Messages

481

Works in progress / Re: A lathe screen with buit in wizards

« on: February 06, 2011, 08:18:23 PM »

Yes, my screens work like newfangled in that you can build up a complete part by combining several functions.

I have completely made the code to make bolts, by facing, turning to a  diameter for a couple different sections, then threading, chanfering the end and cutting it off.  All the tool change and offset stuff is handled.

I like the ability to do the functions one at a  time to be sure they are right, then adding them to the program. Of course if you just wanted to use it as a kind of automatic power feed you can do it one step at a time.

The set is mostly done, but Im a bit unhappy with the graphics, they are just plain buttons with no pizzaz But Im NOT an artist so plain is all I can do.

If this set was finished up and sold like the Addon for mill  would it sell?

482

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Re: NFS rectangular hole patern problem

« on: February 06, 2011, 07:29:25 PM »

The width value sets the total width of the array, it is NOT the spacing between holes. You should make width =11

483

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Re: NFS rectangular hole patern problem

« on: February 06, 2011, 07:05:21 PM »

I dont see whats wrong. You asked for 6 holes, starting at X=1, and made the starting point the upper left corner. That causes the holes to spread out to X3.

Did you expect teh minus value for width to cause the part to be to the left? To do that set the start point as the upper right corner.

484

Works in progress / A lathe screew with buit in wizards

« on: February 06, 2011, 06:59:18 PM »

I have been working on a lathe screen set for a while. It is based on the idea of wizards on the main screen set.

Someone posted a link to a Haas LT-1 lathe, and my set does all the same stuff.

The top set of panels is the same on every screen. Down the left edge are buttons to change screens, there is a manual screen and run screen and several wizard like function screens, turn, face, taper, thread cut, bore etc.

On each function screen you fill in the blanks to define your part. There are two buttons, one called 'Do it' will immediaetly do the function you just defines. The 'Post' button will add this function to a complete Gcode file.

It works great for common turning jobs, The thread has a built-in table that lets you select a thread from a list, I have all the normal US threads, 1/4-20, 10-32, 8-32 etc defines, but its just a simple file the user can edit to add his favorite threads.

I hd most of this working at the CNC workshop last June. Ive been kind of ignoring it for a while, but if there seems to be interest I will finish it up and release it as a Newfangled wizard.

485

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Re: wizard nesting

« on: February 02, 2011, 07:24:40 PM »

I looked at the code. The wizard takes your ode and treats it as a subroutine. Thats why it  must end in M99 which is the subroutine end macro.

The wizard does just generate a series of rapid moves to each location, then runs the sub. You should see an M98 in each move.

Mach does not show the tool path of each sub call, but I think the wizard works correctly.  Try a simple code and see it it actually ruins as expected, dont just look at the path screen.

486

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Re: Screens and Wizards

« on: February 02, 2011, 07:20:46 PM »

A wizard should be in C:\Mach3\Addons\[wizard name] In this folder there must be a [wizard name].set file and maybe a folder called Bitmaps that has any graphic files the wizard needs. After the wizard has been run once there will also be a [wizard name].def file that contains the saved values of the wizards DROs


The wizard should have two labels on its first page, one with the content "Author [name] the other should be "Desc [description of the wizard]

These labels are read on start up and build the menu form you see when you choose 'pick a wizard'

487

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Re: General questions on installing Newfangled Solutions add on

« on: February 02, 2011, 07:15:03 PM »

One other thing to note, the Mach kit has often not had the latest version of the wizards. For some reason every time I poke Brian about it it gets fixed for a while, then later falls back to an old version.

The latest version is 2.85 and is here in this forum under its own topic. The version number appears in teh upper right corner of the main wizard screen.

If you do not have the latest version just download the .zip file and unzip it into the folder C:\MAch3\Addons

488

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Re: wizard nesting

« on: February 02, 2011, 07:04:49 PM »

The nesting wizard is not part of the Newfangled set, it was contributed by Olivier Adler. I dont know anything about it, but Ill have a look and see if I can figure it out.

489

General Mach Discussion / Re: Pocket Wizard by Brian / Kiran

« on: January 22, 2011, 02:46:35 PM »

Now that you have a fixed copy why not save it and post it here. Just save the .set file under Addons

490

General Mach Discussion / Re: Need some help, using a digitizing probe to find the center of a bore

« on: January 21, 2011, 09:14:24 PM »

Be careful with probes to find circle center. I have been doing this for a while with a probe from IMserv. The other day I decided to check the accuracy of the center and found quite an error.

If you run the probe once and find center, then rotate the probe 90 degrees and do it again you may have several thou error.

I talked to Fred Smith of IMserv and he said that was expected of a probe- they are not made to be concentric and you need to first probe a known reference and set compensating values for the error.

I bought a Wildhorse Innovations probe. It has a much stronger spring, and is designed to let you make an adjustment for centering. I now have mine so Im within 1 thou of true center.