Messages

21

General Mach Discussion / GS2 drive and modbus

« on: April 01, 2009, 09:00:52 PM »

Hi all

is there anyone out there using a GS2 drive over modbus on the pc serial port? if so, could you let me know how to configure the connection.

i can connect to a dl06 and read the inputs and turn on the output and coils, so i know the connection works. it is probably only some parameters to fix.

22

Modbus / Click

« on: March 31, 2009, 04:09:20 PM »

i had to buy a click plc to install on a project. since i had it on hand, i tried it with mach. it doesn't seem to be compatible with the modbus plug-in. maybe it is just a configuration problem. if anyone have success with this small plc, let me know. i would like to use it to control my i/o other then step and dir signal has a plc is much more reliable then any break out board.

23

General Mach Discussion / Re: Feed Rate Override needs to take acceleration into account

« on: March 30, 2009, 09:35:33 AM »

i have a related question about this issue. i have noticed that on the mill screen, when using the up and down fro button, the dro move by increment of 10%. but on the lathe screen it move by increment of 5 in/min wich is way to much an increment. and if i increment, it will be in effect only after the next G1 command (won't apply in the middle of a G1 move)

24

General Mach Discussion / Re: I need help setting up my air drill

« on: March 30, 2009, 08:41:34 AM »

when in mach 3, go to the offset page. position your router at any point on your table that you want it to be the zero X and Y of your part , then zero x and y at the top right corner of the window (mach3 ver 3.042 your layout maybe different if using another version).  when this is done, position your drill at the exact same spot your router was, then click FIXTURE2(g55), and zero x and z. now if you click on fixture 1 and ask your system to go to x and y zero your router will be centered at part zero and if you click fixture 2 your drill will be centered over your part zero. at the beginning of your program, use G54 code if you wanr to use the router or G55 if you want to use the drill. you can also switch offset in the middle of a program for example if you want to drill some holes followed by cutting a contour.

25

General Mach Discussion / Re: I need help setting up my air drill

« on: March 28, 2009, 11:29:30 PM »

use G54 for your main spindle and G55 for the drill. in your program when you refer to g54 at x0,y0 for the router, it will be the same physical spot as g55 x0,y0 for the drill

26

General Mach Discussion / Re: Problems setting up my air drill

« on: March 27, 2009, 05:07:22 PM »

install a solenoid valve on the air line of the drill and a relay to drive the valve in your control box. take one output from your breakout board to drive the realy and configure mach in the  port and pins. on a router you probably don't use the coolant output. if you use this output to drive your drill when using the m fonction for coolant the drill will turn on.

27

General Mach Discussion / strange behavior

« on: March 27, 2009, 04:53:41 PM »

When i jog the z axis of my lathe with the shuttle pro and change direction, it starts getting to speed then slows almost to zero then up to speed again. if i start again in the same direction its up to speed properly. the problem appends only on change of direction. x axis is fine. if i run a program it does the same thing. i know the problem is not mechanical or electrical. i can see the feed dro following the true axis movement!! it used to work fine. i don't recall having change anything.

any idea?

28

General Mach Discussion / Re: Swarf in Keyboard and Mouse!! Ahhhh!

« on: March 27, 2009, 04:25:11 PM »

i use this one, it is not cheap but has integrated mouse and is strong and washable

http://www.ruggedtech.com/symcod.html

if you don't need the integrated mouse i think the 9.00$ flexible keyboard will do the job fine

29

General Mach Discussion / Re: What does offline mean?

« on: March 27, 2009, 04:14:33 PM »

online and offline is not related to your internet connection. it is a way to simulate your toolpath whitout actualy cutting any material, to make sure you don't break anything. you don't need internet to run mach3

30

General Mach Discussion / Re: screen

« on: March 19, 2009, 10:41:28 AM »

what i would like is to be able to use the standard windows controls and interface to keep it simple. being albe to disign fancy buttons and bitmaps is sure an interesting feature but in the end what i want is to cut some chips whatever the color or form of the buttons. is there a place where i could get the information about the format of these screens so i could make my own designer?