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71
Mach4 General Discussion / Re: My computer has been reset and is now in DEMO mode.
« Last post by Toshio.K on August 24, 2025, 03:52:52 AM »
Thank you.

Please look at the photo.

Please tell me in detail how to press the button.
72
The Mach4 license is linked to a specific PC, requiring a different code for each PC. Use the ‘About’ screen, accessed by the ‘Help’ menu to get your PC code.
Logon to NFS Artsoft / My Account to manage / activate your license.

Tweakie.
73
Mach4 General Discussion / My computer has been reset and is now in DEMO mode.
« Last post by Toshio.K on August 23, 2025, 08:37:56 PM »

I own a Mach4 license.
I recently reset my computer.
As a result, Mach4 backed up and started working again.
However, when I look at the Mach4 screen, it says "DEMO."
Could anyone please explain in an easy-to-understand way how to restore my license to its original state?
I'm in trouble. Please help.
74
General Mach Discussion / step motor tuning
« Last post by Richardrs on August 23, 2025, 04:10:27 PM »
I am having a little hicup with setting the step motors, I fitted a UC400 and all seems to be working, I have always used it on mm's but since using pixelcnc I find it easier to design in inched, my brain does not understand what mm's looks like as it is wired in inches, so I altered the units in Mach3 to inches  when I was trying to get the step motors to travel the right distance,  I provisionally set the boxes on x and y to 320 200 200 I think I cant remember now. I used the auto tool ie asked x to travel 2" it travelled about 1/4" I then informed the programme of that when prompted, it then recommended a setting which i agreed to, tried it again and it was still not correct, tried to do this several times but it did not work, when I set everything back to metric and set the step motors to the original settings all was fine.
What am I missing?
75
General Mach Discussion / Re: Manual tool change macro help
« Last post by ZASto on August 22, 2025, 10:40:36 PM »
Quote
Code "G0 A" & a' & "B" & b & "C" & c
Why is there a single quote after a?
76
General Mach Discussion / 2 spindel axes Mini swiss Lathe
« Last post by octopus80 on August 22, 2025, 11:40:47 AM »
Has anyone already driven two spindle axes at different speeds, where one axis, the C axis, can also be set in degrees? It is for a small Swiss-type lathe project. I would like to use the 6-axis controller from CS Labs for this. I would like to use this on Mach 4.
77
General Mach Discussion / Manual tool change macro help
« Last post by isahib@live.com on August 22, 2025, 06:01:53 AM »
Good day guys

I need help with the macro for manual tool change with a fixed position tool setter. I have used a macro found on the forum. it works as it should except for the  Z height which is incorrect after the tool change. My understanding of it is that I zero my work coordinates and run the file when it comes to the m6 command the M6 start macro takes over moves to the tool change position waits for the manual too change, then probes the new tool. it then waits for the cycle start button to be pressed and starts the M6 end macro which should bring the tool back to where it the previous tool stopped with the tool height Zero in the position. I have attached a short video of the issue. here you can see that before the tool change the Machine coordinates for Z is -30 and after the tool change it is -125. please help with correcting the code.


https://youtu.be/mrfNlQ5pM5M?si=7JmL6Iqr2e-vs4yL


this is the macro that i'm using.

M6 start macro

' Set variables to store some current, selected and user defined values

tool = GetSelectedTool()               'Value for Tool DRO at completion of tool change
CurrentFeedMode = GetOemDRO(819)        'Get current G0/G1 state
CurrentUnitsMM = GetOemLED(802)         'Get Current MM Units state
CurrentAbsCMode = GetOemLED(48)         'Get current G90/G91 state
CurrentFeedRate = GetOemDRO(818)        'Get the current Feed Rate
ToolChangeX = GetUserDRO(1200)          'Get user defined tool change location
ToolChangeY = GetUserDRO(1201)
ToolChangeZ = GetUserDRO(1202)          'NOTE: Z will be used for Auto Tool Zero start height
GageH = GetOEMDRO( 1001 )               'Gage Block Height
ProbeD = 150                        'Depth to probe for touch plate


' Move to user defined tool change location


If CurrentUnitsMM = FALSE Then          'Ensure measurement mode is in MM for macro
   Code "G21"
End If

If IsSafeZ() Then                   'If SafeZ is defined,
   safeZ = GetSafeZ()              'use it for positioning commands
Else
   safeZ = 0                     'Otherwise, moves are made at MC Z0
End If

Code" G53 G0 Z" & safeZ                'Position spindle for tool change
Code"G53 G0 X" & ToolChangeX
Code"G53 G0 Y" & ToolChangeY

While IsMoving()
   Sleep(10)
Wend

PText = "Tool #" & tool & " requested.  (See Setup Sheet for details.)" _
   & Chr(10) & "Insert requested tool and press OK to continue."
MachMsg(PText,"Tool Change Request",0)
SetCurrentTool( tool )                 'Set the Tool DRO to the new tool number


' Auto tool zero


AutoZeroPrompt = "Place probe for Auto Tool Zero and press OK" _
   & Chr(10) & "Or press CANCEL to zero tool manually"
AutoZero = MachMsg(AutoZeroPrompt,"Auto Tool Zero",1)

