Messages

41

General Mach Discussion / cut2d and mach3 says 6" but is it?

« on: September 05, 2014, 11:05:20 AM »

I design a job to be done and make it a work area of 6x4 and a pocket cut of 5x3 choose all the settings for that and tool choice etc.
All in inches, verify and reverify.
Save it to mach3 inches text
hand it over to mach3
load
and whamo...I am watching in frustration as the mill is cutting a 1x1/2 pocket about 1/100th" deep

I checked everything I could and redrew the whole thing on different programs and I still get the same issue.  I even run the projects on mach3 and they do the same thing.
has any one else run into this problem before?

42

General Mach Discussion / Re: I had something for a minute...

« on: September 03, 2014, 06:52:06 AM »

Note to all maxnc 10 open loop mill owners wanting to use mach3.  Do NOT select maxnc open loop setting on the setup screen.  If you have a controller board that is a B or higher (number is on the lower left of your controller board) use the CLOSED LOOP selection!
I tried searching for help with the forums search tool but got nothing.  It took google to find it HERE..lol

Anyhow things are hopeful!

43

General Mach Discussion / Re: I had something for a minute...

« on: September 02, 2014, 07:33:32 PM »

Ok so I did a lot more googling all day.  Found a document totally by accident.  It has me working to a point.  I try to run the .TAP code that comes with MAch3 and get basically no where.  a couple of the files actually act like it wants to cut but it stops (with or with out a tool in the collate and free of the work piece)
I need to get my other software up and running to make a few basic shapes and see if that is the issue.

Still aggravated but at a much lower level.

44

General Mach Discussion / Re: I had something for a minute...

« on: September 02, 2014, 03:29:19 AM »

I guess I am not really quitting.
Not exactally.

I am going to keep looking for help on getting this thing to work.

I can hook up a switch to make the spindle power up and use it manually until then

45

General Mach Discussion / Re: I had something for a minute...

« on: September 01, 2014, 08:46:18 PM »

So far  I have nothing working.
I guess I need to go back to using the DOS software that it came with.  I cant get Mach3 to do anything.  $175 down the toilet...

46

General Mach Discussion / Re: I had something for a minute...

« on: September 01, 2014, 05:57:24 PM »

Thanks for responding.  No, I had already made sure the address was posted into mach and it is.  I haven't worked on it at all today.  been on the cycle all day.

47

General Mach Discussion / I had something for a minute...

« on: August 31, 2014, 04:55:54 PM »

Ok, I hav a maxNC mill.  I have mach3
I have followed the steps start to finish and I at first had a run away spindle that would not do anything but run at max speed.
then I have some control after setting port to ECP
Then I rebooted and now I cant even get the steppers to job.
Now I have no motion no matter what I do.
WTF am I doing wrong?
Or should I just dump it all in the trash?
I am usually not impatient but when I do everything as per steps and get no joy I think I am about at my end.
It's been a week or so and so far I have had nothing but frustration.
How is it some people open the box, install the hardware and are running first thing?
What am I doing wrong?
What am I missing?  
I am going to uninstall the program and then reinstall and start over tonight.
Take it from step one all over again.
If this doesn't work out I am lost.  I have no idea what to do.
I know I cant be that unlucky to have a bad mill and controller.
Someone please at least tell me something.  Can I really be that big of an idiot?

48

Mach3 under Vista / Re: Parallel port missing

« on: August 28, 2014, 10:59:24 AM »

It isn't the cost of the solution its the fact I have to come up with a solution that costs.

This is all my own fault for trying to buy a cheap system using an outdated system and trying to use modern software and equipment to run it.

This information is awesome and I thank you vigorously.

I have one more option I want to explore before I buy a new controller.
I have a win 7 32bit disc someone is letting me have since they never cracked the seal on it yet and making a dual boot win7 64/win 7 32 and since this is a free option I will try it first.  I hope that makes sense.  If it works for this application then I will post it this weekend.  I have about half the components to build a new pc but the 3 parts I need are around $350 even going on the cheaper side.  If all else fails though I definitely need to pick one of those options you offered.

Wish me luck!

And THANK YOU for the help!

49

Mach3 under Vista / Re: Parallel port missing

« on: August 28, 2014, 10:16:29 AM »

Why did I not see that coming.
Ok, thanks for the info and the link.
I should have known that the deal on the cnc mill was going to end up being expensive.......

50

Mach3 under Vista / Re: Parallel port missing

« on: August 27, 2014, 10:07:15 PM »

So what do I need to do?  I went with this assumption that I could.  This is off their website.  What do I need to do to run my mill with Mach3 off this computer? 

Laptop, 32 or 64-bit Desktop – External Motion Controller Only

    An appropriate external motion controller (options can be found on the Plugins page)
    Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8
    1Ghz CPU
    512MB RAM
    Video Card with 32MB RAM(Large G-code files, especially 3D files will require a video card with 512MB RAM or higher)