Messages

5801

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Reference all home help.

« on: November 28, 2017, 07:11:30 PM »

Hi,
no the button was already there but not named or assigned any function. I just renamed it.

Allows you to 'hang some code on it'. Whether you use a physical button or a screen button you will need some
code and it ocurred to me that this is a simple way to do it. Given that you've got your head around the signal scrpit/lib
then this code will be very very simple.

At work at the moment so won't try to write code on the fly. Will post some ideas tonite.

Craig

5802

General Mach Discussion / Re: moving mach3

« on: November 28, 2017, 06:34:55 PM »

Hi,
Hundreds??? I've got one...my own profile. I do have a few others  that I've tested out for others on the forum, but hundreds?

Craig

5803

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 feed rate issue

« on: November 28, 2017, 12:21:15 PM »

Hi,
don't know why it might be doing that.

On Config/General Config try experimenting with Feed Rate Overide Persist.

Craig

5804

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Calculating Counts per Unit for Mach 4 in metric

« on: November 28, 2017, 09:41:10 AM »

Hi,
close...I follow your calculation to where you get 6000 pulse per leadscrew rev or 6000/5= 1200 pulse per mm.

Why change it to inches? If your leadscrews are metric why bother complicating the issue by changing to inches. The setup units can be either, these are the units
for motor tuning and steps per units etc but that's all you ever see of them. Once you've set them you can have the DROs etc display inches with a G20, if you
are more familiar with inch units.

If you really want to convert then the calculation is:
steps/inch= steps/mm x 25.4

Which in your case is:
steps/inch = 1200 steps/mm x 25.4 =30480

Craig

5805

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Acceleration Settings

« on: November 28, 2017, 09:27:45 AM »

Hi,
I use 0.02" endmills for making circuit boards. Yes they are tender...if you don't have the cutting conditions right you will break them.

Basically you spin them as fast as you can, I have a 24000 RPM spindle so I spin them at 24000 RPM.

Next is he feed rate. With small diameter tools like this allow 1% per tooth per rev:
Feed Rate = 0.01 (1%) x 0.02 (diameter) x 2 (flutes) x 24000 (RPM)= 9.6 inch/min
Larger diameter tools, say 0.62", you can get away with 2% per tooth per rev. The 1%-2% is a reflection of the strength of the tool, small tools are weaker
than larger tools. If you attempt to cut at even slower rates all you risk doing is giving the material a 'damn good rub' which work hardens metals rather
than cutting it. Not sure how wood responds but assume if you rub it it gets warm rather than cutting. So I wouldn't go below 1% per tooth per rev
and the strength of the tool precludes you going higher than 2% per tooth per rev.

Next issue is engagement, you are taking 0.02" cuts with a 0.02" tool or 100%. With a slotting toolpath 25-30% engagement is recommended, with an open
toolpath 50-100% is OK. The real issue is that the physical force on the tool is highly dependent on the evacuation of chips. I don't know if you have air
blast but would recommend it. I use flood cooling when making circuit boards mainly for chip evacuation. I can get 15-30 min per tool without cooling but
4 hours plus with cooling. Nothing but nothing ups the load on a tool like recutting its own chips, I don't care what material if you can evacuate the chips from
the cut zone you'll get the best from the tool. If you can't then you break small diameter tools...and I've broken hundreds over the years....chip evacuation and
built-up edge are the two killers of small diameter tools.

To be honest I don't think acceleration settings have a huge role to play.

Craig

5806

General Mach Discussion / Re: moving mach3

« on: November 28, 2017, 01:58:15 AM »

Hi.
if you look to the lower right of the main Mach3 page there is the current profile name.

If you use file explorer and look in the Mach3 folder on your hard drive you will find <profile_name.xml> This is the file that has all Machs settings. If you
take this file and apply it to another copy of Mach even on another machine Mach will behave indentically to how it did on your machine, nifty.

Craig

5807

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Reference all home help.

« on: November 28, 2017, 01:37:03 AM »

Hi,
go to Edit screen I renamed the button...

Craig

5808

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Reference all home help.

« on: November 28, 2017, 01:26:16 AM »

Hi,
very clean tidy build, congratulations.

Couple of ways to do want you want:
1) Add code to the Ref All Home script
2) Add a button that goes to the center of the table

I think in the first instance I would add a button. Gives you the chance to do some coding without modifying too greatly any existing functions of Mach.
If you screw it up just delete your work and Mach is back to normal. Once you've got the code spot on and had a chance to use it you could then graft it
onto the Ref All Home script if you still think it desirable.

I don't know what screenset you use, mine is based on wx4.set. Immediately under the DRO block on the Program Run Tab there are five buttons and a couple of
LEDs. One of the buttons is blank. May I suggest using it....rename it and attach your code. You can make your own button of course but the screen is already pretty full,
its not easy trying to squeeze another button in anywhere.

Your machine looks like its got a button block, if there is a spare one you could use that instead or even as well as a screen button.

Does that idea appeal?

Craig

5809

Mach3 under Vista / Re: Mach3 under win10

« on: November 27, 2017, 08:31:01 PM »

Hi,
not sure what all those plugins etc are, why bother, Mach3 has Modbus builtin.

http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,35916.0.html

Rather longwinded thread but the OP got the job done.

Craig

5810

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: XHC cordless Pendant code for Mach 4

« on: November 27, 2017, 07:01:42 PM »

Hi,
http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,31332.0.html

Craig