If AutoZero = 1 Then                  'AutoZero = 1, User pressed OK
   Code "G53 G0 Z" & ToolChangeZ        'ToolChangeZ is MC for starting location of probing
   While IsMoving()
      Sleep (10)
   Wend
   ZCurrent = GetOemDro(802)       'Current Z DRO
   ZNew = ZCurrent - ProbeD            'Probe depth end height
   Code "G90F500"                  'slow feed rate to 100 MM/MIN
   Code "G31 Z" &ZNew               'Start the probe move
   While IsMoving()
      Sleep(10)
   Wend
   If GetOEMLed(825) = True Then        'Probing successful
      ProbeTouch = GetVar(2002)         'Exact height touch plate was contacted
      Code "G1 Z" & ProbeTouch         'Go there (corrects for potential over-run)
      While IsMoving()
         Sleep(10)
      Wend
      Call SetDro(2,GageH)           'Set Z DRO to adjusted value
      FinalMove = GageH + 10
      Code  "G0 Z" &FinalMove           'Raise probe off of touch plate
      While IsMoving()
         Sleep(10)
      Wend
      Message("Press Cycle Start to continue...")
   Else                        'Probe did not contact touch plate
      Message("Zero not achieved - Check probe and try again manually")
   End If
Else                           'User selected Cancel on Auto Tool Zero prompt
   Message("Zero tool manually and press Cycle Start to continue...")
End If

'RESTORE MACHINE STATE VALUES

'Feed Rate

Code "F" &CurrentFeedRate               'restore starting feed rate

'G0/G1 State

If CurrentFeedMode = "80" Then           'Machine still in initial state at start of macro
   Code "G0"               'so set move mode to G0
Else
   Code "G" & CurrentFeedMode          'Otherwise set move mode to previous value
End If

'G20/G21 State

If CurrentUnitsMM Then                  'Units was previously set to mm
   Code "G21"
Else                          'Units was previously set to inches
   Code "G20"
End If

'G90/G91 State

If CurrentAbsCMode Then               'System was using absolute coordinates
   Code "G90"
Else                        'System was using incremental coordinates
   Code "G91"
End If         

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

M6 end macro

'The (modified) default script here moves the tool back To m6start If Any movement has occured during the tool change..

x = GetToolChangeStart( 0 )
y = GetToolChangeStart( 1 )
z = GetToolChangeStart( 2 )
a = GetToolChangeStart( 3 )
b = GetToolChangeStart( 4 )
c = GetToolChangeStart( 5 )
If(IsSafeZ() = 1) Then
   SafeZ = GetSafeZ()
   Code "G53 G0 Z" & SafeZ
Else
   Code "G53 G0 Z0"
End If
Code "G0 A" & a' & "B" & b & "C" & c
Code "F2000 X" & x
Code "F2000 Y" & y
Code "F2000 Z" & z     
78
General Mach Discussion / Re: Newbie, Limit switch issue
« Last post by BeachCustoms on August 21, 2025, 07:55:17 AM »
Update:

I was able to get around the issue by wiring each limit switch in parallel, i realize this is shouldn't be necessary, but its how I got it to work.
79
PoKeys / POKeys 57U .. is it just me, or ...
« Last post by alanr on August 20, 2025, 10:55:54 AM »
I want to build a USB stepper controller, for the day my old two parallel port Dell "lets the magic smoke out".

I bought a POKeys 57U and started to read .. and read .. and read .. Then I looked at the physical size, specifically, the connector spacing , which doesn't allow for ferrules on the wires; a big deal for me. 

So I broke down and bought a cheap Chinese USB controller, because it just seemed easier.

And it WAS easier .. except that not everything works; the spindle control does nothing.  Best guess .. the board is bad.  (I know I know, stop the presses, cheap Chinese crap doesn't actually work.)

So I'm back to looking at the POKeys and wondering .. is it just me, or is the POKeys genuinely a PITA to set up and get working?
80
Third party software and hardware support forums. / STB5100 and spindle control
« Last post by alanr on August 20, 2025, 10:39:26 AM »
I've just built a new stepper controller, about my tenth stepper or servo controller.

I was getting worried about the age of the computer running my mill, a computer that still has a couple of parallel ports in it.

Time to build something that uses a USB port, so if (when) the old Dell gives up the ghost, I'll be ready.

I used an STB5100 5 axis USB controller, the "blue" one. 

(I actually bought a POKeys 56U as well, but the configuration looks daunting and the physical implementation is .. troublesome.  So I thought I'd take the easy way out.)

The steppers work fine with the STB5100, so I know the basic communication is working.

But I'm unable to get the spindle control pins to do anything at all.  Neither the Enable, AVI nor PWM show anything except zero volts.

Configuration seems easy enough, which is to say, not many settings and most set to the default.

I see two options.  Maybe the board is just plain defective; not too hard to believe with something cheap from China.  Or maybe the default settings are not what's called for.

But randomly .. or sequentially .. trying combinations of ports and pins would drive me crazy.

Does anyone have any suggested settings for this board?

Thanks!
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