Messages

221

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 4.0 Rev Update

« on: April 03, 2009, 01:29:10 PM »

This all sounds good Brian - Thanks for all your hard work.

BUT  Maybe I missed something. Has cutter radius compensation been fixed? It's sort of one of the basic requirements isn't it?

Sage

222

General Mach Discussion / Re: Wrapper and toolpath view

« on: April 02, 2009, 01:52:07 PM »

Hey no problem. I got my answer and I thought we were all done. The diversion to a new topic resulted in more information for all. That's always good.

Sage

223

General Mach Discussion / Re: Wrapper and toolpath view

« on: March 31, 2009, 07:20:53 PM »

Sorry for taking so long to get back with a reply but there's been a lot of activity on this topic in the last day. That's good.
Looks like you got it figured out Dave judging by your results.
I was successful as well.
I'm was using a 1/16 mill in Aluminum so I wasn't looking to go too fast, just a few ipm max. I like to take it easy.
I noticed that curves were not very smooth. I cut an "S" and it's pretty choppy. It could be I was taking too deep a cut (15thou)and the cutter was flexing. I'll have to try it again.

Your job with the word TAIG looks really nice Dave. What cutter were you using and also depth and speed would be nice to know for reference.
I also created the text with Autocad and rotated it before sending it through wrapper so the text went across (around) the end of the bar instead of along the length. I'm not sure of the quality of Auocad text.
I also had to edit the G-code a bit to pick upthe tool between letters because Autocad had left them linked for some reason.
I also had to change the default feed rate and add a separate feedrate for plunges.

What did you use to create the text?

Sage 

224

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach V.043 feed hold still broken

« on: March 14, 2009, 11:36:23 AM »

Use the attached code. Zero X,Y,Z axis as requested at the start and press start again.
The program starts milling at around the 2-o'clock position.
Let it go around once and press the feed hold any time after it passes the start position.
For me it continues along the arc to about 1-o'clock and then buggers off staight instead of following the tip of the lobe.

Sage

225

General Mach Discussion / Mach V.043 feed hold still broken

« on: March 14, 2009, 10:45:23 AM »

I just happend to try "feed hold" and upon restart, the program took off to places unknown. It was inside a subroutine at the time, if that matters. Just thought I'd report this problem again. Seems it's been around quite a while. It would be nice to be able to pause a program for a lot of reasons. Not sure if it was supposed to have been corrected.
 If a code example demonstrating the problem is required, let me know.

Sage

226

General Mach Discussion / Re: Beta Mach V3.043

« on: March 11, 2009, 01:15:34 PM »

Thanks Brian:

On a similar note:

I tend to comment my code quite a bit. I put M0's in the code to stop so I can reset the X and Y manually before continuing (don't ask)
I notice that the code and the view screen stop at inappropriate places.

Try the code attached. You will see the following:
1. The code and the display stops at the first M0 as expected. The prompt is in the lower text display. If you do what it says and Zero the X anY axis' you will note that doing so makes the code screen advance one line (to the second M0) as if you pushed the start button again. It then takes two presses of the start button to go forward again.

2. When the code starts again it advances and stops at the G1 BEFORE the next M0 instead of at the M0.

3. On the next press of the start button it stops at the M0 properly.

I'm sure you'll find the problem in my code - I'm still pretty green at it.

It's somewhere in there that the code issued the scream of X axis steps mentioned in my previous post.

You will note there is a tool offset in there. So as you mention maybe it's messing it up. Also I'm sure the double M0 is not too cool. Maybe I'm messing up the look ahead buffer.

Sometimes you need rookies like me to throw odd stuff at your code to reveal the traps. 

Thanks


Sage

227

General Mach Discussion / Re: Cutter comp fixed yet?

« on: March 10, 2009, 10:06:47 PM »

Seems to work as far as tool ofsets. But I think .043 has other problems that makes me afraid to use it.
See my post labeled V3.043 beta.
Comments would be appreciated on that one.


Sage

228

General Mach Discussion / Beta Mach V3.043

« on: March 10, 2009, 09:47:46 PM »

Is anyone running V3.043 beta?

I had a couple of strange things happen with it that never happened here before. My stepping is ALWAYS very stable and reliable and I've never so much as missed a step or heard the motors act up.
The problem was as follows:
I have an "aussie tool setter" for setting the tool zero height.
Just after it finished retracting the tool, my Z axis gave out a SCREAM of steps. Luckily they came out so fast the axis did not actually move. In fact the strange thing was the DRO's did not change either. It happened both times I tried it, then I chickened out of trying it any more.
 Also just panning the table I heard it pump out a bunch of X axis steps, also too fast to move the axis. Not related to the tool setter.

Now I'm a bit stuck, since I need the new version for the properly working tool offsets but I  don't trust it.

Anyone had any issues like that with it?

Sage

 

Sage

229

General Mach Discussion / Re: Cutter comp fixed yet?

« on: March 10, 2009, 09:55:33 AM »

Yes thanks.
.043 is better.
Last I saw posted - some found continuing problems with it as well, but it's working enough to get me out of trouble here for now.

I milled a pocket to hold parts as a jig and milled it a couple of tenths too small I guess. Some parts are an interference fit. Hopefully I can get it lined up good enough to take only the extra tenths off. 

Thanks

Sage

230

General Mach Discussion / Cutter comp fixed yet?

« on: March 10, 2009, 09:14:53 AM »

It's been hard to follow progress. Was cutter compensation supposed to be fixed in V3.042.021 ??

I have a strange looking lump in my toolpath when I turn on cutter radius compensation G41. I was hoping I wouldn't have to re-write my whole program to fix what should be correctabe with a slight cutter radius compensation.

Sage