Messages

51

General Mach Discussion / Re: Limit switch issues

« on: December 26, 2015, 02:36:47 AM »

btw: just want to point out: you all can go over to this thread and ream the guy for not learning the software...

http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,24597.0.html

52

Mach3 under Vista / Re: Windows 8 and Mach 3

« on: December 26, 2015, 02:26:20 AM »

I got slapped pretty hard in another thread for commenting on the shortcomings of MACH3 but this is a PERFECT example of a "short coming"....

Just about every other app written in the last 15 years, when they say MINIMUM requirements, that's the MINIMUM that is required to operate the program. If you have a pc that is BETTER than the minimum, the app will run fine....will run better than fine in fact....

So in actuality, those aren't the MINIMUM requirements, those ARE the requirements.......furthermore, how "good" is a program that can only operate on an outdated and unsupported operating system? I know, it can run under vista, but how long is Microsoft going to support that?

53

General Mach Discussion / Re: Limit switch issues

« on: December 26, 2015, 02:19:38 AM »

btw: I updated to the current version and I STILL don't have a recently used file list...so I'd really like to know how one obtains this basic feature.....

54

General Mach Discussion / Re: Limit switch issues

« on: December 26, 2015, 02:07:23 AM »

Ok, I watched the video as suggested by one of the other posters which tried to explain the difference between machine coordinates and work coordinates (I think they call it work offsets for some reason).

I when into my homing limits as the video stated and no matter what I typed in, they didn't relate to the table view on the program run screen...my machine is 24 x 48 and I typed in zero as one parameter and 24 as the other for x....the table view showed it as a negative size totally unrelated to the numbers I typed in. And no, it wasn't metric because the size shown wasn't even CLOSE to 24 mm or 24 cm....so I reversed the values and again, it was totally unrelated to the actual size of the table.

In addition, I set the Z axis values...again, as was instructed, I set the zero at the top by the homing switch, and 7 1/2" at the bottom had no effect.

As indicated in the video the ONLY way to change or set machine co-ordinates is to ref all home....when I do that z zeros to the top (sets off the homing switch) then the Y starts to home, and instead of it travelling 49" to the other end, I stop it, then the Z rams itself into the top of the axis trying to move the z axis to the top of my house...instead of allowing it to destroy my machine, I hit the e stop.....

When setting the parameters in the homing limits, it states "values are in the setting units" how do you determine what the settings units are? The ONLY place I can see where units are discussed is under config and native units but this says it only applies to motor tuning.....

btw: I checked the limit switches, they all light up the LED in the diagnostics screen....

Under engine config, ports and pins, the column "active low" are all x'd out...the video says "this isn't good" but I am lax to change it because if it has anything to do with wiring, this could cause some burning/shorting and I can't afford to have my machine go down while I replace electronics.....so can anyone confirm if switching these to "yes" will or will not cause any physical damage?

55

General Mach Discussion / Re: Limit switch issues

« on: December 25, 2015, 10:40:51 PM »

I think you hit the nail on the head when you said you had no idea of what you are doing and it does not seem that you want to make the effort to learn. Many thousands HAVE made the effort and now enjoy a really cool hobby.

Did you REALLY believe the sales hipe of plug in plug and professional sales people?  Here is a hint NOT everything on the internet is the truth. There are just as many shysters on it as there were 100 years ago in any other sales market.

AND Mach3 DOES have a recent file list (;-).

BTW: I've been trying for 6 years to "learn" and before you get all up in my face about not being able to "learn" as I've said, I've taught myself autocad (started with release 2), coreldraw, 3d studio, vectric aspire, mastercam, and about 1000 other applications....I was using computers when 4 mb of memory was HUGE and a 20 mb hard drive was the norm...and built them from scratch then too.....but you know the difference? Most of those applications were written with the USER in mind....you know, to make it EASIER for the USER to learn.....and you know something BIG? Autocad evolved...and their help files stopped using "jargon" so now when you do a search when you have a problem, you can find the answer and it is written in plain english.....

56

General Mach Discussion / Re: Limit switch issues

« on: December 25, 2015, 10:36:26 PM »

Oh, btw, Makerbot uses modern technology and sells a unit that someone who has never touched a CNC let alone operated one had it up and running fine in a day....makes you think doesn't it?

Nope.
Makerbot, and the many others like it, are toys, designed for people with no CNC experience. They lack a large portion of the functionality that Mach3 provides, because it's too difficult for their target audience, and because their programmers don't appear to know all that much about CNC.  All these guys are doing is reinventing the wheel.

so, reinventing the wheel and what is wrong with that? are you driving around your car with wooden spoked wheels with iron bands? No...reinventing and IMPROVING the wheel is what they are doing.....

BTW: why are you all so defensive? do you have a vested interest in Mach3 or something? The way you're acting is like I personally insulted your wife or daughter....

57

General Mach Discussion / Re: Limit switch issues

« on: December 25, 2015, 10:32:27 PM »

I think you hit the nail on the head when you said you had no idea of what you are doing and it does not seem that you want to make the effort to learn. Many thousands HAVE made the effort and now enjoy a really cool hobby.

