Messages

4701

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Lathe threading issue

« on: April 28, 2018, 11:47:35 PM »

Hi,
downloaded and read the manual, and yes it does support index threading.

I note that you say if you attempt to machine a thread with a pitch less than 1mm it works? If you do repeated cuts of the same thread does the spindle synchronise
such that the cut deepens the previous one?

Craig

4702

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Lathe threading issue

« on: April 28, 2018, 11:22:07 PM »

Hi,
does the PoKeys 57U support lathe threading?

Craig

4703

Mach3 under Vista / Re: E stop mode on Shoptask

« on: April 28, 2018, 11:17:19 PM »

Hi,
its a very nice looking unit.

Have you asked the supplier/manufacturer whats going on?

I suspect that red light can come on for a number of reasons. For instance it seems to recognize that you have turned off the power to the steppers and throws a fault.
It seems also from your description that when switching the VFD from the lathe spindle to the mill spindle its throwing a fault, it seem most likely its the VFD in that case.
If indeed its the VFD responsible for this fault then I would not expect you to be able to reset it by fiddling with Machs Estop.

I think I would be asking if there is a list of conditions that would cause the fault light to come on.

The manual I saw on-line does not provide anything like the detail to guess as to how its wired and what different faults are or how they're handled.

Craig

4704

General Mach Discussion / Re: Which computer / operating system is best with Mach3

« on: April 28, 2018, 06:33:48 PM »

Hi,
realized that's actually a lie, the best thing I ever bought was three Honeywell Roller Plunger microswitches for home switches at $60NZD or about $45USD. The ESS is next though....

Craig

4705

General Mach Discussion / Re: Which computer / operating system is best with Mach3

« on: April 28, 2018, 02:04:09 AM »

Hi,
engraversoflight is correct, refurbed XP or Win7 PC's are the cheapest way forward, no additional equipment required.

An external motion controller solution is a future looking solution. With the extra bit of hardware, the controller board itself, then just about any PC can be used
instead of the increasingly rare parallel port equipped PC's Additionally extra software loaded onto the PC is very much less inclined to upset Mach as is likely
with a Win7/XP 32bit PC and parallel port.

External motion controllers have hardware timers and produce very accurate and repeatable pulse streams which result in smoother motion. When I got my
ESS I was able to increase the max axis speeds and accelerations by one third without losing steps and the steppers run no hotter, maybe even a little cooler.

I had, prior to getting an ESS, resisted the arguments that suggested they were a better solution than a parallel port. I've changed my mind since using one. Of all
the pieces of hardware I've bought for my mill the ESS has proven to be the best value item....improvement per dollar spent.

Craig

4706

General Mach Discussion / Re: Continual issue of Z zero being automatcially changed.

« on: April 28, 2018, 12:56:52 AM »

Hi,

I think I've found the relevant post processor code

But this code is not relevant. If you were to delete it from your PC Mach would run as it normally does....all Mach needs is conforming Gcode.

The Post Processor code you have posted is NOT Gcode. I don't know what language its in but its not VB so Mach couldn't run it anyway.

Please post the Gcode for which the fault occurrs.

Craig

4707

CS-Lab / Re: CSMIO IP/A and CSMIO IN/OUT MACH4 ISSUE

« on: April 28, 2018, 12:51:59 AM »

Hi,
it seems that CSLabs are not really interested. This post is a fortnight old and they haven't even bothered to acknowledge it.
They have a good reputation for support with Mach3 related enquires but apparently  not for Mach4.

Craig

4708

General Mach Discussion / Re: Continual issue of Z zero being automatcially changed.

« on: April 27, 2018, 11:41:42 PM »

Hi,
is this a post processor? If so IT DOES NOT RUN  when Mach3 runs.

You pass CAM data through the post processor and it produces the Gcode and THAT Gcode is what runs when Mach runs.

Post the Gcode that Mach runs.

Craig

4709

General Mach Discussion / Re: Continual issue of Z zero being automatcially changed.

« on: April 27, 2018, 11:05:15 PM »

Hi,
a post processor produces Gcode from a CAM program. The post processor has no role in Machs motion other than produce the code that its runs.

You have said that the code has run correctly on a number of occasions, therefore the code must be good and the post processor that produced it must likewise be good.

You describe the DRO suddenly changing. If that were in response to some bad code it would happen on every occasion you ran it. I'm struggling to think of any fault that would
cause an intermittent substantial chnge in a DRO like that. Its not to say it can't happen, I just can't think how. If I'm correct and its not a code or intermittent Mach DRO fault
then the only other cause is either stalling or missing steps.

Craig

4710

General Mach Discussion / Re: Continual issue of Z zero being automatcially changed.

« on: April 27, 2018, 10:04:31 PM »

Hi,
post the toolchange code. If the DRO is suddenly jumping to another location then the machine cannot be expected to keep up.

Craig