Topics

21

General Mach Discussion / Mach3 - manual start of spindle whilst axis is moving?

« on: February 15, 2019, 10:13:30 AM »

Mach3 - manual start of spindle whilst axis is moving?

When I try I hear a click but the spindle does not start - is there a setting?

thanks

22

Mach4 General Discussion / Mach4 is it single pulse threading like mach3

« on: April 14, 2018, 01:44:44 PM »

As per post title.

Thanks

23

General Mach Discussion / Homing switches - optical?

« on: April 11, 2018, 07:52:22 AM »

I have been using Mach3 a while now and realised that the mechanical homing switches are terrible. I would liike to swap them to a more accurate version, I hear optical is a good option, although they do require and extra wire and perhaps a little circuit?

Has anyone got any insight on this? Does anyone make Opto units complete and ready to go?

thanks
Rim

24

General Mach Discussion / Mach3 turn auto screen loop increment counter???

« on: March 13, 2017, 02:51:08 PM »

Mach3 turn auto screen loop increment counter???


On the auto screen (see pic attached) there is a loop counter. Is there any way to increment it when using a M98/99 loop?

e.g.

Code: [Select]


M98  P001 L43  ( -86MM - START AT Z0 )
G0 Z50.0
G0 X50.0
M5
M9
M30

O001
( Incremet loop counter here ???????)
G91 Z-2.0
G90
G1 X37.0
G0 X42.0
M99
%

When the above code runs I would like the loop counter to update so I know which increment I am at.

or

Is that not what this counter is for?

thanks
Rim

25

Bargain Basement / 2 x UC100 USB motion controller (UK Only)

« on: August 04, 2016, 09:05:50 AM »

For sale 2 x UC100 USB motion controller. Used but fully 100% working with no defects and updated to latest firmware. Surplus to requirements.

Sold WITHOUT Usb cable (uses Mini USB - not micro usb)

https://www.cnc4you.co.uk/UC100-USB-Motion-Controller

£50.00 each including first class recorded delivery (Posted to the UK only) - or £90 for both.

Grab yourself a bargain.

26

General Mach Discussion / Mach3 crashes using LPT but not USB

« on: July 01, 2016, 05:55:12 AM »

Hi, I until recently have been using a UC100 usb notion controller. However due to technical problems have had to go back to using the LPT1 port.

When using the USB I could leave the mahine on for days or weeks without a single problem, howveer since changing to back the LPT1 the WinXP machine crashes (locks up completely) at least once every 24 hours.

Using:
Mach3  062 
LPT1 0x378  ECP mode
25000hz

Anuy ideas?

thanks
Rimmel

27

General Mach Discussion / Mach3 m1076.m1s problem

« on: June 17, 2016, 11:54:51 AM »

Having a problem with the m1076.m1s macro.

If I repeated use the G76 macro in gcode (use G76 the same gcode file over and over) to create a parallel thread, then randomly the thread starts with a tapered thread and then half way though switches back to a parallel thread. It does it in such a way as to damage the tooling though. It seems the tapered setting is being cached somewhere?

I'm using Mach3 062.

Question for a mach3 dev or similar:-

How can I disable tapered threading completely in the m1076.m1s macro? (do not envisage using tapered threads). E.g hard coding "T0" (taper 0). I am a programmer so I just need to know what to set.

thanks
Rimmel

28

Mach4 General Discussion / Mach 4 Turn UC100 questions

« on: June 17, 2016, 08:30:55 AM »

1) UC100 support?

2) USB Shuttle Pro support?

3) Wizards? Are there any wizards for turning/threading etc like in Mach3

thanks

29

General Mach Discussion / MacTurn - Tool table setup for internal tools?

« on: May 25, 2016, 11:45:16 AM »

Hi, I have been trying to set up a few internal boring/threading tools for mach3.

Usually I set up my main tool using a led touch tool and then set up the other tools accordingly - easy.

But then I get to internal tools, setting the Z axis is the same - but how would I set the X axis as it is internal?

I thought of touching the back of the part and setting it to the negative of the front, but that then throws it all off as Mach3 then changes the offsets for the main tool. I need to be able to set the x axis of the second (internal tool) without changing the offset on the main tool?? (is that right).

Any help really appreciated

30

General Mach Discussion / G-Code line numbering/removing - quick and dirty app

« on: July 29, 2014, 10:02:18 AM »

OK, so being very new to Mach3, G-Code and CNC in general - in recent months I have been experimenting with different CAM applications, Mach3 wizards and generally editing G-Code.

