Messages

51

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: mach 4 plasma tool change engraver setup

« on: March 07, 2018, 10:26:53 PM »

I want to first thank you for your help. I can’t make this work I’m not a software person I’ve always been a hardware guy 30 years with communication equipment.         I removed the code it does not do anything.   I also can’t use input 1 2 3 there used for Torch high control.   I made the inputs 4 still doesn't work out puts are fine after putting everything back .with no code I just tried to see if this would do a simple tool change just typing t2 m6 that does nothing.    Funny thing I have mill loaded and a t2 m6 does a tool change on the screen but not with the arch pro screen that vital system has.I thinking vital system removed the tool change feather from the system.   when I load there arch pro screen everything changes to their plasma setup they have arch pro on their site to down load free. But to use the THC it has to be turned on in the controller with a code they gave me after I paid for it.    So I’m thinking maybe a tool change won’t work they have it locked I don't know.
I asked them they said they can do the feature for a price per hr.   so I don't know  I’m starting to hate Mach 4  to much bs to make it work the way I want.  maybe there plasma screen will be fine I don't know what’s in it.  I will say if they don’t put a feature in there for an engraver I know a lot of plasma guys that will not use it  every one do the engraver off the z  this is nothing new   Linux is looking better I starting to see why command cnc got away from Mach went Linux.   Maybe even a masso controller no pc needed...   the whole way with the build Mach 4 has been a pain in the ass to setup  the wire ing and the vital system controller was fine no problems there  Mach 4 does not even have a post processor for sheet cam I have to use the Mach 3 one How long has this soft were been out there no post processor still for Mach 4.  this is the stuff I went through the last several months just basic setup information is not there. Sorry for my rant this is why people are just not going to go Mach 4 I can’t even get help. I guess if I want to keep going down the Mach 4 path I have to pay vital systems to build me a setup for it   if I knew what the new plasma screen had I would wait on it The funny thing the built in engraver that’s in Mach mill works fine its new with the latest down load But it only does what you type in the box its useless. unless you just want like a serial number I sure the mach 4 program is grate if you’re a lua programmer. all us users are not. the cad drawing programs are enough  Mach 4 needs to be easier to use and setup im getting ready to do a mill retro I don’t think im going to use mach 4  and im tired of support telling me to read the manual who understands how to deal with all the code crap in there its stupid  Again im sorry its not your fault  cbyrdtropper  I just had enough goofing around with the mach program I use it like it is and build another controller that I can setup easyer with no mach in it
I see why the mill maker like HAAS went linux  
Thanks Jeff coldon    

52

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: mach 4 plasma tool change engraver setup

« on: March 06, 2018, 11:21:17 PM »

im not sure were to install this plc code  im confused          I thaught I would use the t2 m6 code g 43 h2 in the script in sheet cam to make the tool active  then add a togel button for on and off  for in put 1  I got that 

then the  script plc script turns on out put 1  the code were does it go in out put 1  not sure   

53

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: mach 4 plasma tool change engraver setup

« on: March 06, 2018, 10:28:14 PM »

the engraver can only go on when its ready to cut  and off when finished   because it has a air slide that activates when in goes on  the z has do drop to a set point.  then when it goes on with air then it drops down all the same time  wile its running.. its just a air valve
if it goes on before the gantry gets to the start point it will drag  I has to go on at the start point and off at the finish point 

54

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: mach 4 plasma tool change engraver setup

« on: March 06, 2018, 10:06:16 PM »

I try this tomorrow in mdi       I can make this code in sheet cam as a snippet  and do the off snippet in the layer before  the cut starts   once it turns off I assume the tool moves the off set back
I don't use torch THC in sheet cam  just THC on and THC off  vital systems hilcon does it on the screen  so it makes it easy   
 

55

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: mach 4 plasma tool change engraver setup

« on: March 06, 2018, 09:54:57 PM »

