Messages

11

General Mach Discussion / Mach3 on XP or newer OS.

« on: May 21, 2015, 08:58:53 AM »

Hi

I've been running Mach3 on my old, 2001, PC running windows 2000 and for various reasons I'm thinking of updating to a newer PC running XP, this ones only 5-6 years old  . But I was thinking of installing say windows 7 or 8 on it with a new hard drive, maybe a SSD to get fast booting etc.
So what's the current thinking on running Mach3 on windows 7 or 8?

Steve

12

General Mach Discussion / Re: Running Haas code on Mach3 for a Collage project

« on: May 21, 2015, 04:07:31 AM »

Good reminder to update this.
It turned out that only 2 people on the course had even tried to write the code, my son being one of them, so those two got to check and alter their code on the Haas and then cut it in Aluminium on the machine. The rest had to do the code but will not be able to achieve full marks for the assignment.

As is usual with a 17 year old son he din't bring the code used back for me to see.

Steve

13

General Mach Discussion / Re: Reverse running?

« on: May 14, 2015, 04:41:35 AM »

Sounds like you need to experiment with run from here. You find your place in the code then click run from here, could be tricky if it's a lot of lines though.
It's also a bit fiddly to use at first, i can never quite remember how it works each time so I have to take myself slowly through the process, but I've used it a few times after breaking a cutter or some other problem.

Steve

14

General Mach Discussion / Re: Running Haas code on Mach3 for a Collage project

« on: May 14, 2015, 04:35:20 AM »

you'll have to wait, I've not even had chance to look at it properly yet
He's going to have to load it onto the Haas at Collage to check it'll run and looks right CNCSimulator doesn't seem to like or recognise G13 so it didn't show properly, I alway did find it a bit flacky but good for a free program.
He's then going to have to re write it for the Mach3, He's doing a turners cube by the way, with some additional holes drilled in the corners.

Steve

15

General Mach Discussion / Re: Running Haas code on Mach3 for a Collage project

« on: May 12, 2015, 12:02:51 PM »

Thanks
He's doing the Haas specific code at the moment. I wonder if they have an online backplotter to check it? We'll have to look into that.

Steve

16

General Mach Discussion / Re: Running Haas code on Mach3 for a Collage project

« on: May 11, 2015, 06:56:03 PM »

That may be handy TP, just got to get him to write the code, I'm refusing to do it for him as he's the one doing the course not me ;-)

Steve

17

General Mach Discussion / Re: Running Haas code on Mach3 for a Collage project

« on: May 11, 2015, 04:50:25 AM »

The module is about Gcode and is not particular to the Haas, it's just the CNC mill they have is a Haas. his worksheet says to use canned cycles were appropriate and add comments to the code. He's been told he can use our mill to make the part as long as he videos the cutting and screen.
I'm sure the drill canned cycle will cover the part about canned cycles as Mach doesn't use G12 the same as the Haas, they also use K & Q (I think) to do pocketing, Mach just uses i to set the radius and doesn't use cutter comp.

Steve

18

General Mach Discussion / Running Haas code on Mach3 for a Collage project

« on: May 10, 2015, 09:44:26 AM »

Hi

My son has a project from Collage that he can do on my mill running Mach3 because they only have the one Haas CNC mill and the whole class has to write and run their own code, because it's meant to be written and run on the Haas I was wondering if it would run on Mach3.

He's not written it yet but it's meant to make use of the canned cycles, now I suspect that these will not be compatible.

I've also already done the code using the NFS wizard to show him how I'd do it on my mill but this may not satisfy the assignment criteria (took all of 2 minutes)

The project is to do one side of a cube with circular pockets getting smaller and deeper, this would normally be repeated on all 6 sides and also have holes in the corners.
Is there a pocketing canned cycle in Mach that could be used so he's met the canned cycle criteria?
Just thought there is the drilling cycle so that could be used to drill the deep hole first.

Any ideas would be appreciated as I'm no Gcode wizard, I just get by using CAM and the supplied wizards with a little hand coding to fill in the gaps sometimes.

Regards
Steve

19

General Mach Discussion / Re: Supplier of small quantities of Titanium and machining recommendations

« on: March 20, 2015, 05:46:17 AM »

Hi

Never got round to it as I couldn't find an easy source of Ti, been through another 2 sets of hinges though 

Steve

20

General Mach Discussion / Re: NFS surface wizard, am I just stupid or is it a bit cryptic?

« on: November 28, 2012, 04:46:38 AM »

Ok great, thanks for the reply.
I think I'll just use the pocket wizard.

All I wanted to do was give the table a quick level up before engraving a sign  Mind you at the speed it travels I don't think it'll be that quick 

Steve