Did you REALLY believe the sales hipe of plug in plug and professional sales people?  Here is a hint NOT everything on the internet is the truth. There are just as many shysters on it as there were 100 years ago in any other sales market.

AND Mach3 DOES have a recent file list (;-).

No reason to personally attack me, am I personally attacking you? no....btw, I have plenty of experience as an operator of cncs for the past 15 years....I have also built from scratch computers long before plug and play. I've had to set master/slave pins on hard drives and configure IRQs....internal jumpers and all sorts of things....

Sorry, my mach 3 does NOT have a recent file list.....

See, you nailed it "hobby" I'm a professional. I earn a living on my CNC and do not have the time to spend dealing with all the issues and if you deny their are issues, then you should call yourself Cleopatra...because she was also the Queen of De Nile......

If Mach3 is so perfect, then how do you explain the thousands of posts regarding issues? and why are they even bothering to write Mach4? Maybe because, well, there ARE issues?

BTW: I did buy a complete ready to run system....and other than design flaws, the machine has worked fine...it is the SOFTWARE that is the issue.

I mean seriously, apply Mach3 to just about any other product you purchase and would YOU buy those products? For example: do you have a car? how would you like to show up at the Ford dealer to pick up your 2015 mustang GT, get handed the keys, go to start it and find nothing happens...ask the salesman: what's going on? Oh you have to program the computer to show whether you want maximum horsepower, maximum torque, top speed or acceleration....here's a 25 page manual on how to do it....after a week of messing around you go to start it again...nothing happens..."oh you have to program the computer to set up the transmission...do you want to set it up for acceleration? top speed? here's 20 pages on how to do it....go to start it again....nothing happens...what's wrong now? Oh you change the setting on the transmission now you have to go back to the main computer and change those to reflect the same choices you did on the transmission.....

yeah, you'd accept that wouldnt' you?

BTW: I also wrote operational and installation manuals in a previous job....and I got compliments all the time because they were easy to follow and weren't filled with "jargon".....

In addition, NONE of you would buy a printer that you had to do all this just to get it to work AND sorry, 10 years ago plug and play was created and has worked pretty much flawlessly since....you can buy pretty much any pc based scanner, printer, tablet, monitor, usb stick, smart phone, webcam and plug it in, turn it on, and you are away to the races...

58

General Mach Discussion / Re: Limit switch issues

« on: December 25, 2015, 03:48:47 PM »

Built my CNC out of old scrap parts, didn't know the first thing about CNC, let alone the stuff that drives it. Came across Mach3, bingo, my machine up and running with no issues including soft limits, limit switches and home switches. If you don't like Mach3 move on, stop disrespecting Art and the guys who have put a considerable amount of time, money and effort into this product WHICH WORKS........................................rant over, have a merry christmas

good on you, seriously....I've been dealing with trying to get mine to work PROPERLY since the day I got it....maybe the problem is I relied on a supposedly professional company to produce a product without flaws (I'm referring to the machine maker here) since I didn't have a clue on how to build one.......

As for Art and the time effort and money to make something that works.....ahem....a Lada works too.....I mean, if it is so great, why are their how many thousands of pages here of people who are having issues? I mean, really....a REAL man can admit his mistakes and take steps to correct them.....I mean really, every computer app in the past 35 years has a apply, a cancel, and or ok button AND a little x in the upper corner of the window...does Mach? Nope...some do, some don't....and I mean, how about a "recently used file list"?

But we're getting WAY off topic here.....

59

General Mach Discussion / Re: Limit switch issues

« on: December 25, 2015, 03:05:15 PM »

You nailed it: the cnc world hasn't changed for the past 50 years....I rest my case. Every other industry has...(changed and become simpler and more user friendly).

Imagine how many printers would be sold if they used the same system that Mach 3 does?  I'd say about 1% as many as are....

Oh, btw, Makerbot uses modern technology and sells a unit that someone who has never touched a CNC let alone operated one had it up and running fine in a day....makes you think doesn't it?

60

General Mach Discussion / Re: Limit switch issues

« on: December 25, 2015, 12:30:57 PM »

"One thing you must understand about CNC is that the machine is basically as dumb as a box of rocks." truer words have never been spoken my friend! lol I learned that a LONG time ago....

My biggest issue with CNC and Mach3 in particular, is this is one area that never caught on to the KISS idea of life....(keep it simple stupid)....just about every other industry learned long ago that to progress, they had to drop the "trade talk" terminology that was like greek to everyone else....Take the auto industry: they don't call the things that stop your car: hydraulic lever actuated rotational halting devices, they call them brakes.

The thing that kills me the most about Mach3? The fact that you can hit "start" to start your program run...AND THE CNC ISN'T ACTUALLY TURNED ON! LOL....I haven't tried it, but I bet Mach3 will run, even if a CNC isn't connected to the computer!

(rant over lol)

The thing that kills me too about the "limit" switches? you shouldn't be able to jog PAST the limit switch once the limit is set. No ifs ands or buts about it. That is why the limit switch is there. Or does that make too much sense? Kind of like the rotational movement halting devices on your car.....if you press the brake pedal to stop the car the car stops. If you press harder you can blow all the hydraulic lines in the system OR force the pads through the disc and sheer the wheel assembly right off your vehicle....