I would engrave first then do a cut if I cut a part  so it would turn off after it does the engraving  code   putting in codes in sheet cam seams easy I can make a sniplet and in cert it in the layer    
 so what you said above is if I do an m6 t2 in the mdi it just changes the tool does not go to its off set   but if I put in m6 t2 g43 h2  it will change and go to what ever I put in the x y z  there are off set settings in mach for this  so I wont need the offsets in sheet cam
then once I built a togel switch assign an output  I could use the code in m6 window to turn on  then to turn off ill have to do some thing some thing else

what controller you using for this  you doing plasma

56

Mach4 General Discussion / mach 4 plasma tool change engraver setup

« on: March 06, 2018, 08:44:30 PM »

I have a mach 4 vitalsystem controller hilcon   I trying to figure out how to add an engraver  what I figured out so far.     is if I do an m6 T2 in the mdi  the screen changes to the T 2 tool.    I assume the off set settings in the tool list for x y z.  so what ever I put in there the tool  the x y z will move to when M6 T2 in pushing cycle start.   then I will need to add a button to turn on an output  and add that command to the M6 t2 command   then an off command also  is this correct    I using sheet cam  so if I add a code for M6 T2 it should move
to the settings in the tool set for the x y z  then turn on the engraver then turn off after cycle    is this correct   I not sure what I am doing   realy not sure how to setup the on off commands   

57

HiCON Motion Controller / Re: mach 4 upgrade and THC

« on: March 06, 2018, 09:54:21 AM »

I thought about that but then if it was just engraver it would but if it’s a part that has to be cut and engraved in sheet cam. then I have to re zero everything set up it might be off if not aligned                        there a built in engraver in Mach 4 that works good simple words I know this can be done Mach motion has drills and engraver  there are 10 tools you can do in the mill setup right now and can add more
I will figure it out i keep messing with it                                                                     
I just figured out a joystick setup how to wire the jog inputs and make buttons for outputs
Thanks Jeff c

58

HiCON Motion Controller / Re: mach 4 upgrade and THC

« on: March 05, 2018, 10:15:57 AM »

up date  my machine is running  the main problem above was the fact that  I had to load the latest firm ware from Vital system for the hilcon  they sent me.  then I was able to do all the homing . just fine currently .
I have ben loading files and drawing things since this is a plasma.  my THC works fine my initial high sense works fine.   now im trying to figure out how to add a tool.  I figured out in tools I can add en engraver put in off sets.  what id like is a button to push to make it go to that tool  and figure out how to use it  I know thers a g code in sheet cam for the engraver function  just not sure how to make it work

59

Mach4 Toolbox / mach 4 plasma tool off set

« on: March 04, 2018, 12:06:52 PM »

can some one tell me how do I add a tool to my plasma  mach 4  I running a vitalsystem arch pro screen I want to add an engraver.   I see there are tools  would I use them and setup the offsets.  program a button.  and assign an mcode to use in sheet cam.  im not sure  thanks jeff c

60

HiCON Motion Controller / Re: mach 4 upgrade and THC

« on: January 24, 2018, 09:28:09 AM »

  well yesterday I upgraded to the Mach 4 3481 and the plasma file vital system sent me now nothing works I can’t home it won’t draw any object it does jog fine it will home using the small buttons on the test pageone at a time. but that's it the home all says no motor response. I loaded all the latest firm ware and plugin and arch pro 1.14 and was told by tch support were good to Mach 4 version 3534 and below.  well it did home with an older version of Mach 4  and arch pro. now I can’t go back there no older version to down load of mach.   this is becoming  a mess  I know everything is wired right because it worked  the other problem I have is when you load
A part I can never put it where I want it on the screen so it can’t always trace something because it’s past the stops so that's why I figured update all the soft were and firmware in the integra
I’m starting to think Mach 4 has a lot of problems and that's why a lot of companies are going Linux  I really wanted to make this work  so I hope vial systems can help fix this   since it’s a new build I do have the option to scrap the electronics and Mach 4