Messages

61

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Units/Rev readout in Mach4?

« on: December 07, 2022, 09:11:20 AM »

This is from 2019 when I stole the idea from our Haas controller.
But this should point you in the right direction.
https://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php?topic=39225.msg263622#msg263622

https://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php?topic=46235.msg292588#msg292588

Also, the info and link Craig provided is highly useful!

62

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: PLC Inputs

« on: December 05, 2022, 09:39:20 AM »

The syntax you have reminds me of when I first started with Mach4.... Try this instead.
[mc.ISIG_INPUT1] = function (state)
if (state == 1) then   
        CycleStart()
end,

This the function as State instead of On_Off. 

I'm with Craig, I would think the signal would fire when it changes state, not just the trailing edge of the signal.  But... lets exhaust all options.

63

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Use 2 mcSignalWait

« on: October 31, 2022, 04:29:41 PM »

That is a question for someone else smarter than me.  I did not delve further into this since I did not have to worry about the issue you are describing. 
Our of curiosity, how much time would you be saving to do this?  Is it actually worth you doing this?   I'm just asking... meaning no offense by the question.  I have wasted quite a bit of time trying to do things, when in reality... by the time I got to the machine to resolve an issue, the time saved or the process that I've set up was really not worth the time I spent because of the downtime of the machine waiting on ME rather than waiting on ITSELF. 

64

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Use 2 mcSignalWait

« on: October 31, 2022, 03:06:44 PM »

Can you not just check for jammed gears after the gear change?
If you first change gears and there is no timeout, then check for jammed gears.
Or does it check for jammed gears while it is changing gears?
If so, you could set something in the PLC Script up....
If it is in a gear change routine, set a flag (I use # variables) to 1 and in your PLC script, if that flag is set to 1 then check for the jammed gears signal... if it goes true (jammed gears) then initiate an e stop and set a message flag.  From there, just let the macro signal wait timer timeout and then call a macro stop and a message based on either jammed gears or just a timeout. 

65

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: any way to limit how far axis travels during homing?

« on: October 13, 2022, 02:39:37 PM »

I use the HiCON Integra for my motion controller.  Although I don't know the specifics of how the motion controller handles homing... I know that soft limits have to be ignored.  My soft limit for all my axis wouldn't allow me to hit the home switch on most of the machines in the shop.
If you made a "Load Position" button.  Take that code, make it a function, and call it in the Ref All Script before continuing the homing sequence.

66

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: IMTS 2022

« on: September 16, 2022, 09:05:48 PM »

Yeah for real!  I had to keep my gun in the car while we were in Chicago… what good will that do me.  Oh well.
Me and my dad went Tuesday and Wednesday.  It was a great show.  Glad we were able to go.

67

Mach4 General Discussion / IMTS 2022

« on: September 08, 2022, 04:58:45 PM »

Anyone going to IMTS 2022 next week?

68

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Offset cutting in Mach4 cnc router

« on: August 29, 2022, 09:24:30 AM »

You can use Cutter Compensation to achieve this. 
Page 76 and Page 77 of the Mill G Code Programming Manual will tell you how to do this. 
When you call up your tool, you can activate cutter comp with either G41 or G42.  If you are climb milling then use G41, if you are conventional milling then use G42 since you are profiling the outside of this cross it looks like.  See Page 77 for more details.  The manual is located in the Mach4 Folder and then in the Docs folder.
Put the G41/G42 on the first line of your G1 feed move; this will activate cutter comp.  Once you finish the profile, use a G40 to cancel the cutter compensation.
You will notice in the manual that there are two ways to apply a specific amount of cutter compensation; using D or P.  Using D, you will use the tool number you are using to machine this part; Example:  D5 if you are using tool 5.  You will have to put the tool diameter in the "Diameter"   section of the tool table.  If you want to cut more, then you will make the tool diameter smaller in the tool table. Example:  0.125" endmill --> make it 0.123" to cut more. 
Using P, you will just put tool diameter with the desired adjustment.  Example:  G41 P 0.123" G01 X## Y##

69

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Physical home switches with linear encoders

« on: August 17, 2022, 08:53:01 AM »

I was going to suggest something similar to what Craig said, looking at the unit itself.  Some servo units that use absolute encoders have their own homing process that they can do internally, all they need is an input to tell it to start.  If you can do that with the servo drive, you may be able to home the motor with the unit and then have Mach use the home in place feature once you get a complete signal from the servo drive unit.

70

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: How to link external controller and tool number?

« on: August 14, 2022, 01:40:08 PM »

I get it.
We have 5 mills with Mach and 5 lathes with Mach.  They understand to check the tool before hand.  And if they stop the tool change, it usually requires me or my brother to reset it anyway, so we check to be sure it is good to go.
Post your code in here as well, if you don’t mind, let’s get a wealth of knowledge up in this forum!