Messages

3081

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Connect to Mach4 using VS 2012 C++

« on: February 13, 2019, 03:37:02 AM »

Hi,
so you want to use C++ because you are not familiar with Lua?

If you look at the API.chm the vast majority of APIs have both Lua and C++ syntax. Those few APIs that do not
have Lua bindings are intended for plugins only. Within those few exceptions anything you can do in C++ you can do in
Lua. Everything required to write, debug and run Lua code is ALREADY INCLUDED in Mach4.

No doubt you can use C++ but not as simply or easily as Lua, at the very least you will have to attach or integrate a C++
compiler/IDE.

Craig

3082

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Buttons and the script/gcode

« on: February 12, 2019, 07:21:31 PM »

Hi,
OK you don't really care about machine coordinates. To be honest I think that is a mistake. I used to have a few
crashes until I fitted Home switches and 'took control' of my machine coordinates and have had only one crash in the four
years since.

p.s. i DO have a coordinate DRO in mach3, but never look at it.

You have the same in Mach4. See the pic attached.

What you really require is when you turn on Mach (and enable it) that the machine 'Homes in Place' and then
applies a work offset so that your DROs read 0,0,0.2

Here is some code to do it:

Code: [Select]

function m666()
local inst=mc.mcGetInstance()
mc.mcAxisDerefAll(inst)
mc.mcAxisSetHomeInPlace(inst,mc.X_AXIS,1)
mc.mcAxisSetHomeInPlace(inst,mc.Y_AXIS,1)
mc.mcAxisSetHomeInPlace(inst,mc.Z_AXIS,1)
mc.mcAxisHomeAll(inst)
mc.mcAxisSetPos(inst,mc.X_AXIS,0.0)
mc.mcAxisSetPos(inst,mc.Y_AXIS,0.0)
mc.mcAxisSetPos(inst,mc.Z_AXIS,0.2)
end
if (mc.mcInEditor()==1) then
m666()
end

By way of explanation;
mc.mcAxisDeRefAll()   dereferences any axis that happens to be already homed, unlikely at start up but just to be sure....
mc.mcAxisSetHomeInPlace() just is to make sure that your machine can home in place, I know that you don't have home switches
so the machine should therefore home in place by default.....its just the 'fault' part of 'default' that I don't trust!
mc.mcAxisHomeAll() will now cause your machine to be referenced TO ITS CURRENT LOCATION. Thus if you were to look at the
machine coordinates you would see that the position 0.2 above the corner of your vice will be 0,0,0 (machine coordinates)
mc.mcAxisSetPos() sets the DRO and implies a matching work offset.

This code should be in Mach4Hobby/Profiles/<your profile name>/Macros as:
m666.mcs  The reason for the m666 is because its 'devil' code, to be used at your own risk

You could open the Zero Brane editor, paste the code in and then <save as> and browse to your profiles macro directory.

The last thing you need to do is ensure that the macro will run at start up, or more specifically the initial Enable of
Mach after start up. This has been provided for in Configure/Control/General/Initialisation Codes.

Craig

3083

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Buttons and the script/gcode

« on: February 12, 2019, 06:10:27 PM »

Hi,
no, you can't set the machine coordinates in Mach3 programmatically either. If all you want is the DROs to read
0,0,0.1 when you start up, that's easy. In Mach4 it requires a script of a few lines, easy.

That does not accommodate the machine coordinates however. The fact that you used this method in Mach3 suggests that you
don't care about machine coordinates and so it would work in Mach4 in exactly the same way.

Woe betide you if you issue a G28 or similar!

The correct way to do it, and if you worked on an industrial machine you would, when you turn it on you would 'reference'
or 'home' it and then MDI g0 x0 y0 z0.1. The machine coordinates would remain referenced for the remainder of your
working day.

If you fit home switches to your machine you could do exactly the same thing.

If you don't have or don't want to fit home switches, then your machine coordinates are all 'over the shop' and if you crash
because of it its your fault.

If you want a script to write the DROs on start up let me know, I will help.

Craig

3084

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Buttons and the script/gcode

« on: February 12, 2019, 04:35:45 PM »

Hi,
yes that is what I thought, many newcomers have tried to do exactly that.

The problem is even if you can cause the DROs to reflect the actual position, that is where you left it,
you cannot programmatically set the machine coordinates.

https://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php?topic=39309.0

Craig

3085

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Buttons and the script/gcode

« on: February 12, 2019, 03:27:35 PM »

Hi Kenneth,
this thread should be in the Mach4 General Discussion board to get maximum exposure.

If I understand you want the machine to move to 0,0,0.1......is that correct?

Do you want a button on Mach's screen OR do you want a macro like m100 that you can MDI?

can i get mach4 to reopen to the last start it was in ?
like x0 y0 z.2.   right now it starts all axis at zero.

Yes, that can be done, although I suspect your intention has  flawed logic.

If you want the DRO's to read a certain set of numbers on start up, that can be done. What happens though if the machine
has stopped hard to the left, front and top at the end of the last session. Now you start a new session and the DRO's
display 0,0,0.1 when the machine is in its last position? It doesn't make sense.

I think that what you are trying to do, exactly as I did or at least tried years ago, was to devise some means of being able to
turn Mach on and it magically knew where it is and display its position on the DROs. If that is the case you are going to
be disappointed. There are a few workarounds and tricks that can be used to accomplish what you want with fair accuracy,
but those tricks and workarounds are actually harder to understand and implement than using 'homing' or 'referencing'
in the first place.

Can you explain what it you want to achieve and why?

Craig

3086

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Buttons and the script/gcode

« on: February 12, 2019, 02:49:57 PM »

Hi,
some of those questions are answered here:

https://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php?topic=39111.msg263977#msg263977

Craig

3087

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Connect to Mach4 using VS 2012 C++

« on: February 12, 2019, 04:37:31 AM »

Hi,
why? Lua is the scripting language provided....why not use it?

Craig

3088

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach 4 crashes within 3-5 minutes of starting a Gcode program

« on: February 11, 2019, 11:16:57 PM »

Hi,
Mach4 Demo does run your machine but craps out after 3-5 minutes. That's what Demo does.

If you don't want it to crap out then buy a licence. If the Demo conditions were any more generous then NFS would
be giving it to you for free.

I notice that in another thread you support the call for better documentation for Mach4. NFS is a small company that
does not have the resources to employ the people necessary to keep up with the documentation, yet in this thread
you seem to demand even freer Demo terms denying NFS the resource to do anything, development, documentation
or even hosting this site.

If you buy Mach4 THEN you become a customer of NFS,  THEN you get the support of the ticket system. If you went all
out and paid for Mach4 Industrial you get priority service including phone support.

Craig

3089

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Set tool height when using Z axis tool height gage block

« on: February 11, 2019, 10:52:34 PM »

Hi,
well that code is already in Mach4....that's where I got it from.

Craig

3090

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach 4 crashes within 3-5 minutes of starting a Gcode program

« on: February 11, 2019, 11:39:49 AM »

Hi,
whether you believe it or not it is Mach4 Demo timing out. Licence it.

Craig