Messages

711

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Re: Multi-Hole wizard Change?

« on: June 24, 2008, 07:22:11 PM »

Because of the way the Screen4 program works it would be very difficult to add all those Z DRO values. This is one example of a job that would fit the new Flash screen capability very well.

Suppose the wizard let you open a CSV file generated by a spreadsheet program. Or for that matter even a text editor if you formatted a file with each line contained the 3 values, separated by commas. That would be quiet easy to implement.

712

General Mach Discussion / Re: We need Linux port

« on: June 18, 2008, 09:40:29 PM »

Funny this topic should come alive today. Brian is at the CNC workshop, where among other activities the annual 'emcfest' is in full swing. There were several conversations today with lots of EMC and Mach folks.

EMC has a really nifty 5 axis mill running with full kinematics. Mach has both a mill and lathe running with tool changers.

A good time is being had by all!

713

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Re: V2.78

« on: June 14, 2008, 08:23:56 PM »

Sorry, its been a bit crazy for me, I have not made the new version yet. With luck I will get some time next week while Im at the CNC workshop.

714

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Re: ATC VB script example for rotary changer...

« on: June 08, 2008, 06:48:27 PM »

Here is the main part of my tool changer routine. This is a 6 position changer, but you could edit it for more.

tool=getcurrenttool()
'MsgBox ("current tool " & tool)
NewTool= getselectedtool()
'msgbox ("new tool " & NewTool)

if NewTool=tool then
 exit sub
end if

if NewTool>tool then
  steps=Newtool-tool
else
  steps=6 - (tool-NewTool)
End If

If tool Mod 2 Then 'even number
  code "G00 Z 2"
Else
  code "G53 G00 X 0"   'move X to machine home 0
  code "G00 z -2"
End If

'msgbox(" move steps " & steps)

for I=1 to steps
  code "G91 G00 A72"
code "g00 A-12"
code "G90"
While IsMoving()
Wend

next I

The Mod 2 part handles the retract for tool change- the even number slots inmy changer are for boring tools, so I need to retract in Z before a change. The Odd number tools are turning tools, so I want to retract X first.

715

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Screen Toggle Macro

« on: June 07, 2008, 12:21:54 PM »

Changing screens is easy- OEMbutton1-99 call the screen number. Screen 1 is the startup screen, 50 is the TAB screen.

But I dont think there is a DRO to tell the current screen number. Your macro could create a DRO to hold the last number it called. That would get messed up if you used some on-screen button to change the screen, the next time you hit your button it would go to what it thought should be next, not the next from where you are.

716

General Mach Discussion / Re: Coordiante rotation

« on: June 06, 2008, 09:08:01 AM »

Mach does support coordinate rotation. See the doc for G68. I think it is for exactly what you want to do.

One note- jog will still occur along the unrotated axis, so you will get some strange jog moves, but for a small rotation it may not be a problem.

717

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Re: Updates?

« on: May 25, 2008, 08:33:36 AM »

Yes, new versions of the wizards are posted in this forum. I will always open a new topic with each new version, and I usually remove the old version. At the same time I send a copy to Brian and he puts it into the next Mach install kit he builds. We do not have a formal process to update Tormach.

To use a version put here simply copy the zip file to you mach folder and unzip the files into the Addons folder. You should wind up with everything the zip file in a folder called Newfangled under Addons.

There are 2 problems in 2.78 that affect Tormach users, a tool table description error and a path problem on the edit processes. I promised to fix these and get a Tormach version posted, but I have not done it yet. 'real soon now'

718

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Export coordinates with machining time in .txt file

« on: May 17, 2008, 06:49:57 PM »

OK, now I agree with Scott, you cant do what you want with VB. For that matter, I dont think you can di it with a plug-in either.The problem is that the VB loop is not synchronized with the motor movements. Remember a kind of 'time sharing' is going on here, VB only runs when mach is not busy calculating the trajectory.

When VB gets its time slot to run  it grabs several DRO values in your Do loop, but the number of values is not related to any movements, just whatever happens to be in a DRO at that milisecond. Then, when VB is not running other values pass by that you wont capture.

But Mach is never generating moves that are not driven by the Gcode. So why do you need to grab the DRO values? Just read the Gcode and you will know all the start-end points.

Or are you trying to collect data to see the acceleration along the path?

719

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Re: Not so sweet Cut Circle in Suite of HW

« on: May 16, 2008, 10:34:02 PM »

It could be changed, but I don't see much reason to do it. Either R or IJ are valid gcode commands, both should do the same thing. If the R method causes a hesitation then we ought to get Brian to see why that happens.

720

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Export coordinates with machining time in .txt file

« on: May 16, 2008, 10:27:29 PM »

Can you tell us what you are trying to do? Why do you want to save the values, they are already in the gcode that is running.