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Messages - Cbyrdtopper

441
Check out this video for setting tools in Mach4 Lathe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDuZWZHVU0s

442
In the control configuration under the homing/softlimits tab.  You can choose the homing direction either Positive or Negative.  It is the first option in that tab.

443
Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Macros for lathe spindle range change
« on: September 15, 2018, 11:36:14 PM »
Okay,
I noticed that GerdS had the "M" capitalized in the macro.  I made it lower cased and it works now.  

Still, What does the P Value do in macros, it can be read by the (hVars) on a macro line?

What other things do people use this for?

444
Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Macros for lathe spindle range change
« on: September 15, 2018, 11:32:23 PM »
I'm curious how the "P" Value is read.  I didn't know you could add a "P" value to a macro line.  

The code that GerdS posted doesn't do anything when I test it.  I'm just running the sim on my laptop.

445
Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Old turret lathe
« on: September 10, 2018, 03:20:33 PM »
Hey Craig,
How do you think one would you move it to the desired positions while G Code is going?
I am going to have a call from the PLC to initiate movement for a tool carousel; but how would you make it move to 3 or 4 positions like Art is wanting. 
I was/am thinking having a function called from the PLC script from a macro in the G Code.  This could trigger the Turret to a rapid position, then that function could fire another function from the PLC that would be the drill cycle, then that would fire the retract function from the PLC.
Thoughts on that?

446
Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Old turret lathe
« on: September 10, 2018, 02:38:25 PM »
Art,
That's true.  We have a turret lathe here at the shop.  Pretty cool machines. 
To do these at the same time... I would look into a PLC function of some kind.  It may have to be broken into parts, but doable.

447
Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Old turret lathe
« on: September 10, 2018, 01:45:03 PM »
Art,
Like Stuart said, you could use an arduino.  Personally I never liked the idea of adding an arduino to a cnc machine, it never seemed like it would be robust to me, I add PLCs to our machines instead.  But that is my opinion.

I'm not sure about drilling while it is machining a profile, doesn't sound like a good idea to me.  But I also don't know your setup and it may be working just fine for you. 

If you use a servo in Mach4 you can write a macro to drill what you want using DROs on the screen to set start, end, and rest positions.   

Have DROs for:
Drill Start Position  (DSP)
Drill End Position   (DEP)
Drill Rest Position  (DRS)
Drill Feed Rate      (DFR)

Your macro can rapid to DSP DRO value then drill to DRE DRO Value at the DFR DRO Value rapid out to DRS DRO Value. 
If you use an OBO Axis you can still monitor axis position.  I figured out how to do that a few months ago.

The only thing you would need to figure out is how to do it while the machine is running your turning operations. 
Just spitballing here.
Write a function to do the drilling ops and call it from the PLC script.  That may allow it to run in the background.  This is just a theory and I don't have time to delve into it this week, we are heading to IMTS in the morning so I won't be able to test this. 
Maybe Craig or Steve can jump in here and see if this is a feasible idea.

448
Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Old turret lathe
« on: September 10, 2018, 10:00:56 AM »
Personally, I would not run 2 computers on one machine.  I would just have the turret either an OBO Axis or make it the Y or A Axis in your Mach4 profile.

Art,
I'm guessing you want the turret to drill or whatever while at the same time your X and Z are machining?

449
No problem.  I did the same thing on a lathe, modified the M6 to move the Z and X to a safe Machine Position.  G30 is also an option.  Check it out if you have time.  But note in the manual, I think the Registers are wrong in the G30 table, but are correct if you search G30 variables at the bottom of the manual.
I'm going to use it for a machine in the shop, I'm tired of the Z Moving all the way up for a tool change when I just need it to go up about 6-8 Inches.

450
http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,37808.0.html
Here is a thread that discusses Work Zeros.

What do you mean by various setups?

Check out Artsoft's Youtube Channel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aRifYB70Mc&t=42s