Topics

1

Mach4 General Discussion / Toggle button

« on: May 01, 2018, 07:52:40 AM »

I have built a panel with several buttons and a PoKey56E. I want two buttons to be a toggle for spindle on/off in forward and reverse. I used this code in the signal script.

Code: [Select]

[mc.ISIG_INPUT7] = function (state)
   if (state == 1) then   
       mc.mcCntlSetLastError(inst, "Spindle Forward Off");
       mc.mcSpindleSetDirection(inst, 0);
    else
        mc.mcCntlSetLastError(inst, "Spindle Forward ");
        mc.mcSpindleSetDirection(inst, 1);     
    end
end,
Problem is when the button is pressed the signal is called and the function turns on, but as soon as the button is released the signal script sees the change and call the function again, turning the spindle off.

Any idea how to handle this? Is there a way to only see the signal when it rises, not on any change?

2

Mach4 General Discussion / Spindle Override

« on: May 01, 2018, 07:48:18 AM »

I have built a panel with a PoKey56E and several buttons, and 3 pots. I want to control Feed, Rapid and Spindle overrive.

The example in the PoKeys doc shows converting the analog reading for Feed and Rapid to a number between 0 and 100. It does not show an example for Spindle. I have found the spindle function requires a 0 to 1 number, not 0 to 100.

I suspect this is a bug?

3

PoKeys / Pokey57CNC and Pendant

« on: March 17, 2016, 12:43:03 PM »

I have a Pokey57CNC to run a lathe. I have most of the lathe functions running, but have not done any threading testing yet.

I have a 6 axis  pendant from cnc4pc. I believe this is the same one sold by Poscope. I have used it on my mill with a Pokey57E and  a smoothstepper and the pendant works great.

I have connected the pokeys to the 57CNC board on the lathe but cannot get it to work. I check the use pendant setup exactly as I did for the mill. Pushing any buttons on the pendant causes the green indicators on the pokeys config page to light as expected. But the MPG will not move an axis on the lathe, and in fact i t seems to kill the Pulse Engine because even the jog keys wont move the motors.

What is the proper setup for this pendant?

thanks

4

General Mach Discussion / The CNC workshop 2016

« on: March 02, 2016, 12:15:08 PM »

Plans are  underway for the next CNC workshop, to again be at the TechShop in Allen Park Michigan, June 6-11. Everything about the  facility seemed to work well last year, and we now have our website under control. It is time to start planning the sessions. The website is up and some basic  see TheCNCworkshop.com

Last year when I dropped in on several session it seemed like things were just getting warmed up and the time was up. This year I want to try a slightly different format. On Wednesday and Thursday we will have a few, but very intense sessions. I hope to have up to 3 sessions each day, of a full day duration. We will encourage attendees to bring laptops so they can follow along with the instruction.

I need at least 5 or 6 full day sessions. I could do a couple half day session if that works for some speakers. I hope to have some of the following topics:

LinuxCNC
Mach4
PathPilot
Fusion 360 (CAD by Autodesk)
OnShape
CamBam
Vectric

I am open to any other related topics anyone is willing to present.

On Friday we will have more, shorter sessions, probably the schedule we followed last year. I hope to get several user experience talks.

The vendor program will be Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Saturday will also feature a swap meet, and will be open to the general public. I do not plan any seminars on Saturday.

We will be having build classes on Monday and Tuesday, a Lathe, a 3D printer and a router. Details are still being worked on the build classes, but I hope they can have all day sessions on learning to use the machines on Wednesday.

I cannot offer pay for the sessions, but speakers for all day sessions will be given complimentary admission to the entire event.

Let me  know if you are interested in leading any of these sessions.

thanks

ron ginger

5

PoKeys / Pin assignment of step and direction

« on: October 18, 2015, 12:36:32 PM »

I want to  set up a 57E as  my pulse engine as well as some pendant functions. I am going to remove  my smoothstepper because I want probing functions to work.

I can not find where to set the pin numbers to be used for each axis step and direction signals. I see boxes for axis limit+ and limit- and home, but nothing about step and direction.

What am I missing?

6

Newfangled Mill Wizard / NFS Mill V2 is on the web

« on: October 10, 2015, 08:13:33 AM »

The NFS Mill package was updated to V2 and has been on the download site for a couple weeks now. http://www.machsupport.com/software/downloads-updates/#tabs-3

There are a couple new operations, a regular polygon and a shape or polyline.

Polygon will do any regular polygon of any size. A regular polygon has all sides of the same length- so common things like triangle or hexagons. You may cut inside, outside, on the line or fully pocket the polygon. You specify the polygon by the inside circle- that is across the flats  for a hexagon, or by a circle around the points.

