Messages

241

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 input signals to use USB Motion card controller for stepper motors

« on: April 16, 2019, 11:22:29 PM »

Hi reuelt,
defend XHC as you please.....the proof of the pudding is in the eating and multiple users have found XHC distasteful.
If you are so keen why don't you buy one?

Craig

I will buy an XHC 6-axis pendant WHEN they have one that supports MACH4 NOT now.
i chose MACH3 years ago because MACH4 & External Motion controllers etc were not matured yet.
I want to upgrade to MACH4 so I now avoid anything that is only made for MACH3.

242

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 input signals to use USB Motion card controller for stepper motors

« on: April 16, 2019, 11:08:16 PM »

Hi,
getvar() and setvar() are native functions in Cypress Enable which is in turn a subset of Visual Basic, the
scripting language of Mach3.

Craig

True
But that was before August 22nd, 2010.
The manual
https://manualzz.com/doc/11156171/mach3-v3.x-macro-programmers-reference
Dated August 22nd, 2010
list getver(####) and Setver(####) among the list of
"Legacy Scripting Functions" - to be avoided.

Now Art Fenerty retired in 2008 so the NEW OWNERS of NFS are trying to get macro programmers to use the new functions THEY DEFINE and avoid those legacy functions originally defined by Art.

It is wrong to blame over $1billion people for instructions GIVEN by NFS.

243

General Mach Discussion / Re: StepCraft inlcuding a WinPC-NC USB-Module

« on: April 16, 2019, 09:23:13 PM »

In your pics, the USB version is the WinPC-NC board. The parallel version is for plugging a UC100 into.

The backend of the USB board is a 26pin (25+1) male IDC, which means the BOB is a parallel port interface. The parallel port interface option is just a IDC to DB25 connector

244

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 input signals to use USB Motion card controller for stepper motors

« on: April 16, 2019, 07:30:21 PM »

Hi,
so you can create a function called setvar() or getvar(), but neither function is native to Lua, you have
to create the function.

I could create a function GoGetMeACupOfCoffee(), but just creating such a function doesn't really help me much.
It is no more native to Lua than getvar().

There are Lua functions which are useful, like math functions, string functions, and file functions, but by far and away the most
useful functions in Mach4 programming are not native to Lua but API's to Machs core or to Machs GUI.

Craig

Agree with you.
So it is also probably true that getvar() in Mach3 were functions created by some Mach3 programmers. Why are some  blaming China for not supporting gervar() and setvar() in their plugins?

245

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 - Motors moving with keyboard arrows, but not with running program

« on: April 16, 2019, 07:10:14 PM »

Hey guys, how are you?

Newbie here! So any help will be much appreciated.
We're working with Mach3, Nema 34 motors and an interface like this one: https://es.aliexpress.com/store/product/High-Quality-CNC-5-Axis-Interface-Adapter-Breakout-Board-For-Stepper-Motor-Driver-Mach3-with-no/435539_32946605111.html

Here is the thing. We can control the motors with arrow keys on keyboard (slow but moving), but when we load a G-Code into the Mach3 and we start the program and it's supposed to start moving and milling, the router starts, the program starts, but motors are FROZEN. We can see the program running into the preview screen (it also ends) but the 3 axes never move

It's like there's something missing in between the milling and the motors. Or any place near there...
We're using the relay on the board, with port 17 as it's mentioned on the assembly instructions.

Any idea to try?
Thanks in advance dudes!
Ernesto.

Attached in Manual for your 5 axis BOB (Break out Board).
Download and follow the manual and get everything right - to the letter.

BUT, I suspect that the toggle switches of the STEPPER drivers are NOT set correctly.
Current Amps (follow the motor spec) Steps per rev - set to 1600 steps/rev.

246

General Mach Discussion / Re: StepCraft inlcuding a WinPC-NC USB-Module

« on: April 16, 2019, 06:53:52 PM »

Why not try the plugin for UC100.
You might have a rebadged UC100 since in Australia stepcraft 2/840 comes bundled with a UC100 from CNCDRIVE.

Afaik, there's no such thing as a "rebadged" UC100. So this won't likely work.
I believe that Stepcrafts ship with standard UC100's, and most use UCCNC software.

Look at the attached pic. The parallel port interface is a straight-thru, the USB interface is an internal USB motion Controller with a Parallel port interface.
That is what I thought could be a "rebadged"  UC100"  ie software compatible device. The "standard" UC100 is an external device.
I am most likely wrong but NO HARM trying.

247

General Mach Discussion / Re: StepCraft inlcuding a WinPC-NC USB-Module

« on: April 16, 2019, 04:58:47 PM »

Why not try the plugin for UC100.
You might have a rebadged UC100 since in Australia stepcraft 2/840 comes bundled with a UC100 from CNCDRIVE.

248

General Mach Discussion / Re: Parallel Port to Ethernet?

« on: April 16, 2019, 11:01:16 AM »

"Would a "TP-Link TL-PS110P" or "StarTech.com 1-Port 10/100 mbps Ethernet Parallel Network Print Server" work?"

NO.

You need an Ethernet "Motion Controller" such as the Warp9 Ethernet Smooth Stepper (ESS) or the Pokeys 57CNC or UC300ETH.

249

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mill or Turn?

« on: April 16, 2019, 02:04:45 AM »

EASE-eTURN screenset (EURO25) claims to support CSS using MACH3.

https://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/cnc-machining/ease-eturn-mach3-turn-screenset-328827/

Also worth a look.

250

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mill or Turn?

« on: April 16, 2019, 01:43:02 AM »

DazTheGas has a SOFTWARE (LUA SCRIPT) solution to "CSS  turning" on a MACH4 MILL profile

https://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php?topic=39086.msg263072#msg263072

Worth a look.