Hi,

This is one of my biggest issues with Mach4. No matter how good the software is, you have to rely on the hardware supplier to make it work.

Doesn't that apply to ALL Windows CNC software?

What you are talking about is the realtime supports that the controller manufacturer builds into his board. If he, like CSLabs built
in realtime MPG to step/direction then all well and good, if not then there is the buffering delay.

Presumably you could build an even more sophisticated controller that does more and more in realtime, in fact if it
did it all then there would be no need for a Windows PC at all! That would certainly cure the buffering problem.

To OP: if you want genuine realtime performance not just of jogging but ALL motion then:
1) Use LinuxCNC
2) Use a dedicated industrial controller.

If however you are concerned only with MPG performance then Hood has outlined a solution....CSMIO.

Craig

2413

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 - MPG - Precise control as it is on an industrial CNC...

« on: June 15, 2019, 07:58:59 AM »

Hi,
what exactly do you think should have been resolved?

Windows PCs are not realtime systems that implies certain limitations. If you don't like those limitations don't use
Windows. It's like trying to blame water for being wet.

Craig

2414

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 - MPG - Precise control as it is on an industrial CNC...

« on: June 14, 2019, 08:20:37 PM »

Hi Hood,
I was unaware that the CSMIO can process MPG pulses directly into step/direction pulses in realtime.

The CSMIO Mach4 plugin is still lagging other Mach4 controllers and consequently is not well represented amongst
Mach4 users no matter how well built they are.

Craig

2415

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach 4 Lathe. Missing tool change script.

« on: June 14, 2019, 07:37:26 PM »

Hi,
I have 4162 and it is there.

Craig

2416

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 - MPG - Precise control as it is on an industrial CNC...

« on: June 14, 2019, 07:29:50 PM »

Hi,
I suspect that you are up against the limitation of a Windows CNC solution.

Windows is not a realtime system and due to Windows extensive use of the interrupt system for its own purposes it cannot
ever be a realtime system. CNC IS and IS REQUIRED to be realtime.

To achieve CNC control all Windows CNC solutions are buffered. That is to say that Mach issues P(osistion)V(elocity)overT(ime)
data to a motion controller in a buffer, sometimes as short as 50ms but possibly up to 1000ms. Please note that for the purposes
of this explanation that I consider Machs parallel port a motion controller just like a SmoothStepper or UC100.

Any realtime operation required by the CNC machine MUST be handled by the motion controller. As an example if you
are referencing (homing) your machine and the X axis is advancing towards its home switch. When the switch activates the
axis must stop immediately. The motion controller must do it, it can't wait to send a message to Mach, Mach decide what to do
and then send an instruction back by sticking it in a buffering queue. Its just to slow...the machine would have overrun the
home switch already. This is an example, one of many, of realtime 'supports' that a motion controller must be able to offer
because its nominal 'master' is at the far end (time wise) of a queue.

With respect to jogging, Mach plans a trajectory and issues PVT data to the motion controller by adding to the buffer.

Many, if not all, industrial machine controllers are realtime, thus each 'click' of an MPG results in a 'click or step' at the servo
concerned within microseconds.

It is not surprising then that there is a difference between to two approaches.

I have used Mach3 and Mach4. Mach4 has a somewhat faster response but is still buffered. I leave my Mach4 installation
at its default buffer length of 180ms. With subtle differences they both perform similarly.

If you require realtime response use a dedicated industrial controller or use LinuxCNC. Certain distros of Linux have
R(eal)T(ime)E(xtenstions) and makes a pretty fair realtime system.

It is possible to make Windows into a realtime system, the RTX64 solution of Interval Zero is a very good example and is well
worth Googling. It will help you understand the difference between Windows and buffering verses realtime. At the time I researched
it  was beyond hobby budget.

Note also there is a conversation going on in the Mach4 board that addresses a similar issue. Both that thread and private
communications suggest that an Ethercat solution may be on the cards which rely on RTX64 to provide realtime determinism
to a Windows PC.

https://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php?topic=41233.0

Craig

2417

General Mach Discussion / Re: 3040 CNC Router (USB) - Struggling with drivers

« on: June 14, 2019, 02:29:13 PM »

Hi,
this post should be on the main Mach3 Discussion board, I imagine Tweakie will shift it.

I get an error message that says Driver Test failed

DriverTest.exe is a program to test Machs Parallel port driver, you don't need it, you have an external USB connected
motion controller. If your PC has a 64 bit OS then you cant even install Machs parallel port driver let alone run DriverTest.exe

- and I can't even open the Mach3 software.

That more of a concern. Mach3 should open and run even if the USB controller is not plugged in.

If you do any sort of reading on the forum you will soon see that cheap Chinese electronics that accompany machines
such as yours are problematic at best. Simple USB external controllers like the UC100 and 57CNCdb25 have many thousands
of satisfied users and Ethernet connected controllers like the Ethernet SmoothStepper and UC300 have even more.
US and European controller brands are well supported and actually do what they are supposed to.

Craig

2418

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach 4 Lathe. Missing tool change script.

« on: June 14, 2019, 12:59:48 PM »

Hi,
look in Mach4Hobby/LuaExamples/ToolChanger to find examples of different toolchange scripts.

Craig

2419

General Mach Discussion / Re: nMotion Moving to Mach4

« on: June 14, 2019, 03:20:31 AM »

Hi,
I suspect that is a version of an XHC controller rebranded. It may work for Mach3 but it wont work for Mach4.

Mach4 compatible controllers are:
Ethernet SmoothStepper by Warp9TD
PMDX-424 by PMDX
UC300 by CNCDrive
57CNC by PoKeys
Hicon Integra by Vital Systems

CSMIO by CSLabs is Mach4 ready but the plugin is buggy and given the high cost of the unit its hard to recommend
despite excellent build quality.

If you have swags of money Galill have a Mach4 plugin.

XHC advertise a Mach4 ready controller, its really buggy....avoid like the plague.

Craig

2420

General Mach Discussion / Re: mach3 milling errors

« on: June 10, 2019, 02:40:29 PM »

Hi,
if you are using an Ethernet connected motion  controller then the kernel speed is irrelevant, the kernel
speed applies to Machs parallel port.

I would disable or even remove the parallel port driver entirely, you don't need it and its a CPU hog should it be running
even when you don't want it.

Craig