Messages

11

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Turret lathe axis question

« on: October 19, 2023, 08:01:41 AM »

What I need is tool length offsets. It’s like a tail stock on a regular lathe except it has a turret to hold 6 tools. I index the turret manually. But the tools aren’t the same length.

12

Mach4 General Discussion / Option stop led

« on: October 13, 2023, 09:06:37 AM »

When using option stop, the led blinks. But while the G-code is running the led goes out until the M01 is read at which time the led starts blinking again. My issue is sometimes I want to turn on the option stop on when the G-code is running so the machine will stop at the next M01 ( to check part dimensions) but the led doesn’t start blinking until the M01 is read so it’s hard to tell if you actually turned the option stop on. Maybe if while the option stop button has been pressed it could change color it indicate it’s on might help.  I’m pretty sure this is possible. Can someone point me in the right direction on how to accomplish this?
Thanks
Art

13

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Turret lathe axis question

« on: October 02, 2023, 12:17:00 PM »

Thanks, I know how to do regular tool offsets. However there is no A axis offset in the tool table. If I add it will Mach recognize it and make appropriate adjustments to the A axis. That’s my question
Thanks
Art

14

Mach4 General Discussion / Turret lathe axis question

« on: September 28, 2023, 10:14:03 AM »

I’m working on retrofitting an old Warner & Swasey turret lathe. I have x and z axis working fine. This machine also has a 6 position turret that I currently have running on an A axis motor. In the tool table there is no tool offset for the A axis tools. If I’m using one tool it’s not a problem, however if I’m using more than one turret position (for instance a center drill and then a drill, and possibly a reamer) I would need a place to set tool lengths for each tool. Is this something that can be done? If so can you steer me in the right direction on how to do it.
Thanks
Art

15

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Keyboard Inputs enabled right after Mach4 starts

« on: September 05, 2023, 08:20:49 AM »

What’s more interesting is that Mach 3 also requires coding. VB scripting is coding. There are hundreds of different kinds of machines out there that are running Mach 3, and a lot of them have different operations that require a different VB script. I can tell you Fanuc also requires machine builders to code their own specific operations. There isn’t any cnc software out there that doesn’t have some type of coding available to the end user. When you purchase software you should research how to use it. This forum exists so people can do just that. I have had great experiences with this forum and with NFS support. If you want a machine that works right out of the box, then buy one from an actual machine builder. There are a lot of them.

16

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Start Cycle with a Push Button in Mach4

« on: September 03, 2023, 11:08:38 AM »

Yup, that is a great step by step set of directions. I think Steve’s method may be more responsive (sometimes there seems to be a bit of a delay). I wish there was a better description of how to use the PMC. I’m currently running a Hardinge CHNC with Mach 4 industrial. The support from NFS has been phenomenal. Been running for about a year now running production parts with no issues. Thank you everyone on the support team.
Art

17

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Start Cycle with a Push Button in Mach4

« on: September 02, 2023, 11:16:18 AM »

If you go to newfangled’s web page and go to the blog. You will find there is a very in-depth description of how to do this. I asked a long time ago and I think it was Brian who put it up there. Check it out
Art

18

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: program gets stuck at m3

« on: June 28, 2023, 09:26:09 AM »

Sorry, it’s constant surface speed CSS. That’s what happens when you use speech to text. Lol

19

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: program gets stuck at m3

« on: June 28, 2023, 08:48:15 AM »

Try removing the G96 constant surface feed

20

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Spindle and coolant stop on M01

« on: April 16, 2023, 03:54:44 PM »

Chad, Thank you. That works exactly how I wanted. I use Easy Turn to generate my g-code. I wrote my own post processor and I have it generate a new spindle speed and start spindle for every operation, so inserting a m101 at the end of each tool operation works for me beautifully. Thanks again!