Messages

11

General Mach Discussion / Re: THC and Mach3/4

« on: June 14, 2018, 12:12:25 PM »

So I am able to provide Mach4 with up/down inputs and have Z axis act on them?  I assume dive control is also missing? Can that be added using the ladder logic present in 4?

12

General Mach Discussion / THC and Mach3/4

« on: June 14, 2018, 10:48:08 AM »

I'm looking to move over to Mach3/4 from LinuxCNC but a big requirement for me is torch height control.  I plan on implementing this myself using an Arduino to read the arc voltage, maybe apply some smoothing, and send Up/Down signals over G540/UC100 inputs.  From what I have read, it seems Mach4 doesn't support THC or even basic Up/Down inputs?  It doesn't look terrible to intercept the step/direction signals for Z axis out of the G540/G250X and modify in process but then you have to deal with the Z being in a different position to what Mach thinks it is and either record and reset or hope you don't wind up in a position to crash between plate probes.  This would also require an output from Mach4 to turn THC modification on or monitoring the arc start line which has another list of issues...

I've also read a bit about Mach3 having issues with Windows 10, is this still a problem?  Part of the move I'm planning was also to dump the computer I was using (D525MW) because it's quite slow with Windows 7 and move over to UC100 with a Win 10 laptop.

13

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach 4 THC

« on: June 14, 2018, 09:58:21 AM »

Am I correct in reading that Mach4 is not able to support Up/Down signals from an external monitor?  I was planning on moving to Mach4 from LinuxCNC due to my lack of Linux knowledge and am working on an Arduino based control that will monitor voltage and send Up/Down signals through the G540/UC100.