Messages

241

SmoothStepper USB / Charge Pump problems

« on: May 29, 2013, 09:47:01 PM »

I am trying to set up a  Syil M4 machine. Its BOB requires a charge pump, but its on pin 9. If I run with the parallel port it works fine, but if I insert the USB SS it will not run.

Is there a problem with using pin 9?

Anyone have a Syil M4 working?

242

Newfangled Mill Wizard / Re: Pointer to current version

« on: May 24, 2013, 12:45:15 PM »

Brett beat me to it.

Yes a new version is up and it has several changes.

I have added an operation for User Entered Gcode. This will let you insert any gcode, anywhere in the program between operations. This might be useful to enter comments to document setups, or material or whatever you need. Any Gcode you enter will be displayed in the toolpath if it generates moves.

I added an operation called Tool Strategy.  There are times when you want to change tool parameters, but not make a tool change- like changing feed rate, or spindle RPM, or ramp angle.

Brian changed the circle cut routine to generate spirals instead of the previous zig-zag cut. Now the tool will just keep making circles, ramping down over whatever arc length is needed to meet the ramp spec.

I changed the rectangle routine to do helical ramps down to step depth, then an arc lead-in and arc lead-out. It now has a groove option that uses teh zig-zag ramp into the work, but cuts only a grove.

Brian fixed a bug in the toolpath screen that didnt handle metric G73 correctly. This one in some systems could cause a crash.

A few other clean up kind of fixes were made.

Any feedback will be appreciated.

243

Newfangled Mill Wizard / Re: Errors and Crashing on XP

« on: May 23, 2013, 04:44:10 PM »

OK, Brian was quick. It looks like we have a fix.

I will attach a zip file to this message. Unzip this into C:\Program Files\Wizards\Mill It shuold ask if you want to replace the current file, you do.

Your old desktop icon will now point to this new version.

Besides the fix for metric drill cycles, there are two new operations added- a User Gcode entry and a Tool Strategy change. There are also improvements to the g code generation.

This will serve as a test version, I hope a few people see this and try it out. I should be ready to make it a proper install kit in a few more days.

EDIT- removed the file, the full installer has been placed on the web. See  http://www.machsupport.com/downloads.php

244

Newfangled Mill Wizard / Re: Errors and Crashing on XP

« on: May 23, 2013, 01:40:32 PM »

That is related to to the known bug in the toolpath handling G73 in metric mode. It draws the line for the hole probably without scaling for metric, so it comes out real long. On some systems it draws Ok, just way to long. On some video cards with smaller buffers it blows up. Brian is working on it

We are about ready to post a new release with several features. We will wait  until the toolpath is fixed to release it.

245

Newfangled Mill Wizard / Re: Errors and Crashing on XP

« on: May 23, 2013, 07:27:58 AM »

Ok, that crashed on my system too, so I have something to look at.

246

Newfangled Mill Wizard / Re: New Tool Table Save Error

« on: May 15, 2013, 06:30:45 PM »

I cannot repeat this. Did you do it as the first operation, or did you start a job first? Did you instal it with all the defaults, or did you change some file location?

Is this repeatable on your system?

247

Newfangled Mill Wizard / Re: Errors and Crashing on XP

« on: May 13, 2013, 10:16:42 PM »

There is a know bug in the toolpath display code that does the drill cycles wrong. This is the first I have heard of it crashing, it has just drawn the lines incorrectly.

The toolpath code actually has a full gcode interpreter built in it. it is a code module that is part of Mach4 and used in the wizard. Brian is supposed to get it fixed up 'real soon now'.

can you post a job file here that causes the crash. Id like to see if I can repeat it.

248

Newfangled Mill Wizard / Re: Errors and Crashing on XP

« on: May 12, 2013, 07:47:59 AM »

NFS_MillDisplay0.dat is the display map file that the wizard uses. If you are having a crash that leaves that file open then a later startup will fail. Are you trying to run 2 copies of the wizard? Did you open one copy and 'loose' it behind another window?

I dont think a re-install should do much, but a re-boot would clear any open files. After a crash its hard to say what was left open or locked. A re-boot clears all.

249

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Re: NEWFANGLED SOLUTIONS SOFTWARE - LATEST VERSION

« on: May 11, 2013, 06:24:39 PM »

On the top menu bar, under the Config item there is a general config screen. Its got a  lot of settings on it, down near the bottom just to the right of center is the auto screen enlarge

250

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Re: NFS Turn Wizard

« on: May 09, 2013, 02:36:10 PM »

In the first folder the folder called NFSturn008 should have the 008 removed, make it just NFStrun

The second folder shuold not have the .zip file in it. Its part of the wizard called Turning

The contents of the third folder should be in the NFSturn folder that you renamed from NFSturn008