I've found that the mixture of the Mach3 Wizards, Cambam and manual splicing of the G-Code seems to work well for my small needs. However being new to it all, I have found that line numbers in the g-code for mach3 help a lot for finding little bugs in said g-code invaluable. But then manually editing the g-code messes up the numbering etc

With this in mind I looked around for a g-code line number adding and removal tool - but couldn't find one that wasn't part of a £million suite 

So I knocked up a quick application in C# VS2013 .Net framework 4.5 (took 30 mins).

features:
1) Adds or removes line numbering in g-gode
2) It makes the changes in the text window only - until the SAVE button is pressed.
3) Ignores blank lines
4) Ignores comment lines - lines that start (.  e.g.   "( Toolchange )"
5) Supports .NC (cambam), .Tap and .txt files
6) Preloads numbers for formatting with zeros by counting how many lines are contained in the who g-code. e.g. if the g-code has 677 lines then that is 3 characters long. So the numbering would start "N001" to "N677". The two zeros are placed in the numbering to maintain formatting of the main code.
Example for 681 line code at start:

Code: [Select]

(Rimmel)
( Shuttle 7/28/2014 1:17:05 PM )
N001 G18 G21 G90 G91.1 G64 G40
N002 G94
N003 G0 Z50.0
N004 G0 X50.0
N005 M6 T0101 ( Tool 01)
N006 G0 Z1.0
N007 G0 X15.0
N008 M0 (STOP - Adjust workpiece)
( FACING )
N009 G0 Z50.0
N010 G0 X50.0
N011 G4 P2
N012 M3 S800
N013 M8
N014 G4 P3

N015 G0 Z0.8
N016 G0 X17.0
N017 G1 F8.0 X15.9
N018 G1 F50 X0
N019 G0 Z1.0
N020 G0 X17.0

Example for 681 line code at middle:

Code: [Select]

N090 G1 F50.0 Z-39.0287
N091 G0 X17.0
N092 G0 Z0.0
N093 G0 X15.6
N094 G1 F8.0 X15.4
N095 G1 F50.0 Z-0.2909
N096 G0 X17.0
N097 G0 Z-35.7987
N098 G0 X15.6
N099 G1 F8.0 X15.4
N100 G1 F50.0 Z-39.0234
N101 G0 X17.0
N102 G0 Z0.0
N103 G0 X15.5
N104 G1 F8.0 X15.3
N105 G1 F50.0 Z-0.2415
N106 G0 X17.0
N107 G0 Z-35.9302
N108 G0 X15.5
N109 G1 F8.0 X15.3
N110 G1 F50.0 Z-39.0181
N111 G0 X17.0
N112 G0 Z0.0
N113 G0 X15.4
N114 G1 F8.0 X15.2
N115 G1 F50.0 Z-0.198
N116 G0 X17.0
N117 G0 Z-36.0618
N118 G0 X15.4
N119 G1 F8.0 X15.2
N120 G1 F50.0 Z-39.0129
N121 G0 X17.0
N122 G0 Z0.0
N123 G0 X15.3
Example for 681 line code at end:

Code: [Select]

N659 G2 X16.0 Z-1.0 I-0.05 K-0.0021
N660 G1 Z-35.0
N661 G2 X15.9935 Z-35.0178 I-0.05 K0.0
N662 G1 X14.1 Z-37.5092
N663 G1 Z-38.955
N664 G1 X15.9105 Z-39.0503
( Finishing )
N665 S800
N666 G0 X17.0
N667 G0 Z0.1
N668 G0 X11.95
N669 G1 F8.0 Z0.0
N670 G1 F8.0 X11.8
N671 G1 F30.0 X13.8
N672 G2 X15.9 Z-1.0 I0.0061 K-1.0449
N673 G1 Z-35.0
N674 G1 X14.0 Z-37.5
N675 G1 Z-39.0
N676 G1 X15.9 Z-39.1
N677 G0 X50.0
N678 G0 Z50.0
N679 M5
N680 M9
N681 M30
If the g-code was 10789 lines long the numbering would start N00001. Like I say simply down for formatting the g-code for myself for easy reading. When the g-code is bug free I remove the numbering.


Usage:
**** You will need the .Net framework 4.5 installed for this to work.
Unzip program, run, choose file, click add or remove line numbers - when happy click Save. If you don't click save the original file won't be changed.

Program reloads last .tap, .NC, .txt file automatically.


Quick and dirty:
This app doesn't use threading - didn't warrant the time being spent on it.
Minimum error checking - make sure the g-code file isn't in use in mach3 or other editor
Source code available if you want it - any bug just message me.

Disclaimer:
At your own risk  - blah blah blah - make backups of your g-code and don't moan to me if you lose a file.

Like I say I knocked it up for my use but you never know - someone might get some use out of it.

Cheers
Rim