Polyline is a very interesting operation. You may specify any shape composed of line segments and arcs. You are required to first enter a start point, then may select line segment or arc. Arcs may be specified by center and radius or by location of center. You may enter up to 20 segments. We could change the 20 limit, but it seems unlikely anyone would want to enter a more complicated shape in a wizard- that may be time to use a CAD package.

The shape may be cut on the line, inside, outside or a full pocket. Note pockets can have islands by specifying an outside shape, then starting a new curve that will be the island. At this time the groove operation must be a closed curve, but I am working on code to allow a groove that is not closed.

The entry of the line segments can get a little complicated. We are not completely happy with the input at this time and are looking at ideas for improvement.

A number of bugs were fixed, and some of the screens were re-arranged to make them more clear. I cleared up the use of the origin point and a reference point- all shapes have a ref point that defines where they are relative to your coordinate origin.

V2 also has new license code, so if you have an older version you will need to use the web site to request a new license. Log-in to your account on the machsupport.com site. You must first de-activate your current license, then enter the new PCID. A new license file will be mailed to you.

As always I will follow this forum for any support questions. I hope you will find this new version useful

7

General Mach Discussion / CNC Workshop 2015

« on: April 11, 2015, 08:22:29 PM »

We now have the web site up and open for registration. There are more details on the classes and vendors that are planned.

The web site is http://TheCNCworkshop.com

We are trying some thing new this year with the addition of full day, in depth training classes. These will run on the Monday nad Tuesday before the main session opens on Wednesday. So far we have  two classes by Scott Schaffer( Popa Bear) on writing wizards for Mach4 and doing I/O.

There will be a build class using a High Torque Mini Mill and controls from PMDX to build a Mach4 mill. This is limited to 12 students, register soon, in past years this has filled up and had a waiting list.

We are also doing a 3D printer build class-

Make your plans now, June 15-20, near Detroit, Michigan

8

General Mach Discussion / Cabin Fever Expo- April 10, 11, 12

« on: March 21, 2015, 11:59:40 AM »

Time again for the Cabin fever Expo. Brian and several others will be there, Mach4 will be running, and Brian will do a Mach4 seminar on Saturday.

Its in York PA with lots of good places to stay and eat.

This is always a great show, lots of models to see, plenty of 'good stuff' to buy from the vendors or the auction. A semi-silent auction on Saturday always has lots of tools and models. You can sell your excess stuff in the consignment area, and take any money you get there and buy other good stuff.

See http://cabinfeverexpo.com for details.

9

General Mach Discussion / CNC Workshop 2015

« on: January 01, 2015, 09:34:27 PM »

The CNC workshop will return in June of 2015. This is the continuation of the event started more than 10 years ago by Roland Friestad, then later run by DIGITAL MACHINIST magazine.

This year the workshop will be held at the TechShop in Allen Park Michigan, between Detroit and Ann Arbor. the location is very convenient to the Detroit area, the Detroit airport, and just across the road from the Henry Ford Museum. The workshop will run between June 15 and 20, with the main session opening Wednesday morning, June 17.

This year the format will be similar to the past years- we will have 3 days of continuous seminars about CNC aimed at the home shop user. We have classrooms ranging from a tiered auditorium for over 150 people to small conference rooms. We will have an area for commercial vendors to show their products, and an area for individuals to exhibit their projects.

We are now seeking people that want to present a seminar session, or exhibit their project. Speakers and exhibitors will receive a discount on the registration fee.

TechShop has setup a web form to collect input at http://tinyurl.com/techshopcncworkshop. Please use the form to get your name on the list for further information and to let us know what you are willing to present, or what you would like to hear about.

An added feature this year will be 2 days reserved for special, in-depth training session. TechShop will be offering selected training on using various machines, and we may have vendor specific training. These sessions will be on Monday and Tuesday before the main Workshop sessions begin. There may be an additional charge for these sessions. Please let us know on the information form of your interest in any in-depth training.

A build class, based on the micro mill from LittleMachineShop.com and led by Weston Bye will be included. This session is limited to 12 people, so if you are interested in building your own CNC mill please let us know quickly.

Registration will open about February 1. Please use the information form to get your name on the list and to tell us what you would like to see and hear at the workshop.

I hope we can make this years workshop even better than those of the previous years. Please let us know of your interest so we can plan the best workshop ever.

10

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / MOVED: Mill Wizard v1.0.17 Drill List of holes

« on: December 03, 2014, 08:51:37 AM »

This topic has been moved to Newfangled Mill wizard.

[http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/board,92.0.html]