Messages

2611

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Missing Documentation of mcCntlGetPoundVar magic numbers...

« on: April 16, 2019, 06:43:13 PM »

Hi,
on my laptop I have been experimenting trying to find the pound variables associated with the different
probe channels. I have found as Allan has, namely that there is just the one set of pound variables
which are set with either g31, g31.1, g31.2 or g31.3.

I assumed it was because my laptop uses the Sim plugin. I have yet to try it at my machine. I am now thinking
however that Allan is right, there IS only one set of pound variables and its up to your code to save each set
of data and ascribe it to the correct probe channel.

Craig

2612

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 - Motors moving with keyboard arrows, but not with running program

« on: April 16, 2019, 06:35:15 PM »

Hi,
when a Gcode job is running the motion planner is occupied by the job and cannot accept jogging commands.
If however you pause or stop the Gcode job then the motion planner can accept jogging commands.
The motion planner cannot accept commands from two sources at once.

Craig

2613

General Mach Discussion / Re: StepCraft inlcuding a WinPC-NC USB-Module

« on: April 16, 2019, 05:03:20 PM »

Hi,
any motion controller needs a plugin specifically for that controller written and supplied by the manufacturer of the controller.
The plugin translates the output of Mach to that required by the input of the board. The plugin is put in the plugins folder in
Machs directory and then it will appear on the list of the window you pictured.

My guess is that your controller was never intended to be interfaced with Mach and therefore does not have a plugin
for Mach.

Without knowing more about your machine its difficult to know whether is could easily be adapted to a Mach controller
like a UC100 or a SmoothStepper.

Can you post some pics of the existing USB controller, particularly where it hooks up to a breakout board if it has one?.

Craig

2614

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Missing Documentation of mcCntlGetPoundVar magic numbers...

« on: April 16, 2019, 05:21:05 AM »

Hi,

But how to get the second Probe Values?

Sorry, not sure what you mean.....second values?

Craig

2615

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Missing Documentation of mcCntlGetPoundVar magic numbers...

« on: April 16, 2019, 05:02:20 AM »

Hi,
this is from API.chm:

LUA Syntax:
value, rc = mc.mcCntlGetPoundVar(
      number mInst,
      number param)

Description:
Get the value of a system variable (pound variable).

Parameters: Parameter Description
mInst The controller instance.
param An integer specifying a system variable.
*value The address of a double to receive the value of the system variable.


Returns: Return Code Description
MERROR_NOERROR No Error.
MERROR_INVALID_INSTANCE The mInst parameter was out of range.
MERROR_INVALID_ARG param is out of range.

Check out the Enums:

https://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php?topic=30323.0

This is an excerpt from the lists:

mc.SV_PROBE_POS_X // G31 Skip signal
mc.SV_PROBE_POS_Y
mc.SV_PROBE_POS_Z
mc.SV_PROBE_POS_A
mc.SV_PROBE_POS_B
mc.SV_PROBE_POS_C
mc.SV_PROBE_MACH_POS_X // G31 Skip signal machine position
mc.SV_PROBE_MACH_POS_Y
mc.SV_PROBE_MACH_POS_Z
mc.SV_PROBE_MACH_POS_A
mc.SV_PROBE_MACH_POS_B
mc.SV_PROBE_MACH_POS_C

Craig

2616

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mill or Turn?

« on: April 16, 2019, 12:56:22 AM »

Hi,

Does Mach3 have an OB axis or is that solely Mach4?

To my knowledge it is Mach4 only.

My understanding is that CSLabs Mach4 plugin is a bit buggy and contrary to CSLabs previous reputation they are
very slack about improving the plugin.

Craig

2617

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 input signals to use USB Motion card controller for stepper motors

« on: April 16, 2019, 12:38:29 AM »

Hi,
so you can create a function called setvar() or getvar(), but neither function is native to Lua, you have
to create the function.

I could create a function GoGetMeACupOfCoffee(), but just creating such a function doesn't really help me much.
It is no more native to Lua than getvar().

There are Lua functions which are useful, like math functions, string functions, and file functions, but by far and away the most
useful functions in Mach4 programming are not native to Lua but API's to Machs core or to Machs GUI.

Craig

2618

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach Driver and Port Address

« on: April 15, 2019, 11:09:54 PM »

Hi,
so what about the UC100, did it work? It should work on a Windows 10 PC just as well as Windows 7.

The only reason I don't like the UC100, or its direct competitor  the 57CNCdb25 is that it has only 'one ports'
worth of IO. That is to say 12 outputs and 5 inputs.

An ESS has 51 inputs and outputs (three ports), the 57CNC has 57 inputs and outputs including several analogue signals
(an impressive and clever feature) and the UC300 has 85 inputs and outputs (five ports) including two analogue signals.
So for an extra $30 to $60 you get a whole bunch more.

Another thing that the ESS has going for it is that the maximum pulse rate is 4MHz. Compare that to 100-125kHz for the
UC*** series and 57CNC and its variants. Machs parallel port kernel speed is 25Hz by default. A few people run Machs
parallel port as fast as 100kHz but 45kHz or less is the norm. The upshot is that the ESS can handily accommodate high
resolution steppers, servo and encoders for which the other brands will struggle.

Craig

2619

Forum suggestions and report forum problems. / Re: Registering to forum Captcha sucks

« on: April 15, 2019, 10:48:40 PM »

Hi Russ,
on other forums a new members first post must be approved by a moderator before its posted. That would filter out
some spam but also put the pressure on very few moderators.

There are by my count 14 Global Moderators of which perhaps three or four are active.

Craig

2620

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 input signals to use USB Motion card controller for stepper motors

« on: April 15, 2019, 10:29:20 PM »

Hi,

FACT: LUA language ALSO has the GETVAR() function.

Not according to:

https://www.lua.org/manual/5.2/

Craig