Messages

511

General Mach Discussion / Re: Text / engraving problem.

« on: July 02, 2017, 09:36:35 PM »

I suggest you download FREE F-engrave from http://www.scorchworks.com/Fengrave/fengrave.html
G-codes created for text from F-engrave works correctly on Mach 3.

To speed up engraving also download third party created FREE "CAMBAM stick fonts" (those TTF are not made by CAMBAM) for use with F-engrave and the WRITE wizard of Mach3.
http://www.mrrace.com/CamBam_Fonts/

512

General Mach Discussion / Re: Start cycle just halts on start

« on: July 02, 2017, 09:22:18 PM »

I think your starting location has not being defined.
Move x y and z to the starting location. Zero X and Y and Z.
Now Start Cycle.

A lot of Gcodes files send positive values of z axis. If your z is not zeroed on the material surface, z0 would be at the top and the program cannot start because z>0 would exceed  the axis limit of the machine.

513

General Mach Discussion / Re: Z movement is random

« on: July 02, 2017, 08:40:15 PM »

"direction is random"

In the motor tuning what is the pulse and direction length set? I set mine to 15us and 5us respectively because the MY BOB-driver board of the 6040T has slower buffer chips and opto-coupler chips compared to other break out boards (BOB).

514

General Mach Discussion / Re: Editing Gcode question

« on: July 02, 2017, 06:02:21 PM »

After saving my Crv files in Vcarve Pro and changing it into text files for Mach3-I have one letter on my engraving project that is not cutting deep enough. How do I edit the text files in Mach 3 and how do I know the exact ones to edit to allow the engraving to cut deeper on just that letter?  Thank you! 

I would replace the default editor (notepad) with the FREE CNCCoder  from http://www.cnccoder.com/  first.
CNCCoder allows you to change colors of letters e.g make G green and Z red for ease of viewing.
It also has a search function so by knowing your y position you can find the block for that letter.
replace z with a bigger negative number
You open CNCCoder using the Edit button in Mach3
After making the changes save the file and new gcode file will  automatically be reloaded
Perhaps find the line and do a RUN from here and then stop.

515

General Mach Discussion / Re: Z movement is random

« on: July 02, 2017, 05:26:03 PM »

Hello,

I am using Mach 3 with a UC100 connected to a Chinese 6040T CNC router.

Everything has been running fine until this afternoon. The machine was in the middle of a lengthy beveling operation and I went to eat some lunch. When I returned the X and Y were moving along fine but the Z was a couple of inches above the work piece even though Mach 3 was showing that it should be 4mm below the work surface zero.

I stopped the cut to see if I could rezero the Z and backup to the last tool change and start over. Unfortunately, pressing the keys to control the Z resulted in random action. The Z always moves, but whether it is moving up or down is random.

I reset the computer as well as the control box and I double checked the Z configuration in Mach 3, but the issue persists.

Does anyone have any idea how I might determine what the issue is?

Perhaps the coupling between the (stepper?) motor and the ball/lead screw has become loose or is broken.

516

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: G28 conflict

« on: July 02, 2017, 06:30:58 AM »

I'm running Mach3 to run a router. When I home the machine all axes move to the zero position with z at the top. When a program encounters a g28 g91 z0 (any time it needs a tool change for example) the z rises up to the limit switch but triggers an e stop rather than a limit and the program must be reset. Any guidance on settings? Thanks

You must also set up soft limits even though you have physical limit switches.
For home position, soft limits and limit switches are set identical - all set to zero.
For the other end of the x and y axis make the soft limits 1 mm before hitting  the limit switches. I have remove the bottom limit switch for z and use only soft limit because z is always zeroed using the probe to the material surface and soft-limit can be easily changed to avoid cutting the table or even too deeply on the spoil board. It also helps if the auto Z probe fail.
I found that the presence of soft limits help avoid "e-stop" conditions. The limit switches if really triggered must "e-stop" to avoid physical damage to the machine.

517

General Mach Discussion / Re: Xbox 360 Plugin loses some buttons definition after Mach3 Ref all home (Win7)

« on: June 29, 2017, 07:02:53 AM »

It's bizarre!
I just changed the Look Ahead under General Config to "150 lines" and now the Xbox 360 controller works correctly under Windows 7.

Thanks everyone

Attachment is my config for the Xbox 360 controller FYI

518

General Mach Discussion / Re: steppers nocking

« on: June 29, 2017, 04:01:56 AM »

I think you need to turn off ACPI and convert the new XP installation to a STD PC with NON-ACPI HAL.
All new PCs are built with ACPI bios.

519

General Mach Discussion / Xbox 360 Plugin loses some buttons definition after Mach3 Ref all home (Win7)

« on: June 29, 2017, 02:34:55 AM »

I am using Mach3 Version R3.043.066 with parallel port under Window 7SP1 32 bits.
The USB Xbox 360 controller  (original Microsoft hardware + Plug-in by Lee Davis' version 2.4.1.0.) works correctly on boot up but after Mach3 [Ref all home] using limit/home switches,  most of the buttons on the xbox 360 would lose their functions.  Some part of memory are being overwritten? The joysticks luckily still work.

I have tried downgrading to Mach3 Version R3.043.062 but the behavior remaains the same. The Xbox controller always work correctly when I tested on Mach 3 under Windows XP SP3. i have a dual boot win7 + XP PC.

(sorry, I am not going back to XP because Nvidia does not provide videocard drivers for XP anymore).

Anyone knows how to fix the problem?

Thanks in advance.

520

FAQs / Re: Modding a 4 axis CNC router to have limit and homing switches.

« on: June 12, 2017, 02:08:15 AM »

Hi,
I have a 4 axis 6040 router from ChinaCNCzone with JP-3163B v3.9 main controller board.
I have successfully installed limit and homing switches by just connecting out 4 wires from the board XYZ and Ground.
2 NC limit switches per axis connected in series.
Works very well with Mach 3.
If you have identical controller board, I can help.