Messages

11

General Mach Discussion / Trying to find how many times a second Mach3 polls the THC inputs On/Up/Dwn?

« on: January 15, 2017, 06:18:38 AM »

I would have guess this must have been asked before but 3 searches later and a read of posts and I have not got may answer,

It ios based on Kernel speed like an interrupt based at 25K per second or the 100ms i.e. 10 times a second going off another figure I have noted.

It is just to help me work out a bit more on my settings of thc speed that is all.

Thanks

Adrian

12

General Mach Discussion / Re: Getting error on load G-code, think I may have screwed up something radio to end

« on: January 07, 2017, 08:15:29 PM »

OK I have managed to get somewhere!

There is a thread on here started by Hood, so started to pick code from posts within there and have a play.

https://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,33723.0.html

I have changed the M800 Macro I use to find top of work from:
' Find Zero
' Initial try
' APH
Code ("G31 Z-30 F200")
' Wait for movement to complete
While (IsMoving())
' Sleep, so other threads can run while we wait
Sleep(100)
Wend
Code ("G92 Z-1.4")
Sleep(100)
GotoSafeZ
' Wait for movement to complete
While (IsMoving())
' Sleep, so other threads can run while we wait
Sleep(100)
Wend
' End

To initially

' To find top of work and not screw ARC's
' Lots of tries
' APH
Code "G31 Z-30.0 F200" 'probe surface
' Wait for movement to complete
While (IsMoving())
' Sleep, so other threads can run while we wait
Sleep(100)
Wend
ZprobePos = GetVar(2002) 'get contact point
Code "G0 Z" &ZprobePos 'return to point to remove overshoot
' Wait for movement to complete
While (IsMoving())
' Sleep, so other threads can run while we wait
Sleep(100)
Wend
Call SetOEMDRO(802, 0) 'Set Z DRO = 0.00
' Wait for movement to complete
' While (IsMoving())
' Sleep, so other threads can run while we wait
' Sleep(100)
' Wend
Code "G0 Z 1.8" 'remove head travel
While IsMoving()
' Sleep, so other threads can run while we wait
Sleep(100)
Wend
Call SetOEMDRO(802,0) 'Set Z DRO = 0.00
' Wait for movement to complete
While (IsMoving())
' Sleep, so other threads can run while we wait
Sleep(100)
Wend
Code "G0 Z 10"
' Wait for movement to complete
While (IsMoving())
' Sleep, so other threads can run while we wait
Sleep(100)
Wend
' End  


To a final of:

' To find top of work and not screw ARC's
' Lots of tries
' APH
Code "G31 Z-30.0 F400" 'probe surface
' Wait for movement to complete
While (IsMoving())
' Sleep, so other threads can run while we wait
Sleep(100)
Wend
ZprobePos = GetVar(2002) 'get contact point
Code "G0 Z" &ZprobePos 'return to point to remove overshoot
' Wait For movement To complete
While (IsMoving())
' Sleep, so other threads can run While we wait
Sleep(100)
Wend
Call SetOEMDRO(802, -1.80) 'Set Z DRO = 0.00
Code "G0 Z 10.0"
' Wait for movement to complete
While (IsMoving())
' Sleep, so other threads can run while we wait
Sleep(100)
Wend
' End

The few lines

ZprobePos = GetVar(2002) 'get contact point
Code "G0 Z" &ZprobePos 'return to point to remove overshoot
' Wait For movement To complete
While (IsMoving())
' Sleep, so other threads can run While we wait

have meant I could speed up the feed and still keep the accuracy.

It looks like Mach3 does not like the use of G92 or GotoSafeZ()

I have no idea why but for now it is working and loading files without giving any error message of Radius to end of Arc differs from radius to start, and the tool path now loads.

It is 01:14 in the morning. Night all

Adrian

13

General Mach Discussion / Re: Getting error on load G-code, think I may have screwed up Arc radius to end?

« on: January 07, 2017, 04:02:02 PM »

OK a few more tests and the line
N0135 G90
or
N0135 G90.1
or
N0135 G91
or
N0135 G91.1
did not change the error.

What I also tried is removing the line N0090 M800 and that moved the error to N260.

So it must be to do with the G92 Z-1.4 code snippet I have in there??

Trying to see how the top of work M800 is causing an issue somehow.

Adrian

P.S. If a mod can change the title line to read  "Getting error on load G-code, think I may have screwed up Arc radius to end?"

I would appreciate it, looks like I have gone past the limit to correct it.

14

General Mach Discussion / Re: Getting error on load G-code, think I may have screwed up something radio to end

« on: January 07, 2017, 03:14:40 PM »

Hello Craig.

