Messages

31

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Old turret lathe

« on: September 11, 2018, 08:53:27 AM »

Craig,
Next question is does the motion controller store any moves in a buffer of sorts? So let’s say we tell the turret g00 t0.1, then we tell x and z to start to do their thing can we then tell axis t to g01 t-2.5? How would that be handled if the rapid isn’t done, does it have to wait until the turret rapid move is complete? Would that pause the next x and z move until the rapid is done, load the next turret feed move then continue on with the next x and z move? I’ve never done anything like this so forgive my ignorance.
Thanks
Art

32

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Old turret lathe

« on: September 10, 2018, 02:13:01 PM »

Chad,
This Warner & Swasey was built in 1940. My dad had been running these machines forever. I have to listen to him telling me that these wimpy cnc machines can’t remove material any faster than he could on this old clunker. Lol! That’s part of my motivation to drill at the same time as the turning op, I actually have been drilling using the old power feed for thr turret while the cnc is doing the turning op. The drilling op is shorter than the turning op and is out of the way when the facing in being finished. Dad would run this whole part turning handles manually, it is sometimes amazing how these types of parts were done before cnc machines were around.
Thanks
Art

33

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Old turret lathe

« on: September 10, 2018, 10:30:20 AM »

Chad,
That is exactly what I’m trying to do. The turret needs to rapid approx 4.5 inches then feed for approx 2 inches then rapid out. What would be “a nice to have” is something that I can enter numbers in that would plug into the axis movement. That way it isn’t locked into one particular job. I was thinking the two computers would give me that option. I could also monitor the turret via the dro on the second screen. I do understand your concerns but I’m not lua smart enough to make it work.

34

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Old turret lathe

« on: September 10, 2018, 09:48:25 AM »

I’ve come up with an idea, let me know what you think. Running Mach 4 on the lathe after I cycle start I use an m code to activate an output which triggers a cycle start to run Mach 3 on a different computer that could operate the turret servo. Sounds to me like it should work. I’m running hundreds of these parts so it may be worth automating.
Thanks
Art

35

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Old turret lathe

« on: September 09, 2018, 04:31:50 PM »

Steve,
Yes this turret is totally separate. My idea is to install another servo motor to drive the turret. I’m just not sure how you would g- code that. Can Mach 4 operate the turret servo, and the x and z at the same time?
Thanks
Art

36

Mach4 General Discussion / Old turret lathe

« on: September 09, 2018, 11:42:31 AM »

I’ve been playing with an old turret lathe. The x and z axis are working ok. I know I can connect another axis motor to the turret, but can this be programmed via g-code to operate completely separate from the x and z? I’m currently still running a 1 7/8 drill through the part with the old power feed that was on the machine while the x and z are facing and turning. Can someone explain how to do it?
Thanks
Art

37

Mach4 General Discussion / /p profile name not working for me

« on: August 23, 2018, 08:24:32 AM »

I created a copy of the Mach lathe profile called Hardinge and created a shortcut for Mach 4 lathe on my desktop, I called the target c:\Mach4Hobby\Mach4GUI.exe / p Hardinge but it won’t load the profile automatically, I still have to choose the Hardinge profile from the list. Can anyone help?
Thanks
Art

38

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Changing password

« on: August 23, 2018, 07:35:05 AM »

Thank you

39

Mach4 General Discussion / Changing password

« on: August 21, 2018, 11:14:41 AM »

Is there a way to change the screen lock password? Maybe it’s not a goog idea cuz I may loose it, but I was wondering if it’s possible.
Thanks
Art

40

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: PCID

« on: August 13, 2018, 09:08:12 PM »

Thanks, I should have done a search in this forum before I asked. The answer is in a previous post. I guess I will have to delete the old license and issue a new one.
Thanks, this forum is great
Art