Messages

41

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach 4 scaling and keyboard button mapping

« on: March 28, 2020, 11:07:57 PM »

LAST UPDATE---Figured out the "looping" problem and I can now scale any axis by simply entering the value in to the DRO's and they will scale just like you could do in mach 3. When  I select regen tool path it will resize the picture on the tool path table as well as update the extents.

What would it take for me to have MACH4 Feel like MACH 3 Relative to changing the Axis scale percentage in a box next to the axis DRO

42

Post Processors / Re: Laser postprocessor

« on: December 16, 2019, 09:35:32 AM »

Correction,

"I’m leaning towards the brand." 

should have read.

"I’m leaning towards the Glowforge brand."

Chuck

43

Post Processors / Re: Laser postprocessor

« on: December 16, 2019, 02:16:56 AM »

I’ve considered the K40 Chinese machines but would prefer getting something that’s more turnkey

Hi Chuck,

Unfortunately the quality of the mechanics (and the optics) of the K40 is very low (it is manufactured to a price) and they are better avoided if you can.

Tweakie.

Hi Tweakie,
I’m hearing similar things on the K40. Plus the software doesn’t sound very good either.

I’m leaning towards the brand.  Their machines seems to get good reviews, they have three models.

Cheers,
Chuck

44

Post Processors / Re: Laser postprocessor

« on: December 15, 2019, 10:20:16 AM »

Hi
you mean you are using an external physical potentiometer??
and if so, what value would that be?  also, I'm guessing it's a LINEAR POT right?

Hi Tweakie,
Yes, it is an external linear potentiometer.

It varies the voltage going into the laser power supply between 0  and 5 V DC.. this sets  Laser Power from 0 to 100%.

On my machine, I tried using your suggestion of using a 74LS00 NAND Gate, but because my laser Tube is fixed vertically on my machine and the heavy xy mill table moves, I elected not to do raster engraving on the this machine that I originally set up for cutting.

I’m looking for a  laser engraving machine more like the one you built for doing Raster engraving.

I’ve considered the K40 Chinese machines but would prefer getting something that’s more turnkey

Chuck

45

Post Processors / Re: Laser postprocessor

« on: December 14, 2019, 09:22:00 PM »

I do not have a special screen for my laser. I use the same screen that I have for a 4 axis  milling machine.

 Prior to the cut I set the percent laser power using a potentiometer.

Everything else is controlled by the post processed Gcode file.

You could use the M 10 and M 11 to turn your water jet on and off and set the pressure similar to the way I set my laser power.

Fusion 360 has a very good post processor for water jets, Laser and Plasma Cutter‘s. It allows Lead in and lead outs which the subject post processor does not accommodate.

Are you using MACH3 or 4?

Chuck

46

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: % axis movement in MACH4

« on: December 11, 2019, 09:16:41 AM »

Thanks Craig, I was not aware of G51

47

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: % axis movement in MACH4

« on: December 10, 2019, 01:37:53 PM »

Thanks Craig,

I was hoping MACH4  had the same % features as MACH 3.

I have a small tabletop mill at the house, 12 inch X travel. I use that mill to test programs I run on my larger mill and laser just to make sure everything is working right. It's very convenient to simply change the percentage MACH3 and use the exact same G code on the larger machines run at 100%

Chuck

48

Mach4 General Discussion / % axis movement in MACH4

« on: December 10, 2019, 12:25:28 PM »

In MACH 3, a part could be built smaller or larger than the designed part by changing the percentage of the axis movement.

How is this done in MACH 4? 

ie, in MACH 3, a part could be built half size by changing X, Y, and Z  to 50%

Thanks,
Chuck

49

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: MACH 4 screen contrast

« on: December 03, 2019, 01:45:31 PM »

Thanks, most likely my problem,

8 was  highest I have tried

Chuck

Swifty,

That did it, solved my problem.

I would’ve never have thought line width change increments would be 50 when the initial default number was 1

I ended up using 100 for the toolpath and 200 or the axes, looks great

Thanks,
Chuck

50

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: MACH 4 screen contrast

« on: December 03, 2019, 07:19:46 AM »

Thanks, most likely my problem,

8 was  highest I have tried

Chuck