Messages

2201

General Mach Discussion / Re: Custom plasma probing code?

« on: December 26, 2015, 08:39:35 AM »

someone has just replied over on the sheet cam forum about placing all his touch-off code in a custom macro, the post then only has the one macro call and any changes to switch offset only need making once in the custom code.

trouble is, this was on a linux build, can this be done in a custom mach macro in the same way i.e the g-code calls a custom macro and waits for that macro to do the touch - off???

never done any stuff with macros really.

2202

General Mach Discussion / Re: Custom plasma probing code?

« on: December 26, 2015, 07:22:36 AM »

BTW The idea is to fire an air cylinder to insert a small, very accurate switch under the plasma tip to sense plate height without pressing down on the plate and causing it to deflect.

2203

General Mach Discussion / Re: Custom plasma probing code?

« on: December 26, 2015, 07:05:24 AM »

I think this maybe all done in the post-processor, been playing with code and can do this (lines marked ********* added)

N0210 G00 X36.000 Y17.475 Z15.000
N0220 M900 (Check for Z active)
N0230 M08 (Turn on extract fan)
N0240 M07 (Insert probe switch) ***************
N0250 G28.1 Z3.00 (Start Touch-Off )
N0260 G92 Z0.0
N0270 M09 (Retract probe switch)**************
N0280 G00 Z3.400 (Switch Offset Lift)
N0290 G92 Z0.0
N0300 G00 Z3.8000
N0310 M03
N0320 G01 Z1.500 F1300.0
N0330 S20 (DTHC is ON)
N0340 G01 Y11.475 F4100.0
......

I think that will do it, it retracts the probe before lowering the head to pierce height i think.
Might need some short delays adding but testing will prove that.

Might work?

2204

General Mach Discussion / Custom plasma probing code?

« on: December 26, 2015, 04:50:04 AM »

I'm looking at testing a new initial height sensing method on my plasma table, it currently uses G28.1 I think and the Z-limit as the response input from the floating z switch.

I want to trigger the Aux-B relay before lowering the Z to probe and release Aux-b relay after a good probe.

SO the sequence would be

Probe request,
Trigger Aux-B relay
Lower head until Z-Lim is tripped
Lift head back to safety height
Release Aux-B relay
Lower head to pierce height
Continue to M3 etc

Trouble is, while i can do the mechanicals, i have little knowledge of how to achieve the control in my case.
I can tweak the G-code post processor in sheet cam pretty well though

Any tips?

2205

General Mach Discussion / Re: New PC, what to move from old one?

« on: October 02, 2015, 07:56:48 AM »

You're right (of course)

Just dropped a backup onto the new folder and it worked fine.

Will take a fresh backup tonight of my working setup and deploy that, then i will have two new boxes ready and waiting.

2206

General Mach Discussion / Re: New PC, what to move from old one?

« on: October 02, 2015, 06:52:56 AM »

You will need to copy over teh XML file from your old PC to teh new one.

(;-) TP

I thought i'd prep one of the new pc's just in case - best to have a machine that can be dropped inlace easily i thought


Hmm not quite as simple it seems, I have a customer screen too so i copied all the .set and .xml files in my Mach folder but some of the graphics on the screen are a bit messed up?

It's almost there but not quite.

Is it safe to just drop the whole Mach3 folder from the working machine on top of the new folder or will that corrupt stuff?

2207

General Mach Discussion / Re: New PC, what to move from old one?

« on: October 01, 2015, 02:33:30 PM »

Changes made, took all of 3 minutes!

Will find out soon if it has fixed the issue, my guess is that it will.

Does it affect things like the THC as well??

2208

General Mach Discussion / Re: New PC, what to move from old one?

« on: October 01, 2015, 10:46:24 AM »

Done

2209

General Mach Discussion / Re: New PC, what to move from old one?

« on: October 01, 2015, 09:17:45 AM »

Thanks TP,
it does seem to be some sort of 'secret', i have asked many times and still not got an answer. Another member has confirmed that it was a matter of changing a setting in the DTHC box but even then did not tel me which setting it was !!

Yes - no need to multiplex, I had plenty of pins on the old system, I have lost a bit of faith in CandCNC over this, partially because of the poor response rate - this has been ongoing for some time now

As you said, its a toss-up if changing a pc will affect a repair but I have few options without knowing exactly how to make the torch signal direct not multi.


Dave

2210

General Mach Discussion / New PC, what to move from old one?

« on: October 01, 2015, 04:36:40 AM »

I have a working machine with customised plasma screen set, the LPT port is failing.

It uses the MP3000-DTHC2 from CandCNC which has custom plugins i think.

I guess i need to do a fresh Mach3 install on the new PC first then run the port tester??

Then run the CandCNC installer?

Then copy what exactly from my working setup???