Hello Guest it is March 28, 2024, 02:33:52 PM

Author Topic: ARC-ON TIMER AND PIERCE COUNTER IN MACH3  (Read 15554 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

ARC-ON TIMER AND PIERCE COUNTER IN MACH3
« on: August 07, 2017, 06:01:59 AM »
On 15 August 2014, DaveK0974 and BLM enquired about the possibility of having 'arc-on timer' and 'pierce counter' functions in Mach3. But I do not see any answers or follow-ups to their queries. Is it possible to have these functions added or activated in Mach3? It would be very useful to obtain information on these parameters whenever plasma cuts are made so as to be better able to calculate cutting and general operating costs. enzed

Offline Tweakie.CNC

*
  • *
  •  9,196 9,196
  • Super Kitty
    • View Profile
Re: ARC-ON TIMER AND PIERCE COUNTER IN MACH3
« Reply #1 on: August 07, 2017, 06:08:31 AM »
Hi Enzed,

Development of Mach3 has ended in favor of Mach4 so it is extremely unlikely that any additional functions will ever be added to Mach3 in the future. However, this should not stop enterprising Mach3 users from developing additional functions within the scope of the Screen Designer, Brains, etc.

Tweakie.
« Last Edit: August 07, 2017, 06:11:31 AM by Tweakie.CNC »
PEACE
Re: ARC-ON TIMER AND PIERCE COUNTER IN MACH3
« Reply #2 on: August 07, 2017, 07:28:04 AM »
Hi Tweakie,

Thanks for the fast response. Developing additional functions for some of us, is easier said than done, especially those of us who, like myself, are beginners with the Mach software, or are not computer and programming wizards! Regards, enzed

Offline Tweakie.CNC

*
  • *
  •  9,196 9,196
  • Super Kitty
    • View Profile
Re: ARC-ON TIMER AND PIERCE COUNTER IN MACH3
« Reply #3 on: August 07, 2017, 07:37:05 AM »
Hi Enzed,

I fully understand - I have been using Mach2/3 for 10 years now and I still don't know the half of it. But, learning can be fun so please take a look at the videos and other documentation http://www.machsupport.com/videos/ - if you really need it you will be able to do it and we are all here to help if we can.

Tweakie.
PEACE
Re: ARC-ON TIMER AND PIERCE COUNTER IN MACH3
« Reply #4 on: August 07, 2017, 08:06:07 AM »
Thanks for the encouragement, guidance and the offer of assistance and support Tweakie, it is is much appreciated. Yes, perhaps it is not as difficult as I imagine it to be, if I look at the videos and also try and work out something myself. Thanks again and best wishes. Enzed.
Re: ARC-ON TIMER AND PIERCE COUNTER IN MACH3
« Reply #5 on: October 23, 2019, 08:18:33 PM »
Thanks for the encouragement, guidance and the offer of assistance and support Tweakie, it is is much appreciated. Yes, perhaps it is not as difficult as I imagine it to be, if I look at the videos and also try and work out something myself. Thanks again and best wishes. Enzed.

so did you ever get a counter working that shows you the pierce count and cut timer? If so I would like to add that to my screen but I am just now learning how to add buttons and change my screens.


Thank you

Offline TPS

*
  •  2,501 2,501
    • View Profile
Re: ARC-ON TIMER AND PIERCE COUNTER IN MACH3
« Reply #6 on: October 24, 2019, 02:51:14 AM »
as far i know there is no functionality in Mach3 for this, but you can add some code to M3 and M5 and do it by your own.

M3 code
Code: [Select]
'Save the starttime in seconds
Dim starttime As Double
starttime = (Hour(Time(Now))*3600)+(Minute(Time(Now))*60)+Second(Time(Now))
SetUserDro(1600, starttime)

'increment the piercecounter
SetUserDro(1602,GetUserDro(1602)+1)


M5 code
Code: [Select]
'Calculate the enddtime
Dim endtime As Double
endtime = (Hour(Time(Now))*3600)+(Minute(Time(Now))*60)+Second(Time(Now))
'save the cuttime
SetUserDro(1601 , endtime - GetUserDro(1600))

code is not tested, just written down
anything is possible, just try to do it.
if you find some mistakes, in my bad bavarian english,they are yours.
Re: ARC-ON TIMER AND PIERCE COUNTER IN MACH3
« Reply #7 on: October 24, 2019, 03:12:52 AM »
Thank you I'll give it a try but I'm still having problems and i'm not sure that I am getting my buttons right.
Re: ARC-ON TIMER AND PIERCE COUNTER IN MACH3
« Reply #8 on: October 24, 2019, 03:25:39 AM »
Thank you for your help, I've been working on getting my reset button to change the counter and after looking at what you provided, I finally got it to change the counter, now I'll try the rest when I get home and am able to hook it up to the controller and run a file.

Thanks again

Offline TPS

*
  •  2,501 2,501
    • View Profile
Re: ARC-ON TIMER AND PIERCE COUNTER IN MACH3
« Reply #9 on: October 24, 2019, 03:44:41 AM »
this M5 code will only measure the cuttime of one cut

Code: [Select]
'Calculate the enddtime
Dim endtime As Double
endtime = (Hour(Time(Now))*3600)+(Minute(Time(Now))*60)+Second(Time(Now))
'save the cuttime
SetUserDro(1601 , endtime - GetUserDro(1600))

this M5 code will measure the total cuttime

Code: [Select]
'Calculate the enddtime
Dim endtime As Double
endtime = (Hour(Time(Now))*3600)+(Minute(Time(Now))*60)+Second(Time(Now))
'save the cuttime
SetUserDro(1601 , GetUserDro(1601) + ( endtime - GetUserDro(1600)))

anything is possible, just try to do it.
if you find some mistakes, in my bad bavarian english,they are yours.