Topics

11

General Mach Discussion / Turn G3 feedrate problem

« on: May 04, 2009, 12:52:25 AM »

Melee and myself have been noticing a problem with turn in that the feedrate doubles when in G3. I thought it might just be that I'm too chicken to upgrade my old reliable version 1.84, but he is running version 3.4xx and the problem is identical. Even stranger is that when you use a G0 after the G3 the feedrate in the G3 goes to about 6 times the displayed amount! If there is a G1 after the G3 then it only goes to about double the displayed rate. We thought it might be something to do with Melee's new M71 roughing macro but it does the same thing with a simple G code run. Kind of interesting to watch if you're only taking light cuts in aluminium, but heavy cuts in stainless can be cause for concern!
   DaveA.

12

General Mach Discussion / Finally, Mach turn profile roughing, finishing cycle!

« on: January 01, 2009, 11:59:16 AM »

Melee has written a macro for the lathe profile roughing and finishing as some of have been asking for, looks good right now from the limited testing I have done with it so far, read and download it at http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,8098.20.html
   DaveA.

13

General Mach Discussion / 1.84 won't recognise M30

« on: November 27, 2008, 10:42:13 PM »

Running my lathe with version 1.84 for a few years now, but just recently it won't recognise the M30 command. I do have M30 in the G code file, and can open it to edit it right there and see that it is in fact, in the list, but then save and close and the command is not shown on the scrolling code list, and when the program ends with the M5 I put in before it, it just ends there without rewinding back to the start. Very strange. Total reboot makes no differerence. Can I edit something to fix it or an XML save and reload the entire program?
      DaveA.

14

General Mach Discussion / Turn feedrate override buttons

« on: May 16, 2008, 03:36:22 PM »

I was trying the other night to use the feedrate override buttons on the mach turn silverblue screen and realised that they don't seem to do anything, either in G94 or G95 use. This maybe should be posted in screens but I am wondering if the regular screen feedrate buttons work there either. Is the problem with the screen or is it something I don't know about the feed buttons? Thanks,
     DaveA.

15

General Mach Discussion / Mach Turn 1.84.001

« on: December 26, 2007, 06:53:41 PM »

Hello, I have been using the release 1.84.001 for turn, this was a good release awhile back, but wondering now if there is a newer, better version out, or if the turn version has even changed at all. I was looking for a debounce setting for the limits as I have had an ongoing pain with referencing but see that 1.84 has no debounce setting for limits.
       DaveA.

16

General Mach Discussion / Changing processor speed

« on: May 18, 2007, 01:46:11 AM »

Will a change in computer processor speed affect Mach 3 in any way? I have an AMD XP1900 now and may change that to an XP2800. and have the machine and software set up and working well. Wondering about the timing or anything like that, don't want to mess it up in any way, if it will change anything I will leave the processor as is.
                                                                DaveA.

17

General Mach Discussion / Keygrabber question

« on: February 03, 2007, 02:47:53 PM »

I installed a small numerical keypad, 17 keys, on the main door of my CNC lathe. I would like to be able to use this as a jog pad, which it does with the arrow buttons on the keys, and also use it for cycle start, stop, feedhold and coolant on/ off. With the keys on the door I can reach in and actually see the top of the tools when setting Z zero on the material, toolsetting, etc. Anyway, I tried to use keygrabber to set up the other keys for the cycle start, etc, and couldn't figure out how it works. I double clicked on the first line and it asked me to press a key, I do that and it appears on that line as that key. But, the problem is, what next? I clicked on the second text box alongside, then on the screen function I would like to make it emulate, but it doesen't work like that apparently. Thanks to all.
           DaveA

18

Feature Requests / Lathe roughing

« on: January 20, 2007, 09:47:03 PM »

I know that the turn wizards are Brian's baby from awhile ago, and they are very nice, I use them a lot. I've talked about this before, but really the one thing missing is a turn wizard that will rough to a non standard profile, that is a profile that isn't comprised of simple radius and chamfer toolpaths. The toolpath would be ideally calculated from a DXF profile, but it could also be generated from a G code text profile if that would make it easier to write. Those with a CNC turning background will recognise this as a G71 canned cycle, which is a non-reentrant cycle. Also of use is a pattern repeat cycle, this moves the profile in the X or Z axis, good for a reentrant type roughing profile. I'll gladly pay for this to be written, within a reasonable amount of course, and might hope that there are others on here that would like to share in costs as well. Any takers?

19

General Mach Discussion / Changing init line

« on: November 18, 2006, 02:11:38 AM »

Using Mach3 184.001 on my lathe. I run the wizards for canned cycles, these are great BTW, but I would like to change the initialzation string in the first line it comes up with when you post the code out. Brian or anyone, any ideas on how to do this, if at all possible? Thanks.
Dave.

20

General Mach Discussion / Inital reference points and limit switches

« on: August 11, 2006, 12:54:17 AM »

With my Mach3 driven lathe, I am still a bit in the dark about limit references. On power up, I set the limits on both axis, but my limits switches aren't perfect, and I get the odd change, nothing bad though, maybe .005". I haven't figured out yet if there is a way to power up the machine, set the limits, and have it not change any of the reference settings. With a lathe, with indexable tooling, you can pretty much set your tools, and never change the tool offsets again, save for wear or the odd mishap. If I power down the machine, I have no reason to manually move the saddle or crosslide, and make it a practice not to, so when it is powered up the next time it would make sense for the control to just store the last position and go with that. I agree that you still should set limits in case the saddle, etc. has been moved while the control was off somehow, but the limits setting procedure should not alter the machine's absolute position. This then nulifys the inaccuracies of the limit switches.