Messages

5231

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: I'm stuck

« on: February 18, 2018, 06:54:06 PM »

Hi,
the VFD no trouble. What is your 'touch pad'?

Craig

5232

General Mach Discussion / Re: Scripter Compile Error bites again :(

« on: February 18, 2018, 04:29:03 PM »

Hi Dave,
my guess is that its the compiler that fails not the source code.

VB is, to my knowledge, an interpreted language and as such subject to runtime compile errors.

Craig

5233

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: I'm stuck

« on: February 18, 2018, 03:52:54 PM »

Hi,
PMDX have a great reputation for quality and backup. The 424 has the equivalent of two 'ports' worth of IO,
so some of its competitors have a bit more IO, the ESS has three 'ports' worth, the 57CNC a bit more and the UC300
has five 'ports' worth. Having said that unless you have swags of remote buttons and things like that its
unlikely you will require even as much as two 'ports'.

I'd say go for it...

Craig

5234

General Mach Discussion / Re: Scripter Compile Error bites again :(

« on: February 18, 2018, 03:39:52 PM »

Hi Dave,
you're right it doesn't sound like the source file changing, its fine on most occasions just occasionally the complier will
fail.

Is it possible to have the macro complied and sitting in the macro folder so it doesn't have to get complied at runtime?

Mach4 does something like that, it will compile a source file if theres no object code but otherwise it reaches for
the object code, ie compiled code, preferentially.

If Mach3 could do the same thing it would avoid the potential compiler error.

Craig

5235

General Mach Discussion / Re: "Ref all home" sets wrong coordinates (XHC MKX-IV control card)

« on: February 18, 2018, 12:59:54 AM »

Hi,
I came up with this answer a wee while back, the guy was asking about Mach4, but all of these do Mach3 very well indeed.

http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,36536.msg250481.html#msg250481

Craig

5236

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: I'm stuck

« on: February 18, 2018, 12:50:46 AM »

Hi,
Mike is right, there are some specific functions that are done by the motion controller. Many, like homing and probing, are now so commonplace that they
could be regarded as standard and to my knowledge all of the devices by the manufacturers I've listed to do it.

The functions where there is significant variance in the different device offerings is THC, backlash compensation and single point lathe threading.
If you require any or all of those functions you will have to do some careful research, its often not plain what each device is capable of.

One of the more expensive units, the Hicon of Vital Systems is capable of all three, my guess is the extra budget that a higher sales price makes possible
has seen Vital Systems lead the pack when it comes to implementing sophisticated controller level functions.

Warp9's ESS has code to enact all three but as yet none of the functions (backlash compensation, THC or lathe threading) is bug free yet and they have been working
on them for a while. You may get very frustrated if you required THC for instance and bought an ESS in anticipation that THC is just round the corner.

CNCDirve's UC100 and UC300 have a good reputation in Mach3 circles but the UC100 has had a Mach4 plugin for less than a year and the UC300 for only
a few months. It seems unlikely that they will have implemented these functions yet. All the basic stuff they do well. You should email and get genuine clarity
about special functions if such a function is required in your machine.

Craig

5237

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Entering Pulley Ratio in Mach4

« on: February 17, 2018, 05:36:35 PM »

Hi,
broadly speaking that's what the feedback ratio does. I think the idea is that spindle will be close loop stabilized by the feedback and if the feedback ratio is chosen correctly
the actual spindle rpm can be chosen correctly as well.
I'm not familiar with a gear ratio in Mach4.

Craig

5238

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Entering Pulley Ratio in Mach4

« on: February 17, 2018, 04:59:32 PM »

Hi,
it rather suggest that this screen is not the correct place to alter the ratio parameter, otherwise it would require some button/mechanism to flush the data
to the .ini file.

May I suggest trying the feedback ratio on the spindle screen. Can't hurt.

Craig

5239

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Entering Pulley Ratio in Mach4

« on: February 17, 2018, 04:21:14 PM »

Hi,
it works with the mill profile.

Spindle ratios are saved/stored as part of your profile. When you change a parameter that new value will have to be written to the profile, the .ini file.
Then the profile has to be read in order for the new value to be recognized.

Try changing the ratio, hit <apply>, which should cause the value to be written to the .ini file. Then restart Mach, the restart will ensure that the updated .ini
file is read.

Not saying this is the problem but I've encountered this behavior before and until I understood how the .ini file is updated and when it is read I would have sworn
Mach was faulty.

Craig

5240

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Entering Pulley Ratio in Mach4

« on: February 17, 2018, 03:42:47 PM »

Hi,
try a ratio of 0.5 instead. Only a guess.

Craig