Messages

181

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Allowing for Tool Numbers in Lathe Canned Cycles

« on: January 13, 2021, 08:28:20 AM »

Where are you getting your canned cycle?
If it is the Mach Motion canned cycles, there is a place to specify what tool you want to use.

182

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Modbus Programming guidance needed

« on: January 04, 2021, 09:46:18 AM »

Thanks Brian,  that’ll be nice to use for other things as well!

183

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Run a lathe and a mill on same computer (not simultaniously)

« on: January 03, 2021, 06:37:07 PM »

I assume so.  I only have a couple machines running the ESS and Mach4. 
As long as you have the plugin in the Mach4 Plugins folder like it is supposed to be it will run on both profiles.
All the settings you save for a machine are saved in the profile.

184

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Run a lathe and a mill on same computer (not simultaniously)

« on: January 03, 2021, 06:25:50 PM »

All the settings are saved inside the profile.  Screens and Configurations are all saved inside the profile. 
Set up your mill and lathe separately and you'll be good to go.

185

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Modbus Programming guidance needed

« on: January 03, 2021, 01:19:22 PM »

Now that’s pretty cool.  I’d love to see how you did that.
I also used a BRX from automation direct. It’s a pretty sweet little PLC. Got the communication setup for it as well.

186

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Fusion 360 and issues with Mach 4 G-Code

« on: January 03, 2021, 12:37:52 PM »

I’m not sure about problem 1. I’ll think on that more.
Problem 2, however, is not a problem; it is doing exactly what G28 is supposed to do.  It moves to the machine zero position. A better option is to use the G30 that I asked autodesk to add to the mach4 post processor.
Setup variables/register 5181,5182,5183 x,y,z positions respectively. Put a machine coordinate position in these #VARS so the machine will move to your desired position instead of the machine home position.   You must put something in these variables or it will act just like G28.
Haas Automation has a good video on this on their YouTube channel. Also, read up on the G28-30 in the mach4 manual.

187

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Modbus Programming guidance needed

« on: January 03, 2021, 12:02:31 PM »

Using a PLC for IO is the best option IMHO. Very stable communication in a robust setup. It’s rather easy to do in Mach4.  All my inputs are in the input configuration. I guess I set it up right long ago lol. I would like a manual of o go over how stuff works together.
Brian, if you need some real word examples of PLC and Mach working together, let me know.

188

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Modbus Programming guidance needed

« on: January 02, 2021, 06:36:33 PM »

Interesting. I always communicate both ways. I never would have thought it would’ve needed that.

189

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Modbus Programming guidance needed

« on: January 02, 2021, 04:57:47 PM »

You can check the state of the coil in the mod is diagnostics. Be sure it is still being turned on.
Make sure that something isn’t forcing the coil off on the PLC ladder side as well 

190

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 Update?

« on: December 21, 2020, 08:07:06 AM »

Just curious; will rigid tapping ever be a thing controlled by Mach4 or will it always be dependent on the motion controller?