Messages

71

General Mach Discussion / Re: post processors difference?

« on: June 07, 2014, 06:01:58 AM »

Mach 2/3 Arcs, is what you would use for normal cutting jobs.
Mach 2/3 ATC Arcs, is for when your machine utilizes an Automatic Tool Changer. (ATC)
Mach 2/3 wrapx2a, is for rotary work where you are wrapping the X axis around your A axis.
This is dependant on how your rotary axis is set up. You may need to use Mach 2/3 wrapy2a instead.

72

Video P*r*o*b*i*n*g / Re: Camera problems

« on: May 19, 2014, 09:00:17 AM »

Just checking back in and updating this topic.
Klaus noticed that I was having trouble with my camera and contacted me privately to try and see if he could sort out my troubles.
Well, over the last month or so, Klaus and I exchanged many emails testing out the changes he made to his plugin and I tested them out. After several attempts, he finally found the proplem and now I have a perfectly functioning camera to use.
Today I gave the camera/origin finder a good workout without a single issue.
My deep thanks go out to Klaus for spending the time to help me. I'm extremely gratefull and extremely happy to have the camera working as I wanted.
Cheers.

73

Video P*r*o*b*i*n*g / Re: Camera problems

« on: April 01, 2014, 03:48:21 AM »

Have a USB pendant which does not seem to exhibit the problem the keyboard does.

Greolt

I was hoping that you found a solution and I could learn from it.

So from what you're saying, you can use your pendant and it jogs as it should. What about when you apply the tool offset, do the motors exibit any stalling as mine do?

I tryied re-arranging my USB plug positions for my keyboard etc, as that was suggested in the other topic that I linked to. There was no change to the operation of the plugin.

74

Video P*r*o*b*i*n*g / Re: Camera problems

« on: March 31, 2014, 07:50:26 AM »

Does changing the framerate to 200 make any difference? To set framerate: Dialog Settings -> slider Framerate on the upper riht Corner



Klaus

I have taken the framerate from one extreme to the other with no change.
In saying that I don't know if I restarted Mach3 after I changed that setting. Would that be needed to save a setting?
I will try that tomorrow to make sure.
I really would like to sort this out, as your pluging is perfect for what I want to do.

75

Video P*r*o*b*i*n*g / Re: Camera problems

« on: March 31, 2014, 06:08:27 AM »

We dowloaded them from the Celestron support page under downloads/drivers etc.

http://www.celestron.com/c3/support3/index.php?_m=downloads&_a=view&parentcategoryid=5&pcid=0&nav=0

There are a few drivers listed that, from the description, could be the driver so we downloaded them all and found the one that worked.
The microscope works fine except when using klause's plugin.

76

Video P*r*o*b*i*n*g / Camera problems

« on: March 26, 2014, 07:34:07 AM »

Hello everyone, I'm seeking some help with a problem I have going on.
I have a Celestron microscope set up as an origin finder on my router and I'm trying to you Klause's plugin, but having issues.

First of all. The microscope that I bought was secondhand and didn't come with any disc. I downloaded the correct driver and managed to get it to work. I'm extremely happy with the image that the microscope puts out.
I have configured the plugin with offset numbers and colours etc. This all seemed to work ok.
The problem starts with jogging while the video screen is open. I'm using the keyboard to jog the machine, but I get extremely erratic movements which don't make sense. Some times there is no jogging at all when a button is pressed and other times it jogs way more than it should. This also happens when using the MPG callout.
The next issue comes when I ask it to move the offset. It moves part way and then stalls the motors. This doesn't always happen the same amount, sometimes it works ok and sometimes it doesn't work at all.
I found that I was using V2.12, so I updated it to the current version. This made no change to the operation.

So in frustration I disabled Klause's plugin and opened the video screen that comes with Mach3 and while using this screen, the machine jogs perfectly. I don't see anywhere I can add an offset to this window, so I have been manually typing the offset figures into the DRO's and pressing GOTO Z. This works perfectly but is not really what I'm wanting.

I found this topic http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,11119.20.html where Greolt described exactly what I'm experiencing in reply #20 > #31.

Can anyone help me with suggestions of a work around for getting the system to work for me while using the Mach3 video screen?
Is there a way to add some camera operation buttons to the main screen? This would make it easier to operate the camera.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

77

General Mach Discussion / Re: 3D printing with Mach 3, who is doing it?

« on: March 19, 2014, 05:26:06 AM »

Even though I'm disappointed that Mach3 isn't suitable, I'm glad that I now know for sure.

Is there some particular reason you prefer the "delta" (inverse kinematics) design to the cartesian? Just interested in the design choice.

I guess the main reason was predominately based on the build materials that we had at hand.
The Delta platform allows for a taller build of objects and when we first saw a video of a working Delta, it just seemed a much more elegant design. It will be a nice challenge as I've already successfully built a cnc router which is a standard X,Y,Z,A platform.
Another reason that I liked, was the fact that all 3 of the axis motors have to deal with the same forces, as opposed to a cartesian design where one motor has to deal with the weight of the whole gantry and the other motors have lesser weights etc.
And the last reason is that Delta's look much cooler and are a little different.

78

General Mach Discussion / Re: 3D printing with Mach 3, who is doing it?

« on: March 18, 2014, 06:24:26 PM »

Ozy,
It won't work with Mach 3. You are building a delta, three axis in a triagular configuration which to to produce a straight line must move all three axis simultaneously.  The kinematics of that kind of motion are not part of Mach 3.

Even though I'm disappointed that Mach3 isn't suitable, I'm glad that I now know for sure.
Thanks.

79

General Mach Discussion / Re: 3D printing with Mach 3, who is doing it?

« on: March 18, 2014, 08:45:16 AM »

My daughter and I are in the middle of designing and building a Delta 3D printer.
I hadn't realised that Mach3 would be suitable for 3D printers.
I have Mach3 running my cnc router and I'm confident in working with it. Could we set up another profile for a printer and run it from the same PC?
I'm open to any help or suggestions on how to do it using Mach, if anyone one wants to share their stories.

80

General Mach Discussion / Re: Change height for mach3

« on: March 10, 2014, 07:06:06 PM »

As ger21 said, you need to change your settings in VCarve.
In the toolpaths tab, the first icon is "Setup material and rapid gaps". You can change the retract height there.