I am trying to get my tool changer to work on our Mach4 lathe.
I have space for 6 tools, each spaced 60 degrees apart.

However, I can't get motor A to activate when I call for a tool change.

I have tried using this M6 macro, but nothing happens when I request a change. It seems like I am missing something?

function m6()
  inst = mc.mcGetInstance()

  if not inst then
    mc.mcCntlSetLastError(inst, "Failed to get Mach4 instance.")
    return
  end

  --... (previous code)

  if selectedtool == currenttool then
    mc.mcCntlSetLastError(inst, "No tool change needed.")
    return
  end

  -- Enable motor A before performing the tool change
  mach.MotorEnable(1, true)
  mc.mcCntlSetLastError(inst, "Enabled Motor A")

  local moves = math.abs(selectedtool - currenttool)
  local direction = selectedtool > currenttool and 1 or -1

  if moves == 0 then
    mc.mcCntlSetLastError(inst, "No tool change needed.")
    return
  end

  mc.mcCntlSetLastError(inst, "Moving to Tool ".. selectedtool)

  local max_tool_pockets = 6 -- Set the maximum number of tool pockets supported by your machine
  local move_value = math.min(math.abs((direction * moves) * 60), max_tool_pockets)

  mc.mcCntlSetLastError(inst, "G0 A".. move_value)
  mc.mcCntlGcodeExecuteWait(inst, "G0 A".. move_value.. " G52")

  if (move_value == max_tool_pockets) and (direction > 0) then
    mc.mcCntlSetLastError(inst, "Tool change completed. Maximum tool pocket reached.")
  elseif (move_value == max_tool_pockets) and (direction < 0) then
    mc.mcCntlSetLastError(inst, "Tool change completed. Minimum tool pocket reached.")
  else
    mc.mcCntlSetLastError(inst, "Tool change completed.")
  end

  -- Disable motor A after the tool change is complete
  mach.MotorEnable(1, false)
  mc.mcCntlSetLastError(inst, "Disabled Motor A")

  mc.mcToolSetCurrent(inst, selectedtool)
  mc.mcCntlSetLastError(inst, "Tool Loaded")

  if mc.mcInEditor() == 1 then
    m6()
  end
end

-- Enable motor A before performing the tool change
  mach.MotorEnable(1, true)
  mc.mcCntlSetLastError(inst, "Enabled Motor A")

Make sure you are selecting the correct motor for your tool changer motor

Hi,
this code looks really wierd. For example:

if selectedtool == currenttool then
That is the wrong syntax, it should be:

if (selectedtool == currenttool) then
And then there is this:

mach.MotorEnable(1, true)
That is not a valid Mach instruction.......i.e. it is not in the Mach API.

This code looks like it was composed by AI. I suggest you ask the AI gods why it does not work.
We mortals on planet Earth use the Mach API.

I suspect this is what you are looking for:

mcAxisEnable
C/C++ Syntax:
int mcAxisEnable(
                 MINSTANCE mInst,
                 int axisId,
                 BOOL enabled);

LUA Syntax:
rc = mc.mcAxisEnable(
                     number mInst,
                     number axisId,
                     number enabled);

Description:
Enable or disable the specified axis.

Parameters: Parameter Description
mInst The controller instance.
axisId The axis ID.
enabled Send true to enable or false to disable axis.


Returns: Return Code Description
MERROR_NOERROR No Error.
MERROR_INVALID_INSTANCE The mInst parameter was out of range.
MERROR_AXIS_NOT_FOUND The axis specified by axisId was not found.

Notes:
Used to enable or disable axis. Disabling an axis will make motion for the axis impossible.

Usage:

int mInst = 0;
// Set Y_AXIS to be disabled.
mcAxisEnable(mInst, Y_AXIS, false);

Further, you'll have to use the Lua syntax, for example:

local rc=mc.mcAxisEnable(inst,1) and then you'll presumably, by following good coding practice, test the 'rc' to establish whether the function succeeded or not.

Craig