I must admit, I am finding it all hard to understand I have never used anything but basic Gcode.

I appreciate it must be to do with Arc but what I do not know what i will have a read and try what you suggest as N0135.

Adrian

15

General Mach Discussion / Re: Getting error on load G-code, think I may have screwed up something radio to end

« on: January 07, 2017, 12:31:19 PM »

Thought I would save a copy of the general config screen in Mach3

Adrian

16

General Mach Discussion / Getting error on load G-code, think I may have screwed up something radio to end

« on: January 07, 2017, 12:28:53 PM »

I am sure this did not happen, perhaps I have lost the plot or changed a setting either in Sheetcam or mach3 somewhere.

I have found other examples of this but also with other things thrown in which I am not using.

Radius to end of arc differs from radius to start , Block = N0140 G03 X137.442 Y113.202 I-0.662 J-2.473 F1100.0Line 13    is the error I get and it stops the screen loading the path display, but it will still cut?

The start of my G-Code from Sheetcam is this:-
0010 (Date: 07/01/17)
N0020 M08 (Switch on control)
N0030 G21 (Units Metric)
N0040 G90
N0050 G17
N0060 G53
N0070 G00 Z10.000
N0080 X140.577 Y115.014
N0090 M800
N0100 G00 Z1.600
N0110 M03
N0120 G04 P200
N0130 G01 Z1.500 F250.0
N0140 G03 X137.442 Y113.202 I-0.662 J-2.473 F1100.0
N0150 G01 X143.137 Y113.202
N0160 G01 X140.606 Y125.029
N0170 G01 X137.442 Y113.202
N0180 M05
N0190 G00 Z10.000
N0200 X126.486 Y102.299
N0210 M800
N0220 Z1.600
N0230 M03

There is a M800 in there that is as follows
' Find Zero
' Initial try
' APH
Code ("G31 Z-30 F200")
' Wait for movement to complete
While (IsMoving())
' Sleep, so other threads can run while we wait
Sleep(100)
Wend
Code ("G92 Z-1.4")
Sleep(100)
GotoSafeZ
' Wait for movement to complete
While (IsMoving())
' Sleep, so other threads can run while we wait
Sleep(100)
Wend
' End    

And for completeness I have attached the G-code file, I use .TXT by the way. :-

I have checked that my post processor has things on separate lines, please help

Adrian

p.s. not sure when I try to open the .TXT attachment my browser thinks it is a bin file but I can save it and open as text?

17

General Mach Discussion / Re: How would I drive an output from ARCok on THC

« on: December 06, 2016, 03:41:37 PM »

I have just run a test cutting strips out of 2mm sheet and measured the voltage across the Pilot resister when the arc is OK and I get typically 4 volts, the max I saw it go up to was 7 Volts, but a bit hard to trust a digital meter!

The resistor is 20 Ohms so even at 7 volts that is only 0.35 Amps going through it out of a typical 27 Amp cutting arc so 1.3%, wondering if it will really make that much difference?

I could be worrying over nothing.

Adrian.

18

General Mach Discussion / Re: How would I drive an output from ARCok on THC

« on: December 06, 2016, 03:16:27 PM »

Hi Robert,

I was not expecting you to write the program for me, but it is appreciated.  I have not used VB but it looks very much like C programming or to be honest most of them.

It shows my ignorance of mach3 as I thought that these were reference to coolant pumps

Just found a mention it in the using Mach3mill that I have printed off every 200 ms, should still be OK.

I thank you for the links to the information I have the first 2 just downloaded the third, more in depth printing and reading required over time.

Thanks again.

Adrian

19

General Mach Discussion / Re: How would I drive an output from ARCok on THC

« on: December 06, 2016, 01:47:50 PM »

I have a resistor from the tip of the torch to work piece to give me a pilot arc, I am considering a relay output to remove this resistor path so that it has no effect on THC Volts, so just need one output.  One hundred milliseconds would not be an issue.

The hope being when I turn the torch off and the THCok or Arc OK signal goes away then I can put the path back to work in place.

I have not really figured yet if it makes a difference being in or not, so trying to figure options.

Adrian

20

General Mach Discussion / How would I drive an output from ARCok on THC

« on: December 06, 2016, 08:09:52 AM »

I know there is an option in config ports and pins that when THC is On it will drive output 5, but that is not what I am after as it is not a reading of THC OK from the controller.

What I am wondering is how when the input THC in active can I drive another output such as 2 or 3 etc.

I assume it would have to be some form of VB, but not sure?

Adrian