Messages

11

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Motion control

« on: September 12, 2023, 09:45:53 AM »

lol Good luck then! 
If you decide to go with Mach4; this forum is a gold mine of information and everyone is very helpful on here!

12

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Motion control

« on: September 12, 2023, 09:36:36 AM »

I saw a machine like that last night while perusing youtube.  Each Spindle moves into cutting position via air cylinder from what I was watching; is that the case here?
This would be easy enough to implement with Mach4.  Might have to get creative on how you want to control each spindle.  If you have a spindle drive with each spindle, you could still run each spindle with separate relays and use the same 0-10v from the motion controller for each spindle. 
Then each tool would have it's own offset in X, Y, and Z; but that can be changed with the Tool Selection to update the offset. 

13

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Motion control

« on: September 11, 2023, 07:46:06 PM »

I’m curious to know what type of machine you have. Mach4 is incredibly capable.

14

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Motion control

« on: September 11, 2023, 03:41:21 PM »

Does each spindle run independently?

15

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Motion control

« on: September 11, 2023, 12:18:26 PM »

Mach4 requires a motion controller to work.  Once you choose a motion controller, you add the plugin to Mach4 to allow it to work with the motion controller you selected.
A cost effective solution is the Smootherstepper (ethernet).  it requires breakout board since there is no screw terminals on the smoothstepper itself, but we have used it in the past.
Currently we use the HiCON from Vital Systems.  More expensive, but it uses 24V logic in stead of 5V, so for us it is more stable, more reliable, and easier to use with the built in screw terminals, relays for spindle control, and analog output for spindle control. 

16

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: problem rotary axis A THC

« on: July 26, 2023, 11:00:43 AM »

This sounds like a plugin issue.  You will probably have to reach out to whoever you are using for your motion controller. 
This is just an assumption as I do have a plasma, but I know that the THC stuff is typically controlled with the Motion Controller.

17

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: 3D Edge Finder procedure query

« on: July 20, 2023, 09:30:00 AM »

I use the exact same tool probe that you have pictured, I actually am using it on 4 machines in the shop.
I set Work Offsets with it, X, Y, & Z! 

https://www.amazon.com/RATTMMOTOR-Automatic-Normally-Setting-Engraving/dp/B08LK93NTC/ref=sr_1_7?crid=22CVGMZGCWA98&keywords=tool+setter+cnc&qid=1689859527&sprefix=tool+setter+cnc%2Caps%2C98&sr=8-7

I use this to set my tool lengths. 

A lot of "Common Practice" is to have a know the stickout of the tool per the gauge line of the toolholder; however, I found it is much easier to just let your tool offset be the machine coordinate position of the tool setter position and let it be what it is.  All I do to get my Z Work Position is to touch off the work piece with whatever tool I want and add the work offset to that machine position, so if I'm using the Tool Probe in a macro, just add the Tool Probe's Length Offset to the current machine position at the point at which you want your Z Zero.
Then as a quick sanity check, the offset should be the distance between the tool setter and the work piece.  So if your material is 1.25" above the tool setter, your offset should be 1.25".
You have to have a known Machine 0 for all of this to work, so make sure you have a reliable way of homing your Z axis at least.
About as clear as mud I'm sure... but it works well for me on my Mach4 Machines as well as the '01 Hass I run almost daily. 
I then set up a tool length offset for the tool probe as well.

18

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 plasma reverse cut and resume cut question

« on: June 30, 2023, 10:22:05 AM »

You can use "Run From Here".
Its a bit quirky to figure out; but it works well.
Just find that line of code you want to start at and hit "Run From Here"
It has been a while since I've used it, but it will move to some position before that point and get the machine ready to start cutting from that point.

19

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: 4th of July

« on: June 30, 2023, 10:19:42 AM »

Thanks Bill!  You as well!

20

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Tool back into the tool magazine?

« on: June 05, 2023, 08:26:26 AM »

I made a tool change program that would put the tool up when you call and T0M6.  So Mach4 will read Tool 0.  Just put a conditional if selectedtool == 0 then...
But you should also be sure that you pick up the next tool correctly.  You don't want your carousel to move forward into the spindle expecting to grab a tool to put away... you need to have your spindle move up first (assuming it is an umbrella type tool changer).  if currentool == o then.....
As far as calling your T0M6 from a macro, I'm not sure you can do that.  You can try it; put an mc.mccntlmdiexecute("inst", CODE).
But I would probably just put the T0M6 on the block above the M30.