Messages

781

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Optional Stop Output

« on: March 06, 2017, 05:12:57 PM »

rhtuttle,
Thanks for pointing that out, I forgot that was even in there.

782

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Optional Stop Output

« on: March 06, 2017, 04:53:27 PM »

I just thought of this, could I set up a new M01 macro putting out the code I would like?  In it I could even check for the state of M01 so it can still be an optional stop.

783

Mach4 General Discussion / Optional Stop Output

« on: March 06, 2017, 04:49:28 PM »

So, between our drill and tap cycle we have an M01 optional stop.  To let the operators know it is ready for the tap I want the indicator to turn on.  I noticed Mach 4 has an Optional Stop output, this output does not do what I expected.
I thought it would go active while there was an Optional Stop in affect; instead, it goes active while the Optional Stop is enabled.  I even used a macro to set the optional stop to see if it did anything different:  mc.mcCntlSetOptionalStop(inst, 1) it behaves the same.
Is there a way to get the handle on an Optional Stop in affect instead of it just being enabled?
 

784

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: How does G31 Behave?

« on: March 03, 2017, 07:47:26 PM »

Okay,  I didn't realize that probing was in the controller.  I'm using the Hicon Intefra controller, So I'll check with the Hicon forum and see what I can find on the probing.  As well as the manual.
And a "Protected Move" sounds exactly like what I'm looking for.   I'm gonna check out the log and see what's going on behind the scenes.   Always good to understand how things work!   
 Thanks for the input!

785

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Preload-Tool Macro

« on: March 03, 2017, 07:40:06 PM »

Yes!   It's great!  =)  This is an older Hurco, but man it's heavy duty!!

786

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Preload-Tool Macro

« on: March 03, 2017, 06:23:10 PM »

Videos are fun.  Here is the end of the tool change and the start of the next tool.  Shows the prechanger working great. 

https://youtu.be/8Bj_U1tUhTo

ENJOY!

787

Mach4 General Discussion / How does G31 Behave?

« on: March 03, 2017, 05:38:12 PM »

Just completed a Hurco VMC using Mach4.  Everything we needed to work has worked excellent so far except for this Probe command.  I have used G31 in Mach 3 and from my experience motion stops when the probe is touched.  Is that the case in Mach 4?
What I was hoping to do was Create a Macro do run before a tool change that does the following:
I'm checking to see if our drills are broken before it starts the tapping cycle.
G91 G31 Z -#
if probe is triggered:  Continue to tool change
else:  message box (tool is broken)

Here is the code I tested and the result:  
G91 G31 Z -2.00 F10  --> Result (During the move I manually triggered the Probe switch):  It fed down 2in and did not stop when the probe was triggered.  

On other machines I use a macro that rapids down to an absolute position, this position is an input by the operator in a DRO that the Macro reads.  However, sometimes operators will change tool lengths and not update the DRO so we end up with a lot of broken switches.  This is why I want to use G31 so it will stop if the probe is triggered and not keep feeding down to break stuff.    
Is G31 the way to accomplish this or is there a simpler way?

788

HiCON Motion Controller / Re: Disable Dereferences my axis

« on: March 03, 2017, 05:22:11 PM »

Hey Marc,
Thanks for the reply!  My screen is oriented in Portrait, and for some reason it cuts off  some of the Hicon Plugin Config window, however, I could read "Dere..." on the right side of my screen, so I unchecked that box assuming that was it and it worked.  Now Mach is behaving almost how I want it to.  It still dereferences the Axis when I use the Ref All button, but when I just home them individually it keeps them referenced when I Toggle Mach enable state.  This I can live with no problem!!
Thanks for the help! 

789

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Preload-Tool Macro

« on: March 03, 2017, 05:17:49 PM »

Steve, I've been wanting to add the Preload function to our mill for weeks now, today I finally jumped in and did it, it took all of 5 minutes with your "T" macro you posted on this topic.  It works great.
I'm talking to the Click PLC via Modbus Register.  Here is the code I'm using, hopefully someone else can get some use out of it.  =)

--Hurco Pocket Preload
function t(tool)

local inst = mc.mcGetInstance()
local Requested = mc.mcToolGetSelected(inst)
local Current = mc.mcToolGetCurrent(inst)

local tonumber ToolNum = Requested
local Pocket = mc.mcToolGetData (inst, mc.MTOOL_MILL_POCKET, ToolNum)
local DS2 = mc.mcRegGetHandle(inst,"Click/Requested Car Pos")
mc.mcRegSetValue(DS2,Pocket)

mc.mcCntlSetLastError(inst, "Preload Complete.")

end --t

if (mc.mcInEditor() == 1) then
 t()
end

Thanks again Steve!

790

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Preload-Tool Macro

« on: March 03, 2017, 11:54:52 AM »

+1 more for the Click
I'm using the Click for the tool changer on a mill here at the shop, as well as 90% of my I/O.  Easy to use and easy to setup modbus with Mach4.  I'm using the ethernet click for the speed on the I/O.