Messages

131

General Mach Discussion / Re: Macro Pump

« on: May 04, 2007, 07:43:52 AM »

Scott

Homing after a reset as script on that button does not work as far as I tell.   Any code after the reset is ignored.  Makes sense in a way.

A g28.1 in init string did not work for me either.

The rough method I outlined above seems to work well as a test.

Wish it was easier to INSERT a screen in screen designer!  To save having to copy and paste all screens one place higher I just deleted the ones not need for this exercise.

Anyway I hope it gives the OP some ideas.   

Wayne....

132

General Mach Discussion / Re: Guideway compensation/mapping?

« on: May 04, 2007, 05:56:36 AM »

As for keeping things totally straight and and square i have struggled greatly with this. I have found at this scale it is very much a chicken and egg problem. It is really difficult to build really flat and paralell things without something that is big and flat and parallel to use as a reference. Or a machine big enough to machine said surfaces.

Yes it it difficult    Many years ago(about 20)  I worked for a company that built some special x-y- tables for cartographic use.   They were called EMMA tables for some reason.  There was a speacial camera mounted on it's z axis..  I think the customer was Marconi or Quest Automation. 

Anyway these tables were a cast alloy and bolt up construction and used linear rails and ballscrews.   I guess they were about 5ft x 3ft/ Quite a bit smaller than your machine, BUT they had to be built more accurately than your average mill.

I can't remember the exact tolerance but it was certainly in "seconds of arc" not minutes.   They used a Taylor Hobson TalyVel to determine error, and shimmed up the rails until it was spot on.   Took a fair amount of time.

Wayne....

133

General Mach Discussion / Re: Macro Pump

« on: May 03, 2007, 05:47:52 PM »

OK Here's a bodged up "bastard child" solution LOL

I took the stock screenset and deleted just about all of it just to make it easy to MOVE page 1 to page 2.

Then created a simple page one with just a reset button and a home all button.

The home button has the following simple script in it.

estop = getoemled(800)

If estop = 0 Then

 DoButton( 24 )
 DoButton( 23 )
 DoButton( 22 )
 DoButton( 25 ) 

 dooembutton(2)

Else

 dooembutton (1)

End If   

It won't select unless Mach has been reset.   and when it is will home all and load screen two the ORGINAL screen 1.

It could be tarted up a bit with DRO's and Homed axis led's on that front page.


Sorry it's RUFF RUFF I don't have much time and must get back into the workshop.

Wayne....

134

General Mach Discussion / Re: Macro Pump

« on: May 03, 2007, 02:56:57 PM »

Graham

I got there in the end.

The code as above does not work as expected.   It does work ir resets mach and homes in debug mode in the editor.

But not from within Mach itself.   It just resets and ignores the rest.

Oh well. another method maybe.

I think the answer may be a custom screen set, an initial opening screen that expects a reset and then only allows homing.

Once homed goto the stock screensets.   Is that possible?  Hidden buttons maybe?

Wayne....

135

General Mach Discussion / Re: Macro Pump

« on: May 03, 2007, 02:26:03 PM »

I just setup the reset button in screen designer to run a script.

In mach put in that button

DoOembutton(1021)

DoButton( 24 )
DoButton( 23 )
DoButton( 22 )
DoButton( 25 ) 

I can run it in the editor, and it resets Mach and Homes all axis.

BUT I can't get the bugger to remember the script.

Anyone give us a quick quide on button scripts and WTF do we save them as?

Wayne....

136

General Mach Discussion / Re: Macro Pump

« on: May 03, 2007, 01:04:16 PM »

Could you not add it to the so called "reset" button?   Weird that reset is!   More like an E-Stop resets are usually coloured white too

I do see what the OP is getting at, I was actually thinking about the same problem the other day.

I wonder if it's possible to code a reset in VB Script.

The way I'd like to have my machines set up is from power up.

Hardware reset (2 switches) That bits easy.   This would Enable drives.

Then force the Home. Before anything else is possible.  Is this what you mean?

Take as example the Heidenhain controllers so popular over here.  (Just happened to be repairing one today so this is fresh memory!)

On power up they are in a condition where they will do nothing. with the Alarm message "Shot Bolt Release"

Pressing the WHITE button will enable the machine and then the message

"Ref All Axes" comes up

CYCLE START is pressed and they home.

From there you can do whatever you like.

Wayne.....

137

Screen designer tips and tutorials / Re: A general question

« on: May 03, 2007, 06:09:21 AM »

This may be a chipset issue.

I had a motherboard with a VIA chipset that used to do that.

Wayne...

138

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Just got a lathe to retrofit

« on: April 26, 2007, 07:33:03 PM »

The side of the key does not swell, but they have a thinner section at the base of the key which is designed to.   I shall machine some relief in the case to allow for that.

I shall probably machine a test piece in MDF 1st to make sure I got the key spacing correct and that it in fact will work!

Wayne....

139

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Just got a lathe to retrofit

« on: April 26, 2007, 07:01:02 PM »

I got in two of those keyboards from the keyboard company. £19 ea.

Kind of like typing on a Sinclair Spectrum LOL..   I ordered the alloy plate to have a go at making a rigid enclosure.

I think I'll do some surgery on the keyboard to move that bulge where the circuit board is to the back, there seems to be enough tail lenth on the membrane to fold it back.

The key layout is ever so slightly different to yours.   One thing I noticed is mine has no pg up or pg down keys.

There is also a cheap numerical usb keypad in the Maplin shops at the moment I may get one of those and doctor that too.

Where did you locate the little touchpad you have on your control?   Is it an off the shelf part or ripped out an old laptop?


Wayne....

140

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach and External Motion control devices

« on: April 26, 2007, 04:34:00 PM »

Wayne,
I am started back on the Delta Tau! and I am thinking that I need to buy a Galil to test threading...  after I have that done I think your China card is about top of the list! I like the idea of a nice inexpensive card!

Brian

I heard yesterday that they intend to have some RS-274 support by end of year, but wonder if they really mean support with Mach?   Have you been talking with them at all?   I am awaiting more information.

What is the current state of functionality of the Galil Plugin?

I saw the posts over the last few days re the dspMC/IP card from Vital.   Although thats not really a cheap controller, I think it is important that all help is given to the guy especially if he's willing to have a go at the pligin himself!

The day we have all these external controllers working with good functionality will be a good day for Mach and those users that like to play or work with the big boys toys

If there's any way I can help I will.  Got a lot of Big Boys toys here


Wayne....