Messages

31

VB and the development of wizards / Auto Tool Zero Keyboard shortcut

« on: September 01, 2015, 03:10:43 PM »

Hey all,

Any one know how to set up a keyboard shortcut for starting the auto tool zero?  Holding the touch off plate with my right hand and running the mouse to click the auto zero button is a pain.  Would like to just be able to click Alt>L or Alt>Num Pad 1 or pretty much anything similar with my left hand. 

Here is the current script for the button:

Rem   

FeedCurrent = GetOemDRO(818)    'Get the current settings, OEM DROs (818)=Feedrate DRO
ZCurrent = GetOemDro(802)   'OEM DROs (802)=Z DRO
GageH = GetOEMDRO(1001)   'OEMDRO(1001)=Gage Block Height
ZNew = ZCurrent - 20      'probe down 20

Code "G90F10"         'slow feed rate to 10 IN/MIN
Rem Code "G4 P0.5"         'Pause 1 second to give time to position probe plate
Code "G31 Z" &ZNew
While IsMoving()
Sleep(10)
Wend
Call SetDro (2,GageH)      'DRO(2)=Z DRO

FinalMove = GageH + .25
Code  "G0 Z" &FinalMove
Code "F" &FeedCurrent        'restore starting feed rate   

Thanks, for any input.

32

General Mach Discussion / Re: XHC Mach3 4-axis control card

« on: August 13, 2015, 01:39:47 PM »

Ah and again I post.

The motor startup M3 issue occurred just now, seconds after I posted my last message.  The Gcode scrolls by until it hits M3.  The motor shudders off and on several times (relay not closing fully) and the message "Is the XPod inserted OK? It has ceased to respond."  Still don't fully blame the XHC board, it may be the relay itself.  Just have to do some figuring.  Just frustrating having to keep my fingers crossed when M3 scrolls by. 

33

General Mach Discussion / Re: XHC Mach3 4-axis control card

« on: August 13, 2015, 01:33:08 PM »

And another issue with the XHC board.  When jogging you can press an arrow, then another, then page up, but...if you let go of one button, the other two axes stop.  For example... press +X and it moves, then while moving, press +Y and then while moving, press page up (+Z).  Well, if you decide you have moved enough in +Z and let go of the page up key, the other two axes stop requiring you to repress the arrow buttons.  No finger dancing on the keyboard to jog.  Just a quirk that takes some getting used to, then again there probably isn't a CNC component of any sort that works like it ought to, be it interface boards or software or whatever. 

CNC seems to be more of an exercise in tolerance.  Tolerance in measuring as well as tolerance for quirks. 

34

General Mach Discussion / Re: XHC Mach3 4-axis control card

« on: August 13, 2015, 12:30:06 PM »

I have the XHC 3 axis board.  Just purchased from Automation Technologies back in May and have it hooked up to my Taig mill and using Mach3. 

Initial setup was difficult due to initially receiving bad plugins.  The link to download the latest version was down (still is as I am typing this post) so I had to call them directly and have them email me the correct plugins. 

I have an issue currently that happens 10% of the time at motor start where the Mach3 status line at the bottom of the screen will give me a message that the XHC board is not connected and the mill will then stop completely.  Have to reset Mach3 or less frequently close and reopen Mach3.  I suspect that it may be noise or a bad motor relay that causes this and it only has occurred right at M3.  I haven't pegged blame on the XHC board. 

I have a Leafboy77 board on the laser and it has been so far totally bulletproof.  If the XHC board ends up being bad, I will replace it with the Leafboy77 board, it will be a direct swap in and out swap. 

35

General Mach Discussion / Re: Art Code 8877

« on: May 29, 2015, 09:05:21 PM »

Got the Art Code 8877 (also 9991 btw) issue fixed, as suspected, ended up being the plugin for the breakout board was way outdated.  Latest version that Automation Technologies emailed be worked, so far.  I told them the link to download the new plugins was down, (404 error) and it still is down even now.  Glad the emailed one worked. 

36

General Mach Discussion / Re: Art Code 8877

« on: May 25, 2015, 01:39:30 PM »

Yeah, I emailed them a pretty lengthy explanation, so hopefully I'll get a fix.  I'll be sure to post it here as well.

37

General Mach Discussion / Re: Art Code 8877

« on: May 24, 2015, 10:33:15 PM »

Yeah, could very well be.  I am a little suspect of that fact especially since I cannot download it from their webpage, goes to a 404 error.

38

General Mach Discussion / Re: Art Code 8877

« on: May 24, 2015, 10:03:56 PM »

Ger21,

I found the older versions, tried 62, 60 and 59, all yielded the same exact result. 

39

General Mach Discussion / Re: Art Code 8877

« on: May 24, 2015, 09:44:53 PM »

Hey Ger21,

Don't really want to go back in time, sure the older versions have their glitches and bugs that were hopefully solved by the latest version. 

40

General Mach Discussion / Art Code 8877

« on: May 24, 2015, 08:46:39 PM »

Hey everyone,

This Art Code 8877 has been brought up before, have looked at the other posts, but some are quite old and wondering if anyone can shed some more light on the subject. 

Got a new PC, Windows 7, 64-bit, just downloaded latest Mach3 today.  Hooked via USB to a XHC-MK4 breakout board (with power supplied as well) purchased from Automation Technologies.  That is as far as I have gotten building a setup for a Taig.  Promise was made by them that following the instructions, this would be plug and play.  Only thing plug and play these days is maybe a cell phone charger plugged into the USB port.

Instructions (Chinglish) were to copy NCusbPod.dll into the plugins folder.  Easy.  Once that was done, open Mach 3 Loader, select Mill or Mach3Mill (what's the difference?) select NCusbPod-XHC-Mach3-USB-Motion Card, "don't as me this again" button and OK.  Count to 10 and the "Error Found, Art Code 8877" message appears.  Happens every time. 

Have renamed plugins folder and made a new plugins folder with only the NCusbPod.dll file in it.  Made no difference.  Tried another computer, (Windows 7 32-bit), and get exactly the same result. 

Emailed their tech support, hopefully will get an answer.  Was going to go with the Leafboy77 board, I already have one running the laser with absolutely no issues except for the usual annoying Mach3 quirks that you have to overlook, not related to the card at all.  Wanted to buy the card but was convinced by the sales guy that the MX4 card had more capabilities.  Whatever. 

Considered Mach4, but seems hardware is very limited and wary of having to cram and learn Mach4 and want to stick with what I know now.

Please let me know what you all think.