Messages

351

General Mach Discussion / Re: Goofy forum layout

« on: March 30, 2019, 01:25:14 AM »

Hi,

MACH4 and MACH3 do have some gcodes and mcodes that are different.

What ones? There are a couple (m161 and m162) that get used for laser ops but as far as I know all the rest are the same.

Craig

There are some more:-
 You cannot repeat the cycle G code on every line like you could in Mach3.

Mach3 would allow:
G83 X.. Y.. Z.. R.. Q..
G83 X.. Y.. Z.. R.. Q..
G83 X.. Y.. Z.. R.. Q..
G80
...
Mach 4 requires:
G83 X.. Y.. Z.. R.. Q..
X.. Y
X.. Y
G80

Threading on the lathe (G76) is Fanuc compatible and Mach3 threading code will just not run in Mach4. 

M10 and M11 for THC not supported in Mach4

There are others which I haven't listed yet
(i have both MACH 4 and Mach3 reference guides).

352

General Mach Discussion / Re: Goofy forum layout

« on: March 30, 2019, 12:04:42 AM »

"they use the same Gcode and Mcodes"
Many of them are common.
But
MACH4 and MACH3 do have some gcodes and mcodes that are different.

353

General Mach Discussion / Re: We live to learn from small steenky explosions. Now what?

« on: March 29, 2019, 11:54:50 PM »

You should look for a good quality BOB that has full Opto-isolation.
Also
Please answer YES in Poll - how you ever blown up your PC?
https://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php?topic=39723.0

354

General Mach Discussion / Re: Goofy forum layout

« on: March 29, 2019, 09:04:27 PM »

That's why there are both Mach3 and Mach4 sections.

MACH4 users may be asking questions in GENERAL MACH DISCUSSIONS or "Introduce yourself" forum too.

Even a simple question about "my gcode file cannot run"  in GENERAL MACH DISCUSSIONS may simply be because MACH4 and MACH3 has different sets of Gcode and Mcode.

355

General Mach Discussion / Re: Goofy forum layout

« on: March 29, 2019, 08:37:46 PM »

That's why there are both Mach3 and Mach4 sections.

MACH4 users may be asking questions in GENERAL MACH DISCUSSIONS or "Introduce yourself" forum too.

356

General Mach Discussion / Re: Z axis when I start Gcode just plunges into work

« on: March 29, 2019, 08:34:22 PM »

Are you using MACH3 or MACH4?

Normally, you need to jog (TAB key will give you Jog screen + arrow keys to jog) to the zero point of your workpiece at set work coordinates to zero.
Z = 0 is when your bit just touch the surface of the workpiece.

regenerate tool path
Then Cycle Start

357

General Mach Discussion / Re: Goofy forum layout

« on: March 29, 2019, 08:18:02 PM »

Hello Bryanna
If you talk to the team improving the forum, why not tell them to at least make displaying
"I am USING MACH3"
or
"I am USING MACH4"
Compulsory in every NEW user's profile signature (to be always displayed).

What if I use both?

Then please say "I am using MACH4"
then add MACH3 and your hardware in Optional signature

Idea is, answers to new users questions must be different if they are using MACH4 instead of MACH3.

358

General Mach Discussion / Re: Goofy forum layout

« on: March 29, 2019, 04:28:53 PM »

I have mentioned that to the members of our team who can address that issue.
-Bryanna

Hello Bryanna
If you talk to the team improving the forum, why not tell them to at least make displaying
"I am USING MACH3"
or
"I am USING MACH4"
Compulsory in every NEW user's profile signature (to be always displayed).

359

General Mach Discussion / Re: Moves in x direction before step down

« on: March 29, 2019, 04:07:45 PM »

Could you please upload a gcode file?
I think it may be something to do with tool offset compensation mistake.

360

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 Parallel Port Legacy Plugin

« on: March 29, 2019, 01:25:10 PM »

I don't think there's any debate that Mach4 is not better than Mach3. It clearly is, based on everything I've read.

The main reason most people continued with Windows XP even though Vista was definitely better than Windows XP - NOT a smooth Upgrade. Many programs won't work and drivers not ready.
It was Windows 7 (with the free XPMODE for those old programs to run) that won over most XP users.
Same thing with CPUs.
64bits Itanium & Sparc & MIPS & 68000 & even ARM were all better than Pentium 4.
It was AMD x64 design that allows users to continue i386 compatibility that won over the market.
MACH4 needs to provide MACH3 users a smoother migration path - that is all I hope.
Perhaps if ESS or other similar Ethernet motion controller performs & dominates, MACH4 will win over more MACH3 users.
People who use more than one parallel ports could migrate to MACH4 with ESS easily I think. (USB devices will disappoint)
What experience forum members can help is highlight/list a set of hardware that definitely work with (MACH4 + ESS) so that MACH3 users can plan their migration by avoiding incompatible products NOW.
List..
Pendant models, THC hardware models, BOB models, VFD models etc...THAT WORKS with MACH4+ESS.