Topics

51

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / V2.75 ready for test

« on: October 21, 2007, 08:33:02 PM »

I have a new version of the wizards ready. This has several changes and some bug fixes.

A major change has been made to the Tool Selection screen. I hope it makes it more clear, and insures all parameters are updated. I believe in the old screen many guys were not getting the Feeds and Speeds updated. I also added a button to read the tool table if you want to instead of entering the number and diameter. Thanks to Pat Lorenz for help on this one.

I also made major changes to the Surface wizard. It now makes even width cuts based on 75% of the tool diameter. Before it made The first cuts even, then did a narrow cut for whatever was left. In some cases it made an extra unnecessary move. Fans of Rudy Kouhoupt will like the look.

I also added a G code window to the Preview screen, and fixed the initial conditions to make the previews work correctly.

The zip file is attached to this post. Please check it out and let me know of any bugs. In a week or so I will ask Art to include this version in the Mach release.

Now that I know there is a manual I will be updating it for this version in the next few days.

thanks,

10/25, edited to update zip with tool table fixes

10/26, tool table now handles all 255 entries and can skip over blanks. Still no description, but Art has promised a function so I can fix that

10/31 Fixed top of material in Surface wizard

I have removed this version, see the new topic for V2.76

52

General Mach Discussion / New Teach wizard

« on: February 25, 2007, 09:29:17 PM »

Ive just added a new Teach wizard. See http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php?topic=2557.new#new

Its out for test, feedback is welcome.

ron ginger

53

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / New Teach wizard

« on: February 25, 2007, 09:26:59 PM »

I have a new Teach wizard ready for test. This is based on the original Teach wizard but has a few additions.

This wizard would be used to copy a part and generate Gcode form it. You would place  a part on the machine and jog around its features in the sequence you want to cut the part. Code is added to the file only when you press one of the action buttons, so you can jog around until you are exactly on the spot them press a button to create either a rapid move, a feed move, and Arc or a circle.

There is now a button to add holes, and do do full circles. There is also a help file.

Download the attached zip file to the addons directory and unzip it. I have called it NewTeach so it wont overwrite the old Teach wizard.  Id like suggestions on a better name- somehow Teach doesn't quite move me- CopyCat? DupliCut?

Any feedback is welcome.

ron ginger

54

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Newfangled Wizards, V2.73 Test Release

« on: February 15, 2007, 07:12:32 PM »

I have made  few changes to the Newfangled wizard set. I have more to do, but I thought I'd follows Arts lead and 'release often'

The most interesting change is in the Materials selection. In the original wizards there were a few materials and their preferred cutting speeds hard-coded into the program. Changing the values or adding materials took VB code editing. Now there is a simple text file, Materials.txt in the Newfangled folder. The file has one line for each material, and each material has 4 comma delimited fields for the surface speed. You may edit the values or add any materials you like. There is a limit of 100 materials, but that should not be a big problem. There is also a help button that explains the material handling.

I also fixed a bug in Cut-rectangle that caused it to not go to the full depth if the last cut was not a full depth of pass, for example, if you requested a .250 deep pocket cut in .100 steps it stopped cutting at .200

I also fixed the surface wizard. When you selected 'rapid move between passes' the Z value for the rapid move was calculated to high. It now always does rapids at the Z rapid setting.

I have also fixed up many error messages- the old ones were ofter something like 'Depth is set wrong' It now says what is wrong, eg "Tool diameter must be greater than Zero"

To install this load the .zip file into the Mach3\Addons folder and unzip it. It will place the files in the Newfangled folder as needed.

Let me know of any problems, and if there are other bugs (or 'features') that bother you in the wizard set let me know. I'll see what I can do to fix them. If there are no problems this version will be added to a Mach release in a few days.

We are working on a major graphics update, but it will be  a while before thats ready. Watch this space!

55

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Power Feed Wizard

« on: February 09, 2007, 10:58:06 PM »

I have written a new wizard that runs as a simple power feed.

You can set a limit switch for X plus and X minus, then with a single button click you can feed back and forth, much like you could with a manual power feed option.

It also has controls for feed rate and can raise the Z axis on rapid moves.

Save the zip file to Mach3\Addons and extract the files to Power Feed X.

I think it might be useful, so its posted here. If there are no error reports it will go into a future release of the complete wizard set.

ron ginger

56

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / A Jet knee mill conversion

« on: January 10, 2007, 03:59:53 PM »

I have been working on a Jet knee mill for the last couple months. Its now running, and I finally had time to post a few photos on my web page- see plsntcov.8m.com

The mill is an older one, about 1987 I think. It is in excellent shape, still shows lots of scraping marks on the ways, no detectable wear anywhere. It has a table of 30"x8". Thats not suite a Bridgeport, but my shop is on the second floor, and the mill is almost exactly above my bed. I just wasnt sure I wanted a 2000 pound Bridgeport up there.

I started this conversion with servos and G320s. These were some surplus servos I had, and they have an integral brake. I had it runing for a while, but then one of the brakes locked up and the motor overheated. After some thought- detailed on my web page- I switched to steppers.

For the Z axis I am driving the knee- I like that a lot.

I will be describing this machine as part of my seminar at the Cabin Fever Expo, Jan 20.

Here is a linked photo of the completed machine